It’s been a good month in old Tokyo, CC-wise. I trust I will be able to provide you with a few in-depth posts, but for now, here are some of the ones I caught only one or two photos of, usually in traffic. This month, for some reason, was placed under the sign of Lotus – I bagged three, including this stunning early ‘70s Elan S4 coupé.
But let’s not dwell on the other two John Player Specials just yet. I’ve been seeing a few nice Volvos about, too. Always pristine, obviously. I noticed this late model 240 a couple times in my neighbourhood, always with an older gentleman at the rear and a chauffeur in front.
Is this an appropriate car to be chauffeur-driven? In Tokyo and in this condition, I’d say yes.
This older 244 DL seemed more of an enthusiast’s car. The dead giveaway is the license plate, which (I’m assuming) is informing us of this Volvo’s model year, a common enough trick folks do here.
Incredibly well-preserved, for a 40-plus year old automobile. I saw a wagon of similar vintage also on the same street days later, but was too slow to catch it. Ah, the ones that got away…
Caught this Mk1 VW Golf on the same street as the previous two. Seeing this one was positively heartwarming, as these earlier ones are now getting scarce, even in Europe. Great to see one (at least) is thriving in Tokyo.
While we’re looking at red German cars, how about this mouth-watering late ‘60s 911S?
Seems like this one was imported from the UK at some point. Love the fact that the current owner kept the original painted license number on the front end and that D-for-Deutchland at the back.
Here’s the second Lotus, then. This one I photographed at about 7am on a Sunday, from my balcony. Hence the fuzzy pics. You don’t exactly see Europas everyday, so I though it warranted a mention here.
Very weird-looking cars, even by Lotus’ standards. Quite a shock to see one just as I was having my first cup of coffee… Couldn’t focus as well as I might have, for all these reasons.
In Europe, and especially in the UK, I wouldn’t have batted an eyelid (or stopped to take a photo) when faced with a Rover 75. But it’s all about context. Who in their right mind would have ordered one of these new back in the day in Japan? There must be some dyed-in-the-Wilton-carpet Anglophiles in this town.
The Renault 4 was never imported in Japan when new, but I’ve been seeing quite a few around. They have a strong following here, though I cannot fathom why exactly. Nigh on impossible to find one in this condition in its country of birth.
Nor was the LHD-only Renault Twingo ever imported back then, either (as far as I know). But this late ‘90s car really didn’t look too out of place in this setting…
…Which is more than one could say about a 1970 Corvette next to a Cadillac CTS Wagon, eh?
Yes, these pre-5mph bumper Stingrays are gorgeous beasts. But I think we can do even better, Chevy-wise…
OK, it’s seen better days, and it’s wearing weird wheels (though there’s a lot worse out there), but it’s still a 1965 El Camino. Fancy seeing that here!
While we’re on the subject of American metal in strange places, here’s a happy motorist who has two transportation options, both of which could be qualified as extremes.
These two, however, seem like a better match. Soft-top or coupé? Verdi or Wagner? Chianti or Eiswein?
It woldn’t be Tokyo without a classic Bimmer, of course. This E28 looks like it’s had a few vitamins, courtesy of Hartge. Alpinas are so common, don’tcha know…
Let’s switch to the JDM stuff, shall we? Even kei cars have their specials, not just retro grilles and tacky chrome. The Subaru Vivio (1992-98) came as a 5-door and a 3-door, but in 1993, to celebrate Subaru’s 40th anniversary, this notchback T-Top variant was made by Takada Kogyo.
The targa top is (obviously) removable and the rear window stows itself away electrically. Legally, this car is a four-seater, if you can believe that. Only 3000 were made.
Not far from that Subaru, I found this sweet 1975 Corona GT coupé, again in mint condition. Pity it was parked behind a locked gate, I sure would have liked to get more pics of that one.
This is the third Corolla AE86 I’ve caught in the wild (plus one in a museum), so I’m starting to think that hese are not exactly exceptional. This one was the dustiest yet!
I also scored another Mitsubishi Flying Pug. Considering how few of these were put together (139 to be exact), that’s quite a coup. Many more Toyota 2000GTs or Mazda Cosmos were made, but for some reason, the universe wants me to document these atrocities. Sigh…
Nissan-wise, the month started well with this lithe R32 Skyline saloon (1989-94). I hope I’ll find one standing still some day. I’m more partial to four-door Skylines in general, and this generation is no exception.
