This is another in the 'magical mystery tour' series of 1966ish Bellett brochures that feature weird, LSD-inspired drawings amongst the photos.

Please note that these brochure JPG files have been incorrectly labelled. Following 117coupe's guidance, it can be verified that the brochure is from 1966 (May, specifically - see below).

For reference, see:

Bellett B brochure - http://www.bellett.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=180

Bellett Deluxe brochure - http://www.bellett.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=116

Page one, the cover, introduces us to the NEW Bellett 1300. Previously I've lumped all alloy-grille-hex-taillight Bellets as 1967s, however thanks to user 117coupe, it has been revealed that many of these brochures have a date stamp using the Japanese Emporer-based calender.

The last page has a date stamp of 41.5, which according to 117coupe, is May 1966. This stands to reason as the second generation Bellett (aka 1966.5) started production in February 1966 for a mid-year release and introduced a new 1300 model that was almost identical to the 1500, save for a lack of 1500 badge on the c-pillar.

There are no over-riders, however this brochure does not seem to show a 1300 Deluxe, which I'm fairly certain they made, which would surely have over-riders.

This kids like their seal-related poses on the Bellett's bonnet, while Dad enjoys driving in his trilby hat and white driving gloves! Perhaps they were going to tip-toe through the tulips, but it's more likely they are poppies and after you strike the heads and get high, you see a clown with a cat driving a Noddy car on a watermelon. I hate it when that happens to me.



Page two delves deep into the rural fantasies of some of our 1960's Western-influenced Japanese people. It the boot they can fit a guitar, lamp, doll AND a bikini.

It also has a diagram of the PR10 S4 (4-door) and S2 (2-door) sedan.



Unsure why Mum has to ride in the back of the 1300 2-door sedan (I stop short in calling it a 'sport'). The photo below of the interior shot is a 4-door as they column-shift was not available on the 2-door. Correct me if I'm wrong, but if you are Nanna-enough to drive a column-shift, you probably don't need driving gloves....



How is this beautiful interior shot? I wish my interior, any interior still looked like this. Those bucket seats look like they've got heaps of movement.



I don't know much about Japanese beaches, but I DO know that this is a terrible beach. It looks like it may have been on the shoreline of Nagasaki with that black sand, plus the industrial facilities behind it really set it off. One of the Mums' knees is covered in black sand. The things they do for a modelling gig.

The proportions of the 2-door sedan look excellent from this angle.



The controls are detailed here, including a thorough description of the ashtray mechanism! Oh, and a demonstration. I wonder if that is one of the obligatory Kent cigarettes that appear prominantly throughout the Bellett brochures.

Oh yes and a picture of some people mucking about in the parcel shelf. They love that in Bellett brochures.



I haven't checked if these diagrams are repeated from another brochure, but the standard brake, suspension, steering and engine diagrams feature.



... and no Bellett brochure would be complete without a specs page!




All in all, this is an extremely good brochure; colourful, crazy pictures showing our favourite cars in their natural habitat, along with long-dead Japanese models (uh except the kids) and to top it off, it's a rare-ish brochure due to the fact it contains Bellett 1300 info only, rather than the 1500 or the whole range.

I have a couple of other magical mystery brochures to post..... so take a trip..... through the brochures.

hi dave thanks for the great pics you continually post ...love the 60s comments i reckon the classic is what fits in the boot even ...wait for it the bikini ...i reckon they have been sniffing the petrol they were going to put in the boot then made this great brochure keep it up mate we all look at these pictures and hope our cars will get to that condition someday regards davo

Just realising how individual each bellett is. Those could be vulcanic sand beaches over there, but then again could be a sixties oil slick ! When Mr. Fugimoro wasn't at the beach with the family, he was driving to and from work all week for a few yen in petrol. Beige and white gloves, Dave !! Actually they look more like kick boxing mitts. I keep a pair in the glove box too, with my bikinis !!

You've certainly put your finger on the "Noddy meloness", Dave. It's a disposition most Bellettiers know of. Totally wierd.

Cheers, B

Just had another intriguing thought. When you see older and younger son hang'n heads out of the side windows, it looks all abit risky. Strange reminder that there's a law these days about keeping body parts inside the vehicle.

B.

Last page of brochure at the bottom shows 41.5 which means that the date of the brochure is May 1966.

Can you explain to me how that works? That would greatly assist me in dating my brochures!

Basically the Japanese calendar system is based on the Emperor's reign. The reign of Emperor Hirohito was known as the 'Showa' period and started in 1925 until his death in 1989. The brochure shows the date of 41.5 which means the 5th month (May) of the 41st year Showa era. The 1st year of the Showa era was 1925, so the 41st year was 1966.

The current era is known as 'Heisei', so Heisei 1 was 1989 and 2010 is Heisei 22.

Hope this helps.

Hi,

Actually it helps a lot! I realised after I posted that this is indeed the Internet and I could probably look it up myself!

So I did, but your explanation verifies that I sort of got the gyst of it from what I found on the Internet.

This website:

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2272.html

...will convert years to Japanese years and vice versa.

Thanks again!

wohoo 58hp that would fly!