19/05/2026
The Car: Daihatsu Move SARD Special - Why did they build it?
Daihatsu Move SARD Special, a factory-backed concept car built in collaboration between Daihatsu and the legendary Toyota-affiliated racing team and tuner, SARD (Sigma Advanced Research Development).
It was officially unveiled at the 1997 Tokyo Motor Show (and subsequently showcased at the Tokyo Auto Salon) as a wild, racing-inspired statement piece during the height of Japan's 1990s kei car performance boom. Because Daihatsu is a subsidiary of the Toyota Group, partnering with Toyota's premier racing arm (SARD) was a perfect promotional marriage.
The Move SARD Special was built to prove that even a tall, boxy micro-van could capture the spirit of a Le Mans paddock. Though it never entered mass production, it remains a legendary piece of late-90s JDM car culture history.
