Oldschool cars

[Intensevil]

Does japan have many oldschool cars like aus does?

I know theres a few hakosuka's around and 1600's but what about the rx range (100,2,3,4) from mazda or ta22's etc. The only oldschool car's i've seen are mint stock cars or crazy arse looking cars like the vip cars, huge kits on them with massive spoilers etc

[Rezz]

They're almost exclusive to collectors or old people who bought them new... of course theres always someone who knows more about the ins and outs of the 'nostalgic' car scene, but as an everyday observer, oldskool cars are a rarity. I was VERY suprised to see a mint (and I mean mint) condition '70s Celica (TA22?) in Ashiya... perfectly standard and had plastic on the door trims! I believe it was twin cam too.

[DaiOni]

the thing with vip cars is that most of them aren't old school cars - they just look like they are (amazing that some of these dated styles are still in production, or recently were).

as rezz said there are very few old cars about. I'd say that old school car owners fall into three categories (generally speaking) - 1. collectors, 2. those who bought them new and, for whatever reason, never got rid of them (older people often fit this category) and 3. those who, for example, had such cars as their first car - and have re-purchased (or held onto them) for the sake of nostalgia.

Even poor people can afford what we would consider 'decent cars' (because even mid 90s cars are often given away because of having no resale value).

here's what I've seen (a few examples off the top of my head) -

* quite a few 80s corollas (surprise, surprise) - the only car, I can think of, from the mid-80s, that is still significantly popular

* a couple of series I-III (sa22) rx7s

* a mk.II supra (one of the HKS turbo versions, no less!)

* the occasional r31, and even rarer, the odd r30

* 1 or 2 prince skylines

* an early 70s rotary (was going too fast to conclusively identify - but was in very good nick)

* a toyota 2000gt

* an old school fairlady z

* an old prelude of some sort (a late 80s one, IIRC)

* lots of old american cars - many done up as lowriders - buicks, cadillacs, that sort of thing

* a lot of wedge shape (1st gen) magnas are still in use in taxi fleets (particularly in kyoto) - though they are badged 'galant', and, IIRC, have a 2L engine

[relicr31act]

a toyota 2000gt and they were driving it? do you have any idea what that car is worth? I can't believe that someone would drive such a valuable car on the road!! Oh well there are many things I can't believe in Japan!!

[DaiOni]

Yes, I do know what they are worth - I did a little research after I saw it - as I wasn't familiar with the history of the car. I actually thought it was a z car at first - but I was right behind it, so there is no doubt. They go for well over A$100k here. I see a much more expensive 360 modena all the time - so I guess it's all relative. The 360 is by no means rare or old, but it's sure as hell a weird car to see cruising by the rice paddies in the middle of nowhere.

This is another oddity I saw (just two weeks ago, rolling off the car ferry) - again, not rare, or old, but a sight to behold:

mitsuoka le-seyde

[DaiOni]

btw, was amazed to see how small the toyota was - which is what got me motivated in doing some reading about it

[Rezz]

Hehehe, Mitsuoka Le Seyde!!! Theres a dark green one running around Kobe... I agree, a sight to behold, but poor S15 Silvia donor car

[predator]

hey yeah! i can see the S15 in it now that I look.. one weird contraption.

Has anybody seen the movie the "League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" ?? - That is almost close..

[Intensevil]

by corrolas i assume ur talking about levin's and truenos right?

[Parag0n]

hachi roku

[Parag0n]

hachi roku's ?

[topi]

Mmmmm car of the gods.

[DaiOni]

here we go again...

[yukz2daizzo]

well what about this classic old cars, how come no one mentioned them?

[Intensevil]

hakosuka = gtr

[BANZAI]

There are a couple of good Japanese magazines for "Old School" cars. Old Timer and Nostalgic Hero are full of cars from the 1960s and 1970s. Mostly Japanese but also a some interesting English and European cars.

Nissan Japan also publishes a great little magazine for the Nissan, Datsun and Prince clubs in Japan. It is called Clublife. I haven't seen it on the counter at any Japanese Nissan dealers but I only discovered the mag in July. For guys in Japan it might be available on request.

I will probably going over to Japan next year for the 25th anniversary of the Datsun SR Owners Club. 100 or so Japanese owners of 1960s Datsun Fairlady convertibles and Silvia Coupes will be getting together for a weekend of car fun, probably including some track time at Fuji.

For old Datsun/Nissan action, look for Rose Auto. They now have about four branches around Japan, including Tokyo.

[yukz2daizzo]

hakosuka = gtr

oh sorry missed that part.