JDM car culture has had a massive impact on car enthusiasts worldwide. At one point, Japanese cars were considered cheap and rather soulless in North America, but as the '90s hit, media like Gran Turismo started introducing young car enthusiasts to a whole new world of performance vehicles that were typically reserved for the Japanese market, like the Skyline GTR.

As the JDM influence grew, names like the Supra and GTR became commonplace and increasingly respected, winning the hearts and minds of enthusiasts over from domestic performance. At the same time though, one part of JDM culture remained rather obscure to North Americans - Kei cars.

A class of micro cars designed to provide affordable transportation for tight city streets, Kei cars are mandated to follow government regulations on their design, like engine size and body dimensions. Despite this, Kei cars have blossomed into one of the quirkiest categories of Japanese cars, with hilariously weird examples existing throughout their history yet remaining unknown to even dedicated JDM enthusiasts. So, read on, to see 10 insanely strange Kei cars that most people don't know about.

10 Autozam GReddy VI-AZ1

Mazda Autozam RE Amemiya GReddy VI-AZ1
Via option-tokyo.com

A common winner of any weird Kei car contest, the Mazda Autozam AZ-1 is a crazy supercar inspired micro machine on its own. Yet, this modified version by GReddy did the unthinkable and turned it into a genuine supercar with unbelievable performance.

RE amemiya GReddy Autozam VI-AZ1 rear end
Via option-tokyo.com

Given a completely new McLaren F1 inspired body, the GReddy VI-AZ1 looks incredible, but under the skin is even more amazing. Instead of the mandated 660cc Kei car engine, a 20B rotary engine putting down nearly 500 HP was installed and is complemented by further race car parts like inboard suspension, and brakes from a Ferrari F50. Its absolute insanity, but unfortunately only one was made.

9 Yamaha AMI

Yamaha AMI Ferrari F40 wannabe kei car
Via Smallcarsclub.com

While the Autozam AZ-1 is famous for its awesomely weird supercar inspired design, Yamaha had a similar attempt that ended up being just plain weird.

Yamaha AMI Ferrari F40 wannabe kei car side view
Via minkara.carview.co.jp

Based on the Daihatsu Opti, the Yamaha AMI retained the 55 HP motor but added a Ferrari F40 inspired body kit. Clearly not meant to be taken seriously, the AMI is a hilarious little car with some ridiculous proportions. 600 of the egg-shaped cars were planned for production, but in the end, only 3 of them were made, making it as rare as it is funny looking.

8 Datsun Baby

Datsun Baby micro car JDM 1965 driving
Via Pinterest

Baby doesn't just refer to the size of this 1960s Datsun, instead, this micro car was designed and made specifically to be driven by children.

1965 Datsun Baby nissan micro car for kid drivers parked in museum
Via Pinterest

Opening in 1965, the Yokohama based Kodomo-No-Kuni children's park included a large driving course to teach young children how to operate a car, as well as essential road skills. 100 Datsun Baby cars were built and given to the park for use on the driving course, and they all came with independent suspension, an automatic transmission, and controls that made it feel and drive like a real road car. For safety, the top speed was limited to 18 MPH, and a bumper that encompasses the car was installed - a logical choice for the role it was built for.

7 Fuji Cabin Model 5A

Early Japanese micro car Fuji Cabin model 5a front view
Via Petersen Automotive Museum - Facebook

Before Subaru was formed, their parent company Fuji Heavy Industries had produced popular affordable transportation for Japan like the Fuji Rabbit scooter, as well as some undeniably strange micro-cars.

Fuji cabin 5a early kei car side view
Via Petersen Automotive Museum - Facebook

One such odd car was the Fuji Cabin Model 5A. Made in 1955, the Cabin Model 5A had an odd design, but was packed with innovations like a monocoque construction, and could hit a top speed of around 37 MPH with just a tiny single-cylinder engine. This acted as a double-edged sword, as it was so advanced for the time that production was difficult, and in the end, only 85 Cabin Model 5As were built.

RELATED: 10 Sickest Kei Cars We Wish We Had In The US (5 That Are Just Too Ridiculous)

6 Honda Vamos (1970-1973)

Honda Vamos Kei Truck 1970
Via FavCars.com

Produced up until recent years, the Honda Vamos' second generation is a fairly normal Kei van, but the first generation which lasted from 1970 until 1973 was as far from normal as could be.

