Suzuki Front 800

Make:	Suzuki
Production:	1965 to1969
Class:	Motor car
Body versions:	saloon
Engines:	Gasoline:0.79 litre (30 kW)
Length:	3870 mm
Width:	1480 mm
Height:	1360 mm
Wheelbase:	2200 mm
Curb weight:	770 kg

The Suzuki Fronte 800 was a Japanese car from the 1960s, that Suzuki produced from 1965 to 1969.

History

With the beginning of December 1965 sold Fronte 800 Suzuki tried to enter a larger higher market segment than that of the Suzuki Suzulight and the smaller model Suzuki Fronte. The name was adopted from other ranges to save marketing costs and because this was already known to the public.

Already at the Tokyo Motor Show 1962, a four-door 700 cc prototype was shown with body from leading Italian coachbuilders Pietro Frua. Another prototype was shown in 1963 at the Tokyo Motor Show and production announced. However, at the Motor Show 1964, another pre-production model was shown, with the announcement of the market launch in the spring of the following year. In fact, the production of the largely hand-built model began in August 1965.And only available as a larger two-door sedan.

The two-door sedan was designed by the then Suzuki chief designer Sasaki Toru. The sales figures were low, however, as the car was in direct competition with such popular cars as the Toyota Publica or Datsun Sunny. These had modern engines, in contrast to the Suzuki with now outdated two-stroke engine.

Thus, the Fronte 800 was little developed during it production The body was a modern unibody design. Suspension was front independent, wishbones, longitudinal torsion bars, telescopic dampers at the rear independent, semi-trailing arms, transverse torsion bars, telescopic dampers.  Drum brakes were used all around with rack-and-pinion steering,12 inch wheels with 6.00 x 12 Tyres . The biggest change was in April 1966 separate front seats instead of a bench, which could be folded from June 1966  initially for an extra charge The boot (trunk) carrying capacity of  882 1b, 400 kg. In August 1966, the sale of the standard version was discontinued, and it was now only offered the de-luxe version with the reclining seats. The 5-seater sedan cost 465,000 yen for the standard model and 540,000 yen for the De Luxe version.

Like other Suzuki engines from the time the three-cylinder two-stroke gasoline water cooled engine with 785 cc capacity was very similar to the 796 cc two-stroke engine of the DKW Junior with a single downdraught twin barrel carburettor. A 1.1-liter version of the engine had been developed for a planned front-1100 model. The engine design was similar to the engine of the DKW F102 with 68 hp and 1175 cc; but with a triple Solex gasifier, the Suzuki engine with 80 hp was much stronger. The equipped with front disc brakes front 1100 reached a top speed of 74.5 mph (160 km / h) . However, Suzuki decided not to build a production model, although motorists increasingly demanded more power and the Suzuki Fronte 1100 could at least initially keep up with the competing offers of the larger manufacturers.

PERFORMANCE: 785 cc 

• Engine Capacity 47.90 cu in, 785 cu cm
• Fuel Consumption 21.7 m/imp gal, 18.1 m/US gal, 13 1 x 100 km
• Max Speed 74.5 mph. 120 kmh
• max power (DIN): 41 hp at 4,000 rpm
• max torque (DIN): 59 1b ft. 8.2 kg m at 3,200 rpm
• max number of engine rpm: 4,500
• specific power: 52.2 hp/l
• max speeds: 74.5 mph, 120 km/h in 4th gear

The power was transmitted by fully synchronized 4-speed manual transmission; the lever was mounted on the steering wheel (column change). 

Production lasted for only four years.  In April 1969, the production was discontinued after less than 3000 copies built of the car in total. The reasons for this were the required production capacity for the Suzuki Fronte. Suzuki tried to place the model in such a way that it could compete with the large domestic manufacturers in the highly competitive Japanese market segment.