Here’s a little sampler of the array of funny furrin jobs I’ve seen in Tokyo over the last 30 days or so. Let’s kick it off with the Mini of the month, which is a real beaut. A tad over-restored and cluttered with add-ons – not to mention those seats – but still pleasing to the passerby.
Small city cars are naturally quite popular here. This is not the first time I’ve seen a Mk I Golf here, but this black LHD Cabriolet, driven by a lady, was simply too nice to pass up.
This Mk II Golf would have just blended into the background in Europe, but out here it gave yours truly the briefest whiff of nostalgia.
Ditto in this case, but even more so: I caught an identical one last month. It’s Groundhog Day, but with Renault 4s.
Beetlemaniacs will be able to ID this one’s exact year, I’m sure. My wild stab in the dark: 1967.
This is the first Citroën 2CV I’ve seen in Japan. This is an early Dolly limited edition, too. Not super rare, but specific enough that one can pinpoint its model year, which is 1985.
Peugeot-wise, the pickings were slimmer this month. It’s still weird to see so many new ones in the streets around here. This 206 CC, made between 2000 and 2008 by Heuliez, is on the older side and has just enough of the cool, cute and cuddly factor that Japanese folks love to both blend right into Tokyo traffic and gain a place in this post. But enough with the small cars.
Bam! No transition, so segue, just a big old Humvee sprawl across your screen. The H3 is seen here on occasion, but this is the first Hummer H1 I’ve caught in the wild.
With the exception of heavy tanks and Korean cars, it’s hard to think of a less appropriate vehicle for Japan in general and Tokyo in particular. But I’m sure we can try.
How about a Lincoln Town Car? Can’t even fit in the parking spaces. I couldn’t get a pic of the rear, but it seems there were no amber turn signals on this thing. Looks like a standard US model to my untrained eyes, except for those turn signal repeaters.
Just a few modern Italian exotics, to spice things up a bit. Ferraris are not a common sight here…
But Maseratis are, for some reason. Japanese folks love these, as well as the latest four-door or SUV variants.
Lamborghinis are rare anywhere that’s not called Monaco or Dubai. Not really my cup of espresso, but impressive nonetheless.
Oh, and I just had to take a pic of this long-roof Alfa. Love the way some folks here manage to get the perfect number plate for their cars.
This LHD Porsche 968 looks a bit dejected. Shame to see a relatively rare 25-year-old blue-blood seem so forlorn, stuck beneath an overpass and covered in guano.
By contrast, this E30 saloon may be rather more common, but it’s obviously used and cared for.
Benz-wise, this month has been pretty good, too. These W124s kind of leave me cold in saloon form, but a mint-condition black wagon such as this does catch the eye. Left-hand drive, too. Yes, I know it’s supposed to be a prestige thing, but look at the cars in this post – they’re all foreign and some are fancy, but not always with the steering wheel on the wrong side (for Japan). Just sayin’.
Case in point: this Benz W123 is RHD. And it was about as clean a member of its species as I’ve ever seen.
However, this one was LHD. Just can’t make this stuff up. Pick a side, Mr Japanese Customer!
More classic Volvos. These were really everywhere popular here back in the ‘80s and ’90s, it seems. And since they never die…
Including in wagon form, which makes sense, as these are probably the most capacious European wagons of their kind, along with the big Citroëns. And Japanese folks do love their wagons.
They also seem to like Jags. Then again, who doesn’t? Yes, even the XJ40 has a smidgen of the old magic left in it. But enough of the ‘80s four-doors. Let’s keep it British, but kick it up a notch in terms of rarity and randomness.
OK, there’s definitely something about Lotus in this country. This is the second Europa I’ve seen here in two months, after maybe 20 years of not seeing a single one. What is the deal with the Lotus fetish, Japan?
This one came towards me like some sort of weird fever dream. It was near Ginza, in a completely different neighbourhood than my usual Lotus-infested area, on a Sunday – always the best day to witness classic cars in traffic here. Took me a few moments to identify it.
Yes, this is a Jensen Interceptor, entirely dipped in mat black paint. My initial “Wow!” was immediately followed by a quizzical “Why?” Outlandish. Sure made it tough to photograph this sucker, too.
This turned out to be an inspired choice for an outing. A short while earlier that same day and about 50 yards away, I caught this lovely MG Magnette ZA or ZB.
Designed by Gerald Palmer (who also did the Jowett Javelin), these were made from 1953 to 1958 and were the first MG to feature unit body construction. This is probably my pick of this post.
And just to finish things off on a flat, yet air-cooled note, here’s a Porsche 356 I saw on my street the other week-end. What’s your flavour of the month among this smörgåsbord of automobiles?
