1997 DAIHATSU Move 1.0i 3AT FWD (56 HP)

Vehicle Overview

The 1997 Daihatsu Move was proof of how a small vehicle could be spacious as a mid-size one just by using the more vertical room.

In Japan, the kei-car category was very clear regarding the exterior size and the engine displacement. In 1995, Daihatsu introduced the Move on its home-market and sold 200.000 units before exporting it and made it fit for the European continent.

The Move was the “Form follows function” to the extreme. It was a tall cube with a smaller block in the front, and the whole structure was based on tiny, go-kart 13″ wheels. It’s flat front fascia with the bumper just slightly in front of the headlights, and the raked line that continued up to the vehicle’s roof was the only creative part of the car. The rest of it was composed of flat panels with handles. Even the rear tailgate was side-hinged, which made it difficult to open in tight parking spaces.

Inside, the carmaker installed high-mounted seats, and that led to enough legroom for all the occupants. But there was room only for four since the car’s width was not that generous. If a huge traffic jam happened ahead, the driver could have reclined flat all four seats, made a two-people bed inside, and took a nap.

Under the hood, Daihatsu installed a bigger engine than the one offered on the Japanese market. Its 0.8-liter displacement produced just enough power to move the Move in and around cities.