Daihatsu Fellow Max

The Daihatsu Fellow Max is a small Japanese automobile in the Kei car class. Originally introduced as the Daihatsu Fellow, the name was partially retained for the Max Cuore (1977) and then again for the 2000 Daihatsu Max.

360cc era

Fellow

On 9 November 1966, Daihatsu introduced the Fellow, also known as Daihatsu 360 in export markets. Originally only available in DeLuxe and Super DeLuxe equipment levels, a Standard version joined in February 1967. Also available with a wagon body (Fellow Van), as a mini-pickup truck and as a panel van from June 1967, the L37 was conventionally built with a front-mounted engine and rear wheel drive. It used a 23 PS iteration of the 356 cc, water-cooled two-cylinder two-stroke "ZM" engine already seen in the Hijet and a four-speed manual transmission.^[1] The self-lubricating ("Oil-Matic") little engine weighed only 58 kg (128 lb).^[2] The Fellow was the first Japanese car to be equipped with rectangular headlights.

As a result of Honda's 31 hp N360 being introduced early in 1967, a Kei-car horsepower war broke out. Daihatsu's response, the Fellow SS, was presented at the 1967 Tokyo Motor Show in October but did not go on sale until June the next year.^[3] A LeMans-style sportscar prototype, the "P-5" with the SS engine was shown alongside. The 32 PS "SS" could do the 400 meter sprint in 21.2 seconds.

The Fellow also received a slight facelift in October 1967, with a new dashboard and steering wheel most noticeable. Another minor change came in January 1969, with a fixed drivers' side headrest and seatbelts installed because of new safety regulations.^[3] In July, along with what was literally a facelift (the front bumper was now mounted higher), the lesser engine's output increased to 26 PS and a comparatively luxurious "Custom" version was added at the top of the lineup.^[4] The size of the taillights also increased somewhat. An electric version called the Daihatsu Fellow Van EV went on sale in September 1969.^[5]

Daihatsu Fellow L37 Data
Version	Engine	Power			Torque			Dimensions (mm)				Weight (kg)	Top speed (km/h)	Gears	Production		Note
		PS	kW	at rpm	kgm	Nm	at rpm	length	width	height	wb				begin	end
Std, DX, SDX[6]	Water-cooled 356 cc ZM two-cycle two-cylinder	23	17	5,000	align="right"|3.5	34.3	4,000	2,990	1,285	1,350	1,990	515	100	4MT	66.11	69.07	Std. from 67.02
Std, DX, SDX, Custom[7]		26	19	5,500	align="right"|3.5	34.3	4,500					495	110		69.07	70.04	facelifted version
SS[3]		32	23.5	6,500	align="right"|3.8	37.3	5,000						115[8]		68.06	70.04
Van Std, SDX[9] (Pickup)		23	17	5,000	align="right"|3.5	34.3	4,000	2,995	1,295	1,430 (1,420)	1,940	545 (500)	85[10]		67.06	69.07	300 kg (350) payload
Van Std, SDX (Pickup)		26	19	5,500	align="right"|3.5	34.3	4,500						n/a		69.07	70.07

Fellow Max

Daihatsu Fellow Max
1973–1975 Daihatsu Fellow Max HT Coupé (L38GL)
Overview
Manufacturer	Daihatsu
Production	1970–1976
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door saloon 4-door saloon (from 1972) 2-door coupé (from 1971)
Powertrain
Engine	356 cc 2 cylinder water-cooled
Transmission	4-speed manual floor-mounted gear change lever
Dimensions
Wheelbase	209 mm (8.2 in)
Length	2,995 mm (117.9 in)
Width	1,295 mm (51.0 in)
Height	1,290 mm (50.8 in)
Curb weight	510 kg (1,124 lb)
Chronology
Predecessor	Daihatsu Fellow
Successor	Daihatsu Max Cuore

In April 1970, the front-wheel drive L38 Daihatsu Fellow Max was introduced to replace the rear-wheel drive Fellow. Originally only available as a two-door sedan and three-door van (L38V), a sporty hardtop coupé with a lower roofline and a somewhat baroque front-end treatment was added in August 1971 (L38GL). SL and GXL Hardtops received standard front disc brakes. In October 1972 a four-door version (L38F) appeared; it was the only four-door Kei car at the time of its introduction. Dimensions were 2,995 x 1,295 mm as dictated by the Kei car regulations, although the wheelbase was stretched by 100 mm to 2,090 mm. The engine was a 360 cc two-cylinder two-stroke ("ZM4"), offering 33 PS (24 kW) at the time of introduction.^[11] In July 1970 the SS version appeared, featuring a twin-carb, 40 PS (SAE) version of the ZM engine (ZM5) - a specific output of over 112 PS per litre. Top speed was 120 km/h, compared to 115 km/h (75 and 71 mph) for the lesser versions. In October 1972, for the '73 model year, engine outputs dropped somewhat, to 31 and 37 PS respectively to lower fuel consumption and meet new, more stringent emissions standards.^[12] These engines were called ZM12 and ZM13 respectively.^[13]

