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Curbside Classics Archives
Curbside Classics – Asian Brands Archive
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![(first posted 6/13/2011) The endless overuse of any given manufacturer’s styling “DNA” has finally subsided, but the reality is what it is: every maker tries to coddle and nurture […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/CC-29-019-800.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Curbside Classic: 1974 Datsun 610 – Datsun Takes A Bold New Direction: Down")
Curbside Classic: 1974 Datsun 610 – Datsun Takes A Bold New Direction: Down
Posted on June 8, 2025 | 80 Comments(first posted 6/13/2011) The endless overuse of any given manufacturer’s styling “DNA” has finally subsided, but the reality is what it is: every maker tries to coddle and nurture […] -
![(first posted 6/24/2013) Naming cars can be a difficult challenge. Some names are very unfitting; Ford’s Aspire, for example, was the exact opposite of anything ever aspired to. Another misnomer […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/IMG_2011.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Curbside Classic: 1994 Acura Legend – True Life: “I’m A Legend”")
Curbside Classic: 1994 Acura Legend – True Life: “I’m A Legend”
Posted on May 31, 2025 | 79 Comments(first posted 6/24/2013) Naming cars can be a difficult challenge. Some names are very unfitting; Ford’s Aspire, for example, was the exact opposite of anything ever aspired to. Another misnomer […] -
![(first posted 3/28/2016) If you want to know why Mitsubishi remains a major player in Australia despite being an also-ran in other markets, it helps to look at […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/mitsubishi-magna-elite-wagon-6.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Curbside Classic: 1989-91 Mitsubishi Magna Elite Wagon – A More-Than-Galant Effort")
Curbside Classic: 1989-91 Mitsubishi Magna Elite Wagon – A More-Than-Galant Effort
Posted on May 29, 2025 | 33 Comments(first posted 3/28/2016) If you want to know why Mitsubishi remains a major player in Australia despite being an also-ran in other markets, it helps to look at […] -
![It’s been a busy couple of weeks chez T87, so my time and energy could only be focussed on a single post, but it’s been a long time coming. I’ve […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/IMG_20201030_152154_edited.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Nissan Elgrand (Gen 2), Mitsubishi Delica D:5 & Toyota Alphard (Gen 3) – Three Atrocious Yet Extremely Popular JDM Luxury Minivans")
Nissan Elgrand (Gen 2), Mitsubishi Delica D:5 & Toyota Alphard (Gen 3) – Three Atrocious Yet Extremely Popular JDM Luxury Minivans
Posted on May 7, 2025 | 32 CommentsIt’s been a busy couple of weeks chez T87, so my time and energy could only be focussed on a single post, but it’s been a long time coming. I’ve […] -
![Years ago, a former manager had reintroduced an effective marketing phrase I had long forgotten from my ’80s childhood when she referred to the “Toyota jump”. Within the context of […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/a-terc.webp?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Curbside Classic: 1981 Toyota Corolla Tercel – Little Red Hawk")
Curbside Classic: 1981 Toyota Corolla Tercel – Little Red Hawk
Posted on May 6, 2025 | 16 CommentsYears ago, a former manager had reintroduced an effective marketing phrase I had long forgotten from my ’80s childhood when she referred to the “Toyota jump”. Within the context of […] -
![(first posted 5/3/2019) Toyota is often a cautious company, generally focused on maintaining their reputation for quality and reliability and avoiding costly mistakes and unnecessary risks. […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/toyota-rav4-6.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Curbside Classic: 1994-2000 Toyota RAV4 – Light Trail Blazer")
Curbside Classic: 1994-2000 Toyota RAV4 – Light Trail Blazer
Posted on May 4, 2025 | 28 Comments(first posted 5/3/2019) Toyota is often a cautious company, generally focused on maintaining their reputation for quality and reliability and avoiding costly mistakes and unnecessary risks. […] -
![The humble Nissan March has been a favorite target for many retro designs. Over the years Nissan has used the March as the basis for its own retro designs like […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/retromix.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "The Many Retro Faces of the Nissan March")
The Many Retro Faces of the Nissan March
Posted on April 29, 2025 | 9 CommentsThe humble Nissan March has been a favorite target for many retro designs. Over the years Nissan has used the March as the basis for its own retro designs like […] -
![(first posted 3/21/2019) The fourth and final generation Toyota Cressida was by no means an exciting car. Clean and innocuous-looking, it could be confused with just […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/1990-Toyota-Cressida-3.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Curbside Classics: 1986 & 1990 Toyota Cressida – The Ur-Lexus Or The Un-Lexus?")
Curbside Classics: 1986 & 1990 Toyota Cressida – The Ur-Lexus Or The Un-Lexus?
