Small and perfectly formed

For most of its history, the Japanese motor industry has had a category for small vehicles known as kei cars.

These are restricted in terms of dimensions, engine capacity and latterly power output. In return, owners have benefited from lower tax and insurance, and in some cases exemption from parking restrictions.

Here we’re looking at 42 of the most significant kei passenger cars sold in the 20th century. We are not including commercial vehicles, though it should be noted that the kei truck category was also very important and successful.

These are certainly pint-sized classic cars with a difference!

1. Suzulight (1955)

From 1949 until 1955, kei car regulations changed comparatively rapidly, with different capacity limits for vehicles with two- and four-stroke engines.

They settled down in 1955, and remained at 360cc (regardless of engine type) for the next 21 years.The most famous of the very early kei cars was launched at the start of the 360cc era. The Suzulight was the first car developed by Suzuki, which had until then built only motorcycles.Inspired by the slightly earlier German Lloyd 400 (whose length, width and 386cc engine were however too large for it to qualify as a kei car), the Suzulight remained in production, with several changes, for 14 years.

2. Subaru 360 (1958)

Like Suzuki, Subaru was inspired by the kei regulations to produce its first car.

Under its peculiarly shaped body, the 360 featured a rear-mounted two-stroke engine.

Several thousand examples were exported to the US, where Consumer Reports rated it Not Acceptable. In an article published in April 1969, the magazine criticised its performance, handling, braking, safety and windscreen demisting, and concluded, “It was a pleasure to squirm out of the Subaru, slam the door and walk away.”

In Japan, where road conditions were very different and tiny cars made more sense, the 360 was popular enough for Subaru to keep it in production from 1958 until 1971.

42 cute classic kei cars

Mazda’s first powered vehicle was the tiny Mazda-Go three-wheeled truck launched in 1931.

Its first car was the R360, which met the kei regulations as they stood in 1960. This four-seat coupé was powered by a 356cc V-twin engine which also powered a pick-up and the larger P360 Carol saloon of 1962.

The R360 was discontinued in 1966. The more practical P360 Carol remained in production for a further four years.

4. Honda S360 (1962)

If you said the S360 was one of the most beautiful kei cars ever built, we wouldn’t disagree.

Unusually for a car of this type, it had a twin-cam four-cylinder engine which produced its maximum power output of 33bhp at 9000rpm.

Sadly, it never went into production, despite being enthusiastically received when it made its debut at the Suzuka circuit in June 1962 and when it went on display at the Japan National Auto Show four months later. Honda felt that the sports car market in Japan was too small, and that a model with a 356cc engine would not be popular anywhere else.

Instead, Honda reworked the S360 into the S500, which required a wider body. The length was increased at the same time. In both dimensions, the S500 was too large to meet the requirements of the kei class.

Source: classic & sports car