(funky music)
- I cannot believe it,
but this is the 50th episode of Bumper 2 Bumper.
And because it is such a huge milestone,
we went and got the tiniest car that we could find.
(funky music)
This super weird little kei car was a total sales flop
when it should have been, in my opinion, a big success.
So what happened?
Well today we have one of the raddest and the rarest
of the Japanese Market Kei cars.
I'm gonna tell you how it came to be.
Then we're gonna dive into the car, to show you
what makes it so unique and why I love it so much.
And at the end, you already know, that I'm gonna see
how funny I look inside of it.
Today we're going Bumper 2 Bumper,
on this Autozam, AZ-1.
AZ-1.
(hard rock music)
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I'm starting off with Tiny House Living.
Because after I get all excited about a car
I can barely fit inside, I'm gonna want a home
that I can barely fit inside.
I can't wait to listen to my next audiobook, curled up
in the fetal position, in both of them.
Start listening right now with a 30 day Audible trial.
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or text Bumper2Bumper to 500-500.
Now before I get up close and personal with this AZ-1,
let me tell you a little bit about where it came from,
and what things were like
when it arrived on the scene.
Tiny cars like this originally came about as a way
to get people into affordable cars, after DAB/DAB 2.
The Japanese Gavril created a new like vehicle segment
called Kei Cars.
(classic music)
In 1990, the maximum length, was set an 11.2 feet
and a max engine size at 660CC.
Now that's really small.
Okay, you guys?
(classic music)
You know what else was going on around in 1990?
The golden age, of Japanese super cars.
Freaking sky legs, silvious basically,
every car that you little d-holes love.
And it was that atmosphere that also gave us, a trio
of fun size, sporty little Kei cars
that came to be known as the ABC Kei cars.
The Autozam AZ-1,
the Honda Beat
and the Suzuki Cappuccino.
Autozam was a sum brand of Mazda
and sold the company smaller more affordable cars.
Cars like Syan and Toyota here in the States.
And the AZ-1, is the wildest of the ABC bunch.
(upbeat music)
Now they developed three, different concepts for the 1989,
Tokyo Motor Show, to see which one the public like best.
Type A, was an exotic looking coop with gold wing doors
that pop up, up and down headlights.
Type B, was a weird shaped coop, with boring,
regular not even gold wing doors
and a really tall green house.
And the Type C, looked like a straight up miniture group c,
prototype race car.
Thundered mirrors and numbers on the doors.
But, naturally the guys in the suits,
didn't give us the little tiny race car.
And in the end, they killed its pop up headlights
'cause they were like, "I guess it makes it safer."
You know what's not safe but very cool?
Samurai swords, hang gliders, pop up up and down headlights.
Another thing that is very cool, are these sideburns.
They're fully functional.
These one's got an intake pinnate,
and on the other side,
there's one that matches it that goes to the inner core.
Sick!
(hiphop music)
Standard AZ-1 only came in two colors.
Classic red, and Siberia blue,
with gray body claddy.
Later on there were special editions
that added black, silver, and white.
Naturally, there is a monster speed one too,
which ditched the gray beats, for a color match sporty kid.
Actually added a blue buzzer speed body kid to her AZ-1.
Oh, it was some absolutely freaking massive,
bridge stone super wrap wheels.
You might think, that they're just steelies,
but if you think that, then you're wrong.
These things are made out of freaking magnesium.
That's sick, it's like a race car.
(hiphop music)
If you see an AZ-1 parked or even driving,
with this sick doors up, you cannot help but love it.
We had a donut meet, a few months ago.
We literally had so many cool cars in a parking lot,
but it was an AZ-1, that everyone was talking about.
People love 'em.
It's cute, exotic at the same time, like an Iguana.
Honestly guys, look.
(funky music)
And what the heck.
Let's stir another name into the mix.
Suzuki, played a big part in the development of the AZ-1.
They gave the idea for the car, and an engine to Mazda,
who took those two things and ran with them.
