・Totally original Japanese Kei car in rare silver paint

・Remarkable condition inside and out, fully documented

・A joyful, balanced, and unique driving experience

Built to the demands of the Japanese government's tax legislation which mandated cars must be small (3.3m or less kind of small) and their engine capacity no larger than 660cc, the Suzuki Cappuccino is a bona-fide icon of the ‘Kei Car’ car category. Weighing in at a feathery 725kg and powered by a turbocharged, 660cc engine producing 63bhp, it was an instant hit upon its release and today offers a refreshing, unique option to those searching for some rear-wheel driven, sports car fun.

Officially unveiled to the UK audience in 1992, the dinky sports car instantly won numerous design awards and plaudits from the industry and was brought to the market a year later, albeit with a very tight import quota: just over 1,100 cars were ever brought into the UK. The colour choices for owners were also streamlined to red or silver in a ratio of 4:1. That, therefore, makes this ’94 UK registered silver car a rare sight on the roads today and one of only a handful left.
 

Reason for sale? “Age. Mine, not the cars!” – the current owner is keen for someone else to enjoy his Cappuccino after his 22 years of ownership. Being a low seating position, the has been getting less and less use over the years so finally, it’s time for the current owner to part with it.

This car has been enjoyed by 3 owners in its lifetime in the East Anglian region: the first who purchased it from Suzuki in Suffolk in 1994 and sold it on shortly to its second owner, who then sold the car to the current keeper in 1999 with 14,500 miles having been accumulated. In the past 22 years the car has been garaged and never driven on wet roads with the owner stating that “in fact, the car only gets wet once a year and that’s when I take it out for a clean before its yearly service and MOT”.

Ensuring almost complete originality, the owner has had the car maintained using original Suzuki parts where possible. This fully documented work includes a replacement exhaust back box and brake callipers at 17,000 miles, plus replacement timing, V and fan belts at 30,000 miles. The only non-original items on the car are the replacement tyres, radio unit and battery.

It wouldn’t be over the top to state that the documentation which has been kept alongside this car is one of its standout features… A hefty folder includes all invoices for maintenance on the car, the original owner’s manual and dealer sales book plus a fully documented service log (a mixture of dealer and local garages) which has had to be extended due to the almost yearly upkeep. There’s even a copy of the previous sales advert showing a sale price of £9,995 in 1999.

MOT history is available online from 2006 and some paper copies have been retained, showing a clean run of passes each year, including the last MOT which features no advisories.

As might be expected with an ownership history and mileage such as this, the interior of this Japanese sports car is in excellent condition. The faux leather seats which hug the driver securely present beautifully with just a small scuff visible on the drivers bolster and elsewhere there is no signs of damage except for a small crack to the plastic cover on the passenger-side sill. The simple, clean dashboard looks fantastically modern these days and provides few distractions for driver or passenger, leaving you to focus on the joy of the drive.

A particular highlight of the minimalist, clever, Japanese design is in the boot where you’ll find covers for the dismantlable hardtop. To stow it away, you simply unclip the retention clips, remove the three-piece roof and pop the pieces into their designated bags. Each bag details the orientation and order in which it must be placed into the boot to ensure a perfect, neat closure.

Again, owing to the past 22 years of garage storage and dry use only, the exterior of this car is in excellent condition for its age. The metallic silver paint and contrasting black hardtop shine brightly and, aside from a few small scuffs on the front passenger side bumper, a chip to the bonnet and a very light bit of paint bubbling on the driver’s side front wing, there’s little sign of this car being almost 30 years old. A specialist could revive the exterior to show-winning condition, should this be something that a new owner is concerned with.

All four wheels are in good condition with no kerbing damage and just a small bit of paint peel which could be easily corrected but don’t detract from the overall look of the car.

Testament to its former keepers strict service schedule and care, the car is mechanically excellent. The car starts instantly and idles happily, sounding eager to show you that it can rev happily up to a grin-inducing 9,300rpm.

The lightweight appeal and incredible balance are ready for their next owner to take advantage of, safe in the knowledge that there are no outstanding mechanical foibles to worry about.

With both a driver and passenger in place, the little Cappuccino manages to achieve a 50:50 weight distribution, providing further proof that you don’t need hundreds of horsepower to find yourself behind the wheel of something that can put a smile on your face.
Offered here is a totally unspoilt, low-mileage and very well cared for example of a sports car that offers a great alternative to the more ‘expected’ options when it comes to Japanese sports cars. Being a low-capacity engine, relatively inexpensive to run and mechanically simple, this has the potential to be a great entry into the world of two-seaters for someone, or indeed, a fantastic addition to any Kei car collection. This is the hit of caffeine that any car lover can appreciate.

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