Welcome to part 2 – let’s kick things off with American metal, as there were several noteworthy sightings from that continent these past few weeks. I just caught the tail end of this ’63 Fairlane, just as it was entering its parking garage. Must keep an eye out for it, now that I know where it lives…
So let’s keep on truckin’ to Motown’s greatest hits. This old Jimmy has obviously had a hard life, but it’s still chugging along. Not an avid fan of yellow on cars, but in this case, it’s not the most pressing matter.
GMC is not the most commonly seen American marque in this country, but when I do see one, it’s usually a van, this one being a particularly pampered and blingy LWB example.
While we’re on the subject of vans, there are a few Dodges about as well. This one also wore a nice bumper sticker. Humour must be a crucial component of American vehicle ownership here, I assume.
It’s not all that weird to capture a clutch of big Detroiters like this right in the center of Tokyo. There are some who really have a thing for those big shiny American SUVs. Hummer H3s are seen on occasion and Jeep still makes pretty good business here; the Dodge is rarer, by comparison.
Corvettes are a fairly common sight too, of all eras. Well, the more recent ones I don’t usually bother documenting, but this turn-of-the-century C5 looked kinda sad, so I pity-snapped it.
C3s are definitely more interesting. This 1981 C3 was unfortunately out of bounds, and my camera decided to focus on the chain-link fence rather than what was behind it, but did they make convertibles in 1981 anyway?, thought T87. No, they did not. Yet here it is. Please discuss.
Mustangs are also pretty popular – everything being relative, of course. This one materialized close to my place recently, I see it on a regular basis. Nice amber turn signals.
On the other hand, Camaros of any vintage are rare here. It’s strange, because the Japanese American car enthusiasts usually like what American classic car enthusiasts like, and Camaros are extremely popular in the US. This generation of Camaro, though, is one of my least favourite. I’d call these Panhard Camaros, because they really remind me of the bulbous Dyna Zs / PL-17s.
I always thought these Ram pickups looked a little swine-like, but in an appealing way. It was still pretty weird to see that unmistakable snout in Tokyo.
Even the facelifted Cherokees XJ like this blue Limited – one of AMC’s last designs – are now entering their third decade on the planet. Still plenty of these around the world in general and even Japan in particular. How long will that last?
This one I struggled to triage – is it a Mazda (which it totally is, as it’s a re-badged Bongo Friendee), or does the blue oval on its butt mean it should be in the foreign section? Well, which is it? You broke my heart, Freda!
These Chevrolet HHRs are really the ultimate copycat-mobiles. GM saw what Chrysler did with the PT Cruiser, headhunted Brian Nesbitt (the guy who designed it) and made their own PT Clone. Not many of these are here: despite GM’s best efforts, Chrysler had the upper hand in this marginal market.
You might recall from yesterday’s installment that I discovered a place where they restore old Nissans. Well, it so happens I also found a place where old Chevies get repaired. This 1970 Chevelle was blocking the view, but there were more goodies within.
Actually, the Chevelle was not blocking the view so much as that 346 GT was. I would rather have had a better look at that sumptuous ‘60s Corvette than to have that less-than-outstanding ‘80s Ferrari front and centre. It adds colour to the tableau, I suppose.
So let’s transition to the Italian stuff then. Either these 5th generation Quattroportes are more common than I imagined, or I just lucked out massively, but I caught two on two consecutive days, after only having seen one all year (and in Hokkaido). But as we shall see, this past couple of months were under the twin sign of the Gemini and the doppelganger.
For instance, I’m seeing Fiat Pandas everywhere now. Well, maybe not everywhere, but certainly more often than I thought would be possible for such a rickety and low-grade European econobox.
Even for Alfa Romeos, things were mightily twin-like. The same day I caught this Spider…
…I come across its GTV coupé sister model, sporting the 2003 facelift nose.
A sweet Bertone 105/115 GTV coupé, seen here barreling down my street, was followed by another one a week later – which had the good manners of standing still, so it will be featured in its own post.
I don’t know what this this Lancia Delta Integrale did, but no sports car deserves to be imprisoned like this. Let it be free, I say!
I’ve already caught this Abarth 850TC about six months ago, but I saw it again and thought you should too.
I really need to stop with the Volvo 240s. I said I would. Plus this one was featured in one of my first Singles Outtakes posts, but it drove past me again the other day and I just couldn’t resist. Most 240s one sees are in various states of scruffiness, but this one looks like it came off the boat yesterday. And it’s used often, too.
The 240 wagons are just as popular (and indestructible) and this one was a bit on the scruffy side (by local standards, anyway), but again, I was unable to resist. That Swedish flag blue, that massive boxy body, that interior, that license plate – sometimes, you just can’t beat a classic Volvo.
Certainly not when you’re a not-so-classic Saab. I’ve been trying to train myself to recognize the later ones, which were anonymous compared to the Saabs of the ‘90s, to little avail until about a week ago. I guess these were just not popular in Japan.
Beetles, on the other hand, are popular everywhere. This one was probably a later import, with some questionable choices (that handbrake handle, for instance), but the quality of the restoration was definitely outstanding.
