T87 Singles Collection, Winter 2026 Edition – Part 3: More Foreign Cars (Swedish, German & Italian)

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– Posted on April 3, 2026

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For our third and final roundup of the furtive finds seen in Tokyo over the first three months of 2026, we begin by examining the small but always entertaining Swedish contingent in the inimitable shape of the Saab 900. That was the very last car I caught for this edition, coincidentally.

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The only 900 more iconic than the 4-door is the Cabriolet. Still a bit cool out there for this driver, on a Sunday morning.

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I see quite a few 900s around town. By comparison, these 2nd generation 9-3s (2004-13) are few and far between. Especially the wagon version.

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The sole Volvo worthy of note, but it’s a doozy: a late ‘90s S90 Royal LWB saloon. We’ve seen one of these before – this could well be the very same one, though the license plates don’t match.

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Now, this one we definitely have seen already. It’s the very same 2015-18 Koenigsegg Agira RS that was caught last spring. But hey, these are new and somewhat better angles for it, so in the compilation album it goes. Next, we move to the (huge) German section.

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This is the first Maybach limo I’ve seen in white, and it really doesn’t look good, particularly in profile. The diagonal crease on the lower flanks, the gigantic rear door, the ridiculously small boot… What a mess. Black paint hides a lot of that, whereas the white reveals and accentuates these defects pretty starkly.

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I’m partial to the W126. As far as I’m concerned, this was the last really beautiful S-Class.

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Yet another W124 in the exclusive 500 E flavour. Tired of them yet? Neither am I.

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But look here, the elusive junior W124 Z-car, the 400 E. Jim Klein can regale you about his experience owning one of these beauties in this post.

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Diesels aren’t very popular in Japan – too noisy and smoky, at least the older ones like this W123 wagon. Still, a few have trickled through.

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I don’t photograph every single W123 out there, as that would make these posts downright boring. But a W123 Coupé will always get a snap of two. Three, even.

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A mighty fine-looking W114 saloon (1968-76), pre-1973 facelift. Unlike their North American kin that had a 2.8 litre straight-6, rest-of-the-world 250s had a… 2.6 litre straight-6. Mercedes were already playing fast and loose with their model numerals back then.

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Without a doubt, this car was bought here new. The mirror on the left fender, turn signal repeaters and the parking pole are dead giveaways.

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The original sleeper, the ultimate Z-car, the wolf in Bracq-designed sheep’s clothing – the 300 SEL 6.3, ladies and gentlemen.

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What’s as good as a 300 SEL 6.3? Another 300 SEL 6.3, of course. This one has had its original sealed beam headlights traded for Euro-spec units, but it’s still a 6.3, lying low on its deflated air suspension.

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I’m glad I caught this passing 230 Universal, but sad it didn’t stop over for a longer photo session. Some other time, perhaps? Please?

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OK, I did say in the last edition that I’d cool it with the 911s, so here’s just the one. It was just too weird not to share.

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I’ve decided to limit my 356 intake as well, so just a couple for this edition. Wrong wheels on this speedster, but right everything else. I hope…

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Any day encountering a Pre-A (i.e. 1948-55) Porsche 356 is a good day.

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I’ve already written up a 1954 model pretty much identical to this car, so I didn’t bother documenting this one too extensively. Best-looking 356 by a mile, for sure.

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I laid off the Porsches, so fate threw a bunch of air-cooled VWs my way to make up for it. Let’s start with the Beetles – including Super ones, for once.

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That pseudo-panoramic windshield just looks silly to me. Very clean car, though, under the dust.

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Too many aftermarket bits on this one. On the other hand, lovely paintwork.

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This one looks a lot like a Euro-spec 1200, the base model that wasn’t exported Stateside.

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This was the best bug of the bunch. I’m thinking mid-‘60s, but I’m sure someone will be able to pinpoint the model year with far greater accuracy.

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I followed it down the Ginza main street for several blocks as it glimmered in the sun. Magnificent.

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We’re apparently looking at a 1957 Karmann-Ghia – probably the oldest one I’ve encountered on the street so far. Too bad it’s not quite stock.

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I prefer my K-Gs with a hard top, but there’s no dispute that this cabriolet is superb.

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But yeah, that greenhouse design is just as iconic as the rest of the car, in my opinion.

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On the Type 3 front, we had a lovely 1966 “Variant,” to use VW-speak.

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Beautiful example of the breed, isn’t it? It had some competition…

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…in the shape of another Type 3 Variant. Does the slightly different shape of the rear lights make this is a younger Squareback than the white one?

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Only one air-cooled Transporter to report, in a daring orange and blue livery.

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A good ol’ Vanagon with its Wasserboxer… Not keen on those rectangular headlights, though. The round ones gave it a more friendly face.

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Just one front-engined VW made the cut, in the (boxy) shape of this gen 2 Jetta.

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Quite a few BMWs to review – which is not always the case! – this time, starting with a Z8 with added Alpina bits. These were made in 2003 only, after the Z8 was deleted from the regular range. Strangely enough, these were more comfort-oriented than the O.G., featuring a 375hp 4.8 litre engine (about 25hp less than the original Z8) and was only available with a 5-speed auto transmission. The “Alpina Roadster V8,” as it was officially known, was made in 555 copies.

