1985 Kasai Premier A280
The Kasai A-type family of sedans has had a long history in Japan’s domestic market, dating as far back as 1964 with its A200 lineup. Catering towards the higher-end segment, Kasai built different trims of A-types meant to fill in various roles, ranging from luxury taxis to executive company vehicles.
In 1985, Kasai built a USDM-exclusive A280 which was equipped with a 2.8L V6 engine producing a maximum of 126 bhp and 147 lb.ft torque, option for turbocharging on higher trims, and 4-speed automatic transmission as a standard. Additionally, Kasai also made a ‘fleet’ version of the A280 Premier (base trim) meant for high mileage, low cost usage, featuring cloth interior, a tape player, an AM/FM radio system, and sealed beam headlights to differentiate it from the higher trim models.
Penetrating a skeptical market was never an easy task for any foreign marque, but the A280 eventually managed to find its niche and thrived in the premium segment. Motivated by the successful sales of the A280, Kasai then released 3.0L and 4.0L V8 AWD variant of the A-type further down its production line.