History
Hino Contessa 1300
The Contessa 1300 represented Hino's ambitious entry into the passenger car market with Italian styling and innovative engineering. Its rear-engine layout was unusual for Japanese sedans, providing good traction and interior space. Giovanni Michelotti's elegant design gave it European sophistication rare in Japanese cars of the period. Hino's exit from passenger vehicles to focus on commercial trucks makes the Contessa a fascinating footnote in Japanese automotive history.