(first posted 11/10/2017) The retro thing is anything but new – and not limited to Japan, of course, but Japanese automakers have pushed the envelope quite a bit further than the rest of the world. This needs to be addressed in the Court of Automotive Opinion that is CC, and I shall prosecute this case with the required ruthlessness it deserves. To make my case, m’luds, I shall provide the CCourt with three witness statements that may illustrate, in my view, three versions of the most egregious retro styling in Japanese cars. I now call to the stand the Daihatsu Mira Gino, representing the kei car class.
– Please state your make, model and years of manufacture.
– Daihatsu Mira Gino series one, 1999-2004.
– Are you related to any other Daihatsu products? Describe your underpinnings, if one may be so bold.
– I am based on the fifth generation Daihatsu Mira / Cuore L700, manufactured in Osaka. I share my sister car’s platform, most of its body and rear lights. I too am powered by a 659cc 3-cyl. engine driving the front wheels via a 4-speed manual or a 3-speed auto.
– Where do you differ from the standard Daihatsu L700?
– My front clip, mostly. I also have additional chrome trim here and there, most noticeably my bumpers, around my taillamps and on my mirrors. I also have a much nicer interior – that goes without saying.
– So you were designed to emulate the look of a classic Mini Cooper, is that correct?
– That was indeed the intention. And I believe the operation was a success. I sold like hotcakes throughout Japan for five years and am still seen there on a daily basis despite my advancing years.
– Why do you think that is?
– I was affordable, tailored for women, easy to drive and park, cheap to insure and run, evocative of a beloved classic British import, and willing to take it up…
– Watch where you’re going there.
– …Willing to take it up to four passenger doors plus the rear hatch, unlike my unhatched, two-door inspiration. A modern compact has to make certain features available.
– I see. So you consider yourself an improvement over the cult classic BMC Mini, do you?
– I’m not a Mini, I just borrowed her makeup and shoes. Did you notice my lovely Cooper-like wheels? Suits me so well. But did the BMC Mini ever propose an automatic transmission, air conditioning or a CD-player? I think not. I’m better than a classic Mini, if you ask me.
– Please refrain from such blasphemy, Daihatsu-san, or the CCourt may find you in CContempt!
– I’m sorry, but it’s true. Have you ever been in a classic Mini, m’luds? They’re not that well put together. The earlier ones don’t even have seat belts and if they have a radio, you can’t hear it over the engine noise. You sit so low that today’s crossovers look like monster trucks. Plus the ride is harsher than a Jeremy Paxman interview.
– No one will get that reference. I think you’ve made your point, though. So what happened in 2004, when production ended?
– My successor was immediately in Daihatsu stores, along with the sixth generation Mira / Cuore. But you might want to ask it yourself. May I be excused? I have some shopping to carry.
– Thank you, yes, you’re excused. If it please the CCourt, I will now call to the stand the second series Daihatsu Mira Gino. Please state your make, model and years of production.
– Daihatsu Mira Gino (second series), 2004-2009.
– Were you also based on the Daihatsu Mira / Cuore, as you predecessor was?
– Yes, though I only came as a five-door hatchback. My body, underpinnings and platform were identical to my predecessor’s – I was a restyling effort.
– You were restyled to look like the new Mini, is that fair to say?
– Yes, that would be a fair characterization of my essence. The new Mini was a big and expensive car. I remained in the kei class.
– So let me see if I got this straight: you were a Japanese copy of an Anglo-German retro-styled model?
– You want the truth?
– I can handle the truth.
– I was far more faithful to my predecessor than the new Mini was to the classic one.
– Fine way to talk about the car that inspired your styling. Some people in Munich or Longbridge may not take too kindly to that.
– Least of my worries. I’m from Osaka. Besides, I’m not the one that changed the most. Just a facelift.
– And a tuck or two here and there, yes. I understand you were exported?
