Suzuki Cappucino Show Car

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THIS CAR HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN. APOLOGIES FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE CAUSED.

In production from 1993 to 1995, the Cappuccino was a small car specially made by Suzuki to take advantage of the lower taxation rate for cars that met a set of rules known as the ‘Kei specs’. In order to qualify, the car needed to have an engine with a capacity of less than 660cc and conform to certain power, weight and overall size restrictions.

The 660cc turbocharged engine developed 63bhp, which propelled its 750kgs along at a fair rate, and at just 4’6” wide, the car could squeeze through the narrowest of gaps in the traffic. Jeremy Clarkson used one at the Geneva Motorshow to drive between stands for a Top Gear report, showing off its diminutive exterior dimensions as well as the car’s ability to accommodate his 6’6” frame. Fitted with an ingenious folding roof system, of the 1,110 that were sold here between 1993 and 1995, 80% were red and 20% silver.

Dating from 1993 this particular car is certainly not your average Cappuccino. Following an accident in December 2003 that got it recorded as a Category C insurance loss (damaged repairable), a previous owner took it upon himself not just to repair the car but to make it just about the best example available.

To this end it was entrusted to Cappuccino Sport of London to be turned into a show car. Between 2005 and 2007 over £45,000 was lavished on the car, all minutely recorded in the extensive history file.

Too detailed to list in full here, highlights include: engine fully rebuilt and bored out from 657cc to 698cc with forged pistons, uprated injectors, remapped ECU etc; new clutch; rebuilt suspension; chassis shotblasted and painted; uprated brakes with Wilwood callipers all round; Viper security system; parking sensors front and rear; full leather custom interior including headlining; all new dash gauges; dash-mounted fold-away DVD/DAB system; inbuilt speakers in seat headrests; LED lights front and rear; 15” alloys with new Toyo tyres etc. etc.

Still in excellent condition today and with only around 23,000 miles on the clock, it comes with all its original handbooks and will certainly be a talking point at any car show.