Honda Vamos
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Honda Vamos is a leisure vehicle originally produced by Japanese automaker Honda from 1970 to 1973, and reintroduced again as a trim level of the Honda Acty microvan starting in 1999. Its name, "Vamos", is Spanish and Portuguese for "let's go".
| Honda Vamos | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Honda |
| Production | 1970–1973 |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Kei truck |
| Body style | 2-door jeep |
| Layout | Front-mid engine, rear-wheel-drive |
| Related | |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 354 cc I2 |
| Transmission | 4-speed manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 1,780 mm (70.1 in) |
| Length | 2,995 mm (117.9 in) |
| Width | 1,295 mm (51.0 in) |
| Height | 1,655 mm (65.2 in) |
| Curb weight | 520 kg (1,146.4 lb) |
| Chronology | |
| Successor | Honda TN-7 |
Technically speaking a kei truck, the Vamos leisure vehicle was based on the Honda TN360. Introduced in November 1970, the Vamos used a 354 cc 2-cylinder, mid mounted, air-cooled, overhead camshaft gasoline engine shared with the Honda TN360, N360, and the Z360. Its official name was actually "Vamos Honda"; meaning "let's go, Honda" in Spanish.[1] The Vamos was a competitor at the time to the Suzuki Jimny and the Daihatsu Fellow buggy. Honda had hoped the popularity of the Honda Dax minibike with its off-road image would be associated with the Vamos, and had planned on a monthly production rate of 2,000 units.[1] Because of the installation of the spare tire on the front of the vehicle and the sound from the air-cooled engine, it had an appearance somewhat similar to the Volkswagen Type 2. There are no doors; instead, it offered swing-out guard rails to keep the occupants secure. The Vamos' open cabin design and lack of four-wheel drive combined to make it a slow seller.
The Vamos was available with an optional and removable rear seat, being marketed as the Vamos 2 or the Vamos 4 depending on its passenger capacity. It featured lap belts only for all passengers. The convertible top was easily and quickly removed as needed. Due to the open cab configuration, all instrumentation and switches were both water- and dust proof, while there was a locking glove compartment for a measure of secure storage. The Vamos used a MacPherson strut front suspension and a De Dion tube with half leaf springs in the back. The engine produces a claimed 30 PS (22 kW), enough to propel the Vamos to a top speed of 90 km/h (56 mph).[1]
With new safety standards looming, which could hardly be met by the Vamos without a significant redesign, production was discontinued in March 1973. In spite of Honda's lofty original sales targets, only 2,500 examples were built in total.
Rear view
Side view of Vamos 4 with roof up
