Do you know your ABC’s? Chances are, if you’re a Japanese Kei car enthusiast, you may be familiar. While we at J-Spec have seen our fair share of B’s (Honda beats) and C’s (Suzuki Cappuccinos), the elusive Autozam AZ-1 is by far the least common of the three. The AZ-1 was a compact, mid-engined rear wheel drive kei car developed by Mazda for distribution under their “Autozam” sub brand. It utilized a 64 horsepower Suzuki built 657cc turbocharged engine and 5 speed manual transmission, and weighed just shy of 1,600 lbs. The AZ-1 was zippy, compact, and what it lacked in size it made up for in personality. Supercar inspired styling cues adorn the exterior of the humble AZ-1, making it a sight to behold on any road. The exterior of this particular 1993 model year AZ-1 is near flawless and a perfect, almost untouched example of one of Mazda’s boldest design ventures. This particular 1992 model year AZ-1 is an incredibly well-kept example that looks great inside and out! The exterior is finished in a beautiful metallic red respray, while at a distance it appears to be the original Mazda Classic Red (SU) paint, this red has a bit more depth to it and really brings out the AZ-1’s iconic body lines. All paintwork on the vehicle appears to have been done professionally, with no major signs of pitting, clear coat fade, or orange peel on the paint. Perhaps the most intriguing feature of the AZ-1 are its signature gullwing doors. Coupled with ferrari inspired side and rear vents, the Autozam truly has a one of a kind look sure to put a smile on anyone’s face. The only other exterior modification is a set of rare JMW AD-SCX Crossline 13” wheels in a matching red finish. Did we mention the mirror tint? Swing open the aforementioned gullwing doors, and you’re greeted with a beautifully simplistic interior. The OEM red and grey trimmed seats are still in excellent condition for the age, with no bolster rips, tears, or burns in the original fabric. One defect on the driver’s side bolster is present which is normal for a vehicle of this vintage. The dash design is extremely simple, featuring only the necessities. All dash plastics are in great shape, with no cracking or age-related wear, and all buttons, knobs, and switches work as expected. The stock steering wheel was replaced with an aftermarket MOMO F1 style unit. The original instrument cluster is fully functional, displaying just 109,692 verified km’s. Equating to only 68,159 original miles, it is easy to see how this AZ-1 has held up so well over the years. Additional quirky interior features include a manual “window-in-window” design, spare tire behind the driver’s seat, and removable shades for the glass roof. Turn the key and the Suzuki F6A engine fires up without a hitch. At first glance, the engine’s 64hp output seems almost laughable. Throw it into a lightweight chassis, however, and the laughs tend to stop. This powerplant is more than capable of propelling the AZ-1 to highway speeds, and it sounds great doing it. Purists will enjoy the fact that the engine has not been modified in any way shape or form, just basic maintenance has kept this kei car kicking over the past 29 years. A factory option Mazdaspeed exhaust emits a reserved whirr while driving and sounds great under heavy acceleration! Driving this kei monster is a real treat, the mid-engine layout produces a symphony of noises as you charge through the RPM range, and the 5 speed manual transmission handles shifts smoothly without any hiccups. A set of Bridgestone Potenza tires grip the road without a hitch and makes this Autozam more than capable of tackling even the most demanding backroad twists and turns. With only 4,400 AZ-1’s ever produced; this example is a true unicorn. If you’re a JDM enthusiast with a passion for the unconventional, this hard-to-find kei rocket ship is a worthy contender for your next unique ride.