USED BUYER'S GUIDE Suzuki Cappuccino

FROM £6,000 Japan's super-cute sports car is an up and coming classic, but with tiny dimensions, make sure it's your cup of tea (or coffee...) before you buy

- Richard Dredge

AS we head into the electric age, compact and affordable sports cars are a thing of the past for the new-car buyer. But when you're buying used - and especially if you're happy to explore the realms of the modern classic - there are a few gems that are worth seeking out.

One of them is the Suzuki Cappuccino, which hit UK shores more than three decades ago, before retreating to be largely forgotten. Created primarily for the Japanese market but officially imported to the UK for two years, the Cappuccino is cheap to run and great to drive, although it isn’t the most practical of cars. There are also a few things that you need to look out for when buying, so grab a coffee and we'll tell you all about it.

HISTORY

IN 1987 Suzuki started to work on a new two-seat sports car, but it would be another two years before an initial concept was shown at the Tokyo motor show. It was built to comply with Japan's kei car rules, which restricted car size along with engine displacement and power; those regulations changed in 1990 to allow longer cars and engines of 660cc instead of 550cc.

The Cappuccino entered production in 1991 and following a strong start in Japan, talks started with the UK importer about bringing the car here. Sure enough, at the 1992 London Motor Show, the Cappuccino made its debut.