Back in May of 2017, we showcased our first Suzuki(s) in a mixed Crapwagon Collection not often seen in the wild. Suzuki was our discussion once more when we featured a kei trucklet called the Mighty Boy.
Now we talk Suzuki once again, with a Works version of the Alto.
The Alto name was initially developed for the basic cargo van version of Suzuki’s Fronte kei model, which was popular in the Japanese Domestic Market. When the time came to export the Fronte to other places, Suzuki decided to use the Alto name for every other market outside of Japan. The Fronte name would carry on in the Japanese market through the third-generation Alto in 1989.
The fourth-generation Alto is our subject today, on sale around the globe between 1995 and 1999. The third-generation Alto had morphed into many different body styles during its tenure, with multiple trim variants of each. Suzuki desired a more simplified offering in this generation, paring offerings down to a three- or five-door hatchback and a cargo van.
Always a fan of four-wheel drive, it was an option on the Alto, with standard models driving only the front wheels. An inline-three cylinder engine of 657 or 658 cc displacement was offered, with up-level offerings utilizing turbochargers for a few extra ponies. 
According to the listing, this Alto has the mid-range F6A turbo engine, producing 61 horsepower. That’s okay when you have just 1,500 pounds to motivate.
The sportiest versions of the Alto wore the Works badge. Introduced in 1984 and lasting through the year 2000, Works vehicles had sport features not found on standard versions, and usually gained a bit more power.
Today’s example is a Works ie/s, well-equipped with power windows, locks, steering, air conditioning, and automatic transmission. This one appears to be a Limited trim, as it contains all those features.
In the kei class, pretty much everything is an optional extra unless you purchase a special version.
This Alto has been imported from Japan into the enlightened importation country of England, which is near France. With 67,000 miles on the odometer, the seller is asking around $3,800. Is that within what you’d pay for kei?
[Images via seller]
The original owner ordered the “aero group”, which included that handy spoiler.
What else did it have? The trims on these are such a hot mess it’s hard to tell what’s what without a brochure in front of me.
I’m pretty sure just that and the plastic exrensions at the rocker panels and front and rear fascia. Reminiscent of what Pontiac used to do.
That’s driving excitement.
from the Wide Track People!
ohhh, do you have any more information!? I own this very car and know so little about it i’m desperate to learn more! it’s such a pokey little thing and so good around town
I’m just trying to figure out what’s next for it!
At that kind of money, I’d love to have one. It’d be fun having a car that makes my Fiat 500c Abarth seem large. And I love small cars.
Love it. Unique, fun, economical and reliable. Too bad it’s an automatic, though.
Hopefully it has the 658cc engine, because the 657cc is just too small.
You would definitely notice a difference out on the open… small alleyway.
I too would love it as a manual. Neat car though.
Can confirm, actually bought this very car but in June, i guess the guy I bought it off this time got tired of it!
It really is a great car though, hasn’t let me down once, uses no fuel, other than servicing has cost me nothing but a change of tyres because the ones that were on it were dry rotted. I love it, i also put an intake on there and it makes all the turbo noises now
I would take it for $3800 but I doubt you would be allowed to have it in the USA.
Not for another 5 or 6 years. After that it could be imported under the 25 year exemption. Functionally impossible to register in California though.
Available for importation to Canada. If it were manual, I’d be all over… no, wait! Gosh Darn It! It looks like it has crabs.
That seat fabric pattern hurts my eyes.
And those rims are tiny. What are are – 15″ max?
So uhh, as ridiculous as it sounds i actually bought this very car and came across this article when i was searching for information about it!
Yeah those rims are actually 12″ i believe it must’ve come over from japan with them on because it had winter tyres there which i just cannot find anywhere here in the UK. the owner i bought it from actually had some 14″ alloys on it but they scrubbed like crazy to the point where the tyre started to disintegrate while i was driving it home down the motorway
Good to hear from an eventual owner!