In export markets, this car was usually sold simply as the "Daihatsu 360". In Australia, where the car went on sale in early 1972 as a two-door sedan, it was called the Max 360X. It was the cheapest new car available in Australia at the time.^[14] Unaffected by emissions regulations, it was equipped with the 33 PS version of the engine; in a period road test by Wheels magazine it reached 68 mph (109 km/h) and managed the sprint to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 33.2 seconds.^[15] It was also sold as the 360X in New Zealand.

As if the existing four bodystyles didn't suffice, a beach buggy version was introduced simultaneously. While highly prized by collectors today, the Buggy only sold about 100 examples and was only available for a single model year. The 440 kg Fellow Buggy was actually not a "real" Fellow, as it was built on a Hijet chassis, with fibre-reinforced plastic bodywork.^[16] The Buggy also used the Hijet's lower powered (26 PS or 19 kW) engine, providing a top speed of 95 km/h (59 mph).^[17]

The Fellow Max received a steady stream of facelifts during its existence. It underwent minor changes in March 1971 (new grille, dash modifications), March 1972 (new dash, round headlights and a new bonnet with longitudinal creases), May 1973 (changes to the fenders and new bumpers that fitted into the bodywork, and another new bonnet) and in October 1973 (new safety equipment). In February 1975 the bumpers were modified again, to allow for the fitment of new, larger license plates. The grille and front bumper arrangement was changed yet again. At the same time the interior saw some changes and the powerful twin-carb model was dropped as it wouldn't pass new emissions regulations. From now on, all models were equipped with the 31 PS "ZM12" engine.^[18] In May 1976 the car underwent more thorough changes as new Kei car regulations were introduced. This also marked the end of the Hardtop versions, which anyhow had lost relevance once the twin-carb engine was discontinued.

550cc era

Daihatsu Fellow Max/Max Cuore
Overview
Also called	Daihatsu Max 550 Daihatsu Cuore
Production	1976–1980
Body and chassis
Class	Kei car
Body style	2/4-door sedan 3-door van
Layout	Front engine, front-wheel drive
Platform	L40, L45 platforms
Powertrain
Engine	547 cc AB10/30 I2 (petrol)
Transmission	4-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,090 mm (82.3 in)
Length	3,120–3,165 mm (122.8–124.6 in)
Width	1,305–1,395 mm (51.4–54.9 in)
Height	1,320 mm (52.0 in)
Curb weight	535–565 kg (1,179–1,246 lb)
Chronology
Successor	Daihatsu Cuore

In May 1976, responding to a change in the Kei car regulations, Daihatsu increased the Fellow Max' engine size to 547 cc and gave it a new chassis code (L40/L40V). The name remained, although the "Fellow" portion received less prominence and some marketing material simply referred to the car as the "Max 550". The new "AB10" four-stroke two-cylinder engine replaced the old two-cycle "ZM". This, developed with help from Toyota, was an overhead camshaft design (belt-driven) which also featured balance axles to smoothen the inherently imbalanced two-cylinder design.^[19] The AB10 engine was also briefly sold to Suzuki for use in the four-stroke version of their Fronte 7-S. The cleaner four-stroke offered less power than the revvy 360, down to 28 PS (21 kW) at 6,000 rpm. Torque increased somewhat, to 3.9 kg·m (38 N·m) at a significantly lower 3,500 rpm.^[20]

New bumpers meant length and width were up marginally to 3,120 mm (122.8 in) and 1,305 mm (51.4 in).^[21] Claimed top speed was 110 km/h (68 mph), somewhat lower than that of the 360.^[22] With Honda withdrawing from the Kei market segment, Daihatsu became the only maker to offer a Kei car featuring front-wheel drive.^[19] The Van used the front end and front doors from the two-door Max, but with a more square-rigged rear end featuring a split tailgate (divided horizontally) and a folding rear seat which allowed for a flat loading floor.

