Description
The Daihatsu Fellow 360 was a compact kei car produced in the late 1960s and early 1970s as Daihatsu’s entry into the small passenger car segment within Japan’s kei vehicle category. It was introduced in 1966 and aimed to provide affordable personal transportation to a growing middle class during Japan’s postwar economic boom.
As the name suggests, the Fellow 360 was powered by a 360 cc engine, which was the legal maximum for kei cars at the time. It used a two-stroke, two-cylinder engine mounted in the front, driving the rear wheels through a manual gearbox. Power output was modest, generally around 20 horsepower in the early models, increasing slightly in later versions. Despite the small size and output, the car was light and capable of reaching speeds around 100 km/h, suitable for city and light suburban driving.
The car had a very compact footprint, with a narrow body and short wheelbase that made it easy to maneuver through tight city streets and park in small spaces. It was available in several body styles over its production life, including two-door and four-door sedans, and even a wagon-type variant.
Inside, the Fellow 360 offered basic accommodation for four passengers. The dashboard and controls were simple and functional, reflecting its economy-focused purpose. While early models were very minimalistic, later versions added features such as improved seating, a more modern dashboard layout, and better sound insulation.
Daihatsu refined the Fellow 360 throughout its production run, updating the styling and performance to keep up with rivals like the Subaru 360, Honda N360, and Suzuki Fronte. One of the more notable updates came with the release of the Fellow SS, a sportier version equipped with a more powerful twin-carburetor engine producing up to 32 horsepower, targeting younger drivers looking for a spirited kei car.
By the early 1970s, Japan’s kei car regulations changed to allow slightly larger vehicles and engines up to 550 cc. Daihatsu responded with the introduction of the Fellow Max, which replaced the original Fellow 360.
Today, the Daihatsu Fellow 360 is a rare sight on the roads but is remembered as a significant part of Japan’s early kei car history. It holds nostalgic and collectible value among enthusiasts of vintage Japanese cars and represents an era when small, efficient vehicles were key to Japan’s rapid modernization.