Looking to ID a disc player from a 1989 Japanese prototype car. The Autozam AZ550 Type C never made it beyond a prototype so I haven't seen any other pictures of the disc player, and I don't even know if it's a real production model. Any ideas on what the model is or could be based on would be of interest.
The car reminds me of the Nisson Pulsar that had a removable back, it could be a wagon, convertible or notch-back with the different parts. I love those tiny JDM Cars, that was the last hoorah for cars. I'm thinking the player is just a mock-up, it looks really heavy duty. https://anythingwheeled.com/autozam-az-1-history-concept
Thanks for having a look! I think the JDM wacky ideas like the Pulsar are all fun. It makes sense the bulky exterior of the disc player is a mock up.
Two comments which just add a bit more information. 1. In the early days of CD vertical players (and top loading horizontal ones) were as common as drawer loading ones https://www.1001hifi.info/search?q=vertical+cd+player https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/remember-early-vertical-cd-players.998382/ https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/list-of-early-vertical-loading-cd-players.252862/ 2. So the car was effectively a prototype for the Autozam AZ1 https://anythingwheeled.com/autozam-az-1-history-concept This bit surprised me "Most of the development and engineering was actually done by an English company named Hawtal Whiting in Basildon, Essex, UK. Many units were produced at Hawtal Whiting to test and fine tune the vehicle’s characteristics. This car has an interesting birth history because it is British engineered with Japanese parts meant only for the Japanese market." However I did know that the Mazda MX5 / Miata was designed by MG enthusiasts in the U.K. What that means is that for a prototype show car I wouldn't dismiss CD players from non Japanese companies such as Philips. In fact for a car to be displayed in Japan it might have made sense to use parts of a player which hadn't been seen in Japan. As for whether the player worked there would be two questions at that time. a) did it work ? b) did it glitch if you went over a bump ? So this is where the picture came from https://www.reddit.com/r/CONCEPTCARS/comments/1bzaz90/autozam_az550_type_c_1989/#lightbox Yes the car looks very much a prototype. In fact has someone given in the DeLorean time machine treatment. That, presumably fake, engine cover in the rear is just wild and asking for a Mister fusion sticker. Going of topic the AZ1 reminds me of the Sunny Sunny Coupe I had for eleven years. No CD player in that though, just a great stereo which appear to be supplied by Alpine.
Unfortunately our safety laws made it impossible to build anything cool and small over here, if we could? Now the roads and sidewalks are littered with all kinds of electric vehicles. I've always loved small cars and still do, my little 1.8L (which is waiting for it's new, old, engine transplant) is my funnest driver.
All interesting thoughts Longman. That's a good observation that foreign development and the prototype nature would suggest non-Japanese origin of CD player. I think the whole car is a tremendous mix of over the top engineering design and humor. Mister Fusion would fit right in. That Sunny Coupe looks like a blast. Thin pillars and large glass
