At a recent auction in the United States, a Japanese Mazda Autozam AZ1 was sold. Its compact dimensions and 657 cc engine displacement were limited by kei car regulations. The bidding stopped, but the microcar with gull-wing doors still found a new owner for $23,500.
A price that doesn’t match the power
If someone told you they paid $23,500 for a car with only 63 horsepower, you might think they misplaced a decimal point. But when you see the Autozam AZ1 with its doors raised, those 63 horses seem like 600, and the price looks entirely reasonable.
A rare example from Japan
This 1992 Autozam AZ-1 recently changed hands at a Cars & Bids auction for $23,500, proving that one of the strangest Japanese sports cars remains one of the most desirable. Unlike many collectible cars, the AZ-1 doesn’t rely on massive power to win hearts.
Quite the opposite. The AZ-1 appeared in 1992, during one of the strangest periods in the history of the Japanese auto industry. Manufacturers competed to create the most interesting cars while adhering to strict kei car regulations that limited size, engine displacement, and power. The result was a golden era that gave us cars like the Honda Beat, Suzuki Cappuccino, and this tiny wedge-shaped Mazda.
Design and technical specifications
Officially sold through the now-defunct Mazda Autozam sub-brand and assembled by Suzuki, the AZ-1 looked like a miniature exotic car. Its dramatic gull-wing doors, low profile, and mid-engine layout gave it proportions inspired by Italian supercars, not economy cars.
Under the rear hatch is a turbocharged three-cylinder engine with a displacement of 657 cc, producing 63 hp and 63 lb-ft (85 Nm) of torque. This figure was no accident. It was the maximum power allowed by kei car regulations at the time, so engineers squeezed every legal horsepower out of the little turbo motor.
Not fast, but the feeling of speed
Performance was not supercar-like: acceleration to 60 mph (96 km/h) took about 10 seconds. But thanks to a weight of just 1,587 lbs (720 kg), a five-speed manual transmission, and a rear-mounted engine, the AZ-1 earned a reputation as a very nimble car.
This example had around 33,400 miles (54,000 km) on the odometer and a number of modifications, including 14-inch wheels, a Mazdaspeed steering wheel in terrible condition, additional gauges, a shift knob, and a Sony head unit.
By the time production ended in 1995, fewer than 4,400 units had been sold, making the AZ-1 quite rare even in Japan. However, browsing auction sites, you can see that quite a few of these cars have been imported to the United States, where they were never officially sold. Would you choose this car over a Miata?
This sale underscores that the market for collectible Japanese cars from the 90s remains active, and demand for rare models like the Autozam AZ-1 is not waning. Despite their modest technical specifications, these cars are valued for their unique design, history, and the driving experience they offer. For enthusiasts looking for something unusual, the AZ-1 is a true find, combining supercar features with kei car accessibility. Its value is likely to increase as the number of preserved examples is limited and interest in Japanese classics continues to grow.