Welcome to part 2, where we will delve into Italian, French and US-made cars. Call it a foretaste, a premonition or a harbinger, by this sweet yellow Dino was to be followed by a whole bunch of others a few weeks after this photo was taken.
They were everywhere. It was kind of unreal. The good kind, not the teeth-falling-out-fever-dream kind.
The funniest part was that the first Dino I caught a couple weeks before was not party to this little get-together.
And on the other side of the street: more Dinos, of the GT4 kind. Only three of those ended up coming, so it was a little less photogenic. Seems these were mainly sold here in 2-litre guise.
More Dinos? Yes, but it was the amount of classic Ferraris that was more astounding in that particular instance, with a 328 as the lead car.
Not that this was the sole 328 seen during this busy year’s end.
The 328’s successor, the 348 (1989-95) was also here, complete with self-referential air intakes.
The reference being, of course, the Testarossa. Or its lightly facelifted successor, the 512 TR (1991-94).
Santa’s got a brand new sled – an F355. And it’s not just the nose that’s red.
Well, hello there! I believe we’ve met before. Nice to see you’re still looking marvellous.
The 330’s successor was also sighted, amazingly. The 1967-68 Ferrari 365 GT 2+2, ladies and gentlemen. And this is one of the 50-odd RHD cars, too.
And guess what, there was the successor car of the 365 GT/GTC as well – the 365 GT4 (1972-76), sporting a 340hp 4.4 litre V12.
I prefer the earlier V12 GTs, but this is still one of the cleanest designs of the ‘70s.
Diablos are just too outlandish for words, so I’ll keep quiet.
I was going to use a Fiat 500 as a palate-cleanser, but this one’s a little off.
Much better – and with suicide doors, too.
One of the strangest finds of the year, as far as I’m concerned. Was this 600 Multipla sold here originally? Was it just abandoned to the elements, like a common kei van? Can it be salvaged, or will it be a parts car?
Two citrusy Fiat Barchettas – one lemon-flavoured, the other orange. Aren’t they a pip?
Multiplas are weird at the best of time. But a baby blue Multipla? That’s one for CC.
Remember the thing about the Dino, how I caught one on a Sunday and they all showed up a few weeks later? Funny thing about that: Giulietta Spiders did the very same trick, only better. This one was a fine little number…
…But this one was pretty exceptional.
No idea if he ever got to the Mille Miglia on time.
And then it happened: they ganged up together. I was seeing red that day, I can tell you.
Not all reds are equal under the sun, though. Some look a bit more on the orange side. Is there more than one Alfa Rosso?
The most astounding Alfa was this circa 1960 Giulietta Sprint Zagato held in captivity at a fancy classic car dealer.
The same high-end dealer also had a few scorpion-badged beauties, including an ultra-rare Abarth-Simca 1300 – being much more Abarth than Simca, it really belongs in the Italian section of this post.
Speaking of Abarths, a lovely little early ‘80s Autobianchi A112 with extra scorpion trim proudly displayed its “70hp” badge on its hood.
And said A112 was parked just ahead of the obligatory Lancia Delta Integrale. Some traditions are impossible to break.
Found another Thesis! That means there are at least four about town.
Who can resist a Fulvia coupé? I know I can’t. Simply adorable!
But the Lancia of the year award might well have to go to this jaw-dropping Gamma coupé.
I don’t generally stop and photograph Vespas. Just not that interested. Two recent exceptions to this rule shown above.
Just a fine black & white duo of QP5s for the Maserati side of things, save for the 3200S below. Normally, that would be the end of the Italian chapter, but there was a December surprise to be added to the list.
Now that’s not your everyday supercar. One of the 150-odd Bugatti EB110s made by Italian entrepreneur Romano Artioli’s incarnation of the defunct marque from 1991 to 1995. It has a 560hp quad-turbocharged 3.5 litre V12, AWD, 6-speed manual with a carbon fibre chassis – pretty serious stuff.
Speaking of, I found a Bugatti dealership (the only Bugatti dealership?) in Tokyo. It was appropriately tiny and located in the fancy Roppongi area. Which brings us to the French chapter, now that (German-owned) Bugattis are manufactured in France again.