Conversely, this German (I guess, given the D license plate on display) ‘70s Transporter was showing worrying signs of structural decay. The paint was coming off the base of the windshield – it’s hard to see due to my poor photographic skills, but striking in person. I had never seen one of these with an automatic before. Must make it even more underpowered…
It’s a pity that my phone is so terrible at taking photos at night – this early model green Porsche 911 was splendid, but the camera did not do it justice.
There are air-cooled 911s all over this town, so I try to pick my subjects. This Carrera had an air of authenticity…
Which this one, on the other hand, did not. But then, when did you ever see one (or any car made after 1960, come to that) in this colour? I’m not even sure what to call this. Putrid, perhaps?
The mustard yellow on this 1970 VW-Porsche 914-6, on the other hand, is perfect. I’ve already written this car up a while back, but discovered its crib only last month. Gute nacht.
I’ve seen a few 928s in this city now, and they’re all pretty much the same: dark gray S4s with LHD. This one also has a cool number plate. But I’ll soon do a twofer post about another one and its very interesting neighbour.
Can you believe that these E34s are over 30 years old now? They’re getting scarce. This one was still in regular service and being driven with gusto by its caring owner…
But some are languishing and slowly falling into disrepair. Even wagons! Sad ending.
As for the E30s, especially in cabriolet form, things are a bit different. They’re coming out of the banger era and are now 100% collectible. This one still has a few kinks to iron out, but it’s saved.
Cool Audi 90 Quattro! So cool I photographed it twice, just to make sure. These sister models of the 80 / B2 were only sold from 1984 to 1987; this one has the bigger 2.2 litre 5-cyl. engine. Definitely not something I thought I’d see in Tokyo.
The Mercedes-Benz W124 (E-Class) is one of the few foreign cars of the previous century that can reliably be seen on the street here, so I don’t bother with them. Unless they’re wagons, because wagons are cool.
Even the younger post-facelift ones, such as this mid-‘90s E220, have an aura of solidity and elegance that has eluded later Benzes, in my opinion.
On the complete opposite end of the spectrum – both in terms of rarity and exclusiveness, though oddly enough from the same era – this 208D Bremer Transporter has seen better days.
What ho, chaps? Any notable British motors, this month? Nor ‘alf, guv. McLarens are quite exclusive beasts, so if I see one, odds are it’s going to be in my singles post. But I can’t say I find these attractive…
Just like these Lotus Seven copies. This looks like a Caterham, though there are several other small workshops who make these. Including Mitsuoka, but this is not one of those. Not anybody’s finest hour.
Four-door Aston Martins, however, are intrinsically fascinating. And there aren’t too many around. This is a Rapide, it has a 5.9 litre V12 and it’s probably the prettiest British car of the 2010s. Faint praise. They just stopped making this model, so now prices will come down. But they were somewhere near US$250,000, so it’s going to take a while for these to be remotely affordable.
I don’t know why this mid-‘50s MG TF is parked in this tiny office (or whatever that place is). Another totally random Tokyo moment.
In the last singles outtakes, I had unearthed a lovely green Range Rover. This time, we have a black one in Vanden Plas trim. For once, the date-like license plate is completely off.
Let’s finish with the French stuff. I’m seeing these Peugeot 106 Rallyes once in a blue moon. This yellow one was hard to miss and quite impossible to ignore, so it makes the cut. But September / October turned into the Hydro Citroën era.
Not too many of these second generation C5s have made it to Japan – this is only the second one I’ve ever seen here. This is the last Citroën model that had the hydropneumatic system, so I guess I’m starting with the end.
The 2005-12 Citroën C6 was an infamous and embarrassing flop – only 23,500 were made, compared to well over 1.5 million C5s. So why am I finding so many in Tokyo?
I mean I saw at least a handful in traffic that I did not catch, and one that was parked but impossible to photograph… and the one above… and below.
Crazy isn’t it? This tan one is my favourite. Not usually my colour, but somehow, on this car, it really works.
The final hydro Citro for this post will be this late model 20-ish-year-old Xantia Exclusive. I’ve actually caught a pair of these a while back, but I haven’t written them up yet.
Finally, here’s a mystery for us to ponder. The license plate says 1967, the size probably says Detroit. Any wild guesses? I don’t know the answer, but I’ll check on this one periodically and let you know.
The Dodge Nitro is by far and away the craziest I would assume to see. Wild. I will refrain my criticism of the vehicle itself but it’s really cool to see cross-pollination like this.
Good finds! The tight confines of Tokyo are definitely evident in some of those parking spots. As for the last mystery vehicle: I’m getting a mid to late 60s Mopar vibe. Maybe a Coronet or similar B-body? Just a guess…
I think you nailed it with the Coronet.
Something like this.
Given the length and extreme overhangs at each end, I will say Charger.
I thought the C5 Corvette didn’t look sad at all, but reasonably well kept after 20ish years. From that front quarter angle, it looks so much like a last generation Mazda RX7 on steroids. I wonder if the body designers were looking at the Mazda for inspiration?
