Highlights
- Sporty ‘Kei’ car with quirky looks offered without reserve
- First generation Copen in top order throughout
- Superb colour combination
- Long MOT
- ULEZ compliant
The Appeal
Daihatsu is one of Japan's oldest automobile manufacturers. It began in 1907 as the Hatsudoki Seizo Company Ltd, initially focusing on producing small gasoline engines for power plants. By 1937, the company had expanded into manufacturing three-wheeled mini trucks and also supplied engines to the Japanese National Railways.
Microcar headlines tend to be dominated by the popular Suzuki Cappuccino however we argue the Daihatsu Copen is a more refined compact 2-door convertible classified as a ‘Kei’ car (the smallest category of road-legal vehicles in Japan). Originally launched with a 660cc turbocharged engine to comply with Kei car regulations, the Copen offered either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic transmission.
The first generation of the Copen was produced between 2002 and 2012, featuring design cues inspired by the Nissan Figaro and Audi TT Roadster. It came equipped with a sophisticated electrically operated retractable hardtop roof. From 2002 to 2007, a variant with a removable roof was also available.
This Copen is specified in the same colour combination as the Top Gear’s featured car where James May attempted to find the best convertible on the market. May loved the Copen as much as we do whilst referring to it as "toy-ish". Full of character and fun, we share a similar view. This example appears to have been fastidiously cared for and certainly represents a lot of potential fun and head-turning for its money.
The History and Paperwork
- First registered 26th January 2004
- 4 previous keepers
- Current registered keeper for nearly 10 years
- Original leather Daihatsu book-pack present, containing owners manual, service booklet (x8 service stamps, the last being at 81,682 miles)
- History file also contains many MOT certificates
- Some servicing and maintenance receipts present, including one referencing a new exhaust system in 2010
- Long MOT until 7th June 2026
- ULEZ compliant
- X2 keys
The Condition
- Signal yellow paintwork with red leather interior
- Paintwork is bright with a good lustre
- Paintwork has a little fade on the wing mirror housings and door handles
- Small bubbles beneath the paint on the o/s/f rear wheel arch
- Paint-flake with rust spots at the front edge where o/s sill meets the rear wheel arch
- One penny sized chip in the windscreen passenger side
- The windscreen top edge has a small blister towards the middle. No other obvious stone chips or imperfections to note
- O/s rear quarterlight glass does not presently go down
- Perforated leather upholstery and door cards present in excellent condition
- Seatbelts and stowaway pockets similarly in excellent order
- Interior, as well as exterior chromes, all present very well
- Carpets present smartly with black overmats for protection
- The interior switchgear is in excellent order
- Momo leather steering wheel in excellent condition
- All four six-spoke wheels look excellent with minimal scuffs
- Tyres appear in decent condition with good tread
- Hardtop foldable roof working as it should, quickly and neatly
The Mechanics
- Nippy 659cc turbocharged engine producing 68 horsepower
- 5-speed manual transmission
- Consistent service record
- Smart and tidy under-bonnet presentation
- Very clean MOT history record
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