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Yes, I thought the same thing you did: “Oh dear, what have they done to that poor 8-Series?” Cladding all over, a pinstripe on top and those wheels… Why? But it only got worse the more I investigated.

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Oh, that interior… Proof positive that money can’t buy taste, if one was ever needed. The body kit is AC Schnitzer, apparently. Probably tuned the V12 up, as well. Did they also commit those crimes against common sense in the cabin?

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We’ve seen this white M1 before, but it was in motion. Equally stunning standing still, isn’t it?

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I’ve been seeing a bunch of BMWs with this “iDingpower” logo, but never really looked into it. Turns out it’s a Japanese tuning shop, basically a local Alpina. They also work on other marques, but BMWs seem to be their main stock-in-trade.

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Shiny car with very shiny wheels! A little out of place on an E30, but to each their own.

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As expected, the interior is spotless too.

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Another kidney-grilled legend can be crossed off the list: here’s the 1973-75 2002 Turbo.

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This is the genuine article, too. They only made 1672 units. It was expensive, but offered 170hp from the 2-litre, which entailed pretty brisk performance: 0-100kph in 6.9 seconds.

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But it was also a blue-and-white roundel-fest in the bike shed: lots of BMW Motorrad products about, this winter. Knock me over with a flat-twin!

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There was a very impressive alignment of BMW bikes – too many and (mostly) too modern to capture. With a couple of exceptions, such as that lovely R80, and the curious green machine just above this text. Never seen a bike so angular.

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While we’re on two wheels, let’s move on to the Italian stuff. All I can say about this one is it’s a Benelli and it looks pretty damn cool.

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I could have gone for a stand-alone post on this one, but life is too short and my files too full. It’s a real gem though.

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This is a 1959-65 Ducati Elite 200, by the way. Absolutely beautiful. But let’s get back on four wheels already!

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These fun Fiat Coupés can be seen on occasion. They certainly stick out of the usual silver-black-white taxi-and-kei-car-dominated traffic on the city.

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Forty-five-to-30-odd years on this Earth is a long time for a Fiat Panda. Some show their age…

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…some do not. This one’s a Selecta, featuring an “electronic transmission” that was actually a CVI. Paired with a 50hp 1.1 litre engine, that must make for some rather leisurely progress.

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Little Fiat 500s can be great performers, of course. Just sprinkle some of that Abarth magic on them…

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Same for the Autobianchi A112: a little sting in the tail helps a lot.

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How did Lancia fall so low so fast? The Musa (2004-12) must surely count as a low point. Flavourless, instantly forgettable and so very, very normal. Not Lancia at all.

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At least the Delta Integrale (1986-94) had true WRC glory to brag about. Boring boxy styling was the just norm for the times.

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We just looked at the Montecarlo (1974-81) a week or so ago – this very one was in the post, as a matter of fact. Great car in many ways, sadly marred by terrible build quality and technical issues.

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Now we’re finally hitting Lancia gold. The Fulvia (1963-76) was the sweet baby Lancia everybody wanted to adopt. The Zagato-built Sport Coupé (1965-72) was lighter, more aerodynamic and far more exclusive.

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The standard coupé, though, was the one that stole the show. It outlived the 4-door and the Zagato by four years.

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Pure unadulterated Lancia with this 1962 Flaminia GT 3C with a Touring body. I wrote up a very similar one back in 2023 – same model, same coachbuilder, but with a soft top. My pick of the Italian cars for this season… probably…

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We can’t call that yet until the end, because there are Alfas to get through first. Who doesn’t love the Giulia berlina?

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Not sure why this one’s license plate says 1977, as I really doubt this one was made that late. That was the last year of the Type 105 Giulia, but they didn’t look like this exactly. Might be the owner’s birth year.

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Last one, promised! I mean, berlina-wise…

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Picking between the Berlina and the Bertone coupé would be tough. The coupé is sexier, but the saloon is a lot more practical. And cheaper.

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And of course, the Pininfarina Spider completes the trifecta.

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I’m finding myself drawn to the 156 more and more these days. I remember when they came out and everyone admired them. Who admires the Alfas of today? Some people must, I’m sure, but the 156 might be the last Alfa saloon that was an unqualified success. And don’t get me started on the wagon…

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The only Maserati worth a snap was a QP5. At least, no Biturbos were harmed during the production of this post.

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Five Lambos can fit in one picture, see? You just have to bunch them up.

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Let’s close this edition of the T87 Singles Collection with some Ferraris, shall we? Setting the bar high with an F40.

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Just as iconic, the Testarossa is nonetheless downright common compared to the F40. What would blow both of these out of contention for the Best Italian Car of the Season title? Drum roll please…

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OK, contest over. That there’s the winner. I think this is the first Daytona I’ve managed to capture decently and from several angles. Drool-inducingly gorgeous machine.

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Hope you enjoyed this now traditional quarterly roundup of the Tokyo CC sights. Here’s hoping spring will bring us lots more nice surprises. See you in July.

 

 

 

 

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