Posted on April 28, 2025 | 50 Comments(first posted 3/21/2019) The fourth and final generation Toyota Cressida was by no means an exciting car. Clean and innocuous-looking, it could be confused with just […] -
![(first posted 2/18/2012) Datsun pioneered the little Japanese truck in America; more correctly, they built their business on it. In the early sixties, their cars weren’t exactly quite […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/CC-49-038-800.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Curbside Classic: 1977 Datsun King Cab Pickup (620) – Yes, We Have Long Legs In America")
Curbside Classic: 1977 Datsun King Cab Pickup (620) – Yes, We Have Long Legs In America
Posted on April 26, 2025 | 52 Comments(first posted 2/18/2012) Datsun pioneered the little Japanese truck in America; more correctly, they built their business on it. In the early sixties, their cars weren’t exactly quite […] -
![(first posted 2/5/2019) Success came relatively easy for 1980s SUVs, since the vehicles formerly known as off-roaders suddenly found themselves in a booming market segment. As the editor […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/LF-1.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Curbside Classic: 1989 Mitsubishi Montero – An Off-Roader In A Grocery-Getter World")
Curbside Classic: 1989 Mitsubishi Montero – An Off-Roader In A Grocery-Getter World
Posted on April 26, 2025 | 45 Comments(first posted 2/5/2019) Success came relatively easy for 1980s SUVs, since the vehicles formerly known as off-roaders suddenly found themselves in a booming market segment. As the editor […] -
![(first posted 4/4/2013) Toyota is an interesting company. Sometimes, they’re comfortable being pioneers, as with their hybrid technology. But when it comes to their bread-and-butter cars, they lean to the […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/CC-176-168-900.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Curbside Classic: 1984 Toyota Corolla Diesel – Latecomer To The Diesel Party")
Curbside Classic: 1984 Toyota Corolla Diesel – Latecomer To The Diesel Party
Posted on April 24, 2025 | 71 Comments(first posted 4/4/2013) Toyota is an interesting company. Sometimes, they’re comfortable being pioneers, as with their hybrid technology. But when it comes to their bread-and-butter cars, they lean to the […] -
![(first posted 8/20/2013) The good old Toyota golden years, when the Corolla could still got one’s blood moving instead of inducing narcolepsy. If it wasn’t the legendary AE-86, or the […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/CC-87-038-800.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Curbside Classic: 1987 Toyota Corolla FX16 – When Corollas Still Induced Lust, Not Sleep")
Curbside Classic: 1987 Toyota Corolla FX16 – When Corollas Still Induced Lust, Not Sleep
Posted on April 18, 2025 | 101 Comments(first posted 8/20/2013) The good old Toyota golden years, when the Corolla could still got one’s blood moving instead of inducing narcolepsy. If it wasn’t the legendary AE-86, or the […] -
![(first posted 8/24/2013) The gen2 and gen3 Camrys are from the heart Toyota’s “fat” years, when seemingly no expense was spared to make them tower over the competition in terms […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/CC-91-001-800.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Curbside Classic Review: 1990 Toyota Camry LE V6 – Dripping With Fat")
Curbside Classic Review: 1990 Toyota Camry LE V6 – Dripping With Fat
Posted on April 16, 2025 | 93 Comments(first posted 8/24/2013) The gen2 and gen3 Camrys are from the heart Toyota’s “fat” years, when seemingly no expense was spared to make them tower over the competition in terms […] -
![(first posted 8/6/2013) As styling went aero in the Eighties, Nissan went the other way with its sharply drawn Pulsar NX coupe. Based on the sleepy but very popular 1st-gen […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/1st-Nissan-Sentra-sedan.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Curbside Classic: 1983-86 Nissan Pulsar NX – Staying Sharp in the Eighties")
Curbside Classic: 1983-86 Nissan Pulsar NX – Staying Sharp in the Eighties
Posted on April 15, 2025 | 109 Comments(first posted 8/6/2013) As styling went aero in the Eighties, Nissan went the other way with its sharply drawn Pulsar NX coupe. Based on the sleepy but very popular 1st-gen […] -
![(first posted 8/21/2013) So just how exactly does a car become the best selling one in America? In the only reliable way that one becomes number one in just about […]](https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/CC-27-026-800.jpg?resize=115%2C115&ssl=1 "Curbside Classic: 1986 Toyota Camry – Toyota Builds A Better Citation; Forever")
Curbside Classic: 1986 Toyota Camry – Toyota Builds A Better Citation; Forever
Posted on April 4, 2025 | 112 Comments(first posted 8/21/2013) So just how exactly does a car become the best selling one in America? In the only reliable way that one becomes number one in just about […]
