December 26th is known as Boxing Day in the United Kingdom and many former colonies like Canada. Traditionally it was a time to give a small gift (or Christmas box) to your trades person or deliver person. But these days it is known as a shopping day in the mold of Black Friday in the United States. Black Friday is slowly becoming a trend in Canada as well but for us Boxing Day is traditionally the biggest shopping day of the year. Usually I avoid it like the plague as the large crowds are armed with their Christmas gift money and there generally is not anything at the mall that I desire. This year the family desperately wanted to go and I obliged but this time I managed to see something I liked.
The mall was so busy I could not even find a parking spot so I resorted to scouring the side streets. This turned out to be a stroke of good fortune as it allowed me to discover this Subaru Vivio Bistro. I had previously seen a black example but never managed to get any reasonable photos of it.
Canada law’s allow for the importation and registration of almost any passenger vehicle fifteen years or older. The result is a small supply of Japanese sports cars, four wheel drive trucks and vans. While Nissan Skylines, Toyota MR2s and Mitisubsi 4×4 vans are the most popular occasionally someone is inspired to import something a little more unique like this pint sized Subaru.
The Bistro is based on the Kei class Vivio. Rather cutely the Vivio is named after the Roman numerals representing 660 (VI,VI,O) which is the CC displacement limit for Kei class cars.
The Vivio was fitted with a variety of 658cc four cylinder engines that ranged from normally aspired SOHC, supercharged, and a DOHC configurations that all claimed an output of 64hp which is the limit for Kei class cars. The DOHC motor did claim a small 3 lb-ft bump in torque output. Transmission options ranged from a five speed manual, conventional automatic and a CVT. Both front and all wheel drive variants were offered.
Starting in 1995 the Bistro was offered. The Bistro followed a wave of nostalgia and retro vehicles initiated by Nissan’s Pike cars of the late 1980s and early 1990s (BE-1, S-Cargo, Pao, Figaro). The front end styling was supposed to be inspired by the British Mini. I am not certain that I buy that but it is certainly full of character.
Due to the cooler temperature I did not get a good interior shot of the Bistro but this internet sourced one will have to suffice. Pretty basic but attractive and slightly retro with the round vents.
I wonder how the little Bistro handles the snow. Ground clearance is likely the biggest concern. This example sports some handsome alloy wheels but a Minilite style wheel could be ordered as an accessory for those doubling down on retro nostalgia.
The Bistro proved popular in Japan so several special editions followed including this White Edition of 1997. Other special editions included B-Custom, Chiffon, L, Sports and SS.
Boxing Day usually does not hold out anything special for me but thanks to a family shopping trip I was able to spot an usual JDM import.
As a bonus I spotted this early Honda Accord once I trudged through the snow to get to the mall parking lot. My family might have snagged themselves a few deals on clothing but for a change I felt like the real winner this Boxing Day.
Agreed, it’s hard to see that front as very Mini-like, but maybe, on a dark evening, a Vanden Plas 1100… just.
My Japanese wife had one, and absolutely loved it…she still wishes she had it. But as a 183cm furriner, I’m very happy she’s moved on to a more substantial car. The Bistro was cute and stylish, but you had a visceral awareness of the flimsiness of the little bugger every time you carefully tugged the door shut so as not to bend it.
Nice find, and I love the way the name came to be, that really is inspired. It’s a bummer that down here we have to wait 25 years for the same things that you only have to wait 15 for but at least it does open the possibility.
Nice Accord as well, those hatchbacks used to be all over the place as well but I guess 30+ years will affect the population…
Looks like decent legroom in the rear, roll down rear windows, no console and “Fine Car Styling” up front. What’s not to love ?
Thanks for taking the time to post this David.
There are deals to be had by importing older cars from Japan. If I had deeper pockets I would consider a left-hand-drive German model. Many cars from there have been well maintained and have low kms. I once appraised a V12 Mercedes coupe that was originally built for the European market but later bought and exported to Japan. It was in excellent condition in and out.
I agree with you on Boxing Day shopping. Been there done that in the days when our family would plan a strategy to “hit the mall” (Usually West Edmonton Mall). We would get there early and be out by noon going elsewhere for lunch.
Thank you for introducing me to this cutie! I did not know it existed, but then I’m sure there’s still a few more of these obscure JDM limited-production cars that are in the same category.
Isn’t it wonderful how these are spreading out to NA? I keep seeing JDM vans in Eugene, more and more all the time. They do offer a unique set of features (compact, 4×4, diesel) that is just not available elsewhere.
CUTE ! .
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As soon as I saw the front end I thought ” re badge this as a BMC product ” .
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Hopefully there’s no salt there ? .
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-Nate
Wonder why the 2nd picture from the top shows a RHD Vivio Bistro with French (Parisian) plates?
I was wondering how the Canadian one still has its original Japanese kei-car yellow plate up front.
In Alberta we do not require (or even issue) front plates. You can basically put whatever you want on there.
Neat!
A number of states in the USA are the same way. North Carolina where I previously lived didn’t require a front plate; Virginia does. The only thing you could not put in front was…a current design North Carolina plate. (Considering they’ve been using pretty much the same design for 30+ years).
The current score is 31 states that require front plates vs. 19 that do not. Today, North Dakota’s legislature just narrowly rejected a measure that would have made them the 20th single-plate state.
I also moved from North Carolina to Virginia, and it was a sad day when I had to drill holes in my Contour’s front bumper for a plate bracket.
I wonder how those JDMs faired with our recent -20°C and below temps!
Not likely you can get a block heater for one of those things.
They may be old, but surely Northern Japan has some cold temperatures.
You can get generic aftermarket coolant or oil pan heaters. My old Reliant Scimitar had a coolant one from what I remember.
point of clarification if I may;
“The Bistro is based on the Kei class Vivio. Rather cutely the Vivio is named after the Roman numerals representing 660 (VI,VI,O) which is the CC displacement limit for Kei class cars.The Bistro is based on the Kei class Vivio. Rather cutely the Vivio is named after the Roman numerals representing 660 (VI,VI,O) which is the CC displacement limit for Kei class cars.”
660 is DCLX in Roman Numerals. Although VIVIO does sound better 🙂
Roman Numeral Police Out!
For that you’re sentenced to drive a Vivio with DCLX on the plates. 😉
Well … 6 space 6 space 0 rather than six hundred and sixty does the VI VI O trick.
What a charming, if also slightly odd-looking, little car. It’s like Subaru hired an ex-Mitsuoka engineer and decided to use his talents in a toned-down fashion.
Love the Accord too. My Dad drove an ’84 sedan for quite a few years, but I always liked the forward-canted grille treatment of the ’82-’83 models better.
I’m not typically a fan of retro styling or Kei cars, but for some reason the combination of the two seems to work on this car. The Bistro looks much more appealing than the standard Vivio. Somehow the large-ish grille and the protruding headlights avoid looking silly, and just give the car a distinctive and even welcoming appearance.
I had never heard of a Vivio or Bistro before reading this, so thanks!