Hino Briska

{{infobox automobile

| name = FG series

| image = 1961 Hino Briska (FG).jpg

| caption = 1961-1963 Hino Briska pickup (FG10)

| manufacturer = Hino Motors

| aka =

| production = April 1961–1965

| model_years =

| assembly = Tokyo, Japan (Mitsui Seiki)
Haifa, Israel

| predecessor =

| successor = FH series

| class =

| body_style =

| layout =

| platform =

| engine = 893 cc GP20 I4

| transmission = 4-speed manual

| wheelbase = {{ubl | {{convert|2230|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} (FG10/FG20) | {{convert|2295|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} (FG30) }}

| length = {{convert|3840|-|4150|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}

| width = {{convert|1620|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}

| height = {{convert|1640|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}

| weight = {{convert|935|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}{{cite web |url=http://www.automobile-catalog.com/car/1961/1081715/hino_briska.html |title=1962 Hino Briska FG-Series specs, performance, photo & data |work=automobile-catalog.com |access-date=2012-05-25 }}

| related =

| designer =

}}

The Briska was introduced in March 1961 at exhibitions in 32 cities across Japan.{{Cite book | author = Ozeki, Kazuo | script-title =ja:日本のトラック・バス 1917~1975 |trans-title=Japanese Trucks and Buses 1917-1975: | publisher = Miki Press | year = 2007 | page = 87 | location = Tokyo | language = ja | isbn = 978-4-89522-487-1 }} Called the FG10, it used a Hitachi-Stromberg carburetor on a modified version of the Contessa's engine, itself derived from that of the Renault 4CV. In March 1962, the Briska lineup added a longer version with a second bench seat for rear seat passengers. This was coded FG20P and was also available in a glazed van version ("Light Van"), called FG20V.Ozeki, p. 109 The Briska was built under contract by {{ill|Mitsui Seiki|ja|三井精機工業}} rather than by Hino themselves from the beginning.

The body style with the single bench seat could carry a payload of {{convert|750|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}, while the Pickup (crew cab with an integrated bed) could accommodate {{convert|400|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}. In September 1962 the longer FG30 arrived (with a corresponding update to the Light Van and Pickup in 1963 as the FG30P and V), now on a slightly longer wheelbase and upgraded for a {{convert|850|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}} payload. The Light Van and Pickup received new rear bodywork, more standardized and simplified compared to that of the earlier models. The Briska was the first Japanese produced truck to accommodate three passengers on a single bench seat, according to the Japanese Governments Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications. The light delivery van (FG20V/FG30V) was only built for two years due to lack of sales. In 1963, the engine was uprated from the original {{convert|35|PS|kW bhp|0|abbr=on}} to {{convert|40|PS|kW bhp|0|abbr=on}}. This also meant that top speed increased, from {{convert|91|to|100|km/h|mph|0|abbr=on}}.Ozeki, p. 116

In October 1963 the original Briska was facelifted, with a new front clip with a rather ornate front grille with a row of five diamond-shaped openings across the center. This model was briefly built as the FG30V Light Van and FG30P Pickup as well; for the last year of production only the Briska truck was available. A total of 33,916 Briska 900 were built.{{cite web | url = http://www.hinosamurai.org/Contents/cars/number_of_production/number_of_production.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100115095631/https://www.hinosamurai.org/Contents/cars/number_of_production/number_of_production.html | archive-date = 2010-01-15 | script-title=ja:日野のクルマ：生産台数 |trans-title=Hino's car production volumes | language = ja | publisher = Satoshi Ezawa | work = Hino Samurai | date = 2009-10-24 }}

File:Hino Briska Pickup facelift (FG).jpg

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{{anchor|FH}}

{{infobox automobile

| name = FH100/GY10

| image = 1965 Hino Briska 1300 (FH100).jpg

| caption = 1965 Hino Briska 1300 (FH100)

| manufacturer =Hino Motors

| aka = Toyota Briska

| production = {{ubl | 1965–1967 (Hino) | 1967–1968 (Toyota) }}

| model_years =

| assembly = {{ubl

| Tokyo, Japan (Mitsui Seiki)

| Hamura, Tokyo, Japan (Toyota Briska)

| Haifa, Israel

}}

| predecessor = FG series

| successor = Toyota Hilux

| class =

| body_style =

| layout =

| platform =

| engine = {{ubl

| 1251 cc GR100 I4 (FH100)

| 1251 cc G I4 (GY10)