But I will admit that the two-door version is also quite the looker.
Remarkable cars, the R32s — especially for that era.
But maybe not quite as remarkable as this mid-‘70s C110 Skyline “Kenmari” saloon, pictured on the same street as the previous two.
This was Nissan’s more challenging period, esthetically, but I will admit that this Skyline looks pretty good, at least in this form (the wagon is downright ridiculous) and compared to most other ’70s Nissans.
Let’s end this edition with the final Lotus – an uncharacteristically dirty (and characteristically non-running) Esprit X180. These were made from 1987 to 1993, with a new nose by Peter Stevens grafted on Giugiaro’s original shape.
That’s it for this month’s Tokyo sightings. Personally, I’m torn: the Porsche was sublime, but the Kenmari was quite a sight and the Elan is probably the only truly beautiful Lotus. Tough crowd.
Previous episodes:
CC Outtakes: T87’s Singles Collection – Part 1
CC Outtakes: T87’s Singles Collection – Part 2
Great shoots. I think that ’78 Volvo 244 DL is strange. It looks like a U.S. spec, not a Euro one. Yet it has RHD. Anybody knows if Japan – sold models were dressed up like American vehicles?
The ’78 Volvo doesn’t look like a U.S.-spec car to me. It has headlamp wipers, Japanese-spec sealed beam headlamps, and no side marker lights or reflectors—what looks like a front side marker light is a turn signal repeater (at least one of which looks like it might not be working on this car). The U.S. cars’ front side marker lights and reflectors were built into the corner park/turn lights, which also had a single-colour lens on the U.S. models.
They (R4) have a strong following here, though I cannot fathom why exactly
Apparently you just don’t get the Japanese. They are the world’s greatest lovers of quirky, original design. Which the R4 has in spades. Hence their infatuation with so many automotive examples of that, from Europe especially, and from the US too. Who else would be so infatuated with the dorky Chevy Astro van, for example? And of course the R4.
And this of course explains why they are the world’s biggest enthusiasts and builders of retro cars, and retro-retrofit kit cars. It’s a national obsession. I’m actually surprised there hasn’t ever been an R4-inspired retro car built in Japan. or did I miss it?
I must have something in common with the Japanese, as I’ve always been a huge fan of the R4. One of the more brilliant and highly original designs ever. And a perfect city car; actually, perhaps the best ever, as it’s much taller and with four doors, so much easier to get in and out than the Mini, or Fiat 500, which are commonly held up as great examples of 60’s city car designs. Never mind the vastly better ride. I have deeply-seated memories of bombing down narrow old cobblestone streets late at night in Vienna at absolutely crazy speeds in an R4. It would have been a torture in the other two. It was closer to flying.
Suzuki Lapin; currently on its third generation, sold since 2002. Body kit makers Damd actually has a retrofit Renault 4 mock front end available for the earlier cars:
Of course! How could I space that? Love it! Need to bring one over in…2027!
Like it should be seeing some here eventually.
Just about snorted my coffee when I saw that one! Of course the Japanese would…..
Apparently you just don’t get the Japanese. They are the world’s greatest lovers of quirky, original design. Which the R4 has in spades. Hence their infatuation with so many automotive examples of that, from Europe especially, and from the US too. Who else would be so infatuated with the dorky Chevy Astro van, for example? And of course the R4.
Yes, but why the R4 and not the R5, or the 2CV or, I don’t know, the Hillman Imp? It seems that particular Renault has a huge dedicated following here, but I cannot figure out why. Japanese Fiat 500 fandom comes from a Miyazaki animated film and the Mini from City Hunter, both dating back to the ’80s. But I don’t know where their infatuation with the R4 is sourced, culturally speaking.
Dear Tatra, I think I understand you, but I dare to take it broader : The Japanese love cars with ‘the idea’, a philosophy, they are crazy Mini addicts and hey are trying to invent a car like the Mini with ‘ the idea’ .
The quirky Mazda 121 ‘bowler hat’ was designed by a Japanese man who was crazy about the 2CV and the rear doors were an ‘ode’ to the 2CV’s shape.
