Mitsubishi 500
The tiny Mitsubishi 500 restarted the company's passenger-car story after the war with a light body, a rear engine and deliberate simplicity.
1960 Mitsubishi 500 A10 Sedan.jpg · Cars Down Under · CC BY 2.0
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More than a set of wheels.
Introduced in April 1960, the A10 Mitsubishi 500 was the company's first mass-produced post-war passenger car and was developed in the context of Japan's proposed national-car plan. Mitsubishi pursued a low price and low mass rather than luxury: the launch car cost 390,000 yen, used one windshield wiper and placed its only turn indicators on the side pillars. A monocoque shell held four people while the little two-cylinder engine sat at the rear. Mitsubishi also records the 500 as the first Japanese car tested in a wind tunnel. The original model lasted only until the larger-engined Super Deluxe arrived in 1961.
Look a little closer.
Its minimalist equipment included one windshield wiper and side-pillar indicators instead of separate lamps at the front and rear.
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
A small car shaped by a national goal
Japan's Ministry of International Trade and Industry was encouraging an affordable national vehicle, and Mitsubishi answered with a compact family car rather than another luxury machine. The 500's 390,000-yen price, four seats and simple fittings show how every decision served accessibility.
Source: Mitsubishi Motors · Car History ↗Wind-tunnel work before it was routine
Mitsubishi calls the 500 the first Japanese car tested in a wind tunnel. That mattered because its 21 PS engine had little power to waste pushing air aside; careful shaping and low mass helped a very small powertrain deliver usable family transport.
Source: Mitsubishi Motors · Car History ↗Where these facts come from
- Mitsubishi Motors · Car History
- GAZOO · Mitsubishi 500 A10 catalogue
- Automobile-Catalog · 1960 Mitsubishi 500
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed October 1, 2026.