Prince Sedan
| Prince Sedan AISH/AMSH[1] | |
|---|---|
|
1952 Prince Sedan AISH-I | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Prince |
| Production | 1952-1957 |
| Assembly | Mitaka, Japan |
| Designer | Takuya Himura |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | 4-door sedan |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 1.5L FG4A I4 |
| Transmission | 4-speed manual transmission |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,460 mm (96.9 in) |
| Length | 4,290 mm (168.9 in) |
| Width | 1,655 mm (65.2 in) |
| Height | 1,632 mm (64.3 in) |
| Curb weight | 1,254 kg (2,764.6 lb) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor |
Tama Senior EMS-49-III (Electric vehicle) |
| Successor | Prince Skyline ALSI |
The Prince Sedan was a Japanese compact executive car made from 1952 until 1957 by the Tama Motor Company (later renamed as the Prince Motor Company in November 1952), which was one of the successors of the Tachikawa Aircraft Company. It was replaced by the first generation Prince Skyline ALSI in 1957.[2]
The Prince Sedan AISH had live axles in front and the back.[2]
In March 1956, the Prince Sedan Special AMSH was added to the line-up. It had a double wishbone suspension in front.[2]
Background
The Tama Electric Car Company was producing several kinds of electric vehicles. Before the Korean War, the supply of gasoline was controlled by the GHQ and was expensive. In June 1950, the Korean War broke out. The price of batteries became extremely high (approximately ten times). On the other hand, the price of gasoline became cheaper. Tama Electric Car could not continue to produce electric vehicles.[2]
In September 1950, they decided to produce new gasoline vehicles instead of electric vehicles. In November 1950, they officially ordered the Fuji Precision Industries, one of the successors of disbanded Nakajima Aircraft Company, to design and produce a new gasoline engine for Tama.[2]
Tama finally stopped building electric vehicles in September 1951. In the next month, Fuji Precision completed the new gasoline engine named FG4A. This engine was based on the engine of the Peugeot 202 which was owned by Shojiro Ishibashi, the Bridgestone founder and the owner of the Tama Motors and the Fuji Precision.[2]
This engine (later renamed as G-1) was improved and modified gradually and was used until 1968 for the basic version of Prince Skyline S50, and was shared with the Subaru 1500 the first Subaru manufactured. (The upper version S57 used the new G15 SOHC engine in 1967 and 1968.)[2] Around ten people belonged to Tama's development team headed by the design manager Jiro Tanaka. His assistant manager Takuya Himura, who would become the direct boss of Shinichiro Sakurai in October 1952, was in charge of the development of the Prince Sedan and other vehicles.[2][3][1]
History
- November 1951 - The prototype of Tama's new gasoline-engine truck AFTF was completed.[4][2]
- November 1951 - Tama Electric Car Company changed its name to Tama Motor Company.[2]
- February 1952 - The prototype of Tama's new passenger car AISH sedan was completed. (Both AFTF truck and AISH sedan used Fuji Precsion's FG4A engine. Both of them were named "Prince" after the upcoming ceremonial investiture of Crown Prince Akihito in November 1952.)[2]
- March 1952 - The Prince Sedan AISH and the Prince Truck AFTF debuted at the exhibition show held at the Bridgestone building in Kyobashi, Tokyo.[2]
- Surprisingly, the Prince Sedan AISH was not tested enough before the debut. And the second prototype car of AISH was recklessly sold to the Tokyo Institute of Technology as a product. Thus, Tama/Prince customers (mainly taxicab companies) would experience many troubles for a while.[2][3]
- August 1952 - Tama Motors hold the Mt. Fuji Climbing Campaign. Two Prince Sedans and two Prince Trucks participated to show their durability. They climbed up to the fifth station of Mt. Fuji without troubles.[4][2]
- November 1952 - Tama Motor Company changed its name to the Prince Motor Company.[2]
- April 1954 - Prince Motor Company was merged with Fuji Precision Industries. (The name "Prince Motor Company" disappeared in the meantime.)[4][2]
- March 1955 - The Prince Sedan Special AMSH debuted and was added to the Prince Sedan line-up along with the AISH. The Sedan Special AMSH had an independent front suspension.[4][2]
- June 1956 - The variants Prince Commercial Van AIVE (station wagon) and the Prince Commercial Pickup AIPC (double cab) debuted and were added to the Prince Sedan line-up. [2]
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- April 1957 - The first generation Prince Skyline ALSI debuted and replaced the Prince Sedan AISH and AMSH.[4][2]
- April 1959 - The Prince Commercial Van AIVE and the Prince Commercial Pickup AIPC were replaced by the Prince Skyway Light Van ALVG (station wagon) and the Prince Skyway Pickup ALPE (double cab). [2]
See also
- Shojiro Ishibashi
- Jiro Tanaka
- Shinichiro Sakurai
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1954 Prince Sedan AISH-II (JSAE Official Website)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 KATSURAGI, Yoji "The Beam of the Light of the Prince Motor Company" Grand Prix Book Publishing Co., Ltd., October 22, 2003 (Japanese) ISBN 4-87687-251-1
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 SAKURAI, Shinichiro "With the Skyline" Kanagawa Shimbun, April 15, 2006 (Japanese) ISBN 978-4876453740
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Tekiyukai Association (former Prince Motors engineers) "Prince - Memories of Ogikubo - II", Private Edition, November 16, 1997 (Japanese)
External links
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