Mazda once built a suitcase you could drive at 19MPH and it's a pure marvel you will never see again
Published on Apr 25, 2026 at 2:33 PM (UTC+4)
by Alessandro Renesis
Last updated on Apr 25, 2026 at 2:33 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Mason Jones
In the 1990s, Mazda built an absurd prototype known as the Mazda Suitcase Car.
It was a real product, and it worked.
It never made it to production, but it’s still kind of crazy that it was even built in the first place.
Although, there was a reason for that.
The idea behind this absurd prototype was actually sensible… sort of
In the 1980s, Mazda built what remains one of the most absurd prototypes ever made.
Even today, even by Japanese standards, this is definitely unconventional.
But it existed at some point: it was called the ‘Mazda Suitcase Car‘.
It was the result of an internal design competition called ‘Fantasy Yard’, where the company encouraged engineers to build the most creative mobility solutions possible.
It wasn’t intended for mass production, obviously, but they made a prototype.
The goal was to create a bag that was also a way to move from one terminal to the other.
It sounds crazy, but that’s what it was.
Why Mazda never actually produced it
Designed in the late 1980s and manufactured in the 1990s, the Suitcase Car was unveiled as an official prototype in 1991.
And it was exactly what it says: a suitcase that’s also a car.
It was originally designed in partnership with Samsonite, and it was built to be the size of a hard-shell suitcase.
Back then, hand luggage rules were a lot less strict, but the internal combustion engine (and the gasoline inside it) would have been a hard ‘no’ even then.
It was powered by a 33cc, two-stroke engine, and it had three wheels, a seat, a steering wheel, and a top speed of around 19mph.
For reasons that are – dare we say – obvious, it never made it to production.
Pity.
Alessandro is an automotive journalist with 10 years of experience covering supercars, automotive history, emerging vehicle technology, and luxury transportation. He wrote the first article published on SupercarBlondie.com when the website launched in 2022 and has since built a reputation for insightful reporting across the automotive and transportation industries. His expertise is grounded in hands-on experience. Alessandro has driven every Tesla model ever produced, from the original Roadster to the Cybertruck, and regularly covers the latest developments in electric vehicles and automotive innovation. His passion for transportation extends beyond cars, he has even flown a Boeing 787 Dreamliner simulator in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. His reporting spans everything from classic American muscle cars and rare automotive discoveries to luxury yachts, private aircraft, high-end watches, and cutting-edge vehicle technology. Known for his deep knowledge of automotive history and ability to uncover the stories behind iconic vehicles, Alessandro brings readers a blend of historical context, technical expertise, and first-hand experience.
