Autozam AZ-1 - any in the UK?
Discussion
Being a purveyor of Japanese metal for some time now one little beauty seemed to have escaped me until late last year. I'd heard of and loved a lot of the Kei cars from Japan but I had never known of or seen one of these in the UK. Are any here at all?
I think it looks like a mini Group-B special with a passing resemblance to a RS200.
And this one goes to 11
I think it looks like a mini Group-B special with a passing resemblance to a RS200.
And this one goes to 11
There were two at the Kei Kars in the Park get-together last Summer. There's a forum for 'em: http://kkitp.com/3/
It covers other kei cars, like the not-so-crazy Honda Beat, Copen, etc.
I met the guy with this one...
Love the perspective effect - it's smaller but not actually farther away. [/father ted]
You want something really, really whacky. Click this and scroll down: http://minkara.carview.co.jp/en/userid/255572/car/... - looks a bit like a Tifosi toddler's track shoe!
It covers other kei cars, like the not-so-crazy Honda Beat, Copen, etc.
I met the guy with this one...
Love the perspective effect - it's smaller but not actually farther away. [/father ted]
You want something really, really whacky. Click this and scroll down: http://minkara.carview.co.jp/en/userid/255572/car/... - looks a bit like a Tifosi toddler's track shoe!
Thread revival
dropped onto this on you tube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4RcyRYVa6U
what a great looking thing, wonder how much it is to get a car into UK lol
dropped onto this on you tube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4RcyRYVa6U
what a great looking thing, wonder how much it is to get a car into UK lol
Ilovejapcrap said:
Thread revival
dropped onto this on you tube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4RcyRYVa6U
what a great looking thing, wonder how much it is to get a car into UK lol
Id say approx. £10k based on sold prices in Japan for a decent onedropped onto this on you tube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4RcyRYVa6U
what a great looking thing, wonder how much it is to get a car into UK lol
Prices are extortionate for then now. Also they're taxed pretty heavily in the UK, they'd be around £140 odd a year as it's based on engine size and be less than 1.6L.
Not seen any on my trips to Japan or even in the Mazda factory when I went for a tour.
If they were cheaper to buy/run I'd be all over it.
Not seen any on my trips to Japan or even in the Mazda factory when I went for a tour.
If they were cheaper to buy/run I'd be all over it.
KaiserDahms said:
Not seen any on my trips to Japan or even in the Mazda factory when I went for a tour.
Odd, they used to have one. I do think prices have gone a bit high now they're available to Americans, but you can probably still get one at a semi reasonable price importing yourself, and of course, increasing prices means you'll be ok should you sell it.
InitialDave said:
Odd, they used to have one.
I do think prices have gone a bit high now they're available to Americans, but you can probably still get one at a semi reasonable price importing yourself, and of course, increasing prices means you'll be ok should you sell it.
Was hoping to see that, rx7 FC and last gen Cosmo. I should really do a write up of the trip for here as I have loads of pics (none in the factory of course)I do think prices have gone a bit high now they're available to Americans, but you can probably still get one at a semi reasonable price importing yourself, and of course, increasing prices means you'll be ok should you sell it.
Holy thread resurrection .... here's my AZ-1.
I first saw one of these for real several years ago in the car park at a classic car show. Ever since then I've wanted one, but the asking price for the few that I have seen for sale in the UK was more than I wanted to pay.
After doing some research it seemed that I could make a considerable saving by personally importing one from Japan myself. I have never done this before, it was quite a complicated process to get it through customs and to get it MOTd and road registered for the UK.
Finally, exactly 6 months after buying it, it's on the road!
It's a 1994 Suzuki Cara, identical to an Autozam AZ-1. The car was a joint venture between Mazda and Suzuki who supplied the engine, only 5000 were made in total, the first 4500 were sold as Autozam, and the last 500 were sold as Suzuki, so it's one of the rarest Kei cars made.
It's an absolute hoot to drive and feels like a road legal go-cart! One of it's best features is the engine, it's a 3 cylinder 657cc 4 valve per cylinder fuel injected turbo intercooled unit, that puts out 65bhp and will rev to 9000 rpm. I was worried that it might feel a bit slow, but I need not have worried, it feels a lot quicker than expected and sounds great, a bit like an Escort twin cam on carbs!
I have seen photos of two or three in the UK with UK registrations ... I wonder how many are here?
I first saw one of these for real several years ago in the car park at a classic car show. Ever since then I've wanted one, but the asking price for the few that I have seen for sale in the UK was more than I wanted to pay.
