The first of many

If you were living in Tokyo in 1954 you might’ve caught a glimpse of Suzuki’s very first car making its maiden trip.

The Suzulight was a compact vehicle weighing less than 500kg. It was designed to be easy to drive and maintain as well as inexpensive to buy – just like Suzukis today. Powered by a 360cc, two-cylinder engine, the prototype was tested with a long trip over unsealed mountain roads between Hamamatsu and Tokyo. The tough little car flew through the challenge and went into production in 1955. The first two Suzulights were used by doctors on their daily rounds.

A rare 1955 Suzulight on display at Suzuki Plaza museum, Hamamatsu.