It was a veritable Citroën fest. I hope you brought your hydraulics. The occasional C6 can be seen – still looking good after 15-odd years.
No XM was caught, unfortunately, but the amount of CXs more than made up for that.
This LWB 1978-84 Prestige was an absolute stunner in the setting autumn sun.
One of the classic car rally staff cars was this other LWB saloon. The vinyl roof was done away with when the car was repainted, probably. A number of CX Prestige owners prefer this look.
A rather lazy 2.5 litre 4-cyl., rendered even lazier thanks to a 3-speed slushbox – a firecracker it is not. But as a long-distance cruiser for five adults, world class.
This could have been yours truly’s latest DS post, but alas, the old gal never made it to the right curb.
It’s a circa 1970 DS 20 with the hydro-assisted 4-speed gearbox. And in a very attractive colour, too. From what I could gather, there was no consensus as to what the issue was. The car was eventually towed back to its mechanic.
Saving face, a somewhat older (1963-67) DS in motion. They do run well… from time to time…
No Peugeots, to my great chagrin. And just a couple of Renaults to go, starting with the fantabulous Matra-built Avantime (2001-03).
The world’s first (and thus far only? Genuinely asking) hardtop coupé MPV. Matra’s final automotive gambit vanished after 8000-plus units were made. This was also the dawn of the really weird Le Quément-designed Renaults, the Avantime being one of the better ones.
Alpines used to be small sports cars. They have now become lilliputian. Good idea to use that Smurf blue, then.
Let’s ease into the American iron now. I never know how to classify these AC Cobras. Definitely not British, but still sort of. Not wholly American, but as near as makes no difference…
Same issue with the DeLorean, with its Italian designer, British engineering and manufacturing, American leadership / financing (to be nice and vague) and French-Swedish engine.
There’s a non-zero chance that this one was made in the US, being apparently very old and LHD (Mitsubishi Jeeps were all RHD). I will defer to the experts of course, being quite clueless about older Jeeps myself.
Well, I do know a little about Grand Wagoneers. And they are surprisingly plentiful, in this place of narrow streets, expensive fuel and massive road tax.
An AMC aficionado lives here. His other 4-wheeler is an Eagle, which will have its day on CC sometime.
I don’t know what this is. I am assuming it’s a deformed Jeep, but that’s nothing more than a hunch. Whatever it is, it looks like a parody Millennial villain’s car.
Never seen an H2 on stilts yet. It didn’t disappoint.
I don’t know why, but I kinda like this black-on-more black Jimmy S10 Typhoon.
Circa 1990 Vendura in fine fettle. Incredible how popular these are here.
That wasn’t the first GMC van I’ve seen, but Chevy-branded ones are more usual.
Still not sold on these. Not the coupé-pickup concept, just these later El Caminos. Better options must be and were around, as we shall see presently.
Older El Caminos are very cool. The 1966 vintage especially – though the ‘67s are very attractive too.
Yeah, now that’s more of a Chevy pickup. Just add proper wheels, and presto.
First Corvair sighting in Tokyo, and it’s a 2nd gen coupé! Alas, being tended to a therefore not ready for CC prime-time as yet (plus awful sun glare). Looking forward to hearing that flat-6 on the streets in 2024! Catch you later, Corvair-san.
Another Knight Rider TransAm in Central Tokyo. Scaping the barrel, here.
The sole Caddy this time will be a Japanese-market 1990-92 Brougham d’Elégance.
Hey, remember this one? I caught it in-motion a couple years back. Well, a second bite at the apple presented itself.
I was particularly keen to document the interior, which was out of bounds last time. The engine is the correct Nailhead V8, according to the owner.
Yes, it’s a Focus. Not exactly the Ford you’d expect to see on CC? Well, look at it this way: it’s the first one I’ve seen in four years.
It’s also the first 1972 Ranchero I’ve seen here, but that’s easier to believe. The Mercedes coupé behind was very hard to capture, unfortunately.
Then imagine, you leave your digs one fine afternoon, and there’s a whole Taurus wagon plopped virtually on your front step. The nerve.
When’s the last time you saw one this clean though? Liking the cheapo black wheels, too.
The only classic Ford one really sees often is the Mustang. That ’66 was near perfect, but I happened upon something a lot better.
