This tiny kei truck already has a starting bid of just $2,500. For many enthusiasts, it became recognizable thanks to the game Gran Turismo. With 31 horsepower, it offers more charm than real utility.
A strange car from virtual reality
There are rare cars, there are strange cars, and then there is the Daihatsu Midget II. At first glance, this single-seater kei truck looks as if it was drawn by a cartoonist after being told to depict a pickup truck from memory. Despite being little known outside of Japan, one example is now up for auction, and there is a high probability that many bidders already know exactly what it is. They likely know it not from a dealership, a magazine, or even real life. They know it from Gran Turismo, where it is one of the slowest vehicles imaginable.
The game as an automotive encyclopedia
For an entire generation of enthusiasts in the US, Gran Turismo was not just a racing game. It was a kind of automotive encyclopedia. Alongside supercars, Le Mans racers, and JDM legends, there were also truly bizarre machines. Few vehicles embodied this better than the Daihatsu Midget II.
This tiny kei truck appeared in several installments of the franchise and became one of those cars that players bought simply because it existed. It wasn’t fast, competitive, or particularly useful in the game. It was memorable. And you know what? The real car is surprisingly similar.
Technical specifications and features
Originally imported from Japan in 2022, this 1996 model has approximately 95,000 kilometers (59,000 miles) on the odometer and is finished in a two-tone gray and black scheme. Under the hood is a 659 cc three-cylinder engine producing 31 horsepower (23 kW), paired with a four-speed manual transmission that sends power to the rear wheels. This car becomes even stranger when you explain to others what it is.
It is a pickup truck with a central single-seat cabin, like a McLaren F1, a spare wheel on the nose as if it’s heading out on safari, and a floor-mounted air conditioner. The radio only receives the AM band. Additional headlights and tubular bumpers add a touch of practicality.
Chassis and brakes
Up front, it has McPherson struts, while the rear uses leaf springs. The braking system is drum-type. Of course, when you have fewer horsepower on board than many golf carts, drum brakes are perfectly adequate.
Auction and price
The Midget II makes absolutely no practical sense and doesn’t need to. At the time of writing, the bid is only $2,500, with nearly a week left until the auction ends. Such a price is unlikely to last long. After all, it’s hard to put a price on a car that has lived rent-free in the minds of Gran Turismo players for decades. Take a look at the lot before someone with better taste does.
This car is a striking example of how the virtual world can influence the real market for collector cars. Despite its minimal practicality and low power, the Daihatsu Midget II has become iconic thanks to its unique appearance and appearances in video games. Its value to collectors lies not in its technical specifications, but in nostalgia and rarity, making it an interesting lot for those who appreciate automotive history from an unexpected angle.