The "Mk 2" Cappuccino (VIN beginning with EA21R) also came with an optional factory fitted 3-speed automatic box alongside the standard 5-speed manual box.
As I have a Honda Beat as well, I found out that there was never a factory fitted auto box for its entire production run. So my question is this: Is there a third party firm who could supply an auto box to replace the manual box?
Cast your mind back to the late 50's/early 60's when the MGB was first introduced with its 1.8-litre, 4-in-line engine. A few years later, the 3500 V8 variant - known as the MGB V8 - was added to the production line, eventually superseding the 3-litre 6 cylinder MGC and using the same body shape. This [MGB V8] only had a manual box to begin with; but a 3rd party firm called Costello Engineering brought out an automatic version to replace the manual box of the MGB V8. And it was so successful that British Leyland jumped on the idea and started manufacturing the car with the auto transmission as an option to the existing manual box! Up until that happened, the MGB V8 was available in manual only!
Coming back to my point, since there is very little room where the Honda's manual box is situated, an automatic box will just need the small housing of the manual box it replaces (to fit the existing mountings in the chassis) while the innards is a brand new 3-speed system - the re-introduction of the Costello Engineering idea. The gear lever opening in the centre console can remain as original so as not to modify it and the floor pan too; the clutch pedal removed and the brake pedal shifted a little to the left to fill the space.
In the Classic Car fraternity, there are what one might call "acceptable upgrades"; and this could be worth considering for the Honda. (Come to think of it, maybe the same idea could be applied to the Autozam AZ-1 as well; as it sits between the Honda Beat and Suzuki Cappuccino in terms of mechanical layout. (It has a Suzuki F6A engine like the Series 1 Cappo and it's rear mounted like the Beat.)