Hodan - 砲弾

Fayeding_Spray · 3 February 2017 05:09

Hodan was founded in 1946 after Arzamin national Gerade Monelle emigrated to Japan to help with the relief and clean-up after the end of the second world war. He worked with a man called Hiriko Kobasho to build cheap cars and transport vehicles for the clean-up. The designs to these trucks and vans were lost, as many were scrapped after Japan was re-built, to help fuel production of new cars, such as the Hodan 324.

With Gerade being from Arzami, he was able to create large ties with his Company for parts and designs. He set up Hodan HQ in Hiroshima, and his company was significant in the re-construction of Hiroshima. However, production facilities were located on the outskirts of Tokyo until 1956, when all production was finally shifted to the Hiroshima area.

The company would eventually see full Japanese control, but still keeps its strong ties to the nation one of it’s founders came from.

Riso · 3 February 2017 20:53

Fair warning, your Hodan is just a letter away from the German word for testicle.

squidhead · 4 February 2017 02:20

And one letter swap away from “lawnmower”.

Fayeding_Spray · 4 February 2017 08:46

Quick Bits:

Car Name Scheme goes like this

Cyl Count, Door Count, Seat Count (825 = 8 Cyl, 2 door, 5 seats for example)

Engine Name Scheme will change, from mental to more civilised so cannot be written.

#1949 Hodan 324 J

Built solely for Japan, the 324’s were the car of the people for Japan, being built to last. It was a small car, with a wheelbase of 2.1m. Each one sold for the equivalent of 6.3 thousand 2012 USD, meaning that almost anyone could buy one. The engine was a 36hp inline 3, 930cc in size. The 2 speed box was more than enough to get the 324 up to 135km/h, reaching 100km/h in 24.5 seconds. Over 300,000 were sold in 3 years, with production ending nationally in 1956, while production was shilled to Brazil in 1954, and would eventually end in 1997.

Alfa404 - Hodan 324.zip (21.4 KB)

Fayeding_Spray · 9 February 2017 06:24

Car Dump!

#1954 Hodan GPUV

The Hodan GPUV (General Purpose Utility Vehicle) is a truck made as a utility carrier, made to haul and move various thing. Based off of the Willy’s Jeep from America, the GPUV was a useful inter-district hauling vehicle, and port-based vehicle. Around 50,000 units were produced from 1954 to 1956, and all were sold in bulk to various companies.

#1956 Hodan 322

The Hodan 322 is the first Foray into the Kei market. With a 360cc inline 3, and weighing 513kg, this little 17hp machine reaches a top speed of 96km/h in [time unknown]. The car is extremly basic, and therefore very cheap to run and maintain.

#1959 Hodan 622 1.8c INT

The 622 was an international Export car, made to be sent to the US and European markets (The first Hodan cars to be sold there), with few sold within Japan. With a 100hp 1.8L i6, and a rather strange cabin shape, it was seen as a strange look, but was widely accepted. One reviewer likened it to a “Frightened Child.” Over 10,000 were sold in the US, 8,000 were sold in Europe, and only 2,500 were sold in Japan.

#1963 Hodan U622 AuCaNZ

The U622 was a strange machine. Built by the newly formed Hodan Australia, the U622 is a pick-up based off of a sporty body. This would help spark the true beginning of HodAus. With a 3.9L Inline-6, making 205hp mounted to a 4x4 system, and a body-on-frame, this would be a niche, and sucessful vehicle, sold in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. It’s production would cease in 1973 without update.

#1965 Hodan 455 1.0c

In 1964, a multi-national hatch was wanted by The Hodan Board of Directors. The 455 was put ahead. Using a new Transverse Engine layout, making it the first Front-wheel driven Hodan. The 455 was sold internationally, through all markets in the 1.0c model only. Over 1 million 455’s were built and sold from 1965 to 1976.

#1967 Hodan 646 8.1c US

In 1967, Hodan had a tough choice. Enter the European GT Market with the 632 Concept, or the US Full-Size market with the 646. The 646 was chosen. Powering it was a custom built 8.1L inline 6. The 646 was sold only in the United states, and people were not happy, it was too heavy, too expensive, too slow, and overall not built well. Only around 5,000 were sold in total.