How time flies! It’s time for yet another edition of the glimpses, glances, bits and pieces that were caught by yours truly around Tokyo (mostly) over the past couple of months. The furtive CCs were plentiful again, starting with this delicious little 1964-66 Honda S600 roadster, one of about 11,000 made.
As luck would have it, I also encountered this heavily-modded 1967 (according to the license plate) S800, with a fixed metal hardtop, alloys, etc. Despite the high-performance makeover, this Honda still looked remarkable. Tiny, growling and squat, like a miniature pitbull.
We saw this pink City Cabriolet from the back in the last T87 Singles edition. Caught it in traffic from the front, so here it is again.
Who can resist a nice Beat? This one was positively glowing. Guess you’d call it Beat Red.
Keeping it crimson for a spell with this stunning NSX. I wrote one up fairly recently, also in red, but this one was even more remarkable.
I’m not sure why I never got this one’s interior – can’t even recall if it was a manual or an automatic. But the backdrop and light made for a few nice pics.
I’m finding myself being attracted to these last-gen late ‘90s Preludes, for some reason. A gold-coloured one is even more eye-catching, even from the balcony!
Last Honda is a bit of a curveball: I believe this is a Monkey, but I wouldn’t be able to tell you more. Absolutely minuscule, utterly adorable.
This early model Daihatsu Atrai S80 (1986-94) is more street art than vehicle, at this point.
I’m no expert on these, but this sure looks like a Lancer Evo 1 (1992-94) to me. Not usually seen in black, but that colour looks good on almost anything.
Here’s something you really don’t see every day: a second-generation (2012-16) Mitsubishi Proudia. The first one (2000-2001) was a pure in-house design, but it was also a complete bomb. This one was a rebadged Nissan Fuga Y51, but as I understand it, even fewer were made than the first generation – i.e. about 500 units, probably all sold to Mitsubishi executives. This was the last RWD Mitsubishi, as far as I know.
Moving on to Mazda with this extensively modified series 1 (1978-85) RX-7. These are not nearly as common as the second and third gen RX-7s in present-day Tokyo traffic.
It’s a pity that this Mazda’s hood got sliced up like that, not to mention the wheels and all that. But just what the heck happened to that rear window?
OK, this might look like a Ford – well, it’s badged as one, anyway – but really, it’s as Japanese as a bonsai tree. It came off a Mazda assembly line, but instead of being called a Mazda Demio, it was sold by Ford of Japan as the Ford Festiva Mini Wagon from 1996 to 2003.
After this model, Ford changed tack and quit rebadging Mazdas on the JDM, focusing instead on importing American and European Fords. Still, I think this one belongs in this post, not in tomorrow’s foreign stuff…
I’m finding more and more of these Subaru 360s about. Some, like this one, are gathering dust, but a number can also be seen in traffic on occasion. Definitely the only kei car of that era to have such a following.
I’m not finding many truly classic Subarus – virtually none from the ‘70s / ‘80s, oddly enough. But there are tons of Imprezas and Legacys from the late ‘90s, like the one above. Trouble is “seeing” those: there are so many still around and they look so contemporary that they blend in. This one was tatty enough and painted in a classic ‘90s colour, so I took notice for once.
Mitsuokas, on the other hand, are impossible to ignore. I’m going to cool it on the Viewts, because those are just too common. A series 2 Ryoga (2001-04), though, is always a fun encounter.
Seeing two in two months might be cause for concern, on the other hand. These are somewhat disconcerting automobiles.
My first Mitsuoka post, back in 2016, featured a black Galue III that looked remarkably similar to this one. It’s a toss-up as to whether this one or the Ryoga is the weirder of the two, but the Galue III is certainly more massive.
My first encounter with the RAV-4-based Mitsuoka Buddy took place late last year and was communicated to the wider world, via CC, at once. These are very much still in production, having debuted in late 2020.
And again, two sightings took place. These are rare still – there can’t be more than a couple hundred in circulation. But somehow, they seem to find me.
This edition’s sole Isuzu is quite a hot little number! Feast your eyes on the 1990-93 Gemini Turbo Irmscher R, the last truly sporty Gemini and perhaps the last Isuzu worth collecting.
It has a 1.6 litre DOHC 4-cyl. sending 180hp via a 5-speed manual to all four wheels. And it’s as cool as anything Isuzu ever made under GM.
On the Suzuki front (but not Fronte, har har), there was room for another Cappuccino. Just like the Honda Beat seen earlier, these are not too rare, but a nicely preserved one in British Racing Green is worth a quick snap or three.
Although unfortunately it was too modified and hard to photograph (the interior was flat-out impossible) to get its own post, this Mighty Boy was certainly an unexpected sight.
Suzuki made these FWD kei pick-ups from 1983 to 1987, though this one’s square headlights make it a later (1985-87) model. Only a 31hp 550cc 3-cyl. under the hood, hence hauling is limited to 200kg, which is not that bad, really. Some of these migrated to Australia, too.
The end of March is traditionally when the sakura (cherry blossoms) come into bloom, which can make for some nice photos in the concrete jungle. Just wait for a Toyota Origin to waft by and snap, instant blossom bliss.
Not the exact same car, but close. Black really suits these.
However, second-generation MR2s (1989-99) do look the part in red. I was pleased with this pair of pictures, as I took them at dusk, yet they were decently sharp. It helps to be lucky, with this CC game.
Keeping it sporty, albeit FWD, with an unlicensed (but fine-looking) AE92 Corolla Levin GT-Z, with the supercharged 1.6 litre churning out 165hp.
A first generation (1985-89) Carina ED hardtop – and a genuine hardtop, at that! These are FWD though, so the drift crowd aren’t interested in them. Probably explains why I haven’t seen many of these around compared to Mark IIs and the like.
For example, this late ‘80s Cresta X80 Super Lucent – a Mark II clone. Just like the Carina, this one has seen better days.
No Mark II wagons in this edition, sorry to say. Would you take a couple S130 Crowns instead? Someone tried to stick some plastiwood on the side of this one. Didn’t look too bad, all things considered.
But this is how I like my S130 Crown wagons: quad-eyed, chrome-laden and pre-1991 facelift.
One of the best finds of the past couple of months: this seems like a first-generation (1972-74) Sprinter Trueno. That would mean this tall glass of O.J. has the Celica’s DOHC 1.6 mated to a 5-speed manual under its hood. Pity it was beyond reach…
Just couldn’t resist this twofer. “Suddenly, it’s 1998!” with a white Toyota Supra A80 (post-facelift) sat right behind an equally post-facelift and white Nissan Skyline (R33) GT-R saloon.
This R33 looks like an Autech-modified “40th Anniversary special” GT-R – part of the model’s final run in 1998. Pretty desirable, if you like R33 four-doors: 305hp twin turbo RB26 engine, manual transmission and AWD; 447 units were made.
On the other end of the Skyline spectrum, the only hatchback ever associated with the long-running nameplate: a rather tired-looking R30 GT Turbo EX Liftback.
Not sure how many badges this car came with originally, but there seems to be a lot on them. I’m really not too keen on this body style for a Skyline. Four-door? Yes. Coupe? Of course. Wagon? Why not. But leave the liftbacks to the Pulsars.
I went to Kyushu, Japan’s westernmost island, for the first time in April. Great trip for many reasons, except CC-wise. This R30 Skyline RS Turbo coupé, caught in Nagasaki, was the sole picture-worthy car of the trip. At least, it’s a nice palate-cleanser after that Liftback.
The B120 Sunny pickups of the month, again. Impressive how many of these are still out working for a living. Must be damn near impossible to kill.
On the other hand, I have yet to find one of these 3rd gen Caravans (1980-86) in a roadworthy state, strangely enough.
While we’re in the blue collar section, here’s one of the cleanest W10 Avenir Cargos I’ve ever seen. These replaced the Bluebird wagon from 1990 and lasted for a decade and a half. This one is pre-2000, but looks like it came off the assembly line last week.
An interesting one: the JDM Nissan S13 (1989-99) came in two flavours: the notchback/standard headlight Silvia and the fastback/pop-up headlight 180SX. This is a somewhat popular S13 bitza, it seems: Silvia front end grafted to an 180SX body.
We cannot broach the subject of Nissans without a few Cedric/Gloria Y30 wagons. Three to gawk at this time: a very tidy high-trim one, with woodgrain all around…
A far more basic (but very tidy) Gloria GL – no frills, less chrome, also very nice.
Finally, the blue-collar version with fender mirrors – as working vehicles in this country usually wear.
The Y31 Cedric/Gloria hardtop – jen-you-wine pillarless four-door, please note – has to be one of the coolest Nissans of the late ‘80s. Even vulgar BBS rims cannot spoil it totally.
I found one of these and wrote it up back in 2019, but very few sightings since then – these are now pretty uncommon cars.
There are still quite a few of these last-gen (1999-2004) Y34s about, which was sold in the US with the Infiniti badge. This is the sporty version of the Gloria with the turbocharged 3-litre V6. I need to write one of these up at some point…
And I also need to find and write up one of these A30 Glorias (1967-71). Caught this one at a Nissan dealership near my flat. These were designed by Prince but were the first to bear the Nissan name. These are really grand – prettier than the S50 Crown, more interesting than the 130 Cedric, classier than the Isuzu Florian. Perfect car to end this post on, then.
See you tomorrow for the imported stuff. Turns out the foreign cars were much more exciting than the local ones, for this edition. So don’t miss it!
Great collection this month. Interesting that only convertible was caught with the top down.
The rear treatment of that first generation Rx-7 is interesting. Someone wanted a notchback coupe? Comes off rather like that pop up to fixed head light conversions – a bit jarring.
That Isuzu Gemini Turbo Irmscher R is a quite a tasty little number.
The Suzuki Cappuccino is just about perfect. I looked at importing one a couple years ago and this would be exactly how I’d like it to be in that vaguely British Racing Green. Unfortunately the values spiked with them being eligible to import to the US as well so it never happened.
Another great tour. That Skyline liftback is very jarring; all kinds of wrong.
Yes, the A30 Gloria deserves a closer look. A jumble of US styling cues that manage to work reasonably well, although it’s hardly a stylistic gem.
Yes – mid 1960’s Rambler Classic around the greenhouse, Ford Galaxie and Fairlane in front, Mercury in back. Some GM sedans had rear windows with square corners at the top and rounded at the bottom like that.
God yes, that Skyline! They sold quite well here, a mystery, as I could never get over how bad they looked. Almost as if some bored kid with a thick texta had doodled a hatch onto some magazine ad.
It’s even more more peculiar because the sedan was rather a good-looking unit.
It got copied in South America on to those odd ball late Simca Vedettes too.
There was a similar fastback-to-notchback conversion for 3rd generation F-bodies. In fact, I think I remember it being a factory- or dealer-installed option on some Trans Ams.
There’s something very charming about that overgrown Atrai.
As far as I can tell from records, only 559 of the Fuga-based Proudia were sold, and 121 of its larger Cima-based Dignity sibling.
Appreciate the Festiva Mini Wagon. The only one of those Mazda-Fords I’ve ever seen in person is the Ford Freda, imported to the UK amongst the horde of Bongo Friendees when floods on them came over with all the Delica Space Gears, Pajeros, etc. The current used JDM MPV flooding Scottish roads is the 2002-10 E51 Nissan Elgrand, alongside some 1st-gen Alphards.
The 4-door R33 is gorgeous. Shame it’s underappreciated, much like the 4dr Integra Type R. I actually don’t hate the R30 liftback either, if it were only in better condition.
That blue S13 mashup is known as a Sileighty (Silvia front, 180SX back). The opposite, 180SX nose with Silvia body, is a Onevia.
As usual an excellent and interesting update!
Some great finds. That RX7’s rear window treatment must be reasonably popular, for some inscrutable reason, because some model kits even have it.
Speaking of models, Fujimi does a kit of the Sileighty. And the reverse conversion, popups on a coupe, is called a Onevia (of course!).
I’m wondering what a V6/V8 RWD Mitsubishi might have done for the company’s profile in Australia, though it might have come too late in the day…
Ah, that A30 Prince looks a lot like a Ford Fairlane or a Pontiac Bonneville of the mid 1960s with the stacked headlights, though it has a much more upright greenhouse than the Ford or Pontiac of that era.
That’s neat you’ve seen two Buddy’s – I’ve yet to see any here in our neck of Tokyo’s woods…
Oh, chin up, sir, I’m sure there’s some folk out there for you. Hell, we’re you’re buddys at CC, for one.
Oh! Capital “b”!
My apologies. Please disregard.
Great selection T87, and an enjoyable browse as always. Some thoughts:
Recently saw one of those late ’90s Preludes for the first time in years; I’d forgotten how much I liked their looks. Not so keen on the RX7’s rear window conversion though – I read a write-up on those kits somewhere, but can’t remember what the point was.
Is that the road marking paint reflecting in the lower rear flank of the gold Ryoga? It almost looks like an additional and not unwelcome styling crease. They pop up here as ex-JDM used imports of course, although I’ve yet to see a Buddy – one of the best looking conversions I think.
Seeing that gorgeous A80 Supra reminded me how good the styling was, especially compared with the disproportionate mess that is the current BMW-based Supra.
I see a line of Skylines upon the sky. Well, the white R33, and red and grey R30s you’ve pictured at any rate. R33 sedans are one of my all-time faves, and not because I used to own one. Autech versions, like the one pictured, have unique rear doors/guards not shared with any other R33. I know they’re awe-inspiring monsters with the RB26+AWD, but I can’t help but wonder if they still have the delightful delicacy and balance of the lesser-powered variants like my RB20 manual?
Oh dear, that R30 Liftback styling…!!! What were they thinking? Church acquaintances had an R30 estate (base diesel) through the 90s, it was almost as odd looking. How could the coupe/sedan look so good and the liftback/estate so not? Although the hatch was offered new in Australia, we across the ditch were thankfully sold C31 Laurel hardtops instead, a win for us. We then immediately lost when the hatches started showing up in the late 80s as used imports, but they’re all gone now, whew.
You probably know the Silvia/180SX blend is affectionately called the Sileighty, as opposed to the Onevia which had the pop-up lights front on the notchback. Plenty of other vehicular bitza blends in the ’90s Nissan world too! Like the Laufiro, Lauline, Skyrel, Lauvia… Not quite the Cedglo, as they’re pretty much the same. Love the Y31 hardtop – nearly bought a blue one some years ago, surprisingly it looked less angular in blue than in the black of this one. Would have loved a Y34 (with the JDM RHD dashboard, not the version inflicted upon LHD countries), but the time has passed and so have they.
Look forward to your next instalment!
Theres one of those A30 Nissan Glorias here that gets taken around shows bright turquoise paint and 43,000miles since new, its the best one Ive ever seen, I pulled the PA Vauxhall motor and gearbox from the worst one decades ago patchy assembly and keeping here.
Wow, some great finds there. On the RX-7 the flying-buttress style liftback replacement is popular in certain circles in Japan. They also get done to Supras and the like.
That R33 Autech GT-R is a great find. Two of my lottery win dream cars right there, same colour as I’d pick too.
We got a few R30 liftbacks here, but not many, haven’t seen one in decades. They’re just a bit odd really, all of the draw-backs of a wagon (noise etc) and only marginally more space…