T87’s Singles Collection, Winter 2025 Edition – Part 1: Japanese Cars

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– Posted on April 1, 2025

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Well, well, well, it’s come to this again – all the quick sightings yours truly has had over the past three months, curated, sorted and conveniently located within a few posts. I’m aiming at just three, this time: today’s rather big JDM edition, followed by a couple of posts to deal with all the imported stuff. We begin, clearly (and oh-so-cutely), with a Honda S800.

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These have a strong following here, and for good reason. Sometimes, they can even congregate. What should be the collective name for a gathering of Honda roadsters? Answers in the comment section below, if you please…

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Is there nothing more appalling than letting one’s (Honda) Life go to waste? These Step Vans are rare and this one needs urgent rescue. By the way, I would like to apologize in advance regarding the quality of some of the photography in these posts: my usual smartphone, in service since 2018, was literally coming apart, leading to dust contamination of the lens. It’s now retired / resting in pieces, but its last few outings have resulted in pictures that even Photoshop cannot totally salvage.

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A quick, corner-of-your-eye glimpse of something as rare as a 1970-73 Vamos (about 2500 made) requires a snap or two – alas, the aforementioned old smartphone was not as nimble as before. Not a total loss, just call it “artful.”

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Finally, someone made a kit for recent Acty pickups recalling the original Honda T-360 – the company’s very first four-wheeled vehicle! Lovely.

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This is a short tale of two CRXs: one in front of the house, slowly going to seed…

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…and another one in the back, now fully part of the garden.

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I found a Honda dealership that celebrates the marque’s old models by displaying the occasional one – a rarity, given how precious floorspace is in this town.

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Same place, different week, lovely red Prelude.

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These handsome US-built 1995-98 Sabers are pretty rare, in these parts.

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Always a weird sight, these Insights. But a welcome one. At least, they have their own look to them.

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Few Mitsubishis to report, but there was this interesting return migrant to be found. These were built in the US and imported by Mitsubishi Japan in LHD to emphasize that point.

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The rare Mitsubishi EK “Mifil” edition, the second one I’ve caught in five years. Clearly a green EK Wagon that had white Mifil bits added on later, but it still sort of counts.

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I had better luck with Isuzus than with Mitsubishis, over the past three months. A lovely late-model (1978-81) 177 Coupé XE with fuel injection, quite similar to the one I wrote up three years ago.

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This one’s impeccable blue leather and houndstooth combo was worth the trip.

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The earlier round headlight models do look better, and this one was no exception.

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This could have made for a fine CC post, except I’ve already written three of these up and I have a couple extra ones in store for later. One of the JDM’s best-kept secrets, if you ask me.

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The Bellett GT seems to be the other truly legendary Isuzu, in local car connoisseur circles. I still have not seen the other Bellett body variants – and there were quite a few.

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But if we’re talking JDM legends, the AE86 will need to enter to conversation. And the post.

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The issue with AE86s is either they’re boi-raced to oblivion, or they’re over-restored to better-than-factory condition. Especially those GTV versions…

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This lower-spec one seemed a lot more genuine. And I like that colour combo better too.

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While we’re dabbling in the ‘80s, here’s a Master Ace Surf in Grand Saloon (i.e. top-of-the-line) trim.

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The 1982-85 Carina GT-TR was basically a four-door Celica: same 1.8 litre DOHC turbo engine, same RWD drivetrain, just more space for rear passengers.

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The Crown of the post will be this lowered S130 “hardtop” saloon. Yakuza transportation for a fistful of yen! What’s not to like?

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A top-level X90 Chaser “Lordly” (1992-96) is always a cool find.

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I thought this might have been the JDM-only gen 1 Prius NHW10 (1997-2000), but the restyled rear lights indicate it’s the NHW11 (2000-03). Still, not a common sight nowadays.

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A couple of Coronas will now be submitted for your approval, starting with a T100 (1973-78) that’s seen better days…

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…and a shovel-nosed T40 (1964-70) that’s been restored back to perfection.

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I talked to the owner of this awesome Sports 800, mentioning how the angry growl of that engine really sounded like a Panhard to my ears. He said that Toyota took a lot of inspiration from the French firm to develop the Publica’s (and related Sports 800’s) air-cooled flat-twin, combined with a dash of VW: the pistons were near-identical to a Beetle engine.

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As we enter the Mazda (or Mazda-adjacent) chapter, let us bow our heads deeply. For the Autozam AZ-1 is very, very low to the ground. But high on my list of desirable kei cars.

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The rest will consist in RXs, I’m afraid. Not that they aren’t great cars, but I do wish there were more old Luces and Familias around.

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For once, the obligatory BBS were omitted here. Don’t worry, they’ll be back.

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There we go. The Wankel rotates the right way around again.

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There are some folks out there who so regret the passing of the ɛ̃fini brand (1991-96) that they will slap its logo on the back (but not the front) of a Mazda RX-8.

