We’ve seen a lot of Mitsuokas on CC already. The kei car. The compact. The luxury sedan. The limousine. The WTF coupé. The almost cool roadster. Are there any more out there? Yes, I’m afraid there are. Meet the Ryoga, the family-sized Mitsuoka. Just the thing to drop the kids off at school, if you really want them to be mocked by their friends and pitied by their teachers. Ryoga, Ryoga, why did you exist? A question no one can answer.
We’re back at the “premium used car” lot that we visited a few weeks ago. Our old friend the S110 Crown hardtop, seen on this site recently, had a whacky neighbour. I was careful not to reveal the Ryoga while shooting the Crown – that sort of photobombing would have been improper, but as long as you don’t see a Mitsuoka’s face, it’s a fairly anonymous-looking backdrop.
Primera-based series 1 Mitsuoka Ryoga 1.8 (1998-2001) – Source: wikicommons
Mitsuoka launched the Ryoga in 1998, based on the Nissan Primera. It originally came in either 1.5 or 1.8 litre flavours. This first generation did not last very long, however. The Primera was about to trade its low-key (to be charitable) design for a completely new and bulkier look that might prove challenging for Mitsuoka to adapt.
For their part, perhaps Mitsuoka thought the Ryoga mark 1 a tad tame by their standards. So they went back to the junkyard where they must source a lot of their inspiration, found some oblong rear lights off a ‘60s Karmann-Ghia and put those on the tail. (Ok, they’re not exactly like Karmann-Ghia taillights, but they’re pretty damn close). From late 2001, the Ryoga would use the Nissan Sunny as its host, still with a 1.5 or a 1.8, but soon only the smaller engine was left, due to tightening emissions regulations.
2001-04 Mitsuoka Ryoga wagon – source: wikicommons
By the way, both the Galue and the Ryoga were offered as wagons, if you can believe that. And if you can’t well here’s a photo from the web. I have seen a couple Mitsuoka wagons in traffic here, but I have yet to catch one. All bad things come to those who wait, so let’s be patient. They cannot escape the CC treatment forever.
The front end on this car is, to say the least, an acquired taste, particularly in such dignified and Crowned company. It looks like a Jaguar S-Type that melted under the rising sun, its mascot having leapt off the radiator for the relative safety and shade of a nearby bonsai tree and its dignity evaporated into the stifling humidity of the Japanese summer. It’s an unforgiving country, in many ways.
Disappointingly, this Ryoga’s interior has no distinctive features that I can see, apart from a steering wheel that is ageing poorly. Apparently, these usually have some leather on the seats and a few strips of wood on the dash, but we’re perhaps in the presence of a so-called “Deluxe” Ryoga here (i.e. base trim), as opposed to the superior “Royal 1500” treatment. But given how these were made, it’s not really clear.
What I mean is that if you were the proud owner of a Nissan B15 Sunny, you could simply go to Mitsuoka at any point and ask them to work their magic on the poor thing. Mitsuoka made the 2nd series Roygas from 2001 to 2004 only as brand new cars, but they continued turning second-hand Sunny saloons into Ryogas until 2014. (And incidentally, they could transform your precious P11 Primera into a 1st series Ryoga until 2007.) This may be what we have here – a “late transformation” Mitsuoka from a base model Sunny. There is no way of telling, as far as I know, the “original” Mitsuokas from the Nissans that were disfigured later in life, though hit could be that the simpler interior might be explained this way.
The 2nd series Ryoga’s mercifully short lifespan, therefore, was stretched to over a decade and overlapped with the 1st series Ryoga, as well as the successor model, the 2004-08 Mitsuoka Nouera. I do hope I’ll be able to catch one of those one day, as judging by the photos I’ve seen on the web, it’s just as scary as its predecessor. Love the tacked-on reverse light on this car’s bumper, though. And the rear end in general is much less jarring than the faux-Cadillac look of the larger Galue.
