When it comes to mid-ships driving amusement, the under floor engine arrangement of the Cony Light Van Deluxe is unparalleled. This 1967 model was hauled over from a long nap in a Temecula field to attend the Japanese Classic Car Show in Irvine. The entire Cony lineup was manufactured in Japan by the Aichi Machine Industry Company. Cony was eventually absorbed by Datsun. The Cony fleet included everything from utilitarian micro pickup trucks to the stylish Cony Guppy Sports. The Cony 360 two-cylinder air-cooled engine in this and every Cony Light Van Deluxe is mounted mid-frame, and located under the front seat. The rear seats can either hold an additional two passengers in Deluxe mode, or folded flat for greater van-like utility. The under floor engine seems like it would be especially useful for operation in colder climates, where superior handling by way rear-wheel drive and low center of gravity could join toasty warm seating arrangements.
Most factual information provided courtesy of this fantastic page of vintage Cony brochures over at Littlecartrader.com
4 Responses
Wow! I could not imagine running that in the summer here, but wowie! That 60mpg is nice though.
Posted on October 23rd, 2009 at 3:57 pm
Anyone else start drooling uncontrollably at the thought of a ‘Busa-powered Guppy Sports?
Also: Conymino! (1st and 5th pictures)
http://www.xs4all.nl/~mjs/conyk.html
Posted on October 23rd, 2009 at 3:58 pm
The engine vibrations provide an invigorating butt massage while driving.
Posted on October 25th, 2009 at 12:28 am
As a kid I saw a photo of a Cony like this, and I imagined it was SUV sized back then… I’d love to have one too, but where to find one here in Europe?
Posted on November 10th, 2009 at 9:51 am