Hino Contessa: Japan’s own rear-engined saloon

The Hino Contessa was the only passenger car Hino Motors developed on its own. Built from 1961 to 1967, it used a rear engine and water cooling, took its running gear from the Renault 4CV that Hino had built under licence, and in its second generation wore bodywork by Giovanni Michelotti.

Hino Contessa at a glance

History of the Hino Contessa

PC series (1961–1964)

The Contessa 900 went on sale in April 1961 with an 893 cc version of the Renault-based GP engine, 35 PS and a top speed of 110 km/h. The drivetrain and suspension were carried over from the Hino Renault 4CV (series PA), but the Contessa was a full five-seater, which made it a far stronger competitor. The engine was installed longitudinally and slanted to the left, with the radiator at the outer edge of the engine bay and a crossflow cylinder head; the rear suspension used swing axles. A three-speed column shifter was standard and a four-speed manual optional, available with an electromagnetic clutch called Shinko-Hinomatic. The long linkage from the column to the rear-mounted gearbox came in for criticism. 47,299 PC-series cars were built.

Contessa 900 Sprint

In 1962 Hino showed a two-door coupé with Michelotti styling, the 900 Sprint, tuned by Officine Nardi with Weber carburettors to 45 PS and a claimed 140 km/h. It was 100 kg lighter than the saloon, toured the Tokyo, Turin, Geneva and New York shows, and even had “Hino-Michelotti” scuff plates — but it never went on sale.

PD series (1964–1967)

The second generation appeared in September 1964 with a new Hino-designed 1,251 cc GR100 engine of 55 PS, five main bearings and a crossflow head, giving 130 km/h. The saloon and the coupé of April 1965 were again Michelotti designs, and the shape won four awards at Italian concours events. The 1300S coupé (chassis codes PD300/400) had twin carburettors and 65 PS from November 1965, a claimed 145 km/h and fist-type disc brakes on the front wheels, a first for a Japanese car. Right-hand-drive cars were 100- and 300-series, left-hand-drive 200- and 400-series; an LPG saloon with 52 PS was also listed. Cars were assembled in New Zealand by Campbell Motors and in Israel by Autocars, and about 8,000 Contessas and Briskas were built in Haifa. Series production stopped in March 1967, a condition of the Toyota alliance, though assembly of remaining parts continued into the summer of 1968; 55,027 PD cars were built.

Design and features

• Water-cooled rear engine: unlike most rear-engined cars of the period, the Contessa used water cooling, so it had no front grille.
• Column gearshift: a rear-engined car with a column lever, optionally with an electromagnetic clutch.
• Michelotti styling: the 900 Sprint and the second generation were drawn by Giovanni Michelotti.
• Disc brakes first: the 1300S coupé brought fist-type front discs to a Japanese production car.

Hino Contessa versions

• Contessa 900 (1961–1964): 893 cc, 35 PS, four-door saloon.
• Contessa 900 Sprint (1962): one-off Michelotti coupé, 45 PS, never sold.
• Contessa 1300 (1964–1967): 1,251 cc, 55 PS saloon, four headlamps on De Luxe cars.
• Contessa 1300S coupé (1965–1967): twin carburettors, 65 PS, front disc brakes.
• LPG saloon: 52 PS at 5,000 rpm in Standard or De Luxe trim.

The Contessa’s engine and suspension also went into the Hino Briska pickup, which used a front-engine layout instead. More Hino models are in the Hino collection.

Video: Hino Contessa 1300 ヒノ コンテッサ

Video by kusayama1 on YouTube.

Sources

• Hino Contessa, English Wikipedia: generations, engineering, production numbers
• 日野・コンテッサ, Japanese Wikipedia: development, Sprint, design history, Israel