The SA was Toyota's first new passenger car design (as opposed to updating the AA) after World War II.

A series of light trucks also shared the chassis and major components of these passenger cars.

Toyota engineers (including Dr Kumabe) had visited Germany before World War II and had studied the 16-cylinder Auto Union racing car (independent suspension) and Porsche and Volkswagen designs (independent suspension, aerodynamic bodies, backbone chassis, rear-mounted air-cooled engines, economical production cost).

Later on, Toyota revisited the economic principles exemplified by the Beetle when designing the Publica and the Corolla.

[4][5][6] Design work started at the end of 1945 when the GHQ let it be known that authorised commercial production of vehicles for the general public would be commencing soon.

This model introduced the Type S straight-4 water-cooled engine, conventionally mounted in the front of the car and driving through the rear wheels.

Transmission was by a 3-speed manual gearbox and a Hotchkiss drive[4] (previous Toyotas used a torque tube) to a rear-mounted differential.

A light truck using the running gear from the SA but with a ladder chassis and solid axles front and rear, both with semi-elliptical springs.

The SB was popular with the general public and also with the American occupation forces, which ordered it in large numbers.

[2][4] Toyota contracted the Kanto Denki factory to produce a sedan body and wagon on the SB chassis as the SC.

[2][4] Toyota contracted the Kanto Denki factory to produce a 4-door, 4-seat sedan body and wagon on the SB chassis as the SC.

This later became the BH26 patrol by using the Crown RS body with the same RH chassis, Type B engine and BHR extended front end.

[citation needed] The RH was succeeded by the similar 1955 RR Master and the much more modern 1955 RS Crown.

The FHJ was a fire appliance vehicle built based on the RH but with the much larger Type F engine.

In spite of looking like a small truck, the FHJ still used the single rear wheels of the RH passenger car.

In spite of looking like a small truck, the FH24 still used the single rear wheels of the RH passenger car.