I’ve been reading about these Japanese kei-vans converted to look like VW buses for a long time, but never saw one myself. Until one day, there it was, parked in a student housing project, looking all the world like a baby bus abandoned by its mother.
This one started out as a ninth generation Suzuki Carry (1993-1999) van, but there’s also kits to convert a Subaru Sambar. A 657cc three-pot mounted low just ahead of the rear axle powers it. It’s not hard to see why it got picked for the conversion.
Looks a bit tall and tippy, but with that engine way down under the floor, the center of gravity probably isn’t that bad. The Vancouver, B.C. plate explains its existence, although I see a few ex-JDM cars around that seem to have sprouted Oregon plates without being old enough technically. Maybe it’s not all that hard.
This one’s an automatic too, a three-speed. Automatics have been quite popular in Japanese kei cars and other small vehicles there for some time, more so than in Europe. Blame the atrocious slow traffic in the big cities.
Unlike Mama-bus, baby bus only has two rows of seats.
And a cargo area behind that. Bright and cheerful in here.
It looks a bit sad from the front, though. Do you miss your mommy?
It looks like it needs some love. Would you take it home?
The irony is that the van featured is probably one of the most reliable vehicles to sport a VW badge(even if it is a fake VW)
Paul you mention ex JDM cars prowling around Oregon. That is very interesting, are they true JDM cars or some of those RHD Subaru and Jeeps that the were created for mail carriers? I would love to get my hands on a RHD ex mail carrier Subaru Legacy and get rid of the mail tray on the passenger side in favor of a seat out of a junk yard car. I bet it would allow me to lose weight due to not being able to use the drive through anymore with that car.
I think there are a few actual JDM vans hanging around. Last year, I saw a mid-60s Subaru Sambar wearing Missouri plates. How exactly that came about is probably an interesting story.
There’s a few of these kicking around my town.
Ugly, ungainly little toy town thingies. Not nice at all, but rings all the bells for those looking for the Japanese definition of ‘cute’.
Please pass the sick bag……..
I could get into this much more than a Smart car. It actually looks practical as grocery getter.
Agreed, but I can’t imagine the outcome of a collision with just about anything being good. And trying to take something like this out on the interstate would probably be an exercise in outright terror.
Still, you have to wonder ‘what if’ Suzuki had brought these over to the US. It might have achieved cult status. Personally, I’d rather they’d have done that than the bizarro X-90 which doesn’t seem to have much of a following, at all.
Oh, plenty of those found their way in gardens or golf course with optional 4WD. not cute though
I think keis also have a more restrictive speed limiter than other JDM cars — I’m hazy on what the limit for them is currently, but it might be 120 km/h (75 mph). Clearly not intended as serious freeway cars.
Can’t be much worse in a collision than the original
So squeezable just like my kitty!
Hi Paul. Newcomer here but long term lurker. Is the Sambar supposed to be a Subaru? I thought all Sambars are Subaru, but when I double check my facts – Google can come up with Suzuki Sambars picture – go figure.
Yes; Sambars are made by Subaru. One can’t always trust Google, because they’re just bringing up pictures folks have mis-identified. Wikipedia has sections on both the Suzuki Carry and the Subaru Sambar. And they both have distinctive features that make them identifiable, although they might not be obvious at first glance.
A key Suzuki Carry feature is that the bottom of the front door window is higher than the bottom of the side windows behind the front door.
I think he means that the text says “Suzuki Sambar” — I didn’t catch that the first time through.
Typo! Fixed. Thanks.
Amusing little guy–that’s make a nice city runabout. I don’t think I’d be very keen on driving it on the interstate though! Between the lack of accident protection of any forward control van, and the small size–it’d be a scary proposition.
I saw a flatbed go by yesterday with four little vanlets of about this size on it, yet they were “crew cabs” with pickup beds. Looked brand new. I wonder what they were, and if they were street legal…
There is a Chinese company that makes a crew cab pick up version of the Suzuki Carry. In fact, there are several Suzuki-based vans coming out of China, including one that carries a BMW-style grille.
