The Contessa was a 2-door coupe and 4-door sedan built by Hino Motors between 1961 and 1967. Plans were for the car to be exported to the U.S. later in the run, but Hino was bought out by Toyota, and those expectations evaporated. The seller has a rare left-hand-drive sedan that may be complete but is in need of a total restoration. Located in a garage in Tallmadge, Ohio, this interesting Japanese compact is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $2,500.
Early Contessas used Renault powertrains under license. While the Hino had propulsion from the rear, the engines were water-cooled as opposed to air-cooled. When the bigger second-generation cars were developed in 1964, the engine size grew to 1,251 cc using a 4-speed rather than a 3-speed manual transmission. These vehicles also had quad headlights, which gave the cars a more important stance (as a nod to the American Chevy Corvair?). 55,000 of the 2nd-gen Contessas were built, and all but 7% were 4-door sedans like this one.
We don’t know how or when the seller’s Contessa made it to the States. It has 63,000 miles but hasn’t likely been running in a very long time. It looks to be mostly there, but since Hino has been out of the car business for nearly 60 years, what does the parts pipeline look like today from Japan? The seller says he was going to restore the sedan as a companion to his even rarer Contessa Coupe, but the reality is he’ll never get around to it.
This vehicle could serve as a parts source for the seller’s coupe, but he must be flush on extras for that vehicle, as he’d rather see someone else restore the 4-door. The body seems okay with the faded blue paint accompanied by red primer. And the interior is beyond being in a salvageable state. No trades will be entertained, so show up with cash. Thanks for the tip, “JDC”.
Most people aren’t aware (or couldn’t care) that Pete Brock-
of BRE racing fame used to race one of these.
Early version of the Hofmeister kink?
Never heard of a Hino car. The only vehicles I remember with the Hino name were huge dump trucks rumbling on Philippine roads when I was stationed there. As the author states, this car will be good for some spares, probably not many from the body though is it’s got its share of rust-through.
The Michelotti styling is apparent especially that Alfa-Romeo like roof line. There is someone out there who would want this to restore as a labor of love. II hope they see this advert.
Looks very much like the Triumph 2000 (Mk 1), built between 1963 and 1969.
If I recall correctly, this was in the possession of a museum in California, who put it up for sale on Craigslist a few years ago. I also seem to recall that they were more concerned about getting rid of it than they were about it going to a good home, so I’m glad this guy picked it up, even if only as a temporary steward.
I would say that I’m surprised by just how much of this California car has been eaten by the tin worm, but considering the state of my own former California car, I’m guessing this Hino lived by the sea for a while.