The Cony Guppy was a small pickup truck manufactured by Aichi in Japan. Its low price of ¥225,000 made it attractive to small business owners and cargo transporters, and its layout was as unusual as its looks.
Cony Guppy at a glance
| Maker | Aichi (Aichi Kokuki), Japan |
|---|---|
| Type | small pickup truck |
| Engine | 199 cc air-cooled single-cylinder, two valves |
| Power | 11 hp (8.2 kW) |
| Top speed | 80 km/h (50 mph) |
| Fuel economy | rated at 50 km/L |
| Payload | 100 kg |
| Price | ¥225,000 |
| Doors | suicide doors |
| Suspension | four-wheel independent |
| Drive | torque converter, clutchless |
Based on one source: the English Wikipedia article on the Cony Guppy.
History of the Cony Guppy
Design
The Guppy had suicide doors and rotating amber beacons on the B-pillar, while the brake lights were tiny and circular. The engine rested behind the seats: a two-valve, 199 cc single-cylinder unit producing 11 horsepower (8.2 kW). It could power the vehicle to a top speed of 50 miles per hour (80 km/h). Aichi rated the Guppy’s fuel economy at 50 km/L and claimed it could carry 100 kilograms of cargo. Other features included four-wheel independent suspension and a torque converter for clutchless driving.
The Datsun Baby
In 1965 Nissan donated 100 cars based on the Guppy to the Kodomo no Kuni Children’s Park in Hazu, Aichi. This was long after the Guppy had been taken out of production; Nissan built them from leftover parts acquired as a result of its gradual takeover of the Aichi company. Called the “Datsun Baby”, they had a speed limiter that held the top speed to 30 km/h (18.6 mph). Otherwise they were mechanically identical to the Guppy, but with different bodywork.
Place in the range
The Guppy was later replaced at Aichi by the more modern Cony 360, which swapped the old air-cooled two-cylinder layout for a new lighter engine and a rear mid-engine installation with a dry sump. The Guppy’s simple, cheap formula had made it a practical tool for small businesses, but by the early 1960s it was seen as outdated and unrefined.
Design and features
- Suicide doors: the front-hinged doors opened towards the rear of the truck.
- Amber beacons: rotating warning lights were mounted on the B-pillar.
- Engine behind the seats: a 199 cc single-cylinder unit of 11 hp.
- Clutchless driving: a torque converter replaced a conventional clutch.
- Four-wheel independent suspension: unusual for a cheap load carrier.
- Low price: ¥225,000 made it popular with small businesses and cargo carriers.
Cony Guppy versions
- Guppy pickup: the standard small truck with suicide doors and amber beacons.
- Datsun Baby (1965): 100 cars built by Nissan from leftover Guppy parts for a children’s park, with a 30 km/h speed limiter and different bodywork.
The Guppy was replaced by the more advanced Cony 360. More vehicles from Aichi are gathered in the Cony collection.
Video: コニーグッピー（Cony Guppy）
Video on YouTube.
Sources
- Cony Guppy, English Wikipedia: design, engine, price, Datsun Baby
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