Autozam AZ-1Built by Suzuki but sold by Mazda under its Autozam sub-brand, the AZ-1 is a miniature supercar both in its looks and its layout. Its 660cc turbocharged engine is mid-mounted right behind the driver's head, and although it only makes 63 horsepower in stock form, its 1,500 lb weight means it accelerates and handles like a go-kart. Its styling takes influence from the biggest supercars of the era like the Ferrari F40 and Lamborghini Diablo, with its gullwing doors and low-slung proportions looking unlike any other kei car.The radical design and sporty componentry in the AZ-1 didn't come cheap, and as a result, less than 4,500 units were sold before it was axed in 1994, just two years after it went on sale. Their status as a cult classic has meant that plenty of examples have made their way over to America since then, with one model for sale at Duncan Imports at the time of writing. That car is listed for just over $25,000, but several examples have sold for less than $20,000 on Bring a Trailer, including one that sold for just $12,750 in September 2020. Their rarity means that they don't come up for sale very often, so it's worth keeping an eye on both auction sites and specialist dealers if you're in the market for one.Honda BeatThe Honda Beat was launched in 1991 as an exclusively Japanese-market (JDM) car, with styling designed by Pininfarina. It proved to be the most successful kei sports car of its era, with 33,635 examples built between its launch and the end of production in 1996. Around two-thirds of those units were sold within the first 18 months of production, making later-model cars much rarer to find. The car's peak output of 63 horsepower didn't arrive until 8,100rpm, meaning that to get the best out of the Honda, you had to keep it as close to its redline as possible.Kei regulations at the time demanded that top speed was limited to 83 mph, but with the limiter removed, it was reportedly possible to reach speeds of up to 100 mph. Four exterior colors were originally offered for the Beat: silver, red, yellow, and white. Several special editions of the car were also created in response to falling sales, one of those being the Version C with Captiva Blue Pearl paint. Only 500 examples of this edition were ever sold, with models occasionally popping up on Duncan Imports for around $20,000, the cheapest of which is around $14,000.
