Tavarnia Glenn: 30 Seconds, One Bid, and a Dream car from Japan
Published on 08 April 2026
A lot of people go to great lengths to get their dream car but for Rockhampton local Tavarnia Glenn, the journey to acquiring hers was more complex than most, involving a split-second bid at an overseas car auction and three-month long waiting game to see if it would all pay off.
Her pride and joy, a 1992 Suzuki Cappuccino bearing the number plate ‘92KEI’, sits firmly in the world of Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) vehicles. Built specifically for the Japanese market, JDM cars are renowned for their sharp engineering, distinctive styling and unique specifications not typically seen in export models, making them highly sought after by car enthusiasts around the world who seek something a little different. For Tavarnia, the JDM appeal was instant.
“It sounds a little bit cliché,” she says. “My partner introduced me to cars when we first started dating, but as soon as I found out about Cappuccinos and Kei cars, it was like—that’s it. That’s what I want.”
That moment came six years ago, sparking a plan that would take patience, persistence and perseverance.
“I saved for about two years, specifically for a Cappuccino,” she reflects.
Finding one, however, proved to be no simple task. Unlike picking up a car locally, Tavarnia entered the fast-paced world of Japanese car auctions with the help of an import broker, spending three months scouring the action sites in search of a suitable Cappuccino before finally finding one worth pursuing.
“We looked high and low for three months before we bid on anything as we wanted something that was in good condition,” she says. “And then this one came up.”
The process offered little room for hesitation. Prospective buyers rely on photos, videos and third-party inspections carried out in Japan before making a call. From there, everything moves quickly.
“You have 30 seconds,” Tavarnia explains. “The car comes up for auction, you put your bid in, and before you know it, the auction’s over.”
With up to 50,000 cars moving through her chosen auction site alone each week, and no clear indication of competing bidders, it’s a high-pressure environment where instinct and trust play a crucial role. On the day Tavarnia secured her Cappuccino, a stroke of good timing helped seal the deal as her compliance contact happened to be in Japan and was able to inspect the car in person.
“After he inspected it, he told me, ‘Yep, go for this one—it’s really good’ and I trusted that.”
From there, a lengthy waiting process began that involved the car having to be held in Japan until all the payments and paperwork was finalised before being shipped to Australia, followed by compliance work in Brisbane and road transport north. With the shipping process alone taking three months, it wasn’t until months later when the car arrived in Rockhampton that Tavarnia saw it for the first time in person.
“That sounds a bit crazy when you think about it,” she laughs. “The first thing I noticed was how small it was, they’re even tinier than I was envisioning. But it felt unreal that finally, after saving for so long and going through that whole process, it was actually here and it was mine.”
Part of Japan’s ‘Kei’ class (short for keijidōsha, meaning "light automobile"), the Suzuki Cappuccino is so lightweight and compact she affectionately calls it a road-legal go-kart.
“They’re just unlike anything else,” she says. “They’re so unique, so overbuilt for what they are, and to top it all off, they’re just so cute. It really is the whole package.”
Originally silver, Tarvania had the car transformed with a striking midnight purple chameleon colour-shift wrap that changes in the sunlight, along with a custom body kit and wing installed by Tavarnia and her partner. Even those upgrades required patience, with parts sourced from Japan taking months to arrive.
“Everything takes time, but you can get almost anything as there’s still a massive aftermarket for them in Japan,” she explains.
Despite the effort involved in getting it here, the Cappuccino isn’t kept tucked away. Tavarnia makes the most of it, taking it to local car meets and weekend drives around the region. Now, it’s set to make its debut on a much bigger stage.
After years of attending Rare Spares and Repco Rockynats as a spectator, Tavarnia will enter the event for the first time at 06, displaying her car in the Bravus Mining and Resources JDM Showcase.
“That was my goal from the very beginning,” she says. “Get the car, make some mods, and bring it to Rockynats.”
She’s particularly looking forward to the community aspect of the event and the chance to see the variety of builds on display.
“It’s amazing how much joy cars can bring,” she says. “Seeing what other people do with theirs and the effort they put in is really cool and inspiring.”
Among the JDM lineup, her Cappuccino is expected to stand out, being the only Kei car entered in the showcase. For those more familiar with the traditional Aussie classics or American muscle cars, Tavarnia says that the JDM Showcase offers a different perspective on car culture, shaped by innovation, individuality and a deep appreciation for detail.
“I think JDM cars offer something extremely unique,” Tavarnia says. “The way they’re engineered, the way people style them, the culture around them—it’s amazing. And they just look really cool. There’s something about them that draws people in.”
The Bravus Mining and Resources JDM Showcase at Rockynats 06 will be open from 7:00am to 5:00pm on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 April at the Little Tokyo drift precinct in the Rockhampton CBD. Although the event is just over a week away, last minute tickets can still be purchased online via the Rockynats website: www.rockynats.com.au/Tickets