T87’s Singles Collection, Spring 2026 Edition – Part 2: More Japanese Cars (Toyota, Mazda, Mitsubishi, etc…)

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– Posted on June 30, 2026

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Welcome to part 2 of the Spring ’26 collection. We’re going to look at the rest of the JDM stuff, starting with Toyota. Might as well set the bar at the very top notch by way of a late-model VG40 Century. Caution: Yakuza traffic ahead!

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This is a bit of a legend – the Celica 1600 GTV, the high-performance gen 1 Celica with a twin carb DOHC engine and a lightened body. This particular 1975 model was for sale for ¥4m (about US$24.5k).

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Same model year, but a 2-litre GT with the Liftback look. Decisions, decisions…

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That’s a very cool colour for an MR2.

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This 1977 Chaser, on the other hand, is wearing a very loud orange. Yours for the equivalent of US$15.4k, earplugs sold separately.

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Way too many extra bits on this late model 1984-88 Mark II hardtop.

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I have already written up one of these X80 Crestas – in similar Super Lucent Exceed trim, too. This one was somehow even better than the one I had found…

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Look at that interior, folks. True JDM luxury, 1989 style.

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But the most interesting Mark II of them all, this season, was without contest this 1973 pickup. Only the first-generation Corona Mark II had this odd body style. Uncommon then, very rare nowadays. Not crazy expensive at US$14.7k.

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Plenty of fine Crowns to be seen, as usual. This late ’90s S130 Wagon looked brand-new.

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Very odd Crown Comfort by any measure. Weird body colour, weird wheels, weird interior. A joy to find such a mundane car dressed up like this!

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To round off the mid-‘90s Crown range, here’s the S150 formal saloon – made even more formal here thanks to the optional fender mirrors.

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So many of these circa 1987-91 S130 Hardtops are still around. Just too good to throw away?

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This has to be the best-looking S120 hardtop (1983-87) I’ve ever photographed. Off to the seaside, I see…

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The mighty 1981-85 Soarer Z10, the car that begat Lexus. Well, its successor did, really.

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Oh, ok here we are… Ahem… The mighty 1986-91 Soarer Z20, the car that begat Lexus. I think.

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Ah, the Will Cypha… Still jarring after all these years? Yes, it very much is. Especially in neon yellow.

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Outside Japan, there was the Tercel. In Japan, the Tercel was also sold as the Corsa and the Corolla II. Kind of a Mark II without the Mark. This is the final iteration (1994-99). We shouldn’t waste too much time on it, unless I can find the retro-styled Napoli version…

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Impossible to get a full shot of this late model 2nd gen 1980-84 Starlet. C’est la vie.

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We end this series of smaller Toyotas with a lovely 1971 Corolla 1400SL Coupé.

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What a weird sort of jungle this FJ40 Land Cruiser is traversing right now.

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A most exotic Toyota we have here, with its US-made RV-hind. The Toyota bit was sold new across the Pacific, too – its LHD.

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Something rather exceptional in the Mazda section: a 1961 R360 Coupé – the very first automobile model that came out of the Hiroshima factories.

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A rare and highly significant machine, to be sure. But the conditions weren’t ideal and I had already secured photographs of one, which will have its day on CC.

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This is not strictly-speaking a Mazda, it’s arguably more of a Suzuki with an Autozam badge. We’ve seen this one before, but it’s still the most incredible kei car ever made.

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Put a Frogeye Sprite, a 300SL and a Pontiac Fiero in a blender…

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How undignified for this Debonair to be so ill-shod. Like wearing a black Armani suit and a pair of lime green Crocs.

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This Lancer Evo V is out there sleeping rough. Some people would give it a good warm and dry garage, I’m sure.

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This is the seventh or eighth Mitsubishi Flying Pug I’ve caught since 2019. There were 139 of these horrid things made in 1997-98. Why am I seeing Pugs flying everywhere?

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Those Minica Toppo vans are sure funny-looking.

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They also existed in three-door form (two doors on the left, one on the right), as covered in this post a while back. This one’s hauling a hefty amount of cargo.

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This is a rare pre-facelift Town Box. This kei van was launched in April 1999 and given a pretty major facelift in late 2000 – nobody liked that front end, apparently. This one is certainly becoming popular with the local flora.

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About 40 years ago, a 550cc Minicab pickup came off the production line. It’s still hard at work. Colour me impressed.

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Careful there, buddy. That’s a genuine antique you’re driving there. The very first Mitsubishi car, the 500, made between 1960 and 1962.

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I was just able to catch it as it left, but with any luck it’ll be back and stay a while… Please…

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Not really a Mitsubishi, but they did make those Jeeps for ages and gave them a few home-grown quirks. The triple wipers, the Mitsu Diesel engine, the wrong-hand drive…

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…and extra doors on the wagons, of course.

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But if the weather is decent, both the top and the windshield become quite optional.

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The Subaru 360, as I’ve mentioned previously, is easily the most common ‘60s kei car around nowadays.

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This 1968 “Young S” model has the standard 25hp engine, but snazzier interior and exterior presentation. The Young SS was the one to get – 36hp on tap. Mellow yellow here can be yours for ¥2m (a bit less than US$12.5k).

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The 1997-98 Subaru Bistro Sports was to the Vivio what the Young SS was to the 360. This one’s got a turbocharged 660cc 4-cyl. producing 63hp – as powerful as a kei can be.

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I always stare when encountering an SVX. These were not widely distributed in Europe – Subaru sold fewer than 2500 across the continent – so they still look unfamiliar (in a good way) to me. Classy design, especially for the ‘90s.

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Well, well, well. We meet again, Mitsuoka Galue Classic Wagon. Nice to see you out in the sun.

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It’s been a minute since we’ve had a Viewt. This is the “light” base version, known as the Nadeshiko. The whole rear end is basically 100% Nissan March (with stuck-on “chrome bumpers,” of course).

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This is the current Mitsuoka Viewt, made since 2023 and based on the Toyota Yaris. I haven’t seen many yet. As soon as I can study one up close, I’ll let you know.

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Make way, peasants, for the august Galue III (2005-10).

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Small though they may be, Daihatsus are plentiful. Precisely due to their diminutive size, in fact. Mid-‘90s Opti Classic, anyone?

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Or would you prefer its successor (1998-2002), probably the only kei car sporting a four-door “hardtop” body?

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The iconic 1996-2001 Midget II (now known as the “Little Person II”), ladies and gentlemen.

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This is the vehicle Daihatsu built their reputation on. These large three-wheelers had a bunch of names depending on their rating (this one is good for 1¼-ton), but the overall appellation seems to be sanrin (“three wheels”). It’s powered by a water-cooled 1.5 litre twin (!) and if the seating is any indication, it’s a 1959-61 model. These were made from 1957 to 1972, the later ones having a 1.9 litre twin.

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Just when you think you’ve seen everything, a Carrot shows up.

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I always wondered about that name. I’d have gone for a more ovoid lexicon, rather than root vegetable. Maybe “Eggplant” would have been a happy medium.

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It’s dekotora o’clock already, folks. Get your sunglasses on, it’s going to get reflective.

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So many questions… What’s with the camo-fish character? Lights on wheels – how does that work? Who’s your interior decorator, Stevie Wonder? You gonna finish that ice coffee?

 

Are you coming to see part three next week?

 

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