Description
The Hino Renault PA61 was a small passenger car produced by Hino Motors in the 1950s and early 1960s. It was developed under a licensing agreement with Renault, based on the Renault 4CV model. The PA61 was part of Hino’s efforts to produce compact and affordable cars for the Japanese market, utilizing Renault’s proven design and engineering.
The PA61 was powered by a 950 cc, water-cooled, inline four-cylinder engine, which offered slightly more power than earlier versions, improving its performance for city and suburban driving. The car maintained the rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive configuration that was characteristic of the Renault 4CV. Its small size and light weight made it ideal for navigating Japan’s crowded urban streets, while its fuel efficiency appealed to post-war consumers looking for economical transportation.
The Hino Renault PA61 shared the rounded body design and practical layout of its French counterpart, but it was adapted to meet local Japanese market conditions. It was one of the last passenger car models Hino produced before the company shifted focus to manufacturing trucks and commercial vehicles.
Today, the Hino Renault PA61 is considered a rare and significant part of Japan’s early automotive history, especially given Hino’s later prominence in commercial vehicle production.