As CC’s self-appointed resident Mitsuologist, I will endeavour to uncover more of this bizarre genera and share my discoveries with the world. Rest easy (if you can close your eyes after seeing this full frontal shot), there are still many, many Mitsuokas to go.
Related posts:
Mitsuoka Le Seyde: The Compact Zimmer, by PN
CC Outtake: 2019 Mitsuoka Rock Star – Rockin’ to the Heartbeat of America, by Jim Brophy
CC Capsule: 1998 Mitsuoka Galue (Series I) – Downhill From There, by T87
Curbside Classic: 2007 Mitsuoka Galue MkIII — Bentley/Cadillac Tribute Band Goes Off Key, by T87
CC Capsule: 2013 Mitsuoka Galue III Limousine – A Darker Shade Of Weird, by T87
Curbside Classic: The Japanese Retro Trial (2nd Witness) – Mitsuoka Viewt K12, by T87
CC Twofer: 1998 Daihatsu Atrai Classic & 1997 Mitsuoka Ray – Double Triple Retro Madness, by T87
Tatra, I feel you are being unnecessarily cruel about these cars. Surely their existence demonstrates that the Japanese have a sense of humour, which is something to be celebrated.
I particularly like the attention to detail – this car even has imitation Lucas PL700 tri-bar headlights, similar to the ones I fitted to my Triumph in the 1960s to give it more “class”.
I agree, certainly not to everyone’s taste, but as far as these type of vehicles go this one has some nice details and is pretty cohesive. I’d much rather drive this than what it was built out of.
The front grille is just a few flutes short of a Daimler. Still, that’s less far out than the middle and the tail doesn’t really match the front anyway. Luckily most of the time you won’t see both at once. Those tail lights look like the BMC 1100/1300 Mk.2/3 type also used on later FX4 taxis (so presumably not that hard to get).
The tail lights are very ADO16, though I’m picking up more than a whiff of Austin 3-Litre from the overall treatment.
From that angle it’s actually not a bad-looking car;
Unlike every other possible angle.
For tailights, my immediate thought was Sunbeam Tiger.
Bringing a little spice and flavor to an otherwise dull automotive landscape – this is how I see these. There is so much more to like here than in a plain, vanilla Nissan as this one began life.
I would probably not have pulled the trigger on one, but they are fun to look at.
And another automatic? I presume that automatics are taking over the Japanese autoscape as they have elsewhere?
Automatics have been as common as manuals in Japan for as long as I’ve been looking at JDM cars, since most folk live in congested cities.
Gosh, I’d certainly pull the trigger on one, provided it was connected to a howitzer.
Pontiac Aztek, you have a relative across the Pacific.
Blaking Bad?
I like it for its uniqueness. Can you imagine showing up at the local Cars & Coffee driving this? I can.
How to ruin a perfectly good B15 Sunny – it does bring some roundness to a square-rigged car; surprised to see they did an estate version as well. The estate looks like it’s based on the Primera as opposed to the Sunny equivalent AD Wagon/Wingroad. Can you drive this without wearing a bag over your head?
Does it mean anything when I now seem to be looking at Mitsuokas and am able to actually discern different levels of terribleness instead of just lumping them all into the “no way” bin? The sign of an educated mind, perhaps, thank you Professor T.
As someone else said above it does at least elevate the base boring Nissan to something at least discussion-worthy. This particular car lot seems like quite the treasure, there’s all kinds of stuff I think looks interesting!
Maybe you can get us a road test with your press credential? 🙂
I think T87 could have just visited the dealer during business hours and flashed a roll of Yen…Actually isn’t it Japan where the dealer brings the car to you? Maybe I’ll call from my hotel and say I want to test drive to, oh, I don’t know, maybe the Auto Show location…:-)
I’m surprised they built these over something so lowly as a Sunny. A used wagon Ryoga would be an awesome taxi among all the Sunny and badge engineered derivares in the streets of Lima.
More Mitsuokas? Bring ’em on. I find their whole line and indeed their whole concept, fascinating.