When the Twingo was launched I discovered a flock of them, covered under a tarp on a car carrier from Wallenius, destination Japan, I bet you they were ordered by one of Japan’s giant car manufacturars to see how those French pulled it off. This was when they were just launched and as per ancient French tradition, they were sold in the home country first to avoid the hughe costs of recalls world – wide.
And let’s face it the Hillman Imp never reached the cult status, it simply was not special nor brilliant enough, unlike we have just now started to appreciate the Ur- Panda…… Same goes for the R5, we have just started to appreciate the normal non-Turbo 1 & 2 versions.
Can’t help but add, Rammstein, that the man who designed the 121 somehow merged 2CV homage with a rear specifically designed to look like a lady’s bum – truly – and was therefore in love with not just an idea!
Perhaps yes !
But in one thing he surely succeeded : you love or hate the darn thing and I love one detail of this car : You could get it with light alloy teddy-bear rims !
Yes, but why the R4 and not the R5,
Because the R4 was much more original (and quirky), by far. Nobody had ever seen or imagined anything like the R4 when it came out. And that hatchback? Who had done that before? Nobody, in terms of a small city car. Simply brilliant.
The R5 was cute enough, but it’s not really anything that special. What was new or original about it? A few styling details.
There’s a huge difference between the external styling (skin) of a car and its fundamental architecture. And the Japanese have a deep appreciation for what’s below the skin; the whole thing, in its entirety, and most of all its conception. Which explains why traditional Japanese art, objects, architecture, and such are typically seen to be very organic. That implies it’s not just something decorated on the outside, but something whose qualities are intrinsically special or exceptionally functional from the very core and all the way out to the skin.
I’m not trying to lecture you, and certainly that’s not always (or necessarily mostly the case, given their love for the frivolous too. But then the R4 is frivolous also, silly, goofy, ridiculous, as well as brilliant, organic, functional, timeless. It’s got everything that would speak to the Japanese way of seeing things. So it seems inevitable that they would discover it and revere it and imitate it.
Several reasons why not for the Imp….
I don’t think the El Camino wheels are weird, they’re Chevy rally’s, only thing wrong with them is they’re missing the center caps.
The 911 is gorgeous, I now love the original narrow body so much more from a styling standpoint than later iterations. The Corvette looks great to me too, I must be a sucker for red cars.
Ironic, isn’t it, since many folks would say “the El Camino is of course wearing those ubiquitous and predictable Chevy Rally wheels”.
A Rover in Japan rare? possibly by now they are age and decrepitude coupled with sloppy assembly are catching up on them and Rover City in Parnell Auckland NZ depleted the Japanese delivered Rover ranks quite early on importing them and reselling them here, When my daughter was born in Hastings NZ my dad and sister flew down to see the baby my brother in law arrived the following morning in a Jap import Rover 75, one of several from that shipment it had presented problems in the workshop during the first and only service it had ever had in the 80,odd 000 kms it had covered when the sump plug was removed no oil came out, there was no drain hole behind it, Jap imports were notorious for never been serviced failures were quite common all makes suffered it and this one proved the rumour, the car ran and drove really well apparently it was nice to ride in, my BIL had it for a shake down weekend.
Skylines in fourdoor should also be getting scarce in Japan they are all rusting away on lawns here having been slowered and boy racered to death, crap cars really, the fast one the Godzilla race car that left all in its wake in Aussie touring cars wasnt built by Nissan it was constructed in Australia by Gibson motor sport.
Mate, the only thing crap about the R32 is the dashboard vents!
Those Datsun 240K were quite common in Aussie once upon a time a friends wife drove one for many years before Sydney salt air and subsequent rust put it off the road.
A huge thank you to Tatra87 for your series; not only for the cars, many of which were never imported to the U.S., at least not in any serious numbers, but also for the Tokyo city scape. For me that is perhaps the major appeal of the series, yes the cars are fascinating, but getting to see ordinary buildings and how they are used really hits my buttons. As someone who grew up in a small town and now lives in a modestly sized city it is quite the revelation to me how people adapt to large cities and the resultant crowding. Kudos sir!!!
One of my Air Force buddies owned a Europa in the late seventies. He figured that it took 8-10 hours of maintenance for each hour the car got driven. Dave bought the car to use in SCCA events but was unable to make it run reliably enough to be worth the effort. When everything was working correctly the Europa was a wonderful vehicle, unfortunately these times were few and far between.
