Silhouette like a toy

The Mazda Porter is, as its name suggests, Mazda’s bonnet pick-up truck born to carry cargo. We spoke to the owner, who loves this adorable vehicle, about how he acquired it and how he maintains it.

This little pick-up fits into the standards of the 360cc era

It was a bright red-bodied Mazda Porter truck that we spotted at the “360! All together in OSAKA” event site, held in the Osaka Port Department.

The Porter debuted in 1968 as the de facto successor to the B360, and was available in two variants: a bonneted pick-up and a van. An interesting point is the transition of the engine installed: when it debuted, it was equipped with a liquid-cooled, four-stroke, four-cylinder, 360 cc engine from the B360’s final models, but this was later replaced by a liquid-cooled, two-stroke, two-cylinder 360 cc engine, the same as the Shante, in a minor update. In other words, the nine-year history of the Porter shows that the earlier models were four-stroke and the later models were two-stroke.

This Porter truck owned by Mr. Kitamoto has a two-stroke engine, as it is a 1973 model, the very year in which the minor change was made.

Checking each part of the body, which is still in its original condition

Porter’s cute, diminutive style is so attractive that it is hard to believe that it is a working vehicle.

The front consists of an unusual, square-shaped, oddly shaped shield-beam headlight with a piped grille that looks like an external tube grille. These headlights are often replaced with round headlights due to their low luminous intensity and extremely difficult to obtain, but this car retains its original shielded beams.

Tail lamps with large vertical lenses are fitted beside the rear gate. Below this is fitted a square piece of rubber, which replaces the omitted rear bumper. When backing up against a wall, this rubber is the first thing to hit.

Wild suspension with extra thick rims

Mr. Kitamoto has always been a car enthusiast, but about 10 years ago the previous owner decided to part with this Porter and he took it over. It was actually his first Sub Roc, and he loves it so much that he now keeps one for parts to maintain it.

The bright red body, which was not included in the factory line-up, remains stock, but the mirrors have been changed to a cannonball type. Also, the ride height has been lowered, and Watanabe 8-spoke wheels front and rear.

translated by DeepL