Kei Kar: 1993 Suzuki Cappuccino

The Suzuki Cappuccino was a miniature convertible/t-top sports car that was built from 1991-1998 as an attempt to add some sportiness to the Suzuki lineup in the Japanese domestic market.  In a photograph it looks like a Mazda MX-5 competitor, but with a total length of only 129 inches and a 1598 lb curb weight, the Cappuccino was closer to a shopping cart and it conformed to Japan's Kei (Keijidosha light car) regulations that gave buyers a tax break and easier license/insurance requirements.  Today, they are very affordable in Japan and the few that have emigrated stateside are cheap as well. Find this 1993 Suzuki Cappuccino offered for $6000 near Bellingham, WA via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

Super Aero Roof: 1991 Mitsubishi Minicab

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 for $6950 in Jacksonville, FL via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Beat The Drum Slowly: 1992 Honda Beat

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 $3,800 in Spring, TX. Tip from Jeff.

Alto In The Name of Love: 1987 Suzuki Alto Works RS-R

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 fun box.  Find this 1987 Suzuki Alto Works RS-R offered for $7000 near Cincinnati, OH via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

MTREC Just Kicked In, Yo: 1991 Honda Beat

Juan Pablo Augustus Pininfarina put this mighty pen to paper many times over the years to design some beautiful cars..exotics, mid-engine things and the like...but few people know that old John-Pap-Pin (as his friends in the pub called him) designed the 1991-1996 Honda Beat.  Find this 1991 Honda Beat here on eBay bidding for $1300 with $3,200 buy-it-now located in Seattle, WA. Tip from Hugh.

Jay Dee-ammmmn: 1990 Suzuki Alto Works RS/R

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 in Little Rock, AZ via craigslist.

So Cute: 1992 Mitsubishi Minica Dangan ZZ

The Mitsubishi Minica was a kei car built by Mitsubishi Motors from 1962 through 2011, but you don't see many on this side of the world.  That is a darn shame, but this Dangan ZZ spec'd example will fix your kei-car woes with dose of 660cc engine and turbo power.  Find this 1992 Mitsubishi Minica Dangan ZZ offered for $5000 in Eugene, OR via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

VW Bus Clone: 1992 Suzuki Every

The VW Bus wasn't a huge vehicle, but it certainly wouldn't have qualified for Japan's Kei car laws...but that didn't stop this next customizer from building what should have been a factory thing.  Find this 1992 Suzuki Every offered for $8495 in Atlanta via Seattle Craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Talk of the Town: 2000 Mitsubishi Town Box

I wonder why it is that in Canada, citizens can import "non-complying" cars that are only 15 years old or older vs. the U.S. where it is 25 or older.  Man, what happened to the Land of the Free and Home of the Brave when it comes to cars (especially little ones from Japan)?  Find this 2000 Mitsubishi Town Box for sale in New Westminster, BC for $5,800 CAD's ($4,244 USD's at time of writing) via craigslist.

Short Samurai: 1972 Suzuki LJ20

For those who find the Suzuki Samurai to be a gluttonous beast, the 2-stroke twin powered JL20 is a Sammy for those with even narrower logging trails. Rather than spend a gazillion dollars on a side-by-side or Escalade-themed golf cart, find this 1972 Suzuki LJ20 for sale in Concord, NC for $2,800 via craigslist.

Kei For Klown: 1990 Suzuki Alto Works Turbo

The Japanese Kei car in basic form is barely usable on US streets a small caterpillar inching along in the slow lane, but get a turbo fancy-pants factory works edition and suddenly it becomes a beautiful butterfly darting through traffic.  Find this 1990 Suzuki Alto Works Turbo offered for $7,500 somewhere in Texas via 6speedonline.com forum classifieds. Tip from Sean.

Mmmm-Kei: 1975 Mazda Chantez

I looked it up just now, it's not a girl's name. Chantez means 'to sing' in French, so that's probably not a hard 'Z' there at the end. Via an alternate translation, Chantez would likely mean 'to scream musically in terror' if driven on US roads. Find this 1975 Mazda Chantez for sale in Pittsburgh, PA for $6,000 via craigslist.

Apocalypse Ready: 2008 Suzuki Carry Mini Truck

Suzuki introduced their Kei truck in 1961, but the appropriately named "Carry" got better through the years, and today's example comes from the tenth generation released in 1999.  The Carry still used a cabover style setup also known as FMR (front mid-engine rear-wheel drive) and conformed to the Japanese kei truck rules.  Find this 2008 Suzuki Carry Mini Truck offered for $22,500 in Palmer, AK via craigslist.  Tip from Zach.

Japanese Diminutive Market: 1991 Suzuki Cappuccino

The 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 MX-5 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.  Find this 1991 Suzuki Cappuccino offered for $8,809 FOB via tradecarview.com.  Tip from FuelTruck.

Finally 25: 1990 Daihatsu Mira Turbo Tr-XX Limited

Each year, there are tiny cars you may never knew existed becoming legal for import to the US as their 25 year import ban expires.  Kei cars, limited in power, displacement and size, are afforded special tax breaks in Japan to promote space, fuel consumption, and emissions economy.  To compete in this category, manufacturers had to get creative and the result is a lot of cool in some little cars.   Find this 1990 Daihatsu Mira Turbo Tr-XX Limited for sale in Marion, IA for $6,499 via craigslist.