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Written and photographed by: David Harman
Tucked away at the foot of Racoon Mountain, Chattanooga has its own import dealership. Southeast Imports has been open now for around 3 months. They specialize in JDM imports, and their inventory is comprised of legendary sports cars, kei cars, and kei trucks. This article will highlight some of the coolest stuff on their lot.
If you don't know, the term kei car refers to the smallest highway-legal vehicles for sale in Japan. "Kei car" roughly translates to light automobile in English, and they have been sold in Japan since 1949.
Kei cars grew in popularity in Japan due to the tax benefits buyers were met with. These tiny cars are affordable, great on gas, and easy to park in urban Japan.
Among enthusiasts, three kei cars are put on a pedestal, loved for their ridiculous size, quirky looks, and driving dynamics. In America, these cars are strikingly rare, only recently legal for import. You'd be lucky to see any of the three out in the wild. Southeast Imports had all three on the lot.
The Autozam AZ-1:
The AZ-1 was produced from 1992-1994 by Mazda in partnership with Suzuki under their now defunct "Autozam" alias.
Powered by a turbocharged Sukuki-sourced motorcycle engine, the AZ-1 put down a staggering 66 horsepower with a 9,000 RPM redline.
With a mid-engine layout and a near-perfect weight distribution, this car had only fun in mind during its production.
The AZ-1 is likely the rarest of all the kei cars, and fittingly these gullwing doors make it look like a mini supercar.
Nothing looks like this thing on the road, I can only imagine how much attention it would garner at a gas station.
This example is painted Classic Red, with gold wheels to match. The coveted Mazdaspeed kit completes the AZ-1 with a large rear wing, a hood scoop, and some front aero.
It also has some tasteful modifications, with a Spiegel bucket seat and suspension upgrades.
The Honda Beat:
The Honda Beat was produced from 1991-1996 and is one of the seven rear-wheel drive cars that Honda ever produced.
Unlike the AZ-1, the Beat does not utilize a turbocharger, staying naturally aspirated and pushing out 64 horsepower at 8,100 RPM.
With a mid-engine layout and a convertible top, this little car looks like a blast to drive.
Notably, this is actually the last car that Honda's founder, Soichiro Honda signed off on before his passing.
Southeast Imports had two Honda beats on their lot, one in Everglade Green Metallic and one in Blade Silver Metallic.
Inside the Everglade Green Metallic Beat sits the iconic Zebra print interior, with an aftermarket Ferrari steering wheel. The Zebra print is not for everyone, but I think it fits the personality of this car perfectly.
The Suzuki Cappuccino:
The Cappuccino was produced from 1991-1998 and again is powered by a turbocharged motorcycle engine, pushing 65 horsepower. Weighing only 1,500 lbs. the term "street legal go-kart" has never been more literal.
Unlike the AZ-1 and the Beat, the Cappuccino has a front engine layout.
With its traditional sports car formula, it has traditional sports car looks, with the driver sitting just in front of the rear axle- they're just shrunk down to miniature size.
The photos of these cars do them no justice- they are seriously tiny!
Southeast Imports' pristine example is finished in silver with a black interior.
One of the most interesting features of the Cappuccino is the roof. Suzuki designed the hardtop of this car to have many configurations.
As pictured, the car is in its coupe configuration, but fairly easily, the roof comes off, leaving only the rear glass for a Porsche-like targa top experience.
Uniquely, the Cappuccino rear glass is not fixed in place; it can fold down into the car allowing for a full convertible vehicle.
Moving away from the kei cars, Southeast Imports also has some iconic Japanese sports cars.
A car that needs no introduction- the FD RX-7.
Southeast Imports' rotary legend is equipped with many modifications including a big wing, a body kit, and a single exit exhaust.
With Recaro seats and a "Makers Racing" decal on its hood- this thing screams JDM.
This car even has a pair of OEM R34 GTR wheels, one of the most coveted OEM wheels of all time. This design is now been replicated and popularized by Kansei with their Tandem wheels.
Equally iconic is the Nissan Skyline. Southeast Imports' R33 Skyline Coupe is dressed up with a full GTR body kit. It also sports an upgraded suspension system and an intercooler to keep its RB25 motor cool.
This Skyline is made even more rare, being the 40th-anniversary edition. With an aftermarket Momo steering wheel and some HKS goodies- this is a beautiful example.
With its automatic transmission, this might be the perfect cross between comfort and sportiness, looking good while doing so.
One of the strangest cars on the lot was this Toyota MR-2, given the nickname "Inspector Gadget" by Southeast Imports' staff.
On the exterior of this car, I count 6 fog lights, making for a total of 8 lights on this front end.
It doesn't stop there though, on the inside of this MR-2 there are radars, scanners, radios, and even a calculator. Everywhere you look in this cabin, there are gadgets and switches all hardwired into the car.
I doubt you'll ever find another MR-2 quite like this.
Maybe this guy was CIA or some kind of superhero- maybe he was crazy. We'll never know. I'm sure the original owner in Japan is a very interesting person.
If sports cars aren't your thing- Southeast Imports still has you covered. This beast of a van is their 1994 Mitsubishi Delica. While they were only briefly sold in the states, they are now highly sought after for their reliability and off-road capabilities. With 4WD and a diesel motor, this van will get you anywhere, on or off road.
This example is already geared out with off-road modifications and a retractable awning to boot, ready to go for your next camping trip.
This is a heavy contender for the coolest off-roader money can buy.
My trip to Southeast Imports was long overdue. The staff there was incredibly friendly, and it's clear that they're passionate about the service they provide. With some of the coolest cars for sale in the city, I highly encourage you to check out their website or make the trip in person at 3206 Mountain View Dr, Chattanooga, TN 37419. They have more inventory coming that you won't want to miss.
Please enjoy a short gallery from the rest of my visit.
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