The Suzuki Alto was a Japanese kei car that has been in constant production since 1979…not that we would know it over here in the land of the giant SUVs. In case you’ve been living on the moon, a kei car is a category for the smallest highway legal vehicles in Japan and it limits […]
he Suzuki Cappuccino was introduced for the 1987 model year as an attempt to add some sportiness to the Suzuki lineup in native Japan. In a photograph it looks like a Mazda Miata competitor, but with a total length of only 129 inches and a 1598 lb curb weight, the Cappuccino was closer to a go-kart and it conformed to Japan’s Kei (Keijidosha light car) regulations that gave buyers a tax break and easier license/insurance requirements. The pint sized cup of Japanese coffee was never sold in North America, but a few made it across the pond and into the wilds of the US car market. Find this 1992 Suzuki Cappuccino offered for $11,000 in Clifton, TX via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!
The Honda Beat might not be the prettiest car to be styled by Pininfarina, or even the coolest mid-engine Pinin, or the most affordable with styling by the Young One (and his successors), but it is the smallest car to come from legendary design house. Regardless, they were never sold new in the USA and driving one will get you smiles and front row valet parking wherever you go. Find this 1991 Honda Beat offered for $6,500 in Seminary, MS via craigslist. Tip from Rramjet.
The Subaru Domingo was a slightly beefier version of the Subaru Sambar kei van. The Domingo (also called the Sumo, Libero, Combi, and Estratto depending on which market it was being sold) shared many of its components and chassis with the Sambar, but it had a larger engine that booted it from keitora (light truck in Japanese) car requirements, but allowed it to drive on the freeway at a reasonable clip and accelerate with traffic. Today’s example is not just powered by a 1.2 liter Subaru EF 3-cylinder that pushes out 66 horsepower into a 5-speed manual gearbox, but it is also equipped with all-wheel-drive. Find this 1993 Subaru Domingo GX AWD offered for $6,500 in Brooklyn, NY via craigslist. Tip from ME.
This next car will need some kind of introduction, because unless you are the curator of a Mazda museum…you probably don’t know what this next car is…because I was totally completely unaware of the existence of the kei-sized, JDM only, ’72-’76 Chantez…wait…we’ve featured one of these Chantezes (Chantee?? Chanteux?) before…and here it is. The exact…identical, same Chantez offered for $6000 in PA back in 2016. Yup, and four years later and it still has the same skuzzy mummy skin steering wheel wrap…find this 1974 Mazda Chantez offered for $5,900 in Tampa Bay, FL via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!
Eat your heart out all you Volkswagen 21-window Samba Bus owners, Buick SportWagon/Olds Vista Cruiser owners, Buick Roadmaster owners, AND folks who love windows in the top of cars…because this next car has the best name EVER for a piece of glass above your head — SUPER AERO ROOF. Find this 1991 Mitsubishi Minicab offered […]
It isn’t every day that you find a sweet microvan offered for a reasonable price, but we’ll feature every one we find because life is too short to driving something lame. This might not make the best trans-continental road trip car, but it’ll certainly make a good city commuter and get smiles everywhere you go. […]
Another Kei-car? Yes, that is correct, they don’t call this site DailyKeismo for NOTHING. We’ve got a reputation and a revelation to maintain. Anyway, the next precious little keitora class machine we are going to feature is from Honda Giken Kōgyō KK and you can’t beat the price. Find this 1992 Honda Beat offered for […]
The Suzuki Alto was a cheap and uninspiring little keconobox, but if you had the scratch, you could upgrade some of the metal bits (and plastic pieces) to the Works version, or better yet, the RS-R. The Works upgrades unleashed the full potential of the little s-box and turned it into a plastic scoop bedazzled […]
It was going to be hard to beat yesterday’s Mitsu Minica Dangan ZZ Minigun Zipzop Frizzle Frazzle Zizzer Zazzer Zuzz, but DT tipper Ryan sent in the following tip with comment: I’ll see your ZZ and raise you an Alto Works RS/R. Well played Ryan…well played. Find this 1990 Suzuki Alto Works RS/R offered for $6000 […]