The Japanese auto industry for domestic consumption has always been special. Almost all models made for the Japanese have never been shipped to foreign markets, especially mass-produced cars.

In conditions of total absence of resources, free lands and American occupation it was rather difficult to develop industry, especially automobile industry. But the Japanese found a way out and started small.

Thus, in 1960, the audacious model of the young company Mazda appeared on the domestic Japanese market. If the design of the main competitors did not cause emotions (except for disgust of course), so Mazda has decided to stake precisely on a stylish exterior. Thus appeared two-seater sports coupe R360.

The car is 2980 mm long and weighs only 380 kg. Under the hood or in the trunk of the truck there was a two-cylinder V-shaped engine with an unprecedented 16 horsepower. The transmission was a four speed manual or two-range automatic.

The car was wildly popular in Japan and was produced from 1960 to 1966. But this is not the end of the model's history. It was just beginning, because based on the R360 soon appears Mazda P360 Carol. Family car with a spacious four-seater interior and luxury trim.

The steering wheel proudly sported the logo of the Japanese manufacturer, and in top versions the front torpedo was decorated with an advanced Japanese radio.

Naturally the car eventually had a more powerful, water-cooled 4-cylinder engine, but with almost the same displacement of 358 cc. The power of the power unit was raised from 16 to 18 horsepower.

But this is not the end of the story. After all, Mazda decided to make an SUV and pickup truck on the basis of the successful project. So, Mazda B360 or Mazda Porter appeared.

Mazda's off-road series of cars was produced from 1961 to 1968. 

Mazda cars had the engine in the back, and SUVs and pickups had the engine in the front. 

You can choose a model which you like exactly, and the largest selection of cars at https://rod.kaidee.com/c11a12-auto-car-mazda.

The cost of the first Mazda models in 1960 was from 300,000 yen for the manual version and from 320,000 for the automatic version. The model Mazda R360 became the ancestor of mass Japanese cars available to ordinary citizens. Until that moment, to have their own car in Japan could afford only a very rich part of the population.

You would not believe, but the four-door P360 Carol experienced seven generations and is still produced in Japan. 

Mazda Carol Mk VII is a descendant of the first mass Japanese car.
The length of the car has grown only by 40 centimeters up to 3,395 mm for decades of its history...