Decades after the fact, I think it's safe to say that the Honda Motocompo is a truly unique vehicle in the history of the vroom vroom world. Why do I say that, other than to clearly be at least a little bit tongue-in-cheek? 

Because it is, quite possibly, the one vehicle that truly brings both motorcycle and car enthusiasts together. Now, of course, some people are enthusiasts in both areas, but there are plenty of folks who aren't. Still, no matter what type of motor revs your heart the most, one simple fact remains: Just about everyone loves a Honda Motocompo!

It's not difficult to see why, either. It's a tiny, folding, last-mile machine, built back before last-mile machines were anywhere near the thing they are today. It came tucked in the back of a very nearly equally adorable '80s Honda City hatchback, as a factory accessory to make your commute a little easier and arguably a lot more special. Maybe we couldn't all have transforming robots to ride, but we could at least have a transforming motorbike stealthily tucked away in the back of our unassuming little car, right?

So then, the question that naturally arises is this: Did the Honda Motocompo ever have any serious competition?

And the answer is: Well, sort of, and it was the Mazda Suitcase Car.

Even Honda Couldn't Compete With Honda. The Motocompo Is One Of One.

Here's Your Chance To Own A Honda Motocompo For A Bargain. You Can Wear This One, Too

Honda Vs. Honda: How Does The Motocompacto Stack Up To The Motocompo?

This Samsonite-bodied folding go-kart was more a demonstration, proof-of-concept kind of thing, though; even though it's true that the Motocompo wasn't produced at anywhere near the volume of, say, the Super Cub, there were still far more Motocompos made than Suitcase Cars. In fact, of the latter, apparently only three ever made it out into the world to actually be driven.

What do you do if you're an enthusiast with a YouTube channel, who likes taking on offbeat projects for fun and content? By now, you probably know the answer here. If you're Canadian channel Bucket, you evidently make your own.

For this project, Samsonite sent them the updated version of the actual clamshell rollie suitcase model that Mazda originally used to build its own Suitcase Cars. For everything else, Bucket went the route of using the materials and methods that made sense to them in 2026, rather than getting stuck in any purity deathtraps. 

As one example, they took the engine out of a little two-stroke pit bike to power the thing, instead of specifically seeking the exact motor that Mazda used back in the day. They also custom-built the frame, as well as modifying the front wheel and brake from a bargain Razor scooter they'd nabbed from Facebook Marketplace to use as the front wheel. 

The entire build process is pretty cool, and what's especially great is the narration that tells you exactly what steps they're taking as they're taking them. Maybe you won't decide to build your own, but insights like this can potentially help you the next time you're contemplating a different project that you're working on, you know?

One definite question I have of both the original Mazda Suitcase Car and this replica is, what happens when you hit a puddle in your business attire? Presumably, nothing good (unless you're a nearby drycleaner). 

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