PP1
Honda Beat PP1 import check
PP1 is the factory model code for the Honda Beat PP1, built for the Japanese market from 1991 to 1996. Every genuine car has a chassis (frame) number that starts with its code, such as PP1-. That number is the one thing that links its Japanese history to its UK records.
PP1 at a glance
- Model code
- PP1
- Make
- Honda
- Model
- Beat (PP1)
- Body
- 2-door convertible
- Built
- 1991 to 1996
- Engine
- E07A (656 cc naturally aspirated petrol)
- Drivetrain
- Mid-engine RWD
- Japanese trims
- Beat, Version F, Version C, Version Z
- Chassis number format
- PP1-nnnnnnn
From our own model library, compiled from public sources and not yet checked against a second source. UK records sometimes drop the hyphen or the leading zeros of the serial; our check allows for that.
Reading the PP1 chassis code
- Every Beat is PP1.
Have a chassis number? The chassis decoder reads it for you.
Is it a genuine PP1?
The Beat was only sold new in Japan, so every UK car is an import with a PP1- frame number.
Known problems to check on a PP1
- Rust in the sills, floor and front panel
- Soft top wear and leaks
- The engine revs to 8,500 rpm: check for oil leaks and smoke
- Kei cars are built to Japan’s small-car rules (658 cc, 64 PS cap): check it is comfortable at UK motorway speeds before you commit
These are common issues for the model, not facts about any particular car. Ask the seller about each one.
Before you buy
- Lift the carpets and check the floor for rust and damp
The PP1 on a Japanese auction sheet
- The sheet names the car ビート (Beat).
Most imports were bought at a Japanese auction, and the inspector’s sheet records the grade, mileage and every mark on the body. Ask the seller for it, then run it through our auction sheet translator to read it in English and check the chassis number and mileage against the UK record.
Recalls in Japan for the PP1
Japan publishes every recall with the chassis numbers it covers. Run a recall check with the car’s chassis number to see whether any apply to it.
Kilometres, miles and the first UK MOT
A PP1 sold new in Japan has a speedometer in kilometres. When it is imported, the speedometer is either converted to miles or left in km, and the first UK MOT should record whichever the dial shows. Mistakes here are common, and they’re where mileage problems hide.
We put the Japanese auction mileage and every UK MOT reading on one timeline and check the crossing: whether the readings agree after converting, whether the km figure was written down as miles, and whether the first UK reading is lower than the car had already done in Japan. See an illustrative example.
Questions
What is the chassis code for the Honda Beat PP1?
PP1. A Japanese-market Honda Beat PP1 has a frame number that starts with PP1, then a hyphen and a serial number. You’ll find it on the V5C and on a plate in the engine bay.
Which years was the PP1 built?
From 1991 to 1996, with the E07A (656 cc naturally aspirated petrol) engine and Mid-engine RWD layout.
What should I check when buying a PP1?
Rust in the sills, floor and front panel. Soft top wear and leaks. The engine revs to 8,500 rpm: check for oil leaks and smoke. Kei cars are built to Japan’s small-car rules (658 cc, 64 PS cap): check it is comfortable at UK motorway speeds before you commit. Lift the carpets and check the floor for rust and damp. Also check that the Japanese auction mileage lines up with the first UK MOT, because km and miles are easily mixed up.