It’s that time of the year again, another round-up of cars that were briefly encountered by yours truly over the past three months. This edition will be noticeably lighter than usual, as I was traveling in early July (Thailand) and all of August (Europe), plus September was a complete washout in Tokyo – worst weather I’ve experienced since I moved here. Most cars in this section were still found in Asia, except a couple, like this Honda Prelude caught in Switzerland.
The lesser-seen late model NSX waves us a friendly salute with its right door. Konnichiwa to you too.
We will episodically be calling upon our trusted classic JDM reseller, Flex Auto Review. Fancy a first-generation Mitsubishi Debonair? This 1982 example with the 2.6 litre engine and questionable wire wheels could be yours for the equivalent of US$19k.
We will also be seeing a few Thai-registered cars, like this surprisingly fresh Mazda 323.
When I first lived in Bangkok, about 15 years ago, some of these E90 Corollas were still in taxi duty. Nowadays, there are still quite a few about, but only private cars.
An E70 Corolla, now that’s proper old school! No reason it can’t go on forever, though in the tropics, every vehicle eventually becomes a nest for something, be it insects, rodents or monkeys.
Beyond old school, a most venerable O.G. gen 1 Corolla was even to be found venturing out at night in the Siamese wilderness.
Flex had one of those in slightly better nick, a 1969 two-door SL that was up for grabs for about US$15k.
Love the yellow in-board headlights on that 1968 Corona 1600 DX. The rest of it isn’t too bas either.
Superb colour on that 1973 Corona hardtop. Just needs some stock wheels to make it perfect. No price on this one yet, it just arrived in Flex’s lot.
There were a pair of S50 Crown coupés, too. This cream-coloured 1970 model was pretty much perfect (minus the wheels, yet again). At ¥2.6m or US$16.5k, it’s a steal.
The other coupé was a ’71 with quads – a smidgen more expensive, as it has the top-spec Crown twin carb 2-litre 6-cyl. engine.
It just wouldn’t be a T87 Singles Collection without a Toyota AE86, would it? One of the nicest ones I’ve ever come across, this Levin Apex liftback.
We’ve had the pleasure of seeing this Carina ED “Exciting Version” in detail about six months ago. I found it again and am pleased to report that it’s had a bit of a clean.
If the license plate is any indication, this is a very late model FJ40 – they quit selling these in Japan in 1984.
In the dictionary, under the word “bulletproof,” they should have a picture of this thing.
Easily the oldest Jimny I’ve ever seen out in the wild, this 1972 LJ20 featured Suzuki’s new water-cooled two-stroke 360cc twin. With only 28hp on tap, you’d better not be in a hurry.
Very weird to find an old Infiniti Q45 in this country, as they just didn’t exist here. It’s RHD, so perhaps it was originally sold in Australia or the UK.
The photos are a little blurry, but the hood scoop along with the stance and fog lights probably make this a rally-ready K10 March R – the little 1-litre engine was supercharged up to 110hp.
People here love their 510 Bluebirds: this 1972 1600DX saloon will set you back close to ¥4m, which is over US$25k. Popularity has its price.
If only this 1969 Fairlady Z were in stock form. Around here, most first-gen Fairlady Zs end up with fender flares and the like. With this paint job, it looks far more palatable, I will admit.
On the other end of the spectrum of both colour and palatability, we find this R34 Skyline. Yeeesh!
To help recover our senses and sanity, here’s a 1969 Gloria Super 6. Yours for the equivalent of about US$19k.
I have a weak spot for these 1975-79 Glorias, especially in hardtop form. Caught this one on one of the only sunny days we had this month.
It’s virtually legally required that a Y30 Cedric/Gloria wagon must be featured in these posts. So here it is.
What a resplendent example of the first-generation Cima. First one I’ve seen in a lighter hue, which suits it pretty well.
These Sunny pickups fall into either of two categories: modded garage queens or bone-stock work vehicles. This is a very clean example of the latter.
I encountered this 1982-86 Nissan Vanette Largo in Spain and thought how random it was to find one so far away from Japan. Looking into it, these were actually assembled there for the European market.
A couple of nice old Isuzu trucks from Thailand to see us out. These were probably also assembled locally and, in this instance, are used as local buses. This 3rd generation Elf looks like it dates back to the late ‘70s.
This is its predecessor, the second-generation Elf. It’s been at work for over half a century by now. Amazing to see how long-lasting these machines are.
As a nifty post-script, here’s a Thai-made conveyance I found over in Tokyo. The automatic gearbox is highly unusual, as is the Louis Vuitton pattern on the seats. You just don’t see that in domestic tuk-tuks.
See you tomorrow for the second volume, which will be dedicated to American, German and British vehicles.
“ Very weird to find an old Infiniti Q45 in this country, as they just didn’t exist here. ”
They were sold as the Nissan Infiniti Q45 in Japan. Exclusive to the Nissan Prince Store dealer network and positioned even further upmarket than the Cima. Priced at 5.2 million Yen at launch, there was even an option of layered lacquer interior trim containing actual gold dust dispersed within that added 430,000 Yen to the price of the vehicle.
Never knew that, thanks for the heads up. I think this is the first Q45 I’ve seen here in six years. They can’t have sold many in Japan at those prices — the Cima was a much more sensible proposition and the President was the ultimate iteration of that platform.
Nice E70 Corolla. One of the cars that I prefer with its North American specification sealed beam headlights. Maybe because that is what I grew up with? Rare here these days.
In regards to the Elfs and other ancient trucks like them I do often wonder where they source parts for them these days.
That Nissan Cima does work well in that colour. Not sure I would have believed it if someone merely described it without the photo.
The fellow in the Suzuki L20 looks very happy. As he should be as it looks to be a charming vehicle.
Nice finds. I’ll have to make the trek over to Flex Auto one day just to browse. I’m not sure which September I prefer – the rain and typhoons of this year or the scorching heat from last year.
Great collection, as usual – and quite a treat to see some of these cars from Thailand, too. That 323 is a pretty surprising find, though with the stuff you come across, nothing should surprise me!
I agree with David above about the light-colored Cima – it really works well in that color, even the back end, which in my opinion tends to look a bit awkward.
I also didn’t know that Nissan sold the Infiniti Q45 in Japan.
Nice collection.
The license plate of the Fairlady Z 2by2 is lying. The 2by2 (not 2+2) didn’t show up until 1974.
I can’t get over that Suzuki LJ20. These were born to be killed. Or at minimum, thrashed and nastied upon within an inch of the user’s life, let alone its. Incredibly good as they were at surviving that, this bugger is 53 years old! Incredible. It’s like finding, I dunno, used dunny paper from 1972.
Ricky-dicks (dick, dick, dick, dick) as some called them, for the sound of the start and idle. Of course, an internet glance shows that now people want them, and are digging them out of bogs and tips and rafters on farms, as they were sold here from the beginning.
I’d rather walk.
Though not behind one. Phwoar!
The Gen 3 Prelude was my first car. A 1988 Si (not 4ws) with a 5-speed manual in Barbados Yellow. What an awesome car! I don’t think I appreciate how well it handled until I drove other cars…