Thanks to Ivan Lecoursiere for taking the pictures
This week, business has carried me half way across the globe, to the rural depths of Japan. Utsunomiya is a town 100 kilometers north of Tokyo, and about 30 kilometers from the Motegi racetrack. I did not expect to find much in the way of Curbside Classics, but walking back to the hotel from the train station, I spotted this “Cockroach of the Road™” sitting in a long term parking lot. It seems hurtful to call such a well-equipped and lovingly maintained wagon a cockroach, but the name is properly earned- These things appear everywhere!
The plate is clearly Japanese, but I’m not sure why the tailgate is emblazoned with German phrases.
Here’s a nice shot of the (mandated) fender side marker. Combined with the unique tail lights seen in the rear view above, it’s clear this model was built for overseas sales, and not imported as a used car from the US. This picture also makes it clear the car is US style left hand drive.
I wrote this mid-week, but returned to Tokyo before posting it. Walking back to my hotel on Sunday night, I also spotted a Ford Wagon in Ikebukuro traffic. It was turning a corner some distance away, but appeared to be a mid eighties Crown Vic. If so, it had unique tailgate trim and tail lights. It seems Japan has more curbside classics than you would think…
Cool find. Somewhere in here has to be a joke about an American car, a German driver and a Japanese meter maid. Just give me some time.
Note that none of the stickers on the back says “Fahrvergnugen”
Very nice, especially with the Buick aluminum wheels. I wonder if it is actually a V6 model? I know something with that large of displacement would require the payment of ridiculously high road taxes.
I guess it was owned by a US service person stationed in Japan. That would explain the German stickers. ( US also had bases in Germany).And that would explain the LHD also..As in Japan LHD is a sign of the Yakuza..just like tattoos are.. No ordinary Japanese would drive an LHD car..Such non conformity is rare in Japan.
I 2nd the guess it’s a serviceman’s car. Japan and Germany are the two most common overseas locations to be stationed along with Korea. I’d guess he brought it from the US to Germany, but I don’t believe they require the cars to be retrofitted with lighting, etc to comply in Germany at least, wouldn’t be surprised if Japan does.
The Regal badge on this car’s hindquarters says this was exported to Japan and sold there. Apparently Toyota owns the Century name in Japan.
In Japan the plates would have a “Y” on them to the left of the 2 if it was a us service member’s car. Makes it easy for the cops to decide not to pull you over due to the language barrier.
Ha! I was nearly given such plate by mistake when I was registering my Civic Si. It was the last day of their financial year (March 30 or so) and the Registry was a mess with crowds of dealers.
Never got caught (those were the blessed pre-speed camera days) despite steady 20+ over limit (30mph pretty much everywhere) flying, but I guess that plate would make my life somewhat more interesting. Or not.
Re. LHD – unfortunately you are very off on this one.
Quite a few of my native pals in Hiroshima University campus back in the 90s drove LHD motors – mostly US, some cheap compact Euros. Can you imagine a Yakuza in a Citroen BX? Or an Opel Corsa?
One guy, called Toyoda, whose dad was a Honda dealer and bought a lot from dealer auctions, showed up quite a few times in their family ride – ’87 BMW 535iA. I drove it a few times but somehow did not like it too much. Besides, something would have always clicked in my brain whenever I was in a LHD car and I tried to move to the right side of the road.
LHD cars are a sign of off-beating, somewhat non-mainstream and affluent folks, while Yakuza folks would prefer an expensive German (S-Klasse) or domestic (Soarer, Celsior, Cima or Q45) with blacked-out windows and gold-plated wheels, something like that.
Older US cars would be awesomely cool for the locals. Also, there has always been a huge gray (personal) imports market.
In the 70s and 80s Yakuza would drive American cars with blacked out windows etc. It is one of the reasons why there is some resistance to buying American. When my ex first saw a Chrysler 300 he said “Ahh, Yakusa car, I ran into one the day I got my driving licence…”
The tail lights look like they came from a late 1980’s Celebrity wagon as they were the only A body wagon to have the 3 lights on the tail lights. It looks like the top light of the tail light is a lighter red. The turn signal lights on the front are unique as the 89-90 were orange and the 91-96 were clear in the front with a bit of orange on the rear of the light.
The most unique part is the mirrors, they fold in for driving down small streets or alley ways.
The top section of the tail lights may light up amber. There are also extra amber lights between the front wheels and the front doors.
You are correct- There are amber lenses in third of the top third of the tail light lenses.
I remember reading an article.about a subculture in Tokyo that was into lowered and modded American people movers like Astro vans and Caprice wagons.
Yes, I’ve seen an Astro van during each of my trips to Japan (four trips total). In fact, I’ve seen two in ten days on this trip. Cadillac Seviles and Jeeps (Wranglers, Cherokees and Grand Wagoneers) are also common sightings.
Also Tahoes and Blazers,and the odd Suburban. I’ve even seen the old ’80s C/K style ones.
The Blazers show up here used RHD sold new in Japan.
The German phrases on the rear indicate it belonged to a small German company that services some kind of machines…
Japanese love woodgrain Buick wagons for some reason.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IED3876x0RU&feature=youtube_gdata_player
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAhZC5VJAe4&feature=youtube_gdata_player
I think when it comes time for me to sell my 93 Century wagon I will just export it to Japan. In some small way reduce the trade deficit…
Massive indebtedness to Japan is very Eighties. China would be a better candidate today; of course, that country is also the only reason Buick survived the GM branding purge, for better or worse.
China is an interesting market, one that American and the European makes have invested heavily in, but that Japan is having a poor go of it largely due to political history. Since China is now the biggest market, we wouldn’t expect the big players to stay out of it, but it has evolved in a very different, and sometimes fascinating way. It would make for an interesting CC if someone would do it objectively from a third-party basis.
I’ve always wondered why the Japan market Buick station wagons have the tailpipe protruding from the rear of the car, whereas US models have the tailpipe protruding from the driver’s side, right behind the rear wheel. Any thoughts?
Almost undoubtedly a statutory requirement.
Thank you for the catch!
These quite often pop up at Carsensor.net (Japanese autotrader). Most of them are 3100, but 3300 V6’s show up sometimes as well. All of them have 5-digit mileage (in kms), cloth trim and are in a very good condition.
Yanase sticker on the rear window indicates that it is an official import (Yanase is a huge mega-importer of many foreign brands, including all GM brands, all Germans, Jaguar, etc.) and pretty much guaranteed there will be a “fuda” (ID tag) somewhere under the hood with the vehicle particulars and type approval info in Japanese.
Also, with all due respect though, it is Utsunomiya (宇都宮市 or うつのみやし in kana）as there is no such syllable in Japanese as “tso”, only “tsu/つ”.
Spelling updated. Thanks, D/S
There all over the place there. Check out this video:
EDIT: Oops you already have this.