}}

| transmission = 4-speed manual

| wheelbase = {{convert|2520|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}

| length = {{convert|4275|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}

| width = {{convert|1640|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}

| height = {{convert|1595|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}

| weight = {{convert|1080|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}{{cite web |url=http://www.automobile-catalog.com/car/1965/1081805/hino_briska.html |title=1965 Hino Briska FH100 specs, performance, photo & data |work=automobile-catalog.com |access-date=2012-05-25 }}

| related =

| designer =

}}

When the Contessa entered its second generation, the Briska was also modified and received a larger 1251 cc engine with {{convert|55|PS|kW|0|abbr=on}}.{{cite web |url=https://www.toyota.co.jp/jpn/company/history/75years/vehicle_lineage/car/id70000034/index.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160708201309/https://www.toyota.co.jp/jpn/company/history/75years/vehicle_lineage/car/id70000034/index.html | archive-date = 2016-07-08 | language = ja | work =75 Years of Toyota - Vehicle Lineage | title = ブリスカ | trans-title = Briska |publisher=Toyota }} There was only a single bodystyle available of the second generation, but payload increased to {{convert|1|t|lb|abbr=out}}. The new Briska appeared in April 1965. Hino entered into a partnership with Toyota in 1966, with Hino focusing on large commercial trucks and Toyota focusing on lighter vehicles.{{cite book |title=Toyota - fifty years in motion |first=Eiji |last=Toyoda |location=Tokyo |publisher=Kodansha International |year=1987 |isbn=0-87011-823-4}} The four-speed manual transmission received synchronization only on the top three gears. 15,036 Hino Briska 1300 were built; this does not include Toyota-badged cars.

The second generation Briska continued to be built by Mitsui Seiki rather than by Hino themselves, until after the Toyota takeover. Toyota moved Briska production (with their own badges) from the Mitsui plant into Hino's own Hamura factory to replace the Contessa after it was discontinued in March 1967.{{cite magazine | magazine = Old-timer | title = Una Tragedia Della Contessa | trans-title = The Tragedy of the Contessa | language = ja | first = Satoshi | last = Ezawa | page = 176 | publisher = YAESU Publishing co.ltd. [八重洲出版] | date = 1994-10-01 | volume = 4 | issue = 5, 18 }}

As of 12 May 1967 and until the end of production in March 1968 the truck was sold as the Toyota Briska, using the model code GY10. The Toyota Briska received twin headlights and a slightly more powerful engine with {{convert|63|PS|kW bhp|0|abbr=on}}.{{cite web | url = http://www.hinosamurai.org/Contents/cars/Brochure_briska_1967_10056/Brochure_briska_1967.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160919143519/https://www.hinosamurai.org/Contents/cars/Brochure_briska_1967_10056/Brochure_briska_1967.html | archive-date = 2016-09-19 | script-title=ja:日野のクルマ：カタログよりトヨタ・ブリスカ |trans-title=Hino cars: Toyota Briska catalog | language = ja | publisher = Satoshi Ezawa | work = Hino Samurai }} The engine modifications had originally been developed for the Contessa but only the Toyota Briska ended up benefitting from them. Production of the Toyota Briska was limited to 10,000 units in a little under a year; The succeeding Hilux was built by Hino factories for Toyota while Hino's truck sales were still low.

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Hino Motors signed a 10-year assembly agreement with Kaiser-Illin Industries of Haifa, Israel, in 1963. Assembly of the Contessa 900 started in 1964. Later, the Briska 900 and 1300 and the Contessa 1300 sedan were assembled in Haifa as well. During the years 1964 and 1965, Israel was Hino's second most important market for its Contessas. Israel exports amounted to about ten percent of the total Contessa production. Israeli-built Contessas were even exported to Greece, beginning towards the end of 1965. After Hino was purchased by Toyota, the contract was terminated and the final Israeli Contessas rolled off the assembly line in March 1968. In total, over 8,000 Hino Contessa and Briska were assembled in Israel.{{cite web |work=IsraelMotorIndustry.org |url=http://israelmotorindustry.org/hino_contessa_israel |title=קונטסה מיפן מגיעה לאילת |trans-title=Contessa comes from Japan to Eilat |language = he | access-date=2012-06-01}}

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File:Commerce.jpg

The Briska was actually pre-dated by a commercial delivery van version called the Hino Commerce (model code PB), introduced in 1959. The Commerce was similar mechanically to the Renault Estafette (which was also based on the Renault 4CV). At the time, Hino built three vehicles with three different layouts, while sharing engines and some other mechanicals: the Briska was front engine and rear-wheel drive, whereas the Commerce is front engined and front-wheel drive, and the Contessa is rear-engined and rear-wheel drive.

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{{reflist}}

;Global

• [http://www.hino-global.com/ Company website]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120601022725/http://www.hino.co.jp/j/ Company website] {{in lang|ja}}
• [http://www.HinoSamurai.org/ HinoSamurai.org] (Research Center of Historic and Existing Hino Contessa & Hino Samurai Cars, English and Japanese)
• [http://www.automobile-catalog.com/list-hino.html Hino Briska images and specifications]

{{Hino vehicle range}}

Category:1960s cars

Category:Cab over vehicles

Briska

Category:Pickup trucks

Category:Rear-wheel-drive vehicles

Category:Cars introduced in 1961