Honda Vamos Kei Truck 1970 side view
Via Pinterest

Based on the minuscule Honda N360, the Vamos is a pint-size "beach car" inspired by open body leisure vehicles like the Fiat 500 Jolly. As strange as the design is, it is equally as rare, with just 2,500 of the first generation Vamos being produced over its 3-year lifespan, making it one of the more unique and collectible Kei cars out there.

5 Daihatsu Fellow Buggy

Daihatsu Fellow buggy kei car beach car
Via Pinterest

Based on the rather standard Daihatsu Fellow Kei car, the Fellow buggy is exactly what it looks like - a VW style beach buggy, but in JDM Kei car form.

vintage Daihatsu fellow buggy parked at car show
Via Ameblo.jp/sp311okabe

One of the rarest and strangest vintage Kei cars, the Fellow buggy was made in 1970 and forewent the steel body in favor of fiberglass construction. This allowed the 360cc RWD buggy to be surprisingly quick, and have a hilariously quirky design. Unfortunately, its as rare as it is weird, as only 100 of the wonderful little Fellow Buggies were made.

RELATED: 10 Quirky Kei Cars We Wish We Got In America

4 Subaru Sambar Dias Classic

1994 Subaru Sambar Dias Classic Van green
Via Pinterest

One of the most popular Kei vans and trucks in Japan, Subaru has been producing the Sambar for over half a century now.

Subaru Sambar dias Classic van green side view
Via Bring a Trailer

While most Sambars are fairly normal work vehicles, the Dias Classic adds a whole lot of weirdness into the mix. A product of the '90s, the Dias Classic is not much more than a standard Sambar Dias van mechanically, yet the vintage-inspired front end makes it several magnitudes cooler than just being another miniature van.

3 Daihatsu Mira Gino (1999-2004)

Daihatsu mira gino 1999 classic style front end
Via Japan-Partner.com

A long running Kei car, the Daihatsu Mira has been on sale since 1980 as a rather typical and affordable Kei car.

Gen 1 daihatsu mira gino kei car mini cooper style classic
Via Wikipedia

In 1999 though, a special Mira akin to the Subaru Sambar Dias Classic was created - the Mira Gino. Following the same formula, a vintage inspired design was added to the Mira to transform the car into something truly unique. A second generation of the Mira Gino was released at the end of 2004 but fell short of the true vintage style of the first generation.

RELATED: Daihatsu Mini-Vehicle Concepts For The 2020 Tokyo Auto Salon

2 Suzuki Cervo/SC100

Suzuki SC100 kei micro car UK white
Via Pinterest

Unlike most quirky Kei cars, the Suzuki Cervo saw genuine success outside Japan, sold as the SC100 in Europe.

Suzuki SC100 kei car rear end
Via Pinterest

The looks alone are unique enough, with clear European inspiration, but the Cervo is even cooler under the skin, as it was a rear-engine, RWD car that stuck to Kei proportions. In Japan, the Cervo was limited to the tiny 550cc engine size mandated by Kei regulations, but in SC100 form got a zippier 900cc engine that put out 46 HP. The strangest part though is that it was called the "Whizzkid" when sold in the UK.

1 Mitsubishi Minica Dangan ZZ

Mitsubishi Minica dangan zz kei car evo
Via Duncan Imports and Classic Cars - Facebook

Competing with cars like the Daihatsu Mira, the Mitsubishi Minica was the brand's affordable Kei commuter car and saw a long production run from 1962 until 2011.

Mitsubishi kei car Minica dangan zz
Via Dailyturismo.com

But, Mitsubishi saw some performance potential in the Minica, and created the ridiculous Dangan ZZ in 1989. Aside from the Lancer Evolution inspired looks, the Minica Dangan ZZ came with a manual transmission, 4WD, and a turbocharged 657cc engine putting out 64 HP, giving the pint-size car some genuinely peppy performance. More impressively though, the Minica Dangan ZZ made history as the first mass-produced car to use 5 valves per cylinder.

NEXT: Inside Japan's Car Culture: 15 Facts You Should Know