– I was available in certain Western European countries. My predecessor was too, albeit for a very brief stint and with a 1-litre engine, but couldn’t get a handle on the lingo. I was more flexible, more worldly. They gave me a mesh grille and renamed me “Trevis”, which sounds like a character from the Dukes of Hazard.
– I see. Impersonating a retro-styled car and being called Gino was perhaps a bit too much for Europeans to swallow.
– How dare you? I am very proud of my European career. Lots of JDM cars were renamed. We learned that from the ridicule that was piled on the Nissan Cedric.
– Not to mention your parent company’s old moniker, Toyopet.
– Yes, I don’t know what got into them in those days. Did they not realize the name read “Toyo-fart” in francophone countries? Honestly. We’ve come a long way.
– Thank you, no further questions.
M’luds, I realize the CCourt will soon be in recess. So in summation, I will only say that the kei class have many other retro-styled examples, as well as retro kei vans (some made to look like a tiny Citroën H or miniature VW Transporters). The Nissan Figaro, which was exported far and wide, paved the way for the retro style in this class of Japanese cars. But the Figaro looked like a Figaro, it did not attempt to ape a foreign car’s styling. Our first witness, the Daihatsu Mira Gino, was guilty of ripping off a British institution, the BMC Mini, as well as its 21st Century descendant, the BMW-Rover Mini. It is my contention that the Daihatsu, though an egregious example of blatant retro-styling, has intrinsic value-added as an overall package. Its first series was not unlike a classic Mini with added comfort; its second series was, unlike the modern Mini, a nimble subcompact. I shall ask the CCourt to reconvene at the earliest hour possible tomorrow to depose the Mitsuoka Viewt.
I like these, especially the first series. And retro or not, that front clip is a huge improvement over the original.
Can’t fail not to disagree with you there.
The unmolested one looks so much better! I liked them from when they were sold in Chile (the plain first gen Mira, not the Gino)
I looked at the first one and thought “BMC DNA there”, I like it and would love to see how it drives .
The second series doesn’t look as cute to my old eyes .
-Nate
Love the Honda N Box in the 4th picture down (black boxy vehicle). If only they had kept the Element around but made it more like the N Box.
” I was far more faithful to my predecessor than the new Mini was to the classic one.
– Fine way to talk about the car that inspired your styling. Some people in Munich or Longbridge may not take too kindly to that.”
I think some in Longbridge might have a chuckle in that respect! (Not so sure about those at Cowley or Plant Oxford as its now called.) That said, the second one looks a bit startled! Perhaps Paxo put the wind up it.
It wasn’t on Newsnight it got that expression, but at the plastic surgeon’s. You know, that “permanently surprised” look sported by old ladies who’ve had a few too many eye lifts…
Stephanie would take a series 1 in a heartbeat. If it didn’t have RHD, I’d get her one for Christmas.
I love retro ( Prowler, PT Cruiser etc) and I really love Japanese retro. I always thought that the second series Nissan Micra (March) was a homage to the Mini.
I would have liked the BMW MINI if it had been better-built, without the pastiche interior that tried to glorify the worst features of the original.
Looking forward to the next instalment.
The first Daihatsu Mira Gino reminds me of a car that was driven by a teacher at my junior high school in the late 1960s – a 1958 Datsun. A little odd to me, since Daihatsu is owned by Toyota.
I’ve seen some of the older ones in Japan – they rust a lot less than the original Mini.
The 2nd Series Daihatsu Mira Gino should have kept the front-end of the original 1st Series model.
What would have made it almost perfect IMHO is if the Mira Gino received the 1297cc Daihatsu K3-VE engine in the Storia / Sirion, YRV, and Terios in both 86-107 hp non-turbo and 128-138 hp turbocharged forms as well as the 118 hp 713cc JC-DET turbo used in the Storia X4.
If necessary the more potent Mira Gino models would of course receive 4WD, whether as standard or as an option.