After doing some research it seemed that I could make a considerable saving by personally importing one from Japan myself. I have never done this before, it was quite a complicated process to get it through customs and to get it MOTd and road registered for the UK.
Finally, exactly 6 months after buying it, it's on the road!
It's a 1994 Suzuki Cara, identical to an Autozam AZ-1. The car was a joint venture between Mazda and Suzuki who supplied the engine, only 5000 were made in total, the first 4500 were sold as Autozam, and the last 500 were sold as Suzuki, so it's one of the rarest Kei cars made.
It's an absolute hoot to drive and feels like a road legal go-cart! One of it's best features is the engine, it's a 3 cylinder 657cc 4 valve per cylinder fuel injected turbo intercooled unit, that puts out 65bhp and will rev to 9000 rpm. I was worried that it might feel a bit slow, but I need not have worried, it feels a lot quicker than expected and sounds great, a bit like an Escort twin cam on carbs!
I have seen photos of two or three in the UK with UK registrations ... I wonder how many are here?
Edited by Andrew1234 on Thursday 7th August 08:02
Andrew1234 said:
Holy thread resurrection .... here's my AZ-1.
I first saw one of these for real several years ago in the car park at a classic car show. Ever since then I've wanted one, but the asking price for the few that I have seen for sale in the UK was more than I wanted to pay.
After doing some research it seemed that I could make a considerable saving by personally importing one from Japan myself. I have never done this before, it was quite a complicated process to get it through customs and to get it MOTd and road registered for the UK.
Finally, exactly 6 months after buying it, it's on the road!
It's a 1994 Suzuki Cara, identical to an Autozam AZ-1. The car was a joint venture between Mazda and Suzuki who supplied the engine, only 5000 were made in total, the first 4500 were sold as Autozam, and the last 500 were sold as Suzuki, so it's one of the rarest Kei cars made.
It's an absolute hoot to drive and feels like a road legal go-cart! One of it's best features is the engine, it's a 3 cylinder 657cc 4 valve per cylinder fuel injected turbo intercooled unit, that puts out 65bhp and will rev to 9000 rpm. I was worried that it might feel a bit slow, but I need not have worried, it feels a lot quicker than expected and sounds great, a bit like an Escort twin cam on carbs!
I have seen photos of two or three in the UK with UK registrations ... I wonder how many are here?
Nothing to add other than I love it! I first saw one of these for real several years ago in the car park at a classic car show. Ever since then I've wanted one, but the asking price for the few that I have seen for sale in the UK was more than I wanted to pay.
After doing some research it seemed that I could make a considerable saving by personally importing one from Japan myself. I have never done this before, it was quite a complicated process to get it through customs and to get it MOTd and road registered for the UK.
Finally, exactly 6 months after buying it, it's on the road!
It's a 1994 Suzuki Cara, identical to an Autozam AZ-1. The car was a joint venture between Mazda and Suzuki who supplied the engine, only 5000 were made in total, the first 4500 were sold as Autozam, and the last 500 were sold as Suzuki, so it's one of the rarest Kei cars made.
It's an absolute hoot to drive and feels like a road legal go-cart! One of it's best features is the engine, it's a 3 cylinder 657cc 4 valve per cylinder fuel injected turbo intercooled unit, that puts out 65bhp and will rev to 9000 rpm. I was worried that it might feel a bit slow, but I need not have worried, it feels a lot quicker than expected and sounds great, a bit like an Escort twin cam on carbs!
I have seen photos of two or three in the UK with UK registrations ... I wonder how many are here?
Edited by Andrew1234 on Thursday 7th August 08:02
Love the AZ-1, always great to see one.
Yep, I really do think that kei cars rules and the related "nothing else allowed without off-street parking" would do wonders for residential streets here. It doesn't even limit you that much, something like a Honda N-Box is a ridiculously practical family car.
2Btoo said:
hidetheelephants said:
Fantastic. Kei cars should be a thing here, but we have the least imaginative govts possible.
Amen to that brother. 2 tonnes of electrified safety measures are the future, apparently. Small, light and efficient are nowhere to be seen. InitialDave said:
Love the AZ-1, always great to see one.
Yep, I really do think that kei cars rules and the related "nothing else allowed without off-street parking" would do wonders for residential streets here. It doesn't even limit you that much, something like a Honda N-Box is a ridiculously practical family car.
Where I live virtually every other car on the road is an enormous SUV. I couldn't resist this photo opportunity 2Btoo said:
hidetheelephants said:
Fantastic. Kei cars should be a thing here, but we have the least imaginative govts possible.
Amen to that brother. 2 tonnes of electrified safety measures are the future, apparently. Small, light and efficient are nowhere to be seen. 
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