1989 Mitsubishi Minica Dangan ZZ

CRAZY JDM #7

This is the Mitsubishi Minica Dangan ZZ. It is a kei car, a Japanese specification of car with limited size and power. No rules on turbos though, resulting in this 'fast' Minica. It is the first production car to have a 5 valve per cylinder engine if you're interested. This is one of many crazy versions of the 6th generation Minica, there was a tall one called the 'Toppo' and an asymmetrical one called the 'Lettuce'. At least 'Dangan' means bullet.


IS IT TOO POWERFUL TO BE A KEI CAR THEN?
It may look like it but no. It still has a tiny enough engine with a fair amount less than 100hp, but it's turbo,  4WD and accelerates like a bullet compared to other kei cars. So it's still an official kei car.

HOW FAST?
It's a kei car made before regulations got a bit more lax so it won't be too fast.
63bhp
0-62 mph in 8.9 seconds
93mph

MORE PICTURES PLEASE!

Asymmetric grille almost exclusively found on kei cars.

Rear view.

Next up, the Minica Toppo. They should've called it the Minica Topple.

The adorable Minica that replaced the 1989 model had a retro trim, looks like a London taxi.

Now that I'm running out of Dangan ZZ pictures here is another weird Minica, the lettuce. That's its actual name. No joke.

CAN I BUY ONE?

It all looks quite good. Is it cheap? Yes (£2,000 to £6,000)! Is an older model past the US import cap? Yes! Is it very rare and thus almost impossible to find spare parts for? ...yes.

CRAZY JDM RATING

Silly styling? NO

Silly engineering? YES

Silly idea behind it? YES

●●◦2/3 Although it's not the most bonkers JDM, it's close.

2008 Honda Vamos Hobio Travel Dog

CRAZY JDM #4

This is the Honda Vamos Hobio Travel Dog. And no, I'm not kidding. This is a kei car, one of those Japanese economy vehicles with limited size, power and no VTECs. In fact it's a trim level of the Honda Vamos 'kei van' based on the Honda Acty 'kei truck.' This is a trim level designed for (owners of) dogs.


WHAT WERE HONDA THINKING!?
Honda were thinking of Dog owners.
A tiny noddy van for very big dogs. JDM Logic. See the photos page for more info.

HOW FAST?
There are actually performance figures for this! Let's compare with an actual dog.
Travel Dog; 44bhp. Actual dog can't fit on a dyno, maybe it has 'Dog Power' instead of HP.
Travel Dog; 0-60 in 25.7 seconds. Actual dog can't make it to 60.
Travel Dog; 73mph.  World's fastest dog is 28mph slower. But the Honda is way too slow.

MORE PICTURES PLEASE!

Well, you asked for more pictures.

Wipeable and anti-bacterial interior.

Aww, look at the adorable carpet.

Honda's free (and maybe patented) Dog-Hammock.

And to end it all we have a Dog-Bag. Looks kinda cramped to me.

CAN I BUY ONE?

Well it's growing on me now a bit. Despite that I still don't have the desire to buy one and if you do tough, this is an exclusive 2008 model so it's very rare, a normal Vamos is very common in Japan but even then it's not past the US import cap.

CRAZY JDM RATING!

Silly styling? YES

Silly engineering? YES

Silly idea behind it? CERTAINLY

●●●3/3 A very silly car that also manages to be something really cool and unique.

1992 Mazda Autozam AZ-1

CRAZY JDM #1

This is the Autozam AZ-1, It is a Kei Car, a Japanese car specification that has a limited size, engine capacity, horsepower and a special number plate  in exchange for cheaper tax and stuff. Luckily, there's no limit for 0-60 time so we get this, a Kei Car which tries to be sporty. It already looks cool and has all sorts of funky features like gullwing doors (pictured), plenty of standard aero parts and a two-tone scheme. So what else is so special about the AZ1?


WHAT IS AUTOZAM?
One of the many sub-brands of Mazda formed and later abandoned. This one, Autozam was a joint effort with Suzuki to produce a sub-brand specialising in Kei Cars. So most Autozams (including this one) were sold as Suzukis. And just like Autozam itself, this car was discontinued quickly despite its popularity.

HOW FAST?
Even though it may look sporty it's still a 660cc Kei Car so the stats are quite low.
63bhp
0-60 in... nobody knows but it's definitely under 10 seconds.
87mph

MORE PHOTOS PLEASE!

Mazdaspeed Model

Rear View

Side View Modified & Opened. Look at those sweet doors.

Size Comparison

Size Comparison 2... Now it looks like a RC car.

CAN I BUY ONE?

The 25 year import tax in the USA will prevent you from getting one if you live there. If you live somewhere else without the ban you can get one though it would be very difficult and quite pricey as these cars are very rare. If you do manage find one they can be from £6,000 to £16,000. Expensive for a kei car but cheap for gullwing doors. :)

CRAZY JDM RATING!

Silly styling? YES YES YES

Silly engineering? YES

Silly idea behind it? YES

●●●3/3 A very silly car that also manages to be something really cool and unique.