The Suzuki Cappuccino Provides Maximum Bang For Minimalist Bucks

The 25-year rule that allows car enthusiasts in America to enjoy automobiles from around the world has broadened our horizons, most notably in the Japanese vehicles popularized by games like Gran Turismo. There was a Suzuki Cappuccino in that famous racing simulator, but it was also present in the famous Initial D anime series. And while the Cappuccino didn’t win the fictional race, it opened the door for public acceptance of this tiny, high performance Kei car.

In the last 20 years, I’ve noticed Japanese culture’s explosive growth in my hometown, the port city of Houston. The increase in awareness only makes these classic imports even more appealing, but I suspect my experiences with JDM classics invading the market is far from unique.

Thats why seeing this 1992 Suzuki Cappuccino sell for $12,540 on Cars & Bids was a true delight. There’s tremendous bang for the buck present in this micro car, especially with all the tasteful modifications to improve acceleration, handling and drivability. The first perk to this particular Cappuccino are the aftermarket speed parts, from its intake, exhaust, intercooler, turbocharger blow off valve, and the forward thinking inclusion of turbo timer.

It’s been suggested that the Cappuccino’s turbocharged mill was acceptable to the gentleman’s agreement (that all Kei vehicles stay within 63 horsepower) because of limiting boost pressure via the ECU. This example throws that agreement out the window, and its ECU has been tuned to run 10 psi of turbo boost. While this requires premium fuel, that’s a small price to pay to own a Kei car that turns the old handshake agreement into an overboosted slap across the face.

The custom blue paint, 15″ wheels finished in white, and racy aftermarket front bumper are a nice compliment to the Cappuccino’s configurable hard top. All the bits look great as a coupe, a T-top, a Targa top, or a full on convertible, as all four configurations are available with this car.

This example sports significant interior upgrades too, with an elegant Nardi steering wheel and shift knob, a high-end Alpine stereo and even a subwoofer packed into this tight cabin. While the Alpine lacks the iconic green chiclet buttons you’d expect from 1992, the upgrades appear period correct overall, and come from brand names known for high quality (like Greddy).

Not every Cappuccino came with the imitation wood trim on the dash, but I find it dresses up this tiny, spartan cabin. The leather seats were a desirable option, and do a fine job dressing up what would otherwise be a budget minded sports car aimed at those interested in paying less taxes in Japan. Power windows and air conditioning are also part of the equation, ensuring there’s plenty of luxury in such a small space.

The Cappuccino’s hood is small by most metrics, but it’s absolutely huge by Kei car standards. Opening it up reveals the turbocharged three-cylinder mill in all its underrated, gentlemanly understated glory. The conical air filter might not be to everyone’s taste, but the strut tower brace and high performance ignition system will impress many folks. The icing on this cake is the more efficient, aftermarket front mount intercooler, complete with a blow off valve on the opposite side of the turbocharger.

Not all is perfect with this Cappuccino, as a $12,540 sale price suggests imperfections come as part of the package. Despite the surprisingly low 30,334 kilometers (about 18,900 miles) on the odometer, the driver’s seat bottom has a split in the leather, which has been inelegantly patched up. The Nardi wheel and shifter are heavily worn, and exposed aftermarket wiring suggests this Cappuccino was never intended to live the life of a museum worthy automobile.

Replacement seat covers are readily available on eBay, and local outfits might be able to help with restoring the Nardi bits. The auction also lists flaws in the paint, bumper, wheels, and some underbody corrosion, the latter is minor enough to be difficult to spot in the photographs.

This Cappuccino’s sale price and presented condition is on par with the values in the Hagerty Price Guide. A Cappuccino in #1 condition sits at $27,700, while a #3 condition example is $12,000. There likely isn’t much keeping this example from becoming a #2-ish condition Cappuccino with light reconditioning and some time in a paint booth, and many of the aftermarket parts can be considered desirable upgrades. The new owner of this Suzuki bought it for a fair price, and could easily make money on its sale after performance a few modest restorative tasks.