240 Landmarks Top ＞ Passenger Cars, Part 1 ＞ Toyoda Model AA 　Toyoda Model AA Determined to build a popular passenger vehicle that would satisfy the needs of Japanese consumers, Kiichiro Toyoda, executive director and chief engineer of Toyoda Automatic Loom Works, moved into the automotive business. He began research into a small engine in 1930, before completing the type A prototype engine in 1934 based on a 1933 Chevrolet engine. Toyota's first Japanese-produced passenger vehicles, the Model AA sedan and Model AB Phaeton were developed in 1936, equipped with the type A engine. From September 14 to 16 of the same year, a large-scale exhibition was held at the Tokyo Shoko Shorei Kan (the current Tokyo Metropolitan Industrial Technology Research Institute) entitled "Exhibit to Commemorate the Completion of Toyoda’s all-Japanese Popular Vehicle". Over 20,000 people visited the exhibition while it was held, inspired by their interest and hopes for domestically produced cars. Toyoda also received the unofficial announcement that his company had been given permission to build vehicles under the Automobile Manufacturing Industries Law during the exhibition. As a result, the company quickly tooled up to begin mass production of trucks. The Model AA had a streamlined Airflow shape, and improved rigidity due to its single-sheet, all-steel cabin roof called a "turret top". The engine was mounted directly over the front axle and the rear seats were located in front of the rear axle. As a result, the Model AA had excellent ride characteristics and an ideal weight balance. The chassis combined parallel leaf springs and a rigid axle that formed a shape very close to that of the airflow body. The Model AA was also one of the first vehicles to persevere with hydraulic brakes instead of the rod brakes favored by Ford and Chevrolet. The high-powered 65 HP/3000 rpm engine produced maximum torque of 19.4 kgm/18000 rpm and propelled the vehicle to a top speed of around 110 km/h. Storage location : TOYOTA AUTOMOBILE MUSEUM (41-100, Yokomichi, Nagakute, Nagakute-cho, Aichi-gun, Aichi-ken 480-1131) Year manufactured : 1936 Manufacturer : Toyoda Automatic Loom Works Classification : Replica Current status : On public display: operational Vehicle name / Manufacture Vehicle name : Toyoda Model AA Model name : Model AA Company name : Toyoda Automatic Loom Works Year manufactured : 1936 Vehicle type/usage : Passenger car Location of actual vehicle/replica : Toyota Automobile Museum Model / Weight Style : Sedan Number of doors : 4 Vehicle weight : 1500 kg Points of interest, topicality : Toyota's first domestic passenger car Body / Size Structure : Sedan Bumpers : Steel Step : One step Overall length : 4785 mm Overall width : 1730 mm Overall height : 1736 mm Tire size : 5.50-17 Body / Axle / Driving / Others Frame : U-type section extrusions (steel sheets) Front axle : I-type section "Tsuitan" reverse Elliott type Rear axle : Semifloating type Wheelbase : 2850 mm Front tread x rear tread : 1440×1450 mm Steering : Semi-reversible worm and sector type Engine / Size / Power Cooling/cylinder arrangement : Water-cooled inline 6-cylinder (A type) Valve train : OHV Carburetor : Carter downdraft carburetor Bore x stroke : 84×102 mm Displacement : 3389 mL Ignition system : Battery type Max. power/r.p.m. : 65 hp/3000 rpm Max. torque/r.p.m. : 19.4 kgm/1800 to 2000 rpm Fetures : The first automobile engine manufactured by Toyota. Developed based on a Chevrolet engine. Hybrid Hybrid system type : None Drive-train Transmission : 3 forward speeds and 1 reverse speed, synchromesh Drive system : FR Performance Mode fuel efficiency : - Reference materials : Toyoda Model AA (published by the Toyota Automobile Museum) 240 Landmarks Top ＞ Passenger Cars, Part 1 ＞ Toyoda Model AA