oman5 Posted March 3, 2012 Posted March 3, 2012 I thought the Contessa was a Hindustan. Never seen this before ever Just what I was thinking- the indian built FE victor clone made by Hindustan. I've never heard of this either, I thought Hino made budget trucks.Quite an attractive car though, looks very like a renault 10.
morris_ital_lover Posted March 3, 2012 Posted March 3, 2012 Hino are the truck company they just made a random foray into car production in the 1960s... that said according to wiki (so it must be right ) they are currently responsible for the Toyota FJ cruiser. The Contessa is a lovely looking car even if those cheeky italians just merged a couple of their previous designers together. Hino trucks made a big appearance on the scene a few years ago in the 8 legger form (of course completely not a coincidence with the fact that PACCAR killed off Foden), but then they seem to have slid of the radar again... does anyone know why? (apologies for the thread diversion).
TagoraGL Posted March 3, 2012 Posted March 3, 2012 I have a feeling that Hino trucks were assembled in Ireland in the 80s.
oman5 Posted March 3, 2012 Posted March 3, 2012 Hino trucks were indeed assembled in Ireland back in the '80s, known as "backdoor hinos".Import duty was too excessive to import them direct to UK from Japan,( hence you don't see 38 ton mitsubishi tractor units here, either) so they were sent in CKD form to Ireland from where they were exported at a lower rate to the UK.I've never driven one but by all accounts they make a perfectly acceptable 8 legger, plenty of power,tough and reliable. what they lack (and always have) is after sales support. not too much of a problem for the majority of 8 leggers which are owner driven but big companies want a set dealer run maintenance program.
TagoraSX Posted March 3, 2012 Posted March 3, 2012 Hino trucks were assembled in Ireland by "Pino" Harris from the early 70's iirc.He started out selling Guy trucks but this ended when they were taken over by BL. They were rugged, extremely reliable and easy to fix as they were pretty basic. They had a very large share of the market here during the 70's and 80's, even now many quarries won't buy anything else.
gtd2000 Posted March 3, 2012 Posted March 3, 2012 Interesting... IsraelHino Motors signed a 10-year assembly agreement with Kaiser-Illin Industries of Haifa, Israel, in 1963. Assembly of the Contessa 900 started in 1964. Later, Briska 900 and 1300 and the Contessa 1300 sedan were assembled in Haifa as well. During the years 1964-1965, Israel was Hino's second most important market for its Contessas. Israel exports amounted to ~10% of total Contessa production. After it was purchased by Toyota, the contract was terminated and the very last Israeli Contessas rolled off the assembly line in March 1968. In total, over 8,000 Hino Contessa and Briska were assembled in Israel. Can't say that I ever saw anything old and Japanese during my 2 year stint in Israel during 2004~2005
Mash Posted March 3, 2012 Posted March 3, 2012 Interesting... IsraelHino Motors signed a 10-year assembly agreement with Kaiser-Illin Industries of Haifa, Israel, in 1963. Assembly of the Contessa 900 started in 1964. Later, Briska 900 and 1300 and the Contessa 1300 sedan were assembled in Haifa as well. During the years 1964-1965, Israel was Hino's second most important market for its Contessas. Israel exports amounted to ~10% of total Contessa production. After it was purchased by Toyota, the contract was terminated and the very last Israeli Contessas rolled off the assembly line in March 1968. In total, over 8,000 Hino Contessa and Briska were assembled in Israel. Can't say that I ever saw anything old and Japanese during my 2 year stint in Israel during 2004~2005 That's the brochure I have. Aaah, yes, I'd forgotten about the Israeli connection. At that time the Israeli government had a strange policy of only one vehicle type per engine capacity band per manufacturer. They entered into agreements with various manufacturers for each size of car and the Contessa was the one successfully evaluated for the 1300cc type. This is where the strange anomaly of the FWD Triumph 1300 being produced there with only a 1500cc engine - it was the next size up but of course couldn't have the normal size engine because that would clash with the Hino!! The Triumph was later produced (up to 1973 IIRC) as a 1300 and in more basic trim when the Contessa was discontinued. There's something about it on aronline: http://www.aronline.co.uk/blogs/2011/07 ... rs-israel/
Mash Posted March 3, 2012 Posted March 3, 2012 This is the original version by the way, the successor to Hino's licence built Renault 4CV, the Renault influence still much in evidence :
flat4alfa Posted March 3, 2012 Posted March 3, 2012 Wait until you see the Sport version of that ^ It's fantastic The Samurai was something else entirely...
