We’ve talked about minicars here before, but this nano-sized Toyota AA takes it to a whole ‘nother level. Built by Denso to demonstrate its ultra-precise machining and semiconductor capabilities, this micro-model of Toyota’s first car, the 1936 AA, is 1/1000 the size of the actual car, or about the size of a grain of rice. What’s even more amazing is that it actually runs!
The ultra-thin wires on top lead to a tiny magnetic motor and when a tiny blip of alternating current is passed through them, the engine turns at 600rpm! The project was included in the Guinness Book of World Records in 1995 for being the world’s smallest motorized car.
The car is made of 24 distinct parts, including the body, tires, spare tire, wheels, axle, bearings, headlights, taillights, front bumper, rear bumper, step, number plate and emblem. The bumper itself is just 50 microns wide! For comparison, the average human hair is 80 microns across.
But that’s not all. In 1996, Denso built one that could be powered, sans wires, with a remote magnetic energy transmission. Top speed? 5-6 millimeters per second!
[Denso]
I think this car was in GWR Book of 2003.Still its a cute on!I would like to have half inch hachi roku lol!
Good old Nippondenso…
What is cool about the micro Toyota is that it is only 2/3’s the size of a match head.
(Maybe the size of a wheel from a “Micro Machine”.)
Wasn’t Toyota spelled Toyoda back then?
Yes it was! We often refer to it as a Toyota to prevent confusion but technically you are correct, it was a Toyoda.
It still is in japan I think. I’ve seen parts on modern toyotas stamped toyoda.
I remember reading about this in a Scholastic (book company) scientific magazine they used to hand out for free in elementary school. I forgot all about it until I saw the image and went, “Oh, I read about this when I was 10!”. Too cool.
and i wish it was mass-produced…
I remember this being on something like “beyond 2000” back in the day!
It was on the show Home Improvement. Tim dropped it and squashed it. Of course, just on the show.
I am watching that show right now!!And as always Tim did not take Al’s advice about leaning the car in iit’s protective glass!!?
Yup Home Improvement Season 6 episode 1 “at sea”