I fell in love with an American the very moment I slipped in

[AlbertSiegel]

I fell in love with an American the very moment I slipped in the drivers seat. Sure.... she may not be mine... but I still love her.




This brings me to my question. Are there any old or odd cars like this in Japan made by a Japanese company?

[yellowlightman]

I fell in love with an American the very moment I slipped in the drivers seat. Sure.... she may not be mine... but I still love her.
This brings me to my question. Are there any old or odd cars like this in Japan made by a Japanese company?

I can't think of any Japanese equivalents to Shelby, most of my knowledge comes from the major makes.


Honda S800, inspiration for the newer S2000. Oddly enough Toyota made an S800 too, never knew that.


Toyota 2000GT, custom convertible version was made for the Bond movie that took place in Japan (Diamonds are Forever?)


Mazda Cosmo. First Japanese rotary engined car.


Datsun 1600

[Taro Toporific]

This brings me to my question. Are there any old or odd cars like this in Japan made by a Japanese company?

Pininfarina design Isuzu 117 coupe (1968)

http://www.isuzu.co.jp/museum/p_car/117coupe.html
http://homepages.ihug.com.au/~denny117/ccarticle/classiccararticle.html
http://homepages.ihug.com.au/~denny117/my117coupe/117.gif

Isuzu Turbo Piazza late 80s, also Pininfarina design

[Caustic Saint]

Toyota 2000GT, custom convertible version was made for the Bond movie that took place in Japan (Diamonds are Forever?)

You Only Live Twice

[yellowlightman]

Toyota 2000GT, custom convertible version was made for the Bond movie that took place in Japan (Diamonds are Forever?)

You Only Live Twice

That's the one. Oddly enough the 2000GT was first considered by Nissan for use as the 240z, the original design for the ar was done by an indepent firm. But Nissan turned it down because it was too expensive and Toyota bought it up. Not sure of the numbers in Japan, but only about 60 were ever imported to the U.S.

That 117 Coupe Taro posted looks a lot like the Alfa Romeo Junior Zagato. Both designed by Italians so I guess it makes sense.

[Taro Toporific]

That's the one. Oddly enough the 2000GT was first considered by Nissan for use as the 240z, the original design for the ar was done by an indepent firm. But Nissan turned it down because it was too expensive and Toyota bought it...
That 117 Coupe Taro posted looks a lot like the Alfa Romeo Junior Zagato.

Not only does the 117 Coupe look Italian, but it had all the body integrity of an Italian car (zero). Sorry to say, all these older Japanese cars are hell to restore, because the Japanese Shaken system made it foolish to own a car for more than 5 years. Old Japanese cars just not robust. I've done a frame-up restoration on a 240Z and a total rebuild on a Isuzu Turbo Piazza. Sheeeeee-it, I had to remachine, recast EVERYTHING 'cause the original frame and body was a PoS. I've been looking for a 117 Coupe for years, but none have survived the test of time.

[yellowlightman]

Not only does the 117 Coupe look Italian, but it had all the body integrity of an Italian car (zero). Sorry to say, all these older Japanese cars are hell to restore, because the Japanese Shaken system made it foolish to own a car for more than 5 years. Old Japanese cars just not robust. I've done a frame-up restoration on a 240Z and a total rebuild on a Isuzu Turbo Piazza. Sheeeeee-it, I had to remachine, recast EVERYTHING 'cause the original frame and body was a PoS. I've been looking for a 117 Coupe for years, but none have survived the test of time.

Hrmm.. I hadn't considered that, though I suppose it makes sense.But then again, I don't see a whole lot of classic American cars tolling around here (er, the US, not Japan) either. For the past couple of years I've really wanted to restore an old car, went from a VW Type 181 to an older Alfa, now I'm thinking older RX-series coupe, like an RX-3 but those are really rare here in California.

How much does it cost to keep old cars in Japan? People always mention the systems designed to get rid of older cars and get people to buy new ones, but I know it's not impossible to keep older cars. My jaw hit the floor while riding through Kyoto and I saw an immaculate 70's red Skyline, stuck out among the tons of newer cars.

[Taro Toporific]

How much does it cost to keep old cars in Japan? People always mention the systems designed to get rid of older cars and get people to buy new ones, but I know it's not impossible to keep older cars. .

The laws have just changed two years ago and it cost's A LOT less to keep an older car now. I pay about 28-50,000yen every couple years for the Shaken for my hotrod Benz. Before the change it averaged more than 150,000 yen. licence/Shaken my Turbo Isuzu. More expensive than back home in the States but it's cheaper than Europe now.

[yellowlightman]

The laws have just changed two years ago and it cost's A LOT less to keep an older car now. I pay about 28-50,000yen every couple years for the Shaken for my hotrod Benz. Before the change it averaged more than 150,000 yen. licence/Shaken my Turbo Isuzu. More expensive than back home in the States but it's cheaper than Europe now.

Any idea why that law changed? Sometthing to do with Japan's economic downturn?

BTW, mind if I ask what type of Benz you have?

[AlbertSiegel]

The Toyota is indeed a very good looking car. I really do like older cars best. I don't plan to ever buy a car made after the mid 80's unless it is a family car if I ever end up married. Still though, nothing after mid 80's for me. This Austin Healy Sprite is very nice:::




I do have an older benz that does not run anymore. I plan to fix it in the future. It's a 1967 280SL manual trans, blue with grey int, blue soft top, paint in near perfect shape. The hard top need work and lots of it. I will photograph the car and post it soon.

[AlbertSiegel]

OK... here are the photos of my dead benz:








And if you want to see the Cobra's engine: