The term “British Invasion” is usually used in reference to ‘60s pop groups making it in America (unless you live in the quarter of the globe that the British actually invaded, that is), but there was another type of invasion taking place in Tokyo recently: classic British cars. Cue my terrible Ed Sullivan impression: “And now, leizanjennelmen, for this evening’s big entertainment, a hundred-plus photo collection of the best things ever to come out of Coventry, Oxford, Abingdon, Crewe and Dagenham – The Brittles!”
We need to start this post with the requisite amount of Elan. Fortunately…
…Tokyo seems awash with these impossibly cute roadsters.
Europas have their fans too. A polarizing design, but one that still has potential. Just think: if you could fit an electric engine in the front and hollow out that rear deck, you could make a true rival to the Cybertruck. Same dodgy panel alignment, but much less visible rust.
But looming behind our two-seater plastic pickup is the real star of the Lotus crowd (for this post, at least)…
Esprits were out in force – and in spirit. As they should.
The smoothed-over later ones are more common, but don’t look as though Roger Moore would drive them off a pier. And that’s what one does with Esprits, right?
There we go! Two identical 1987 “Limited Edition” HC Turbos. Race those to Tokyo Bay. Last one in the drink’s a rotten egg.
Joking aside, these are two of a batch of 21 cars. They weren’t kidding when they stuck those “Limited Edition” decals.
“What’s with all the Morgans?” Asked no one, ever. Until today.
Burgundy works well on these. BRG is a bit cliché.
The license plate tells us this one is at least 25 years old. You’d never guess it, would you?
Finally, the famous three-wheeler! This incredible machine has a 70hp 2-litre S&S V-twin sitting out in the open, mated to a Mazda 5-speed.
Is it worth its own CC? Maybe. But maybe there are literally dozens of other cars ahead of the queue. Pick your battles.
Triumph roadsters aren’t my thing, but the TR2 is a legend in its own right.
Pretty wild camber on this Spitfire. Swing that axle!
As I said, Triumph roadsters leave me kinda cold, but a 1969 Vitesse is a whole different kettle of fish. Also a swing axle, but those Mk2s had a revised design that was able to keep the camber to a reasonable degree.
Somebody bought wisely. Not the usual choice for a sporty Mini, though it makes a nice change from all the fugazzi Coopers often seen in this country.
Most ADO16s seen hereabouts are of the VandenPlas variety, so catching a Wolseley-branded one was definitely out of the ordinary. Great colour, too.
There we go, that’s the one. Not seen much action lately, have we, Princess?
It’s time for us to have the talk. You know, about the birds and the Bs.
This one looks like a more recent US market import. Triple wipers, too!
Much better to opt for a very early model in BRG with wire wheels. Classic.
Quite a few little Frogeye Sprites putter about. Unamphibiously cute.
The Big Healey is a more serious proposition, of course. Stylish and impressive, but I’d still rather go for a Sprite, personally.
Jensen-Healeys I’m less keen on – it could have been a great-looking car if it had been launched a couple years earlier, but the 5mph bumpers really did it no favours. Not that they did favours to any car.
The overall impression, to me, is one of British roadster hodgepodge. Mix in styling cues and interior designs from Triumph, MG, Jaguar, Lotus and a touch of Fiat… All in all, it lacks personality.
Ye olde English Fordes are present in this country. Not in droves – some are literally kept under wraps…
Now this one was unexpected. Cortinas, yes. Old wagons, sure. But a Cortina wagon? Didn’t see it coming.
This one also took me by surprise. Why would you go out of your way to buy a British-built Honda as a Japanese person?
The cleanest Range Rover in the world – it’s official – has been found.
I found a nest of those, by the way. Or would that be a free range? One or two were worth a closer look…
This one was almost as clean as that other one. But the matte grey was not the best colour choice.
Kahn… KAHN? This is bound to incur someone’s wrath.
OK, here come the Jaaaaaaags. Lots of E-Types. Not that I’m complaining.
Sublime machines in all aspects – at least, in this two-seater Series 1 version.
Oooh, don’t that look nice in black…
I think that’s the V12 roadster I wrote up a few months back.
The V12s are less beautiful, of course. The dash remained mercifully unaffected – or arguably got even better, thanks to those toggle switches.
To balance the E-Types, here are a few Mark 2 saloons. This one’s a 2.4 litre, if the license plate is any indication.
A British market 3.8 litre saloon in beautiful condition – missing its rear spats, too, which made it look even better!
Not that it looks bad with the spats on, per se… The light green of this example looked pretty similar to the Daimler V8 250 I wrote up last December.
Daimler Sixes look right at home in Ginza. Uncharacteristically, this one was ordered new in Japan in RHD.
Who drives a DS420 in this day and age? Folks who can afford one, whose Cadillac Seville is being serviced and who like a bit of extra legroom, I guess. The ugly plastic bumpers make this a final series (1987-92) vehicle.
I followed this Corniche II as it wafted along on a lazy Sunday morning drive. The license plate (and the car) seem to indicate the driver is second to none.
When owning a Phantom VIII is just not enough to make you stand out of the crowd, you have to implement some pretty extreme measures. Now reflect on that.
First Spectre sighting. Yours for a mere $425k or thereabouts. Or you could just get an electric BMW… Or a nice house in the country…
That’s what a Rolls-Royce is, to me, and always will be. If that’s not flashy and luxurious enough for you, I don’t know what world you live in.
A well-preserved mid-‘70s Silver Shadow is all the Rolls you need. And it’s a lot cheaper than that Spectre.
I keep catching glances of this Bristol 400. It’s frustrating. Here’s the back end, this time. Never knew the backlight could be opened!
I finally found a Rapide that can be used for a future CC post. This one, being surplus to requirements (and white), will fit nicely right here.
I had to chase that one. Totally worth it. Aston Martin made just over 100 of these DB2 dropheads between 1950 and 1953. Best catch of the year so far? Maybe. Let’s see what the Frenchies can bring to the game…
The Renault 4 remains one of the most popular classic French cars here.
Alpine wheels do not an Alpine make, though. The engine is in the wrong place, for a start.
Are Smart cars French? Sort of. That’s where they’re built, at any rate. The Roadster, which shares the ForTwo’s rear-engined platform, was made from 2002 to 2007 in 43k units. Very few have made it here, but I’ve always had a soft spot for them.
The colour on this 2CV is known as “bleu celeste.” The sky was the limit.
The 2CV did change quite a bit over the years. The gray car is a ’59 model; the white one is about 25 years younger.
What a pity this Ami 8 wagon did not stop for a spell on the side of the road.
Just like all Volkswagen T1 Transporters, Japan seems to have hoovered up every roadworthy Citroën Type H in Europe…
Final Froggie: a stunner of a Series 2 (1987-93) Citroën BX. Those wheels, man…
A few tons of American steel to see us out, starting with this fine 1966 El Camino.
Pre-rubber bumper C3 Corvettes really look the part. Aside from this one, I caught a very nice ’71 coupé that might have its day on CC this year.
Don’t think that all classics are well-cared-for and kept in heated garages here. Finding a garage in central Tokyo large enough to house this beast would take some doing…
I keep finding these “Regals” in wagon form, but they were also imported as sedans. Maybe someday…
Superb condition for this Caddy…
…whereas this one has seen better days. Get well soon.
If you feel that the Toyota Century is just too common and the Maybach S560 is too expensive, there’s always a GM-based solution.
Classic full-size American vans are venerated here, but Chevy and Dodge are usually preferred. This time around, Ford get the upper hand.
No idea if these were sold here new. Stranger things have entered the Japanese market, though…
Mustangs are the most popular of all US Fords, but it’s the first Fox Mustang I’ve seen here.
First generation Mustangs have a tremendous following here, as they generally do the world over.
Minor mystery with that “23” plate – in Japanese, this is pronounced “Nee-San,” so obviously, the cars that usually have them are not Fords.
Just one Wagoneer was found over the past couple of months. A bit less than we’ve been used to, but this one was particularly well preserved.
Nearing the end here, so we’re going to have to get the F out of Dodge. A Viper would make for a capable (dis)mount…
I suppose a rather rough-looking ’67 Coronet would also be fine for this task. But I think we can do better.
Perhaps a 1972 Challenger would be the best. Certainly looks the part, doesn’t it?
See you tomorrow for the best of the rest!
It hit me just now glancing through your article and seeing those RR’s. Today, it really seems like RR has become this gaudy “look at me” piece that’s nothing more than a cry for attention whereas the older RR’s just seemed so subdued and classy. A more quite elegance that seemed to announce that you arrived in a powerful whisper. Then you have that chrome wrapped ugly thing that just screams and jumps up and down yelling look at me, I’ve arrived!
In a way, kind of like Cadillac. They used to be that quiet elegance back in the 40’s through 70’s. Then people started putting ugly grilles and gold adornments and fake convertible tops on them, making them gaudy. And now we have the Escalade which might as well be wrapped in chrome just like that RR.
Even at a British car show or a Lotus group, I see only a few old Elans and Europas. It’s all Elise and the derivatives. Must be getting old.
Stunning collection again, can I have the Citroen Ami please?
I’m going to put on my Geography teacher anorak “the best things ever to come out of Coventry, Oxford, Abingdon, Crewe and Dagenham” also Hethel, Malvern, Longbridge (maybe, depending where they were making ADO16 that week) West Bromwich, London, Bristol and Newport Pagnell.
Looking at the Wolseley and Vanden Plas always remind me of how shamelessly Volvo cribbed the front-end design of the 164.
A fantastic set of cars, as usual. Thanks!
So, what is that car left of the Bristol 400? A 6xx series Bristol ? – surely you photographed that one as well. Keeping it for a later CC?
Looking at all those guys with their backs turned to that silver E-type. They must be looking at the wrong car!
Tremendous photos!
Just amazing. Tokyo seems to have been a car spotter’s paradise in April! I didn’t comment yesterday; that was great too, but today!
I am just blown away by the sheer amount of marvellous cars you’ve found, and have noted details to recreate some in scale. I’ll be coming back here to check, you can be sure.
I don’t think the camber on that Spitfire can be right, surely? I don’t think I’ve seen a Mark 3 like that at rest.
The Rover 416: service at any Honda mechanic?
Those wheels on the BX are so cool! I haven;t seen that style before.
How’s the guy in the burgundy Morgan just about dislocating his neck to look at the Triumph GT6 he’s driving past?
That first Caddy sedan – I used to think Volvos were boxy, but those creases look almost sharp enough to cut yourself on. Shame about the second one; wonder what the wait is like for parts?
Those Esprits though. 21 made, you say – them you find two parked together!
Amazing. Oh, I’ve said that already, but…..
Great collection!
Some of my faves, bucket list cars and past loves – Minis, Triumphs, big Healeys and Jaaaag XK-E here. The HY Citroen, Sprite and Elan would be included in my dream garage.
One small thing: the Vitesse shown is a Mk1 with swing axles – the Mk2s introduced in October 1968 had reversed lower wishbone rear end with Rotoflex couplings (Elans had those, too) and therefore much safer handling. A new cylinder head increased power and a different grille, rear insert and faux Rostyle hubcaps were added to the exterior.
Wonderful and amazing selection. I have memories of most of the English and French models.
A friend owned a Citroen H Van for a while. Zoom in on the interior shot and look at the shift pattern. When they flipped the engine and transmission around they did not worry about the shift pattern. I think it would take me a very long time to adjust to. It is completely backwards from the Traction, first is to the right and back.
When I was at university in Waterloo Ontario (68 to 73) a student owned a Lotus Europa. The parking on campus was pay on entry but the exit was an automatic gate that was triggered by a sensor under the pavement as you approached the gate. The Lotus was low enough that he could drive to the exit gate from the outside and stick the nose of the car under the gate, far enough to trigger it to lift, and he could park free. I was surprised there was enough metal in the front of the Lotus to trigger the sensor.
Wonderful assortment as always thank you T87! Re the MGBs, I wonder if the tri-wiper one was originally a rubber-bumper version – the chrome bumpers fit but the bodywork around them doesn’t look right. That Cortina wagon’s a real beauty, but it’s an E-Type (with a/c) or Rangie for me.
Rhondas sold ok in Japan my BIL was spares manager at a Rover show here they brought in a lot of used exJDM Rovers to meet demand,, Greg Beacham sold a lot of refurbished MK2 Jags to Japan and gawd knows how many Minis made the voyage from NZ to Japan, Funny thing about those ADO16s a guy I know sold up and moved including what he wanted of a dozen cars he had laying around 2 ADO16s were put out by his fence and sold within a week one Austin and a Wolseley 1300, someone is snapping them up and the MM Minor for sale Ive been passing for months has gone finally.
Quite the eclection, as it were, Dr T.
I observe that Lotus Espirits will always sniff of kit-car to me, though the poor Europa sinks to the level of a kit-car that is not finished. (The Ami 8 is more a kit-car that fell apart and was re-assembled in no particular order, but at the result is mad enough to be fun). Your commentary on the Jensen Healy is just-so: perhaps a kit-car made from the duller bits of everyone else’s, to be thematically consistent.
My, isn’t that sweet n’ swoopy Bristol 400 a balm for eyes only just previously seared by that Rolls Royce Ghoul (or whatever you said it was)? I know they’re sort-of a kit-car from BMW, but they’re still very lovely things.