Mazda Bongo
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First-generation Mazda Bongo |
The
Mazda Bongo is a van made by
Mazda Motor Corp. of Japan. Since 1978, it has been exported as the
Mazda E-Series and as the
Ford Econovan.
For more details see http://www.bongovan.com
Mazda introduced its small van, the Bongo, in 1966. It featured a 782cc water-cooled 4-stroke engine
driving the rear wheels.
The rear engined Bongo was produced in two versions, the F800 and the F1000 between 1968 - 1978.
The next Bongo van appeared in
1978. It was a
mid-engine rear wheel drive vehicle.
Ford sold this version of the van as the
Ford Econovan, while Mazda sold it for export as the
E1300,
E1400, and
E1600, depending on engine size.
Engines:
* 1978 1.3 L
TC, 60 hp
* 1978-1982 1.6 L
NA, 80 hp
* 1979-1980 1.4 L
UC, 70 hp
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Mazda Bongo Brawny (1990) manufactured for Japanese market |
The Bongo was redesigned for
1983 with new engines. The
Bongo Brawny was a long-wheelbase version.
Engines:
* 1983-1988 2.0 L
FE* 1983-1988 2.0 L
RF Diesel* 1983-1988 2.2 L
S2 DieselThe
SS platform Bongo lasted from 1989 until 1998.
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Mazda Bongo Friendee(1996) manufactured for Japanese market |
The
SG platform Bongo Friendee was introduced in 1995.
Ford began selling the Bongo in the Japanese home market as the
Ford Freda.
Petrol Engines:
* 2.0 L
RS-V I4* 2.5 L
RF-V V6Diesel Engines:
* 2.5 Turbo (the same engine is found in the Ford Ranger Pickup in the UK)
The Mazda Bongo Friendee van SGL, is an eight seater MPV. Although never sold new in the UK it is now increasingly popular. Some have Mazda factory fitted kitchen units, but many others are imported & converted to camper vans in the UK. All of them have fold down seats downstairs to make a double bed, and on many models there is also an "Auto Free Top" elevating roof where you can sleep 2 more. Flat-top versions (or "Bongolows as we have come to call them) are also available. First made in 1995, they are usually (but not exclusively) automatic, and come in 2WD (SGL3) and 4WD (SGL5) versions. 2.5 turbo diesels are common in Japan, although V6 petrol engines are starting to appear, and they are absolutely outstanding. Later (post 99) models are a different shape and have different engines. Aircon or climate control, and electronic blinds are fitted as standard. In fact, all the trimmings of a luxury Japanese vehicle
Read more about the Bongo Friendee in the UK at it's Owners club site http://www.bongofury.co.uk/ and conversions from LittleMovers at http://www.mazda-bongo.co.uk also the original importer and converter in the uk http://www.mazdabongo.com
Littlemovers also have their own Wikipedia section: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Littlemovers
An updated Bongo was released in June,
1998 as a
1999 model. At the same time,
Mitsubishi Motors began reselling the Bongo. This was branded the
Mazda Access in some markets.
Engines:
* 1.8 L
F8-E SOHC I4* 2.0 L
R2 Diesel I4* A first generation Mazda Bongo was used in the movie
Mad Max — it was the personal vehicle of director
George Miller, who sacrificed his van to a crash scene to keep the budget low.
* The Bongo's submodel Brawny and Friendee are commonly mentioned in websites as a joke concerning car model names.
*The Mazda Bongo appears in street chase scenes in the movie Tokyo Drift Too Fast Too Furious.
*On the Mazda Bongo and Ford Freda, there is a common problem with the water bleed pipe that is connected to the water cooling system. The pipe is under pressure when the engine is running and the clip that holds the pipe to the frame of the vehicle is unreliable. This can cause the pipe to break and the engine to overheat. A common fix to this problem is to use an additional cable-tie to further secure the pipe.
*
Mazda Bongo Friendee Specs*
Mazda Bongo â€" Mazda Bongo Specifications from 1989 to 1995