Yes several Chinese companies use resources from Suzuki but another Chinese company owned by GM ( Wuling ) makes the best Kei van in china though, using source from GM
The Wuling vans originate on Mitsubishi technology, having started as Mitsubishi Minicabs made in China. And Wuling is today mostly owned by SAIC (50.1%) while GM holds 44%.
This is it, the Dongfeng mini truck. I don’t think it is Suzuki-based, though.
Changan, on the other hand, did start in the 80’s making Suzuki Carry under license. This is a newish example.
For whatever reason “cute” vehicles tend to annoy me, but… I kinda like that little thing.
Oh, squeeze it like a kitty, and rub to put scent on it!
Out here in two land blacktop country that would be very handy. Have never seen one kitted like this in the metal and darned few pictures. Good find Paul.
It’s obviously a fake VW … no dancing bears or “Steal Your Face” decals on it!
Used Kei trucks have become popular in the US as off-road utility vehicles since they are much more capable than either golf carts or ATVs and don’t cost much more.
This is cute but my favorite Dream Factory Blow products are the 67-72 Chevy trucks based on the Suzuki Wagon R. If i wanted a shrunken VW bus I’d go for a Fiat 850 van, in pop up camper form for extra absurdity.
Yes. I like it when stuff like this shows up. Always want to see kei cars in 3D, so it’s good to get reports on them when folks do. I wasn’t disappointed by the first Figaro I saw, being into small stuff, and I like the idea of this little van. How does the copyright issue on the logo work?
How does the copyright issue on the logo work?
Waiting for VW to find them all…..might take a while. 🙂
GM rebadged these micro vans in various markets but we have em in NZ as Suzukis also the Subaru and Mazda versions are here too kinda slow they are unsuited to highway use being more at home in towns.
Exceedingly cute .
It’s possible if a dit tricky , to register a JDM vehicle State Side , best be careful as if they catch you , they’ll confiscate and destroy it .
-Nate
I saw another one of these here in Vancouver a few weeks back. A young lady with orange hair had just stopped to pick up her mum, so I didn’t intrude.
Blue and white. . .If the Smurfs decided to go out and buy a fuel efficient import minivan to haul the family and park alongside their mushroom house, this may be it! How Smurftastic.
Must have been the deformed runt of the litter.
When your only luggage is jumper cables, you’ve got a problem 😉
(Even) more anime than the Nissan Figaro and S-Cargo, painted in the same facility as cheap 90s toys were. Let’s go for a round of real-life Mario Kart!
This just BEGS for a Hyabusa engine in it!
I`m surprised that I didn`t see a “Hello Kitty” something in this imitation VW van
This Subaru-based one is a few doors up the road from me, I pass it every day as I cycle to and from work. More pics on the Cohort. Wonder why they all seem to be blue and white?!
That is a really cool conversion. Didn’t know they make anything like that. While not something I’d ever buy, I do like it.
I live in a rural area of Japan and kei vans and kei trucks are EVERYWHERE. I hate them with the power of a thousand thousand burning suns, because they are always inevitably driven by the most selfish, blind, incompetent people in the whole country. They pull out in front of you and go 10 km/h under the speed limit, or they pull out behind you and tailgate you all the way down the road. They cut people off, turn suddenly without blinkers, constantly cross the center line into oncoming traffic on curvy roads (a serious danger here in narrow, windy-road Japan), and are just rotten to deal with in traffic. I hate them, and no amount of cuteness will wash away the absolute awfulness of having to dodge on the roads. To be fair, the more decorated ones like this tend to be driven by normal people going about their business. It’s the work- and farming-trucks that are just the absolute bottom of the barrel so far as drivers go.
With all the love for the original VW bus, you would think VW would take advantage! They are leaving money on the table.
Wonder why all the headrests have been removed from this quirky van?