I don’t know whether April will be as fruitful as this month was. As I write this, there is talk of a possible “second wave” of COVID-19 in Tokyo, so we may have to shutter ourselves up like some of you. Fingers crossed, we’ll all come out of this situation in due course and in one piece. All the best to you all in the meantime!
Related posts:
CC Outtakes: T87’s Singles Collection – Part 1
CC Outtakes: T87’s Singles Collection – Part 2
CC Outtakes: T87’s Singles Collection – Part 3 (February 2020)
Nice collection, Tatra. That Jensen somehow looks like a computer simulation in that matt finish and I like the way the green Mercedes is juxtaposed with the Spring green shoots by the roadside. Can’t help thinking the Renault 4 looks quite a home there given the inspiraton such functionally quirky French design has given to Japanese ‘Kei’ models over the years.
The Mini isn’t as old as it’s pretending to be, of course, probably nearer to 30 than 50 plus years old, and the Magnette is a ZA. The ZB has a semi-wrapround rear screen. Mr. Palmer did have a good eye for proportion and balance. Perhaps he would have liked that Alfa wagon; I do!
Tokyo is proving to be a much richer environment for CCs than I had expected – there is something for everyone here.
On that Hummer, I had the same thought – those are ridiculously oversized in the suburban midwestern US, I cannot imagine one in a place like Tokyo.
And from the first time I saw them in magazine ads in the 1970s I have had a fetish for the Jensen Interceptor. I am not a fan of the matte black finish, but even so this is the one I would make a beeline for if offered my pick of this month’s crop.
Oh, that Magnette! One sold yesterday on BaT; it ended up going for almost 12 grand. With an hour to go, it was $5500 and I was starting to get jumpy. 🙂 Beautiful car!
VW is a 1966, that’s Paul’s favorite year. Bigger windows indicate 65 or later, but the 1300 badge on the decklid is 66.
Of all these I think I’d take the 356 Speedster. Real? Fake? Who cares?
I like that rear window mounted fan in that VW. It’s pointed right at the driver, for extra comfort.
The Speedster? Fake, undoubtedly.
It’s got the wrong vintage hub caps, for one. Who would do that with a genuine Speedster? Update: a closer look shows the wheels aren’t original either.
The ’66 VW has ’65 or earlier wheels. That may have been done to make it look more like a classic Beetle.
I’m with Doug on the 356, maybe because we both have air cooled VWs.
Does look perfect in black, though, doesn’t it?
I’m a long-time admirer of the Interceptor as well, starting with the fact it’s one of the best names ever. Excellent catch, almost as rare over here. The Hummer H1 isn’t regularly seen crawling around here either but yes in Japan it could not appear more out of place.
Another superb selection, T87, and a fine way to spend part of a drizzly morning.
Amusingly enough, that name was adopted by Ford Oz for a Falcon.
Granted, it was the 351 4V 4 speed with lots of hot extras for police sales (and indeed, I was Interceptored, as it were), and it was likely faster than the original Castle Bromwich source, and it cost perhaps a third of same here while looking just as glamorous as a boggo (base) Falc, but they’re mere details.
In Mad Max, the bodykitted XB coupes (designed by an Aussie who later did the lovely ’99-’06 Mercedes CL C125) were called “the last of the interceptors”. That is, when the movie was made in ’79, it was clear no such V8 coupe would be made here again by Ford, so after the Maxian zombie apocalypse (or whatevs) this beast in black was the last of the last. Spare me.
Many, many a soul whose IQ was outnumbered by the fuffy dice hanging from their poorly-modded, smoke-pluming V8 wonderbarges – Holden or Ford alike – were always reverently claiming that they had the last of the [insert understeering underbraked Folden here].
And so, for me, the name of interceptor was forever soiled.
And it doesn’t help that I’ve always thought that the actual Jensen original has spent a lifetime fighting depreciation by claiming to be a Ferrari-challenger at low cost, which, even if true, does not make up for the main reason it’s remained uncostly: it’s a dull looker, capped by a barge’s arse.
It’s passable as a convertible, if you must.
Right in front of the Jensen is a W211 E55 AMG wagon, which is actually probably a lower-production car (although more likely to see out and about in 2020)
Yeah I noticed that too. Tokyo is awash in AMG cars of all kinds but especially G-Wagens
Beside the Volvo 145 (I miss my 5 speed green wagon), I want to know what is that minivan next to the Porche 968 (and on the street behind it)?
A current Suzuki Every passenger kei van; way smaller than the looks suggest. No idea about the one in the streets, as most Japanese manufacturers sell a van in this class, and due to dimension restrictions, all end up looking like cousins.