michiel Posted March 3, 2012 Posted March 3, 2012 Hino Contessa - Michelotti design by Michiel V, on FlickrHino Contessa - Michelotti design by Michiel V, on FlickrHino Contessa - Michelotti design by Michiel V, on Flickr Hnng. Here's (I think) an Israeli 900: Hino Contessa 900 by Michiel V, on Flickr
flat4alfa Posted March 4, 2012 Posted March 4, 2012 A splash of colour is nicer A bit. Those Renault swing-axles can't stop folding-under. Good old Dauphine fun.
eddyramrod Posted March 4, 2012 Posted March 4, 2012 Isn't that elegant! The more I see of these things, the more I want one. And I haven't seen one in the flesh yet!
Ross_K Posted March 4, 2012 Posted March 4, 2012 Hino trucks were assembled in Ireland by "Pino" Harris from the early 70's iirc. They're still assembling them in Dublin. Dunno where they're selling them though - I can't remember the last time I saw one on the road.
Eddie Posted March 7, 2012 Author Posted March 7, 2012 hey guys, forgive my ignorance, but can't seem to upload pics of the Contessa!!!I thought it was the same as sending them in an email.
eddyramrod Posted March 7, 2012 Posted March 7, 2012 If you want a hand to do that, PM me and I'll guide you through it. Wait for it.... Two Eds being better than one! Boom-boom!
michiel Posted March 8, 2012 Posted March 8, 2012 I saw a pic here: http://oldjapanesecar.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=2665 So which country is it in, Eddie? Just curious...
Eddie Posted March 9, 2012 Author Posted March 9, 2012 Hey guys, try viewing my pics of the Contessa at: [email protected]
Eddie Posted March 9, 2012 Author Posted March 9, 2012 http://public.fotki.com/EddieAnwar/my-f ... html#media http://public.fotki.com/EddieAnwar/my-f ... html#media http://public.fotki.com/EddieAnwar/my-f ... html#media http://public.fotki.com/EddieAnwar/my-f ... html#media http://public.fotki.com/EddieAnwar/my-f ... html#media http://public.fotki.com/EddieAnwar/my-f ... bum/#media Hey guys, do the above links work?
eddyramrod Posted March 9, 2012 Posted March 9, 2012 Yep, I can see those. Added you to my Friends too. And if the price is less than five years' pay, buy the Contessa. Immediately!
flat4alfa Posted March 12, 2012 Posted March 12, 2012 Aha. It's the Karachi car mentioned in this very thread A friend of mine who also has a liking of Triumphs was looking to buy one and had spoken to a bloke in Pakistan. Sadly the deal fell through as the owners was keen for it to stay in the country
Eddie Posted March 13, 2012 Author Posted March 13, 2012 Yep. You were quick to spot it. Now I have it. Anyone interested?
michiel Posted March 13, 2012 Posted March 13, 2012 Wow - interested yes (how much?), but Karachi... do Easyjet fly there?
Eddie Posted March 13, 2012 Author Posted March 13, 2012 Hi Michiel; Where are you based? The car is now in Islamabad. I would have loved to keep it but I will be moving to Manila to join the ADB in a few months and I do not want it rot away. If anyone is interested in buying it, I can ship it anywhere. Or for that matter, if I get good price, I can personally deliver the car anywhere!!The prices of the Contessa vary, depending obviously on the condition and where the buyer is. In Japan for example, where they are something of a collector's item, some have fetched around $23,000 and one excellent condition sedan was sold for around $39,000. But obviously if you're importing to some other country you will have to calculate how much it will cost to have it imported and base your offer on that. So, if your interested, like they say; make me an offer which I can't refuse!!! If you need further details you can email me: [email protected]
michiel Posted March 13, 2012 Posted March 13, 2012 I'm in the Netherlands, but sadly there's no way I can afford a Contessa plus shipping I'm afraid (I was hoping it would be a little closer to home) - if I had more than just a couple of thousand $ I would try to buy the one Dutch Contessa I know off. Lame innit?
eddyramrod Posted March 13, 2012 Posted March 13, 2012 Where's Sam when you need him? What a road trip that would make for PC!
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