Nice shots on the R32’s, The 4-door is a type M GTS-T, not too common at all, and the white coupe is a GT-R, so good shooting there!
A very nice selection. Not having owned one I have a huge soft spot for the Europa – odd looking or not.
I had a chance to buy Renault 4 about 15 years ago but passed on it in favor of something else. I still kick myself. They are such a neat design.
Quite a few R32 Skylines here in western Canada due to the importing boom a few years back. There is even a Mitsubishi Flying Pug here – repainted red and been for sale on and off over the years. Personally I’d take the Mitsubishi over the Nissan in this case but I suspect I’d be in rare company.
Surprisingly that classic Corvette does not look ponderous and big in Japanese traffic. I bet it is still a handful to drive over there though with the long hood.
I’m with the author on the R32 four door. Nothing wrong with the two door, but. Wish they’d made a wagon.
Europa for me. Catching one at that angle in that colour against that background nails it.
Great gets T87. Tokyo agrees with you.
“ Wish they’d made a wagon “
Well, the Stagea eventually came, as a consolation. I’d gladly own a M35 AR-X Four like nobody’s business. A literal Japanese translation of Volvo’s XC70 wagon, but wicked quick and below radar. I could care less about the faux CUV elements. Yes, please.
I think the V60 is doing the smartest job of new wagons at the moment, but with Skylines my threshold is R32 or before. In my minds eye, I see something along 456 Venice lines.
They created a R32 wagon in Grand Theft Auto IV and V
Thank you so much for this series, Professor T. So many great spots here, it’s hard to know what to comment on. But that red Kenmeri – the wheels are too small, they look a smaller diameter than stock, making it look overbodied by that thick C-pillar. And R32s were a great design for the time; it’s such a shame that Nissan stopped assembling Skylines in Australia by then, and only (!) imported the GTR. IMHO if they had sold those sedans here instead of the forgotten Maxima, the history of Nissan in Australia might have been quite different.
Of course CC-in-scale has to pick the Kenmeri sedan for today. 🙂
It’s funny that you say that about the Skyline. I remember back in the 90’s/early 00’s people here (NZ) saying that kind of thing “If Nissan sold the Skyline here they’d be able to compete with Falcons and Commodores”. But I’m not convinced. My favourite thing to ask was “well would you buy one?” and invariably the answer was “no, but they should sell them” – case closed.
The Falcon was always a lot bigger, and by the 90’s the Commodore had become so too. An R32 is still pretty small inside (especially the rear leg-room) compared to them. The boot is also pretty darned small as well.The Maxima always had much more interior and boot space, so for 95% of buyers would have been the logical choice. I get that the Skyline is a superior drive in almost all aspects, but I don’t think that enough people would have taken them for it to have been worthwhile.
Ultimately the Maxima was the right choice. IMHO.
Mmmm. I’ll take the 911, Corona hardtop, Kenmeri and R32GTSm.
I think the R32 4 door would have not been a good contender for local assembly in Australia.
Aside from the Magna, framkess windows are generally seen as a no no on mass market sedans here. But more critical is the lack of interior room, particularly in the rear.
I test drive one once and although I loved the styling and the way it drove, the poor space utilisation was a surprise
Fantastic selection here, and while the rest of the world thinks there is nothing in Tokyo older than about three years, they are all wrong as you clearly demonstrate and is obvious in even just a short visit if one watches the roads. Thanks again for this installment, looks like it’s becoming a regular monthly or so occurrence!
Unlike older humans, the Japanese just don’t do their older cars dented or marked or even dirty, do they?
R32 four-door for me, quite delicate for a modern-era job. The 2-door has unfortunately become an enduring favourite import for doofly-drainpipe-roadscraper crowd here, and since they have spent more on bucket-sized turbos than their own education and civility, it has put me off ’em.
Regulations are very stringent there. Cosmetic appearance is considered in the Shaken inspection . I have never seen a shabby car on a Japanese street.
Well, once I saw a small few year old Toyota wagon (company car, sign on the side) with burned clear coat. It likely was on it’s way to the crusher anyway.
Thanks for a tour into the world of some vehicles that I have never seen.