Great selection, and choosing is going to be difficult. The green W123 might be my pick, for a least an hour or more.
Having said that, the MG Magnette looks a great example but the Interceptor is not improved by the wrap.
OOI, what are the green blocks and strips under the parked cars and in the car park slots, around the Lamborghini and Town Car for example?
“Mk II Golf would have just blended into the background in Europe”
You might think so, but Mk4s are getting rare, and I would need to go to a car show to see a Mk11 or Mk 111.
I like the ZA Magnette you captured, but I LOVE the ZB Varitone version.
I’d bet they might’ve been there, made difficult to see by the overstuffed parking space. Japan has required amber rear turn signals since 1973, and they tend to be quite a bit more rigid on that requirement than some other countries where exceptions are made for various reasons. Here’s a less obstructed pic.
…and here’s a zoom in on the lamp assembly:
ZA Magnette as others have noted same body as the Wolseley 4/44 but BMC B series powered with twin SUs and high lift cam to give it some performance gain over the Austin A50, the Wolseley version had the XPAG MG engine, go figure, Mini were a popular export from NZ back in the days of the early used import craze fully kitted JDM (rubbish in a lot of cases) imports flew off the lots and nobody wanted old British cars but as a mate of mine discovered on his buying trips the Japanese loved them so export them he did, there should be more about. I looked at a 407 Peugeot coupe when I was seeking another car twin turbo 2.7 V6 diesel and fresh off the boat from Japan so you finding a 206CC in traffic isnt a surprise, VW Beetle and a 2CV well why not they both have their following in every country. Good spotting.
Agreed on the MG, a car I never knew existed. Looks great, especially from your rear 3/4 shot.
Jensen Interceptor in best Bogan Blak? luv it. Proper colour for a car,My brothers XE Fairmont 351 gained mobile driving status just before his recent death and was that shade of blak it looked great on widened 12 slot chromies it led the hearse on his funeral procession and one of his mates did figure 8 burnouts in the cemetary with it, proper send off for a Falcon nutter.
Ha, funeral donuts! Well, that’s nothing if not original, I guess.
Hope the family is holding up, and that his daughter is ok, young lad Mr Bryce. Power to you all. (As in, wishing strength to you, not Ford V8 power, y’know?)
I am somewhat surprised to see so many non-domestic CC-worthy vehicles prowling the Tokyo streets. That Jensen is a real catch…I’ve only seen a few of those on these shores and none of them within the past 15-20 years. As for my pick among these tasty selections, while always a fan of older Volvo’s, I would veer in the other direction and go with that red Alfa wagon.
Yes that Jensen is a rare thing. I hadn’t seen one in well over a decade.
I hear you about the Volvos, but I’ve come to the conclusion that they’re just too common around here. Unless I see a 164 or a Bertone coupé, I probably won’t bother taking a photo.
And if you take a photo of a Bertone coupe (and its necessarily headless driver), I shall never bother looking here again.
Yep, these later 240s are cockroaches on the road here in Melbourne as well. Earlier 240/260 when they had the door number, and 140/160 series much harder to come across, In fact, seeing more Amazons at the moment.
Have you seen any Fiat Pandas in Japan? It seems like they would fit in well and were available with RHD
I have seen a couple of Pandas, aside from the ones at Ueno zoo. Older ones, from the 80s. Might catch one next month. New Pandas I haven’t seen, but they don’t stand out of kei car traffic as much.
Superb selection – several I haven’t seen in my time here. Lincoln Town Cars and Cadillac Fleetwoods used to the be staple of organized crime folks here until they went more upscale with Mercedes S Classes. I saw a F-150 Raptor the other day – first one I’ve seen here – like the Hummer, I kept thinking who would drive one of these in Tokyo…
Really can’t join all you hot n’ sweaties about that Magnet. Minus the allure of the badge, it’s a nice but unexciting ’50’s plonky, not terribly fast, not terribly original, and possesed of a genuine wart in that silly frowny line running back from the top of the front wheelarch to nowhere in particular.
I’m surprised to find Heuliez still existed, though unsuprised to see their demise not too long later. They took the decent-looking 206 and unmade it in the 206 CC, the roof-up stance looking like an orthopaedic shoe, the roof-down like a deformed ute. They also fitted headrests to the leading edge of the boot to suggest seats, but only fitted room thereunder for some poor soul who was reduced by misfortune to exist only as a head. The cars can be bought locally, usually broken somewhere between roof up and down, for a high bid of $5.53, (which is obviously an ambit claim well in excess of their true value of -$300 for the junkyard’s towtruck).
The dull but quite superb green Merc 230 for me.
Nice work as per, Msr T.
ZA for me. Can’t believe you captured another Europa!