Before the recession in the 90’s Japan was making some of its quirkiest and most fun cars it would ever make. For those familiar, Kei cars are a classification of vehicles in japan with strict guidelines that allow them to be taxed less and make them much more affordable to own and drive. Restrictions like maximum sizes or lengths, and pairing them with lower displacement engines that are capable and fuel efficient. Since 1985 Mazda wanted to enter their own Kei sports car into the ring, and in 1992 they were finally successful. Unfortunately, due to the recession and the Autozam being priced higher than their competitor with the Honda Beat, Mazda’s Autozam only saw a production run from 1992-1994. But just because the vehicle wasn’t a fiscal home-run in Japan doesn’t mean it isn’t a totally cool car! The highlights of the Mazda Autozam AZ-1 include its iconic gull wing doors, and it is incredibly lightweight. Weighing in at an astonishingly low 1,587 pounds, it “beats” out the Honda Beat by almost 100 pounds, and crushes its competitor the Eunos Roadster (Miata) by almost 600 pounds. These cars were not built with creature comforts in mind… they were built for the track. Rear Wheel Drive, Mid-rear mounted engine, low weight, precise 5 speed transmission, and hand crank windows make you feel like you’re in a race car, and Mazda wanted you to feel that way. There’s no doubt about it- these cars are a blast to drive, and yet they are rare with less than 5,000 produced in 1992, and likely much less than that still roadworthy today. On the exterior of this particular 1992 Mazda Autozam AZ-1 is paint code SU, which was one of the two colors available from the factory. Both colors came with the gray second tone on the vehicle. This one’s red paint looks great now, but it has been restored from a previously undesirable condition. The original graphics still show very nicely, and there are no imperfections on the body to note of. The iconic side vents inspired by the Ferrari Testarossa are still as eye-catching as ever, as is the offset hood scoop designed to help the driver place the center of the car more easily through turns. The only addition to the factory appearance of this AZ-1 is a clean set of Modex 5 spoke wheels on all four corners. Inside the interior is where the full character of this little Kei car is met. Red and gray duotone bucket seats still hold you firmly in place, although the cushioning is not what is typically seen in larger vehicles. In front of the driver seat you’ll be met with another duotone feature, the leather wrapped mazdaspeed 3 spoke steering wheel. It has definitely seen some use over the past 30 years, but still retains a grippy and confidence inspiring feel. Mounted up on the dash are a set of Omoni gauges, with a boost gauge on the right, and a temp and oil pressure gauge on the left. The AZ-1 boasts incredible visibility, although the drive-thru capabilities of this little car may be subpar considering the hand crank windows, and the fact that the little portion of the window you can see is the only one that rolls down. This was because Mazda needed to make the car as safe as possible, and while the gullwing door design made it as easy as possible to get into this low car (and look cool doing it) it also made for compromises when it came to the usability of those windows. Up above is also some great visibility thanks to the windows and sun shades overhead. The shifter for the robust 5 speed transmission is perfectly placed and easy to access. We suspect this vehicle saw some track use due to a floor mounted window breaker and fire extinguisher as safety precautions. The only other interior modifications to speak of are the Sony 40WX4 Media head unit, and a pair of small dash mounted speakers sitting on both corners of the windshield. Now to the more technical side of this neat compact sports car. With dimensions of 129.7 x 55 x 45 inches (L, W, H) it is a small car, and as such is not suited for taller drivers. While it’s definitely possible to make it work, it isn’t something that we can see feeling comfortable. Showing a verified 52,742km (32,772 miles!) This little Autozam has plenty of life left in it! The mid-engine 660cc F6A DOHC 12 valve turbocharged I3 fires right up and while it only puts out 96hp, the low 1,500 lb weight makes it feel alive and quick. The chassis still feels rigid and nimble, and it truly feels like a street legal go kart that was built to race. This little Kei car may not have been on posters the way GTR’s and Mazda’s own RX7 was, but it is a testament to the passion the Japanese have for making fun cars. We’ve all seen the Honda Beat’s and the Suzuki Cappuccino, but those cars feel bland and tame when stacked up against the Unique Autozam AZ-1. With such low miles and such low production numbers, this isn’t a car you’re going to want to pass up. Take the road with style with this quick and quirky 1992 Mazda Autozam AZ-1!