[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/by-manufacturer\/mazda\/mazda-az-1-weird-car-of-the-month\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/by-manufacturer\/mazda\/mazda-az-1-weird-car-of-the-month\/","headline":"Mazda AZ-1 :Weird Car of The Month","name":"Mazda AZ-1 :Weird Car of The Month","description":"The mini Mazda with gullwing doors and a mid-engine layout This is a Mazda unlike any you have seen before. In fact, it\u2019s not even a Mazda. Manufactured under Mazda\u2019s \u2018Autozam\u2019 brand that specialises in Kei cars (Japan\u2019s class of small cars), the AZ-1 is truly unique. Kei cars in Japan are sensible by nature. They\u2019re small, fuel-efficient, less polluting, light and affordable. The AZ-1 seems to have ignored most of the characteristics of a Kei car and gone its […]","datePublished":"2021-11-26","dateModified":"2021-11-26","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/#Person","name":"Isabelle Lawrence","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/","identifier":30,"description":"Max Wheeler is a leading motoring journalist and classic car specialist at Smart Motoring, renowned for his sharp insight and infectious passion for all things automotive. With years of experience covering motoring news, supercars, and the enduring legacy of classic cars, Max brings stories to life with style and authority. Whether it\u2019s the roar of a Lamborghini, the elegance of an Aston Martin DB5, or the cultural impact of vintage motoring icons, he delivers expert commentary that inspires enthusiasts and collectors alike. Dedicated to celebrating the heritage and future of driving, Max Wheeler is your trusted voice for classic car news and beyond.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Smart Motoring","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Mazda-AZ-1-Weird-Car-of-The-Month-feature..jpg","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Mazda-AZ-1-Weird-Car-of-The-Month-feature..jpg","height":520,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/by-manufacturer\/mazda\/mazda-az-1-weird-car-of-the-month\/","about":["Cars","LATEST CAR NEWS","Mazda"],"wordCount":497,"keywords":["cars","mazda","Mazda AZ-1"],"articleBody":"The mini Mazda with gullwing doors and a mid-engine layoutThis is a Mazda unlike any you have seen before. In fact, it\u2019s not even a Mazda.Manufactured under Mazda\u2019s \u2018Autozam\u2019 brand that specialises in Kei cars (Japan\u2019s class of small cars), the AZ-1 is truly unique. Kei cars in Japan are sensible by nature. They\u2019re small, fuel-efficient, less polluting, light and affordable. The AZ-1 seems to have ignored most of the characteristics of a Kei car and gone its own way about things.Photo: Tobias ToMar Maier, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia CommonsOne of the first things you\u2019ll notice are its grand gullwing doors. Just like the iconic Mercedes 300 SL, DeLorean and Tesla Model X, the AZ-1 sports the very same flashy doors with the only difference being this is not exactly a luxury car. When it was first sold in the 1980s, the car was sold for around \u00a310,000.With such a low price and a power output of just 63 horsepower coming from a 657 cc Suzuki engine, the car contradicts itself with some wonderfully weird performance features. For instance, the engine is in the middle, like in a supercar. It\u2019s also rear wheel drive and Mazda marketed it as the \u2018ultimate handling machine\u2019 so clearly the manufacturers intent was to build a miniature sports car that was to be taken seriously.Photo: Akinori YAMADA from Tokorozawa, SAITAMA, Japan;Cropped and minor alterations by uploader Mr.choppers, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia CommonsUnfortunately, the AZ-1 did not sell well. Although in hindsight this little wannabe supercar was well worth its price given its uniqueness, people at the time couldn\u2019t see it. Its price tag was higher than the hugely successful Mazda MX-5 that was bigger, more powerful and faster. In the end, less than 4,500 were sold. A tragic result for such a unique car.Of course, there were numerous other sports Kei cars but none are as desirable and in-demand as the AZ-1 is today. Although their values haven\u2019t exactly skyrocketed, they still sell for around \u00a315,000 and that\u2019s with over 50,000 miles on the clock.Photo: Tennen-Gas, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia CommonsThe styling is very reminiscent of a Ford RS200 and AZ-1 fans will point out all of its other sporty features such as the bonnet air intake (which doesn\u2019t actually cool the engine, as it is a mid-engined car), vents on the side and at the rear and just how low the ground this mini sports car sits.All in all, the Autozam AZ-1 is definitely one of the coolest (and weirdest) sports cars given its 80s supercar-like appearance and lackluster power output. We still think it\u2019s undervalued today and expect to see prices rise once it\u2019s recognised by more people for the underappreciated gem that it is.Let us know what you think of the AZ-1, in the comments.If you enjoyed this, you may also like: \u2018Electric Conversion For Your Classic Beetle\u2019"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"By Manufacturer","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/by-manufacturer\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Mazda","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/by-manufacturer\/\/mazda\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Mazda AZ-1 :Weird Car of The Month","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/by-manufacturer\/mazda\/mazda-az-1-weird-car-of-the-month\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]