About Daihatsu Feroza Softtop
Daihatsu introduced the Feroza hard-top in 1994 and, a year later, it offered it in a soft-top version to provide more fun for its occupants.
As part of the Toyota Motor Corporation, Daihatsu was eager to make its way onto the world market, and the light off-road segment was almost empty. Apart from the rugged Suzuki Samurai, there was practically no other option on many markets. Jeep was already concerned about more luxurious vehicles, Land Rover was in financial troubles, and Nissan's smallest off-roader was the big Patrol.
The Feroza featured a squared-looking bodywork with plastic molds on the wheel-arches, and that was similar for both versions: the hard-top and the rag-top version. On the other hand, the latter sported a B-pillar that served as a safety arch and a T-top over the front seats. Thus, the driver could offer an open-top view for the rear passengers only. An additional roll-bar found its place behind the rear bench. Since the car was short, there was no other place to put the spare-wheel, other than the trunk door.
Inside the cabin, there was room for four and a tiny trunk used mostly to host the canvas-top and its metallic rails, but the roll-bar behind was very useful to host a surfboard on it. Daihatsu installed a flat area at the top and a vertical rim for additional dials. The main instrument cluster remained almost the same. The carmaker fitted the cars with cranked front windows, and unless it was raining, they were always open.
Since Toyota was Daihatu's major stakeholder, it provided a 1.6-liter gasoline engine and helped it develop the 4x4 system. There was no locking differential available, but at least it was a light vehicle that could take its occupants to the seashore.