The Daihatsu Midget is a three-wheeled mini-truck that was produced by the Japanese automaker from 1957 to 1972. Initially, the Midget had a single seat, no doors and a fabric top and it was powered by an air-cooled, two-stroke, 250 cc single-cylincer engine. The MP series, with improvements that included a steering wheel, front doors and a second seat, was introduced in 1959. With the MP3, the Midget was given a larger, 305 cc motor and the MP4 had roll-up front windows. The MP5, introduced in 1962, had more cargo space, a metal roof and more chrome trim.
The original issue of the Tomica Daihatsu Midget, based on the MP5 model (1962-1972), ran from 1980 until 1983. In 1990, it was reissued for the 20th Anniversary Special Set – Cars of the Past, and the model was used in many multiple releases after that, both individually and in sets. This fun cream example with Japanese characters on the green canopy is another of my Wichita eBay scores.
The Tomica Daihatsu Midget features a removable plastic cargo cover.
Click here to see the Daihatsu Midget on the 1980 page of the online Tomica History Museum.
Tomica | 1980 | 21 | Daihatsu Midget | cream with green plastic canopy, clear windows, orange interior, unpainted metal base | 1/50 | Japan | 5-spoke wheels
The Race Case Etc. 