It was the first tank design to feature transverse engine placement, which made it smaller than a standard T-34 and gave the crew more space.
The actual design work began in 1979 when Akio Yoshida from Toyota's testing department started to evaluate different alternatives for engine placement and drive method.
The most important part required are the engine mounting plates and several different designs exist that can affect the engine placement and therefore the handling.
Internally, however, the vehicles differ in both engine type and engine placement.
The cabs were noted for their styling, roominess and comfort, visibility of the road, and engine placement with minimal intrusion into the cab.
It used a longitudinal engine placement for its V8, coupled with an unusual "split" transmission, which turned the engine power 180 degrees.
The 6R is a six-speed automatic transmission for longitudinal engine placement in rear-wheel drive vehicles.
Because of the engine placement, a T3 has nearly equal 50/50 weight distribution fore and aft.
Both transverse and longitudinal engine placement were tested, and in 1963 the transverse-engine design was approved.
Discover why the new engine placement and rear spoiler made the SP line into a ground-breaker.