Pity-snapped it! Another worthy addition to the CC dictionary. I love it! I’m going with Charger under wraps too.
I think it’s a 1967 GTO under the cover, the bright lower body trim is poking through at the bottom IAT various points, as is a good portion of the front bumper, and the shape of the headlights is plainly visible through the cover
Eh, I was fairly confident it was a Mopar….but now that you mention it, I can totally see some GTO vibes there for the reasons you mentioned. Particularly that gently rounded haunch on the rear fender, too. The suspense is killing me!
I thought mopar too originally but it looks 68-69ish if it were one, and with the plate saying 1967 it seems too rounded in places for the boxier 1967 B bodies
Unless there’s evidence to the contrary, I wonder if that 81 Corvette could actually be a 74 or 75 convertible converted to look like an 80-82, which is a pretty common thing in the aftermarket, there are gobs of aftermarket panels and flares already visible so it’s clearly been worked over. Then again it might not be too much work to adapt a convertible top assembly.
I’m not a fan of the McLaren’s styling either, they’re very capable supercars but they aren’t something I’d ever have a poster of on my wall
How did Maserati get away with lifting the styling elements from a Buick, right down to the portholes?
Every time I see one, I think of a Datsun 180B/610!
Alfa GTV for me.
And was the C6 the only car on which the rear lights (partly) faced forward?
Which part of the rear lights do you see facing forward?
What a car-spotter’s paradise you live in! I could spend the next hour typing up my observations and comments, particularly given my (lack of) typing skills. But I’ll pare my thoughts down to some things nobody else has commented on.
That poor Jimmy – I’ve never seen a damaged car in one of your photos before. Living in close quarters I imagine Tokyo drivers would be especially careful, and all the more so with a larger-than-normal vehicle like this. Is it part of Japanese culture to repair any damage to your car ASAP?
The bumper sticker on the Dodge van is highly amusing. I haven’t noticed any bumper stickers in your photos before, so I’m guessing they’re not as common as in the west.
The Beetle seems a peculiar mixture of years, having earlier plain bumpers without over-riders (Standard Beetle?) on a later body, and the late, late huge taillights. And the Transporter looks to have air conditioning as well as the automatic. That must be very slow with the a/c on, which I imagine you would need in that climate.
I like the mint-green colour on that Porsche, but not ON the Porsche, if you get my drift. I can see it being a minor contrasting colour on a fifties car, but a whole car in that colour is just too much.
As always, thanks for taking us along with you.
The “blade” Beetle bumpers were more desirable among the “aircooled community” than the boxy “euro” bumpers and were often added to later Beetles but they often look awkward due to the relative position of the bumper irons and taillights, and also with the bulbous front end on Super Beetles.
Thanks – thought it might have been something like that.
It looks like the Beetle had AC as well. My parents living in El Paso had a (used) unSuper Beetle with AC. I think the evaporator was under the front bumper somewhere behind the sheet metal, and had one or two electric fans. This all meant a whole lot of AC piping going all over the place from front to back to the middle. I have no idea where they squeezed it all in. Anyway, the extra weight and power drain must have slowed it down, but they were already slow anyway and not melting while driving was enough to make you not really notice.
If someone asked me a list of cars I would NOT expect to see in Japan I can just about guarantee you a 1963 Ford Fairlane would have been in the top five!
If the 1967 licence is correct then our mystery machine has to be a Coronet R/T or Charger. It’s the only one from that period that fit’s the dimensions.
You’ll have to let us know so I can confirm my guessing skills are as accurate as always and it turns out to be a 1967 Ford Fairlane😉
Mystery Metal, under the tarp —
’69 Mercury Maruader ??
The Citroen Xantia seems to be one of the few cars (can’t think of any offhand actually) where the rear door glass looks the same as the front door glass. The car still looks modern and interesting just to look at.
I love the Audi 90q of course, over here it was the 4000q, we didn’t get the concurrent 80q those years (85-87), but did get the 4cylinder (shared with the VW GTI) in FWD 4000 guise in the same body.
The mint green on that 964 C2 is quite the popular shade on the RS model of the same generation, perhaps second only to the metallic raspberry (which I don’t think you’d like either…).
But for me the biggest prize this time (and there is some mighty tasty stuff here) is that Lancia Delta Integrale, that particular one looks to me an awful lot like an HF Evo 2 model, the top dog this side of the S4 Group B version of Delta. Too bad it’s stuffed into the back of the driveway there.
Yes they do have Citroens and Peugeots in Japan as they turn up here used ex Japan the Xantia is the last hydropneumatic the C5s are all hydroactive, C6s are coming up for sale here too even a RHD 2.2 twin turbo diesel with manual trans they didnt build many of those,
The automatic Kombi would go better than you think we towed one home to use as parts in Tassie one having been told it was a non runner it took half an hour but I got it going and took it for a blast as was surprised at how well it pulled uphill 2.0 engine helps and yes the windscreen frames rot out of bay window model too not just the split screen model Nice collection as usual.