Solved - NEH 790: Zoe Zipper - 1983

[Carnut]

What's this? 1 point if you get it right!

[Jaimm]

Mitsuoka Bubu

[Carnut]

Mitsuoka Bubu

You're on the right track in that this car was initially manufactured by Mitsuoka, although Bubu was not its name (not sure what Bubu means - think it's just someone's name who posts lots of pics of Japanese cars on the web?).

It was a originally then a Mitsuoka ***** , but this picture is not of a Mitsuoka, it's a picture of the car after it was manufactured elsewhere, actually using the same name as the ***** part of its original Mitsuoka name!  Clear?!

So what I want is its full name as made by the later manufacturer.

I'll lock it for you for 24 hours to give me that.

[Jaimm]

BUBU501 AKA Zoe Zipper  

[Carnut]

BUBU501 AKA Zoe Zipper  

That's it!
This car was made in Los Angeles and is a Zoe Zipper (as mentioned before have no idea what Bubu501 means except I think it's the moniker of the guy who posts the pictures - originally it was known as the Mitsuoka Zipper but that only lasted for 1 year until Zoe Motors Inc took over manufacture in 1983.)