Japan's first four-wheel drive passenger car "Kurogane four jumps" Photo review of the body before restoration

Restoring an old car and restoring it to the state where it can actually runRestoreMany enthusiasts call a variety of vehicles time and effort to bring life back again. Production was started in 1936, and it was a pioneering presence of passenger cars equipped with four-wheel drive that was extremely rare in the world at that time "Fourth calligraphy'S body was discovered in Kyoto and the plan was started for a complete restore of the historically and technically valuable body, so we decided to first look at the state before the restoration.

Beyond the moment of 70 years, the phantom domestic car "Kurogane four raised" restoration plan starting! (Masahiko Kobayashi) - READYFOR?
https://readyfor.jp/projects/kurogane4ki


Press Release.pdf(PDF file)
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B3IGHdDHM61iTEJnWmV2MkNOd1JZNmo4M21kQzlQQkptRmtR/edit

◆ What is "Kurogane four boots"?
The official name is "Ninety-five style small passenger carKurogane four raised is a small military passenger car whose production began in 1936.Four bootsIs a word meaning four wheel drive as it is today, American military car "Jeep"It is a vehicle showing the technical strength of the time as a four-wheel drive passenger car put into practical use six years earlier than.


Although it is said that tires that are larger than the body are equipped with a four-wheel drive mechanism and have a high rough road running ability, feeling the affection that can not be thought of as a military vehicle in the car body composed of a curve and a straight line The animation "Girls und Panzer"In addition to having appeared as a public relations car of the moral committee team, various models are sold also from the plastic model" Tamiya ".

1/48 Japan Army 95 Type Mini Passenger Car (Kurogane 4 Oku)
http://www.tamiya.com/japan/products/32558kurogane/


◆ Four current callets
The figure of "Kurogane four raised" currently stored in the garage in Shizuoka prefecture.


It seems that the rust that floated on the whole body feels the time flow of about 70 years from the manufacturing.


It tells the time when the mudguard shape which raised left and right was born.


The grill part of the body tip asked by Mr. Kobayashi to advance the restoration project, "Do not you think that this part looks like something?" The answer is the shape of "Oka" worn during Kendo. It was a part that clearly represents what this "kurogane netsuke" was born as being designed in Japanese culture.


A slit for cooling provided near the bonnet opening. Cooling performance was very important for "Kurogane four boots" equipped with an air-cooled engine.


A part of the head light left on the left fender. Although barely restricted in prototype, it seems difficult to use as it is. On the right side, the protrusion behind the headlight is the cover to fit the shaft that pops out when the front wheel suspension sinks.


Corrosion also advanced around the door. This is around the door on the left side of the car body.


Especially, moisture tends to accumulate in the lower part of the door panel, and you can see the part which is becoming ragged.


In such a part, once the corroded part is cut off, restore craftsmen will restore the condition as comparable to the original by processing the new iron plate according to the original form. In order to work according to high technology and situation, the restore cost is a world that "I do not know without trying", and the work estimate is "It is not like that".


The condition of the right side door looks good.


One thing that is quite different from modern cars is this bounce-up windshield. Although corrosion is progressing in part on the left side, the right side keeps the shape almost as originally molded. Because curved glass has not been put into practical use yet, I feel that it is time to fit a flat glass sheet.


This cylindrical device equally installed on the left and right of the windshield makes the era feel.


Operating the switch near the handle of the driver's seat ... ...


Originally, a flip-up type turn signal (turn signal) with a reflecting mirror like this is popping out electrically.


The slightly remaining orange color makes the remnant feel.


You can see that wooden trims are embedded along the top edge of the body surrounding the seat space. It seems that wooden parts were often used for cars at the time.


Relatively good condition in the back of the body. The disk-like parts that are attached to a round curved surface are mounts for mounting spare tires.


This car body was then "Kurogane" (Japanese internal combustion engine) Mr. Kobayashi got the thing that Mr. Kobayashi got from the fact that those who had been running a brand agency had been keeping in one corner of the warehouse at the edge of a strange person. Kobayashi said that the condition is "to fix it properly and to run", Mr. Kobayashi said, "I want the original owner to properly repair it while I am fine and see the figure moving again" I will.

Interior
Compared with the exterior part, the interior part is in a state where the progress of corrosion is somewhat noticeable.


The cover is removed and the propeller shaft is exposed from the exposed transmission case. The framework of the ladder frame surrounds its left and right, as designed by the stationary as the car of the day.


Waves of year and month were also standing in the skeleton of the seat.


Transmission that protrudes greatly between driver 's seat and passenger' s seat. If we were going into this car by air cooling, even if there was a cover it would be a matter of how much the effect of heat was.


The angle fixed type large diameter handle keeps relatively good condition. Around a meter that is as simple as a modern car is not comparable.


The rear seats are exposed to the frame. When used as a military vehicle, officers and others were sitting here and being used for purposes such as enemy line reconnaissance.


