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The Mazda T600, T1100, T1500, and T2000 are a series of three-wheeled trucks sold primarily in Japan from 1957 to 1974. These vehicles have an enclosed forward cab with a motorcycle-style front wheel, a midships-placed engine, and an open cargo bed.

The T1100, T1500, and T2000 are closely related vehicles with designations indicating engine size. The T600 is a sibling of the K360, and is only related to the other T-series three-wheelers by model name.

T600


The T600 is a tiny pickup truck introduced in 1959. It has conventional automobile controls, seating for two, and a cargo capacity of 500 kg.

The initial model had a canvas roof-top, and a 4 shaku cargo bed (a shaku is a Japanese measure of the period that is very close to one foot). The bed was extended to 5 shaku, and in 1962 the door windows were changed from a slide-forward style to fully opening units that slide down into the door panels. In 1964 the canvas roof-top was changed to sheet metal.

The vehicle is powered by an air-cooled V-twin engine placed in a narrow bay directly behind the cab. This is a 566 cc OHV unit of 20 hp, and is connected to a 3-speed transmission. Production of the T600 continued until 1971.

The T600 is largely identical with the K360, a 356 cc version of 11 hp and 300 kg capacity. The K360 has a parallel development history with the exception of the cargo bed extension to 5 shaku. Unlike the T600, the K360 qualified as a Kei car in Japan.

T1100 / T1500 / T2000


The T1100, T1500, and T2000 share coachwork and mechanical features. These vehicles are visually similar, and can be primarily distinguished by the model number in chrome on the door panels.

Aside from being three-wheelers, these are conventional trucks with normal control layout. They have a canvas-roofed cab with seating for three. The engine is placed below the bench seat, with the radiator placed at the rear of the front wheelwell, below the floorboard.

Historically, these vehicles are the culmination of a long line of Mazda three-wheeled trucks beginning with the Mazda-Go of 1931. Those first vehicles are distinctly motorcycle derived, with subsequent models gradually gaining enclosed cabs and eventually a steering wheel, though always using a motorcycle-style air-cooled engine of one or two cylinders. The T-series represents the final modernization of the type with the introduction of four-cylinder liquid-cooled engines, and all-wheel braking.

These vehicles were supplied with a range of cargo beds. The standard 8 shaku bed has a low floor that is set directly on the vehicle's frame. It is slightly compromised by wheelwells, and has fixed side panels, a tailgate, and a forward rack. There is a similar 8 shaku bed with hinged side panels. Then there is a 10 shaku version of the standard bed, and a 10 shaku bed with a raised deck set across the tops of the wheelwells. This bed type is supported above the vehicle frame by full-length wooden sleepers, and has hinged side panels. Finally, there is a 13 shaku version of this raised-deck bed.

First Series
The T-series beings in 1959 with the introduction of the T1100 and T1500. The T1100 model has a 1139 cc engine of 46 hp and 8 kg-m torque, and was sold in 1000 kg and 1500 kg capacity versions. The T1500 has a 1484 cc engine of 60 hp and 10.4 kg-m torque, and was sold as a 2000 kg capacity vehicle.

The T1500 had a variety of cargo beds other than the standard 8 shaku low-floor model. There was also a 8 shaku low-floor bed with folding sides, a 10 shaku low-floor bed with standard sides, a 10 shaku high-deck bed with folding sides, and a 13 shaku high-deck bed with folding sides.

Second Series


In 1962, the T1100 was replaced by a new T1500 for the 1000 kg and 1500 kg capacity versions, bringing forward the 60 hp 1484 cc engine of the previous T1500. The old T1500 2000 kg vehicle was replaced by a new T2000 2000 kg vehicle powered by a 1985 cc engine of 81 hp and 15.5 kg-m torque.

The chassis was also upgraded at this time with twin leading-shoe brakes fitted to the rear wheels. A fully floating rear axle was installed in the T2000, and semi-floating unit was installed in the T1500. Minor changes include parallel-moving windshield wipers rather than mirror-acting, and a new "Mazda" logo on the front that consists of individual chrome letters, rather than raised letters on a common plate.

In 1965 the T2000 was fitted with power brakes, and distinctive fender-mounted oval mirrors were introducted.

As before, the 1500 kg vehicle was sold with an 8 shaku bed, while the 2000 kg vehicle was sold with a variety of bed lengths and configurations.

Full-scale production ceased in 1970, but per-order production continued into 1974. The T2000's unique combination of a 13 shaku bed with a 5.93 m turning radius kept the vehicle in demand for niche industrial use such as logging down narrow roads.

The model name "T2000" was later reused by Mazda in a series of conventional cab-over trucks introduced in 1981.