In the late 80s and early 90s, some Japanese brands such as Mazda They were looking for a way to stir the imagination of their engineers by holding internal competitions. In them, participants were asked to develop new mobility systems with which to innovate within the automotive sector.
One of these events, called fantasyardcelebrated in 1991 by Mazdagave rise to this motorcycle-car-suitcase that we show you today and which its creators named “Mazda Suitcase Car”.
Work of a team made up of 7 engineers from the Japanese brand, with Yoshimi Kanemoto at the head of the project, it is estimated that the cost of building this prototype was about 5,000 dollars at the time, and that it could later have been marketed for about $2,200.
Mazda Suitcase Car in detail
The initial idea was to develop a vehicle with which to move short distances, whether within a city, and the idea of using it within an airport terminal was even being considered. With a silhouette similar to a kart, once deployed the Mazda Suitcase Car It had a fairly simple technical structure.
It had three wheels, two on the rear axle that were also removable. At the front we found the fully foldable command post and a lower slot through which the third wheel later emerged once the invention was deployed.
Mechanically, it had a two-stroke engine. 33.6 cc and 1.7 HP of powercapable of catapulting the 32kg of the set up to 30km/h. The propeller and fuel tank were housed to the pilot’s right. The set had final dimensions of 57cm × 75cmexactly what the largest Samsonite suitcase they could find measured, to be able to integrate it.
In addition, it had complete lighting, turn signals and even a horn, with the idea of being able to approve it later for circulation on urban roads. In fact, a photo was published of Steve Potter, an executive of the brand, at the controls of the Mazda Suitcase Car through Times Square before the inauguration of the 1992 New York Auto Show.
However, it was a few months before, in the Frankfurt International Motor Show from 1991, when the brand made it known in Europe. Different sources consulted speak of three examples built: one for the United States, another for display on our continent and a third that ended up destroyed by mistake.
Currently, according to statements from the brand itself, there is only evidence of the existence of one of the Mazda Suitcase Carwhich is why it has become a true collector’s item.