In the wartime, many people were brought out of the country, so the video containing the appearance of the four kuro squatters stored overseas has been released on YouTube. What is contained in the movie is a model called "late model", which is quite different from the "previous term type" we interviewed this time.

WWII Japanese Type 95 Kurogane 4 X 4 detil walk around video - YouTube


◆ Engine
I was surprised to see the current car was the goodness of the condition around the engine. Although rust and dirt are occurring a little, it seemed unlikely that it took over 70 years to pass.


Sight from the left side of the car body. An air-cooled V-type 2-cylinder engine was generating an output of 33 horsepower from the displacement of 1400 cc.


What a belt that seems to be of those days remained as it was. It seems impossible to use as it is because cracks are occurring in some places, but it is surprising that parts of rubber remain. It seems to be thought that around the engine, it was thought that it was protected from wind and rain by the hood, and that oils entering the engine seeped out to create a situation suitable for preservation.


It is driven by the belt, a small cooling fan. It seems that the cooling performance was not so high as expected, and it seems that while being used in the direction to Southeast Asia, it was being plagued by overheating. During the interview, Mr. Kobayashi was impressive of injecting a lubricating spray through a hole for a plug that was empty in the cylinder block and trying to preserve the condition.


I would like to look at how the engine in the layout seems to generate a lot of vibrations, actually working as it is a 45 degree V type 2 cylinder with narrow angle. According to Mr. Kobayashi, "If we do adjustment of ignition timing etc., it will be a lot less vibration," and I would like to expect finish. A light blue pipe extending in Y shape is a pipeline for supplying oil to the upper part of the engine, and this engine does not have an oil panDry sumpIt has become the system.


Valve driving methodOHVAnd the rocker arm and the valve spring driving the valve were exposed to the upper part of the cylinder head.


The exhaust pipe extending from the V type engine penetrates the front tire fender and is guided to the lower part of the car body and extends to the rear part of the car body.


◆ Suspension
The suspension of "Kurogane four raised" has a front double wishbone and a rear rigid system. The arm length set as long as possible is impressive.


Originally it should be equipped with a drive shaft to drive the front wheels, but it was already missing when Mr. Kobayashi arrived. Due to the fact that there is no real thing to be modeled at hand, it is expected to be difficult when restoring, but Komatsu City, Ishikawa PrefectureJapan Automobile MuseumIt is also considered to refer to the latter type which is held in Komatsu Museum etc.


The front wheel is a suspension system with a coil spring and a shock absorber.


The springs are connected near the center of the suspension arm. The tip of the stay is divided into two "U" shape, and the drive shaft is designed to penetrate therebetween.


The shock absorber on the right front wheel had broken due to advanced corrosion.


One rear is connected with one case on the left and rightRigid axleIt is a suspension structure of the system, and it is joined to the body via a leaf spring.


Propeller shaft leading to rigid case. Looking at only the structure, it is designed to be almost the same as modern tracks.


Some old tires were left. It is hard to believe that it was 70 years ago and it was probably a thing that was exchanged on the way, but it seems that there is no doubt that it is still valuable.


◆ With the representative vehicles at that time
In Mr. Kobayashi's garage, some of the vehicles that were active around the 1940's were kept, and all condition except for the four-wheeled robot waiting for the restore is kept in the condition of working parts.


Born in 1941 next to the US · Jeep.


This car was also restored, body tension and paint are kept pretty good condition.


Witnessing a design philosophy like a lump of practicality, it is felt that the differences in national character and culture are reflected virtually in monozukuri.


This was produced in GermanyCubel WagenThe vehicle that restored. For the design of the vehicle, later establish a Porsche company of the sports car makerFerdinand · PorscheDoctor is involved.


A state of the body which is different from the United States, the feeling of quality solid healthy thought is felt. It seems like a glimpse of German nationality somewhat like a state that it is wrapped in a panel that is reinforced with straight lines and reinforced ribs molded.


And it was manufactured in GermanyHalf truckIsKettenkratRestore vehicles are also kept.


Mr. Kobayashi is a book covering the history and structure of Kettenkrat, which is unparalleled in the worldKetten Krat dismantle new bookIt is also known that it wrote.


The scenery where the vehicles by Japan, Germany and the United States representing the time are lined up is said to be no mistake even if it is world wide, saying only here. Jeep and Cubel Wagen are equipped with the same number plate as the year that was born, and I am looking forward to being able to add a license plate named "1936" to the four brims.


Mr. Kobayashi's representative NPO corporation "Association to create a defense technology museum", funds to restore the Kurogane four fans to the cloud funding siteREADYFOR?We are looking for investment in. Because the deadline of investment is until 23 o'clock on Thursday May 29 th, people interested may try visiting the site.

Beyond the moment of 70 years, the phantom domestic car "Kurogane four raised" restoration plan starting! (Masahiko Kobayashi) - READYFOR?
https://readyfor.jp/projects/kurogane4ki

Also, in order to have a lot of people view the state before the restoration, it is said that a plan to set up an exhibition space near the current storage location and to start the public to the public around April is actually in progress It seems that there will be opportunities to see it with the eyes of.