Max Cuore

In July 1977, the name was changed to Max Cuore (chassis code L45, although Vans remained L40V). The new name also heralded a wider body shell (up to 1,395 mm or 54.9 in) which also increased the length to 3160 mm for the sedan^[21] and 3165 mm for the wagon. By March, 1979 the car was renamed Daihatsu Cuore (though it still carried discrete "Max" badging), along with a power upgrade to 31 PS (23 kW) at 6000 rpm.^[23] Torque increased to 4.2 kg·m (41 N·m) for the engine, which now featured the DECS (Daihatsu Economical Clean-up System) emissions control system to meet the stricter 1978 (53年) emissions standards. The front grille and emblems were changed, while the seats were improved and new colors (inside and out) became available.^[23] The Cuore Van, available in Standard, DeLuxe, and Super DeLuxe grades, now had 29 PS (21 kW) on tap.^[24]

In most of Europe, the car was simply called Daihatsu Cuore beginning in 1977, although it retained the "Max" prefix in some markets. Export versions received the same lower-powered engine as the Cuore Van did in Japan.^[25] 1980 saw the introduction of the parallel commercial series Daihatsu Mira, while the name "Max" finally disappeared entirely from the Cuore. In Japan, the 1979 Max Cuore was available as Standard (two-door), Deluxe (two or four doors), Custom (four-door), Hi-Custom (two or four doors), and Hi-Custom EX (four-door). The top of the line Hi-Custom EX was new for 1979.

2000s

The Daihatsu Max is a newer version of the Daihatsu Fellow Max. It appeared in 2000. In October, 2001 the Daihatsu Max 5-door wagon arrived with the same technical data as the Daihatsu Move, though 10 mm lower.^[26] In 2006, the Max was replaced by the Sonica.

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References

v t e Daihatsu Current vehicles Cars Ayla Be-go/Terios Boon/Sirion Mira/Cuore/Charade/e:S Mira Cocoa Move Tanto Tanto Exe Xenia Pickup Trucks Atrai/Hijet truck Vans Atrai/Hijet van Past vehicles Altis Applause Bee Ceria Charade Charmant Compagno Copen Cuore Consorte Domino Esse Leeza/Leeza Spider Coo/Materia Fellow Max Max Midget Mira Gino/Trevis Naked Opti Gran Move/Pyzar Rocky/Feroza/Sportrak Rugger/Rocky/Fourtrak Sirion/Storia Sonica Taft/Scat Taruna Valera YRV Concept cars ai Basket Copen (1999) Costa D-Bone D-Compact X-Over Deca Deca Extol EZ-U FFC HVS Micros-3R OFC-1 SK-Tourer SP-4 U4B UFE2 UFE-III X-021 Mudmaster C Race cars P3 P5 Engines A-series C-series E-series KR-series

v t e Daihatsu road vehicle timeline, 1960–1979 — next »
Type	1960s										1970s
	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Kei car							Fellow/360				Fellow Max/360						Fellow Max/Max Cuore
Subcompact car										Consorte								Charade
Compact car				Compagno											Charmant
Mini SUV															Taft/Scat/Wildcat				Taft/Scat/Wildcat
Kei truck/van	Hijet								Hijet					Hijet				Hijet
Commercial vehicle				New Line				New Line				Delta 750
			High Line							High Line							Delta Van/Wagon
	Vesta				Vesta						Delta 1500/2000								Delta
Three-wheeler	Midget

v t e « previous — Daihatsu road vehicle timeline, 1980s–present
Type	1980s										1990s										2000s											2010s
	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4		5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3
Kei car	Max	Mira/Cuore					Mira/Cuore					Mira/Cuore				Mira/Cuore				Mira/Cuore				Mira/Cuore/Charade					Mira/Cuore/Charade
																					Naked						Esse						Mira e:S
							Leeza													Mira Gino						Mira Gino/Trevis						Mira Cocoa
													Opti							Opti											Tanto Exe
																Move				Move					Move				Move				Move
																						MAX						Sonica
																								Tanto						Tanto
Subcompact car																							Mira Gino 1000											Ayla
	Charade				Charade				Charade						Charade							Ceria											Charade
																			Storia/Sirion						Boon/Sirion							Boon/Sirion
Compact car	Charmant		Charmant							Applause
Mid-size car																					Altis		Altis						Altis					Altis
Sports car												Leeza Spider											Copen
Mini MPV																					YRV							Coo/Materia
																														Boon Luminas
																	Pyzar/Gran Move			Pyzar/Gran Move					Xenia									Xenia
Mini SUV																			Terios Kid
																		Terios/Taruna										Be-go/Terios
	Taft/Wildcat				Rocky/Feroza/Sportrak									Rocky/Feroza/Sportrak
Compact SUV					Rugger/Fourtrak/Taft									Rugger/Fourtrak
Kei truck/van	Hijet		Hijet					Hijet								Hijet					Hijet						Hijet
																	Midget II
Commercial vehicle	Delta Van			Delta Van														Delta Van					Zebra
	Delta					Delta											Delta				Delta
																					Atrai 7
																						Hijet Gran Cargo/Extol							Gran Max