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Quick, follow that phone box! Mira Walkthru Vans are irresistible.

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Unfortunately, there were only two possible photos I could take of this lovely little 4th gen Hijet, which should be an early (1971-74) model with the 360cc engine.

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On the left, the immortal Daihatsu Midget II, a fairly common sight in these posts. On the right, the far more curious 2012-22 Mitsuoka Like T3, a Li-ion-battery-powered commercial trike that is designed to carry 100kg of cargo and two passengers at a maximum speed of 50kph.

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That’s the sort of Mitsuoka we’re (sort of) more used to seeing!

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A couple Subarus were worth a quick snap. That’s the most lowered SVX I’ve ever come across!

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Just a standard gen 2 (2002-08) Forester, sure. But check out those fender mirrors – even 20 years after they were last mandated and even on this type of car, you could order these oh-so-JDM accessories.

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As we seamlessly move on to the Nissan part of our tour, we find a 1st gen Cima (1988-91) also sporting those goofy appendages, though it looks a little less out of place on these.

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And on the Y30 Cedric, the fender mirrors look positively at home.

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Even more so in long-roof form, of course. This is a particularly fine Van Deluxe, the Y30 Wagon’s plain-Jane blue-collar cousin, in its full unrestored glory.

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Here’s its polar opposite: top-of-the-line, freshly re-sprayed, re-chromed and re-Dinocified with aftermarket wheels and door mirrors. Pick a side.

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Challenging lighting conditions and a crazy amount of rake made this 1975-79 Gloria 330 hardtop a bit underwhelming. But with the proper stance what a car.

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Another C110 Skyline “Kenmari” Coupé attempting to be a GT-R. Yawn.

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Much improved here, in my opinion. What was odd about this one was the badging, though…

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“240K GT”? What’s going on there? Might be a return migrant from the Land of Oz. Then again, it has an old license plate, to maybe the new owner just bought a set of emblems online…

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Very nice R31 hardtop, yet again in white. What happened in the ‘80s and ‘90s, did Nissan just run out of colour for their Skylines or what?

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See? Very nice R33 saloon, but I’m not sure you could order these in anything but shades of grey. Or silver, if you want to be pedantic about it.

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Laurels were, by the ‘80s, pretty much re-bodied Skylines, with an added touch of luxury. This C33 has thus far been mercifully spared by the drifter crowd.

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The 8th generation C35 Laurel (1997-2002) was the last of its kind. “Medalist” is such a weird name for a trim level, but Nissan used it for many years on the Laurel.

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Nice to find one in red, too.

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My first sighting of a 1988-94 gen1 Cefiro, folks! These are basically identical to the Skyline R32 / Leopard C31 and Laurel C33, though the nameplate went FWD for its second generation.

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The front end of that A31 Cefiro bears more than a little family resemblance with the S13 Silvia, doesn’t it?

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Only one Fairlady – a pre-Z one, at that – to report for this edition.

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Words can fail the most ardent CC writer on occasion.

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These old Presidents give out an austere Iron Curtain sort of vibe, don’t they? The Japanese Chaika…

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Failing to score a President, a more affordable take on the “Limousine” was to go full Homy. Lots of glass area, lots of curtains. If it’s rockin’, don’t come a-knockin’.

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The 2025 Batmobile exists, it’s currently in residence at the Nissan showroom in Ginza.

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I just hope, should Bruce Wayne take it out for a spin, that Nissan will reconsider calling it “Ass bE 4ORCE.” I’m not sure what it means, but I don’t think it sends the right message.

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Ah well, weirdo EVs be damned, we’ll always have the 510 Bluebird.

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The final Nissan will be this tired-looking 1st gen (1981-91) Atlas 100 truck. But we still have a few goodies in store.

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There are so many kei vans with weird kits. The Bukhanka one is perhaps my favourite. I’m just not sure what the truck is underneath – Suzuki, probably?

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Classic-looking bikes, like this Suzuki GN125 (1982-99), catch me eye from time to time. But it’s nothing compared to Japan’s more outrageous trucks…

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Please help, CComrades: I have no idea what this is. The tiny wheels and grille-less front end make me think of Toyota for some reason, but it’s a complete shot in the dark. Anyone have a clue?

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Something about this doesn’t work, either. The chassis, being RHD, must be Japanese – Isuzu, perhaps? But the Utilimaster brand is American, isn’t it? Puzzling.

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Now, with this one, the question is more: What’s it doing in Yoyogi Park? It’s a Komatsu KU50W Light Armoured Vehicle. These were made from 1997 to 2017 (this one is a 2010) exclusively for the Japanese “Self Defense Force.” Not sure what it’s self-defending here.

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A little Dekotora madness to close this looooong post. Pick one: the Isuzu “Screamin’ Yeller” or…

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…the Mitsubishi Custom “Stay Dream”? More of a nightmare, really. Imagine having to polish these things to a mirror finish, never mind driving them.

 

Anyway, see you tomorrow for some imports. TTFN.

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