One-owner-from-new ’65 Mustangs are getting scarce, these days. Japanese one-owner-from-new ’65 Mustangs? Hen’s teeth-level rare.
Just one Mopar representative this time, in the shape of a 1965 Dart. Cool enough to close out the post, isn’t it?
See you tomorrow for part three – British, Swedish and German cars.
Nice to see such a vibrant classic car scene .
This is the first Fiat Jolly I’ve seen from the new version .
-Nate
The Japanese are so sick. Lovely.
They even accept the steering wheel on the wrong side just to get a special car – not to mention the non-existent spare parts supply.
I bow my head.
Great finds – those Gamma coupes look more lovely each time I see one…
Akemashite omedetto gozaimasu…kotoshi mo yuroshiku…
Kotoshi mo yuroshiku onegaeshimasu !
Nice C6 basically a LWB version of my C5, they use the same engine trans and suspension of the C5 both 4 and 6 cylinder diesels, The V6 comes with designed in issues the 2.2 4s are meant to be bullet proof,
Citroen Avantime : aussi horrible qu’une Fiat Multipla 1998.
Renault…Avantime.
I was hoping for a photo with open door.
With double hinges.
That yellow Dino in your first pick shall forever be my all time favorite.
However I never would have expected to see that ultra rare Bugatti EB110s driving around in traffic. The engine is a masterpiece of French engineering and designed to be admired.
I reckon that mutant Jeepish-looking thing is a Mitsuoka Sodaina Yuzu.
If it’s not, it ought to be.
No, Pete, I think it’s more of a diagnostic label, as in: “We’re very sorry, Mr Wilding, but we think your Jeep has been sodained by a mitsuoka right in its yuzu”.
(Well, maybe not, but it might account for the expression on the thing, surely?)
Quite the oxidization of Dinae gathered there, Prof T.
Even when single, the littlest Fazza is one of those cars that looks far more arresting in person than in print, and like other things in life, may be seen at best in rear-view – I was thinking of mortgages, for example – so thank you for yours. (I was thinking of your photo of the Dino, now concentrate, please). They seem over-praised for their aesthetics, but for once, aren’t.
The 365/412, by contrast, is even less prepossessing in real life than a photos – and in photos, it’s heavy and boring. If Don Andreina still existed here, he could lecture us all upon why it is that the Fiat 130 is a masterwork, and the Ferrari a weak imitation, but I am not he, and will not persist, beyond saying that the would be quite right.
The Lancia Gamma will have to stand in for the Fiat for now: ever so very-slightly chintzy, it is nevertheless still a very fine sculpture.
Is it a Japanese thing to have a small fish-tank on the end of the gearstick, or was this in fact standard on that model of ’50’s Buick?
About 35 years ago, I drove a fly yellow Dino 246 GTS with ‘chairs and flairs’ out Garth Road to White Hall. Traffic was light back then, and it was a very good place for a teenager with no sense of consequences to ring out someone else’s car that was then valued about twice as much as my parents’ house. Enzo Ferrari had passed away recently, and his cars had values that eventually crashed before picking up steam as the fed funneled money to the people who really needed it for their collecting habits.
Looking back now, I only remember a few details about driving the Dino. It sounded great compared to fuel-injected and catalyzed sports cars. The seats seemed low even compared to the ones in my Mom’s Porsche. Some of the switchgear wasn’t of notably higher quality than the stuff in my FIAT 124 Sport Spider. I was concerned about the gated shifter going in, as the last thing I wanted to do was look like I didn’t know what I was doing. It worked well in practice, but I still remember not rushing the 1-2 shift. And that’s about it. Did being mid-engined make it handle like it was on rails? Not compared to a new 924S. I had to read articles about it after the fact to realize that the steering should have benefitted from the light nose. It was quicker than an ’80s economy car, but not notably powerful compared to the cars I’d driven that had impressed me with their power.
At the end of the day, it was mostly a really beautiful car that I couldn’t afford. Looking at the value of one on Hagarty today, I could come much closer to affording one now, but I’d have to live in it and get rid of everything else that I own. After figuring that out, it only took me a few seconds to determine that I will keep my home and my current car instead.