The basic body shell … the greenhouse, doors and front fenders, look like they go to a totally different car.
These Mitsuokas seem to be the Japanese equivalent to the gold trim packages, landau roofs, wide whitewalls and fake wire wheels that festooned so many Cadillacs from the 1980s onward. Sort of the full Palm Beach treatment, only in this case installed on a mainstream, workaday car rather than a supposedly top-of-the-line model. As my 90 year-old father might say, it’s distinctive, but you can achieve the same effect by painting your nose red.
Arrgh! I’ve seen it, and I can’t unsee it!
the morris/Austin 1100/1300 MK2 tail lights must have been out of patent or are the NOS Lucas items a close up would be interesting, if you are trying to identify a cars original identity the glass and lights are where to look just in case nobody knew its an easy way to positively identify a rebadge. Mitsuoka never fails to amaze in how they can blend ancient styling cues with modern floorpans and mechanicals.
Hard to tell from the angle but those look Triumph TR series wheels and hubcaps (or a decent copy). What a weird and wonderful detail. While this one is a little ungainly looking it is interesting. I’d drive it (probably alone as the family would refuse rides in it).
The wheels n’caps do indeed look like TR bits (or near-enough thereof), either that or Peugeot 404/504 jobs, and either was a common addition to in-period Mk2’s. Not.
Over here, the donor car was called “Sentra” and I recognized it almost immediately from the greenhouse. Fascinating. For anyone who has ever dissed the looks of the Jaguar S-Type or X-Type, they should be forced to stare at the front of this one for like an hour.
Kidding – I’ve seen worse, but it’s the combo of neoclassic front and rear with the Sentra’s / Sunny’s roofline that doesn’t quite jell with me.
I shouldn’t like it.
It’s ridiculous looking.
I like conservative-looking cars and trucks.
This should not be my cup of tea.
But I do like it.
Maybe I’m changing my tastes.
Maybe I will think the new Supra is pretty.
Maybe I can finally enjoy all the angry-faced SUVs that surround me on the road.
Maybe I’ve finally coming around.
Is this Stockholm Syndrome?
I’ve never been to Stockholm. Maybe I have another type of syndrome.
“Syndrome” is a strange word…
Why DO I like this car?
Joseph even said something negative about it. And he never does that.
Everything is weird now.
What’s going on?
I will now go to the Kia website and see if they look appealing to me.
Maybe seeing so many ugly cars has broken me.
I will drop in later to let you guys know what condition my condition is in.
Just one small note, “Mitsuoka launched the Ryoga in 1998, based on the Nissan Primera. It originally came in either 1.5 or 1.8 litre flavours.”
P11 Prinera only had 1.8 or 2.0 engines in Japan.
What IS this little car-bunckling industry all about? Seems very like a riddle wrapped inside a conundrum surrounded by an enigma.
I mean, the Japanese have no historical links with the Brits, such a few hundred years of colonial occupied servitude or such. And their last large scale contact with the British wasn’t entirely a delight (nor for the Aussies present, and nor has it been apologized for since).
Yet by the ’80’s, they became an export market for Minis, and Van den Plas Morrie 1100’s, and a few other non-auto-related upper-crust/snob cultural stuff I can’t immediately bring to mind.
Contrary to others, I don’t think these were sold as amusements at all, but more as a viable (and affordable) homage to wanted objects that are out of reach. I don’t believe they convey a sense of fun, but are meant to be taken seriously as a statement (and I’m not suggesting the Japanese don’t have a sense of humour, for they most certainly do).
Dear newly-appointed Professor of Japan Studies Tatra, what is it all about?
You forgot Mitsuoka’s ultimate sin, the Orochi, in its most hideous paint job
Well…I’m…um… Plenty of Mitsuokas here in NZ, but I’ve never seen this version before, and had no idea it existed. And then you tease me with a picture of a hitherto unknown wagon version! Thank you for increasing my vehicular knowledge! I think… 😉