Two Oiwa Garage Customers Turning Tiny Cars Into Big Statements
Oiwa Garage is thrilled to feature two special customers for our monthly spotlight series, each carving unique kei paths.
First, we’ll highlight Car Cave USA, a South Carolina-based auto dealership that opened in 2019 and specializes in classic, unique, and rare vehicles, including over 10 kei models.
Car Cave USA project development leader Jake Harper told Oiwa Garage: “As a shop and Kei truck dealer, we have several Kei trucks and customer builds that utilize Oiwa Garage parts with some very passionate customers.”
After covering Car Cave USA, we’ll explore Chance’s journey to owning a 1990 Subaru Sambar. Chance describes himself as an “eccentric guy” who wanted a fun, 4WD vehicle to explore Pacific Northwest forest roads since his old 2WD camper minivan wouldn’t get the job done, especially in the winter.
Learn more about these valued members of the Oiwa Garage community below!
Car Cave USA’s Mission
When asked how Car Cave USA came to be, the dealership’s in-house writer, Emma, said: “Car Cave USA opened in 2019 with a focus on classic Land Rover Defenders and imports from across the globe.
“At our core, we are a group of auto enthusiasts offering a curated collection of automobiles. We love vehicles, driving, and the community of vehicle enthusiasts who have connected with us worldwide.”
What Helped Spawn Car Cave USA’s Kei Journey
Car Cave USA’s location in Aiken, the horse capital of South Carolina, partially informed the dealership’s decision to specialize in kei trucks.
Emma told Oiwa Garage: “The carrying capacity of an Acty makes it useful around a farm or a barn, and the air-conditioning, four-wheel drive, and built-in radios make Actys more comfortable than a typical golf cart.
In December 2024, we received our first shipment of Kei trucks and have been absolutely head-over-heels ever since.”
How Car Cave USA Customers Make Use of Their Kei Trucks
Emma noted Car Cave USA kei truck customers’ primary usages for their vehicles as a farm truck or secondary work vehicle, a daily driver, or business-related transportation.
She added: “One of our employees bought an HA4 [2nd-generation Honda Acty] to use around his own property, and it’s a beast that keeps going no matter what he asks of it.”
Kei Trucks You’ll Find on Car Cave USA’s Lot
Emma described Car Cave USA’s current inventory of kei vehicles: “We have around 10 kei trucks in our inventory right now, and we’re always updating our lineup. We see a lot of diversity in use for the Honda Actys, and we try to keep a rotating inventory on hand, so we have something to meet everyone’s needs.
“At the moment, I am seeing a lot of interest in HA6s, but that could be because one of our owners has such a well-updated HA6 as his commuter vehicle.”
Al’s Custom Kei Truck Stands Out
Car Cave USA customer Al purchased a 2000 Honda Acty HA6 kei truck, and his customizations include:
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Soundproofing the interior
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Adding a light bar over the rear bed
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Installing a stereo with a Bluetooth microphone
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Hand-painting the wheels in Texas A&M maroon
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Affixing Texas A&M logos to the door
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Adding a dog car-seat to the passenger seat for Scooter, his teacup Yorkshire Terrier
Bonus Kei Insights From Car Cave USA
Emma told Oiwa Garage that Car Cave USA’s kei customers are most surprised by how easy it is to get used to right-hand drive and how much fun these trucks are. As a dealership, they appreciate the uniformity of the Acty’s platform, along with its comprehensive parts network.
Meet Chance’s 1990 Subaru Sambar
Chance shared that when looking for a truck to explore Pacific Northwest Forest roads, he struggled to find any reliable, low-mileage vehicles for less than an arm and a leg.
However, being situated near a JDM importer, Chance got around to test-driving kei trucks and quickly found he preferred the Subaru Sambar platform for its independent front suspension, larger engine, and additional conveniences.
Chance’s local importer didn’t have his desired supercharged 4WD Sambar, but after browsing auctions and listings, he found a 1990 Sambar with 4WD, diff lock, and air conditioning for about $10,000. With this Sambar sitting two hours away with just 84,000 miles on its odometer, Chance couldn’t miss his opportunity to check it out. He immediately found that design elements like the round headlights and folding bed fit his personality.
From Test Drive to Driveway
Having “not driven stick in nearly a decade,” Chance drove the Sambar home on backroads, avoiding Seattle’s freeways. He began restoring his purchase by hand-filing blank keys, ordering fluids and acquiring parts like a timing belt kit before getting new wheels and tires (RTX13X5 Paired with Forceum MT0).
Other maintenance/repair tasks included, but weren’t limited to, using truck oil magnets to gently clean the engine and installing new LED headlights, plugs, and wires.
Chance told Oiwa Garage: “Most people’s project cars often sit and don’t run, but not my trusty kei. In between all of this maintenance, I’ve hauled sandbags to combat December flooding and picked up many ridiculous items, such as a Bowflex and a king mattress, but the real reason I love it is for camping.”