Behind the tiny seats
is a transversely mounted 657 cc turbo charged
three cylinder engine making 64 hp
and 63 pound feet of torque,
which is the maximum amount allowed in a Kei car.
(upbeat music)
So yes, 64 horse power, isn't very much,
but the turbos pulls up
and the engine reds all the way to 9000 rpm,
just right behind your freaking head.
Now this car has a Fujitsubo exhaust
that probably has a few extra horse powers .
But 0-60 still, takes about ten seconds.
Now the cowboy weight of only 1,587 pounds.
Its power to rate ratio is about half of a Mazda Miata.
So, it's not actually, that fast,
but as Colin Chapman proved,
lightness, goes a long way towards making cars fun.
'Cause, when a car is light, it feels fast.
(wheels screeching)
Ashley actually drove it on several tracks in Japan,
and Luguna Seca, and her in the car
were back here living in the States.
(car engine revving)
So, there is a down side to having a car this small.
It doesn't have a trunk,
or it must have a frock, right?
No, wrong.
It's full of horns and a spare tire.
So, if you wanna bring literally anything with you,
you can't have a passenger in the car.
You wanna go on a weekend road trip with your boo,
I say forget about the car.
(upbeat music)
Okay, now it's time for the funniest part of the episode.
I know, there's been a lot of funny parts,
but this is the funniest.
Let's put me, inside of this little car.
(chuckles)
(grunting)
Allow me in.
(rock music)
I guess you could say, that it's a little bit small for me.
Just thinking about a typical boring Kei car,
you might expect to find,
a dinky little three speed automatic car.
Similarly a four speed manual, in this car,
but nope, it's got a freaking five speed.
Just like the rest of the Gedium Legends from the '90s.
(rock music)
This car has a defy water pump, and boo skanges.
You know,'cause turbo.
Speaking of turbo, it's got an HKS turbo timer,
and a factory optional mowo steering wheel,
just like a Subaru.
The little side windows, are upgraded with manual cranks
which is kinda hard to dig.
And it only takes two turns to get 'em done
'cause we're so small,
which is not a problem,
because this car came with AC.
So, you don't even need the outside air.
You're set!
(upbeat music)
Now it's time, for my favorite part.
We can get to hear what a turbo charge,
650 cc three solner sounds like.
Shall we?
(engine revving)
It sounds good.
I've never heard a car that sounds like this.
Here's the thing.
On paper the AZ-1 should have been,
a sales slam dunk, all right?
Its midi engine, real, real drive.
Have I mentioned that it has gold wing doors?
And it was marketed, as the ultimate, handling, machine.
What more could someone want?
The action ended in 1994 with only 4392 AZ-1s made.
And another 531 rebadge and sold as the Suzuki Cara.
AZ-1 was just, too silly to survive a better climbing.
I mean, where are you gonna put your groceries?
(funky music)
The golden doors, the vents, the turbo,
the freaking handling.
There's just so much to love.
About this tiny, little, Japanese, slow super car.
Regardless of the fact that it wasn't a commercial success,
but, there's a few thousand out there.
And now that they are 25 years old,
you can legally import them to the States,
and register them to drive on the streets, if you're brave.
(engine revving)
Again this is our 50th episode.
I wanna thank you guys so much, from the bottom of my heart,
and on behalf of everyone else at Donut,
especially, the Bumper 2 Bumper crew.
We've got Christina, we've got Phillippe,
we've got a bunch of guys who make it look really good.
Max and Graham, our editors, all of our writers,
and also all the dudes who stepped in,
to host when I couldn't, Phillipe, Job, and Noel.
It takes a village, and its team effort and this is awesome.
If you wanna see more pictures of this car, follow Ashley,
the owner on Instagram at ashleymiche.
Follow me on Instagram at jamespumphrey.
But if you want some behind the scene stuff, follow Donut
on Twitter and Instagram.
We also have a new channel, called Donut Podcasts,
which is 100% dedicated to long form content.
I loved the show and I love you guys.
Love you, bye.