Readers Cars

Rare Kei Car Icons: Trevor’s Mazda AZ-1 & Suzuki Cara

Read about Trevor Jon Wayne’s Mazda AZ-1 and Suzuki Cara—two of Japan’s rarest kei sports cars. With gullwing doors and turbo charm, these cars redefine JDM nostalgia.

Mr2mivin

Rare Kei Car Icons: Trevor’s Mazda AZ-1 & Suzuki Cara

Mazda AZ-1 & Suzuki Cara Side by Side on the road

TL;DR

Trevor owns both a 1992 Mazda Autozam AZ-1 and a 1993 Suzuki Cara, two of Japan’s rarest kei sports cars.
With gullwing doors, mid-engine layouts, and quirky styling, these micro-machines embody JDM charm.
Through WrongSide Motors, Trevor imports nostalgia-rich cars for U.S. enthusiasts, blending Japanese car culture with a California surf-town vibe.

Trevor Jon Wayne

1992 Mazda AZ-1 & 1993 Suzuki Cara

Instagram: @wrongsidemotors @trevorjonwayne

Photographer: Marvin Recinos

Instagram: @mr2mivin

From Japan to California: The Birth of WrongSide Motors

I’m Trevor Jon Wayne, founder of WrongSide Motors, a Southern California-based importer of rare, right-hand-drive Japanese vehicles. My passion has always leaned toward the weird, wonderful, and nostalgic—boxy ’90s vans, quirky kei cars, and turbo oddities that spark conversations wherever they appear.

After years living in Japan, I built strong relationships with trusted exporters and developed an eye for vehicles that combine charm, utility, and personality. Now back in California, I’ve fused that passion with a laid-back coastal lifestyle. Whether I’m cruising in a retro Toyota HiAce or wrenching on an Autozam AZ-1, every car that comes through WrongSide Motors is more than metal—it’s rolling nostalgia.

We’re not just selling cars—we’re importing memories.

1992 Mazda AZ-1 & 1993 Suzuki Cara with the doors open

Family Roots in Car Culture

Like many enthusiasts, my story starts with my dad. When I was three, he bought a 1979 Porsche 911 Targa SC and restored it from the ground up. That car became part of my childhood—rides as a kid, my first teenage drives, even taking it on a couple of dates.

Dad always lived by “work hard, play hard,” and he passed that mindset on to me. He gave me a Go-Ped at 14, helped me buy my first car—a 1991 Honda CRX—and even encouraged my first big two-wheel adventure with a 2006 Honda CBR RR at 21.

It only felt right to have him by my side when we unloaded these two rare kei cars at port. That moment, captured by photographer Marvin Recinos, was as much about family as it was about cars. Without my dad’s encouragement, WrongSide Motors wouldn’t exist.

Why the Mazda AZ-1 and Suzuki Cara?

Because they’re rare, quirky, and unforgettable.

Mazda Autozam AZ-1: Only 4,392 units built. With gullwing doors, a mid-engine turbocharged 657cc three-cylinder, and a 1,587 lb curb weight, it’s basically a life-size go-kart.
Suzuki Cara: Rarer still, with just 531 produced. Mechanically similar to the AZ-1 but with unique styling touches, including its own set of gullwing doors.

These kei sports cars look like concept cars that somehow made it to production. The proportions, the styling, the doors—it’s the kind of thing that stops people in their tracks at a gas station.

1992 Mazda AZ-1 & 1993 Suzuki Cara driving down the road

The AZ-1 Upgrades

This particular AZ-1 wears a handful of choice modifications:

Rear window louvers
Passenger window scoops (summer necessity!)
M2 1015 wing
Momo steering wheel
Triple gauge cluster
13” aftermarket wheels
Turbo timer tucked into the dash

The Cara’s Details

By contrast, the Cara remains mostly stock—a rarity in itself. The only changes are:

Period-correct 13” Panasport Pro Rally wheels
An upgraded head unit

The clean simplicity of this build really highlights just how special these kei cars are.

Driving Experience: Small but Mighty

Owning and driving these cars is equal parts hilarious and thrilling. They’re not about big horsepower numbers—it’s about lightweight fun and personality.

Behind the wheel, the AZ-1 and Cara feel like street-legal go-karts—tiny, nimble, turbocharged, and always smiling back at you. Onlookers can’t resist asking questions, and every drive becomes a conversation starter.

These kei cars remind you why you fell in love with cars in the first place.

1992 Mazda AZ-1 & 1993 Suzuki Cara driving down the road

WrongSide Motors: Importing Nostalgia

Every car we bring to California goes through a full inspection, servicing, and detail before it ever hits the road. We photograph them professionally, list them at wrongsidemotors.com, and handle all the messy parts—logistics, shipping, insurance, and out-of-state registration.

Our mission is simple: make owning a rare piece of JDM history as stress-free as possible. Whether it’s a kei sports car, a boxy HiAce, or a timeless Skyline, we’re building a community of enthusiasts who share the same love for Japanese car culture.

Looking Ahead

The goal is to keep growing WrongSide Motors and finding more of those cars enthusiasts thought they’d never see stateside. We’re not slowing down.

Personally? I still dream of owning a Venturi 400 GT one day. Until then, I’ll keep importing nostalgia, one quirky JDM at a time.

Community Shout Outs

Pops – Jon Wayne (@vanhef)
Mom – Teresa (@treebabes)
Photographer – Marvin Recinos (@mr2mivin)
My North County San Diego family and friends—you’ve been everything.

Related Stance Auto Magazines

If you love rare Japanese cars, check out these collector’s editions from Stance Auto:

Call to Action

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