A variable capacity swash plate type compressor adapted to being driven by a vehicle engine without the intervention of a solenoid clutch and having a drive shaft rotating about an axis of rotation thereof, a swash plate capable of nutating to cause reciprocatory suction and compression motions of pistons in cylinder bores and of pivoting about a pivoting axis thereof to change an angle of inclination thereof with respect to a plane perpendicular to the axis of the drive shaft, the swash plate being pivotable from a 0.degree. inclination position to a large inclination angle position by setting a product of inertia of the swash plate so that a moment is automatically generated to move the swash plate from the 0.degree. inclination position to a large inclination angle position in response to the slowest possible rotation of the swash plate.