We’ve talked about minicars here before, but this nano-sized Toyota AA takes it to a whole ‘nother level. Built by Denso to demonstrate its ultra-precise machining and semiconductor capabilities, this micro-model of Toyota’s first car, the 1936 AA, is 1/1000 the size of the actual car, or about the size of a grain of rice. What’s even more amazing is that it actually runs!

The ultra-thin wires on top lead to a tiny magnetic motor and when a tiny blip of alternating current is passed through them, the engine turns at 600rpm! The project was included in the Guinness Book of World Records in 1995 for being the world’s smallest motorized car.

The car is made of 24 distinct parts, including the body, tires, spare tire, wheels, axle, bearings, headlights, taillights, front bumper, rear bumper, step, number plate and emblem. The bumper itself is just 50 microns wide! For comparison, the average human hair is 80 microns across.

But that’s not all. In 1996, Denso built one that could be powered, sans wires, with a remote magnetic energy transmission. Top speed? 5-6 millimeters per second!

[Denso]