Hello ladies and gents this is the Viking telling you that today we are talking about
HONDA SUPER CUB
5. Disney-inspired fork
Motorcycle design inspiration sometimes comes from the strangest of places. This explanation of the front fork design from Kimura-san, may take the cake:
“I saw a scene in the Disney movie ‘Bambi’ in which Bambi was running at full speed, then stretched out his forelegs to quickly stop and stand firm. That scene stuck in my mind, and I used that image in creating the shape of the Super Cub’s front fork.”
4. Colors of the sea and sky
If you’re wondering why the original Super Cub is painted in the different shades of blue, this wasn’t a coincidence, says Kimura-san. He wanted to create a color combination that “exuded both softness and brightness. I called these the colors of the sea and the sky, as they’re colors that are familiar to and popular with most Japanese.”
As for the red seat: Kimura wanted to add an accent color. When it came time to choose a color, Kimura says, “Mr. Honda used to wear a red shirt and drive a red sports car, which gave designers a hint at which colors to choose…”
3. 30,000 per month!
When the final mockup of the Super Cub was completed in December 1957, Honda managing director Fujisawa yelled out “We can sell 30,000 of these!” At the time, the total number of motorcycles sold per month was around 40,000, so the assembled staff weren’t particularly excited with 30,000 units a year. Then Fujisawa-san corrected himself.
“No, not 30,000 per year, 30,000 per month!”
Needless to say, Honda smashed that goal.
2. Honda sought a $1 million loan – and was denied!
Even in the late 1950s, early 1960s, Fujisawa-san knew if Honda was going to make it, the company had to succeed in America. He was also steadfast in his belief that Honda should do so by developing its own sales network and open a wholly owned subsidiary. It would be run by his 39-year-old sales assistant, Kihachiro Kawashima. To establish the new business, Honda sought $1 million in capital funds. The request was denied — not by Honda management, but by Japan’s Ministry of Finance, which then controlled the flow ofcurrency out of Japan. The Japanese government had such little confidence in the venture that it approved capital of just $250,000 — and on the condition that only half of that money be taken out of the country in cash. Kawashima then spent $100,000 to buy the building at 4077 Pico Blvd in Los Angeles. With less than $30,000 left to run the business, he had to get a loan to buy the Chevy truck. Much later, when interviewed for a Honda history piece he quipped, “I don’t have good sense in accounting!”
1. The Cub was never meant to be American Honda’s main product
When Honda established American Honda in 1959, it brought three motorcycles: the Dream, Benly ), and Super Cub. The Super Cub was considered a “sidekick” model to the other two, but the Dream and Benly had engine problems early on, and entire shipments were sent back to Japan to be fixed, leaving only the Super Cub on the sales floor. Its unique appearance was so different than any other motorcycle the American consumer had seen at the time – and it was incredibly affordable at $250 – it gained popularity, which translated into sales. So, it became the main product. And the rest, as they say, is history.
And as always have a chilled day from the Viking
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