A Look At Toyota’s First Car, The Model ‘AA’

The Toyoda Model AA was technically built before the Toyota Motor Company existed. Kichiro Toyoda led the development and construction of the Model AA under the automobile division of Toyoda Automatic Loom Works, Toyoda’s company that built industrial machines like automatic looms, as the name would imply. The first Model AA came to fruition in 1936. Then, a year later, Toyoda created the Toyota Motor Company to begin full-scale production of passenger vehicles.

The Model AA took heavy influence from American cars of its time, and the styling makes this quite obvious. The traditional ’30s sedan styling found on virtually every American-made vehicle clearly bleeds through into the Model AA design. However, its looks are not the only thing born of American inspiration.

The engine under the hood was a 3.4-liter water-cooled straight-six that Toyoda and his engineers modeled after a Chevrolet engine offering from the time. In addition, the Model AA was largely influenced by the Chrysler DeSoto Airflow beyond its looks, in that Toyoda made a point to balance the load between the front and rear wheels to maximize passenger comfort. With 65 horsepower on tap, the Model AA was more than potent enough for driving in 1936.