One Retro Kei Car concept that should have definitely gone into production with 1-litre+ overbored Subaru EN07 unit (alongside the existing Kei Car spec unit) was the 1997 Subaru Elten concept resembling the Subaru 360, instead Subaru dropped the ball by producing the Pleo and R2. – http://www.allcarindex.com/auto-car-model/Japan-Subaru-Elten/
OhmygoditssocutecanIkeepit pleeeeaaasssseee?
It is mighty interesting how the two generations of this Daihatsu parallel the designs of the original and new Minis.
Overall, the concept (& execution) of kei cars has grown on me over the years. They now sort of intrigue me — not quite enough to buy one, but I am growing a fondness for them nonetheless. That said, I’ve never heard of the Mira Gino before.
I enjoyed this article — I’m looking forward to the trial’s continuation.
I like tonyola’s photo of the little ’58 Datsun — itself perhaps inspired by certain “British Perpendicular” offerings of yore — because an over-enthusiastic graphic artist has managed to remove everything under the sheet metal, in the middle third of the car, at least: one looks right through the front wheel opening into empty space . . . !
Hah – I hadn’t noticed that. Here’s one that’s a little more complete.
What’s the black “upright” looking car/mini van next to it?
Honda N Box.
These high-roof boxy kei cars are all the rage in Japan these days. Absolutely dreadful looks, tall slab-sided things with the driver’s head stuck in the lower third of the car’s windows and all the aerodynamic efficiency of a brick with 11-inch wheels.
I’ve nothing against putting more luxury appointments in a small car – it’s a splendid idea, and the Gino’s interior is a big improvement – but I tend to loathe these retro redesigns.
These are probably the least offensive/controversial of all the Japanese retro cars because at least the Cuore’s upright, squared-off lines provide a good base for the Mini-esque embellishments.
A Micra Bolero, on the other hand…
That’s the stuff of nightmares. But not nearly as common as the Gino. Could it be because “Bolero” is nigh on impossible to pronounce for most Japanese people?
On a point of order, M’Lud, where the accused asserts ‘ … But did the BMC Mini ever propose an automatic transmission, air conditioning or a CD-player? I think not….’ .
The little wonder from Longbridge was actually available, for a few years, with a 4 speed automatic, designed and made by Automotive Products to fit into that little oily cave below the engine, and also offered in the 1100/1300 range.
I’m not suggesting that there was much take up of this option, but they drove quite well, although with predictably diminished performance.
Was under the impression Japanese market Mini did feature air conditioning and a CD-player.
The first generation one looks better, and I agree with the first comment here, it looks more stylish than the standard Mira and the interior is streets ahead of it. I always found those cars too small but ironically its replacement has become my everyday car now.
Saludos desde Costa Rica, América Central, con mi Gino
Bein Venidos Luis ! .
Megista su carrito mucho .
-Nate
(that’s about it for my Spanish)
Apologies if I’m repeating myself, it’s hit and miss posting comments at the moment.
I wonder if the shopping capacity matches the 27 bottles of gin and one of tonic Issigonis claimed for the Mini door pockets.
Think these are closer in concept to the BMC Mini than the BMW MINI which looks like the blueprints have been on the copier too many times.
Looks like Daihatsu had studied a BMW car for inconsistent shut lines round the hatchback.
Yeah, WordPress is weird at the moment. This seems to happen periodically, Hummel. You post a comment, it doesn’t appear, so you post it again, it says “Oops, it looks like you’ve already said that”, but then – silence.
Don’t take it personally.
Usually those comments go to the trash; and need someone with back-of-screen access and an advanced degree in WordPressery to retrieve and repost. They’re usually pretty good at that. But sometimes your words just disappear forever, into some cyberspace equivalent of a black hole.
I think Issigonis would be tickled pink that the kei-car category is alive and well in Japan. It’s so similar in concept to his Mini, scaled down even smaller. And if the Japanese (well, some of them anyway) want to pay homage to his masterpiece with a Miniesque bodykit, good for them.
If it was a regular production option I’d choose it over the standard look – but not if I had to pay too much extra. Kawai only goes so far….