Some Cars From Japan

[GP403]

Yeah, so I've been away the past couple of weeks... 😀 Got back last Thursday. Here are some cars I snapped photos of. Most I didn't, but should have. Here's the bottom line though: There are like no American cars in Japan. I think I saw maybe 5 the entire time I was in Tokyo, 2 Chrysler 300's, the Pickup below, a Jeep, and a newer Mustang... oh and a '75-ish Suburban in the weeds somewhere in Kamakura I think.

Here's the pickup, just outside the East Exit at Shinjuku station: The thing looked like a Sherman tank compared to everything else...

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rippc/3706954964/" title="100_1730 by RippC, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2566/3706954964_19fb6a91f6.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="100_1730"></a>

Caught this guy admiring this newer Nissan Skyline GT-R... Near Kappabashi Dori. Sounded -nice- as he pulled off, too 😀

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rippc/3709152277/" title="100_1941 by RippC, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2562/3709152277_c9b806c590.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="100_1941"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rippc/3709040091/" title="101_0989 by RippC, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2659/3709040091_4c71631c74.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="101_0989"></a>

Not sure what model of "Smart" this is, but it was a "smart" car... maybe if we had ones that looked like this here we wouldn't be laughing at them 😀 Also near Kappabashi.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rippc/3709152667/" title="100_1942 by RippC, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3523/3709152667_96ae379542.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="100_1942"></a>

This little Subaru I just thought was cool... just because it was so damn small... Outside Ueno station.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rippc/3709959642/" title="100_1926 by RippC, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3420/3709959642_6209a7125a.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="100_1926"></a>

And the best one.. this VW micro-mini-bus in Enoshima. Maybe its not actually a VW, I dunno.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rippc/3728540408/" title="101_1804 by RippC, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3227/3728540408_de6dd67340.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="101_1804"></a>

Should have taken more car pics, I know. Lots of Toyota full-sized cars we don't get here, and a few makes I'd never seen before (Voxy?) and I even spotted an old British Mini rolling around.

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

Well, the Smart is a Smart roadster and was a bit of a sales flop, so it was discontinued. The van is a Kei car (all Kei cars have yellow plates), but I do not remember exactly who makes it. I want to say Subaru, but probably just because it reminds me of the Subaru 360 vans that were sold in the US by Malcom Bricklan in the late 60's/early 70's. It is more likely a Diahatsu of some sort. The Subaru almost looks like a Toyota IQ, but the design language in the grille is to old to be a IQ knock off, so I dunno. Then again, maybe. I do know that Toyota and Subaru are working on a new small sporty coupe project together (the Toyota will be called the AE-86! 🙂), so maybe this is another joint venture? The big Toyotas you saw were probably Toyota Crowns. It is the Toyota flagship model that is pretty much only sold in Japan.

*EDIT* The van is indeed a Subaru. It's a Subaru Sambar.

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

Also, the big mac daddy of all Toyotas in Japan is the Century. They tend to be driven by heads of state, captains of industry and higher ups in the Yakuza.

 

[Blake442]

I like this little Subaru Van... 8)

 

[Carsten]

Smart

One reason because of the Smart was a sales flop was , that it only had 75 hp ! Looks like a small fast car , but it kicked them with my 60 hp 1986 Nissan Cherry ( Datsun Pulsar ) from 0 to 60 , as in topspeed , too.
They had limited topspeed as far as i know , like the Smart fortwo has.
It lookes faster than it is... 😳
Another reason was the gearbox , some kind of automatic transmission , which made often problems....
Third reason , the engine... After about 50.000 miles , you can start waiting for , when it blows up !!! Many blown engines on all Smart cars...
Good thing : You can put in a motorbike engine and can have some serious fun

 

[CamaroAdam73]

What would you have done if you seen an all american Muscled out G-body cruising around? Or just an american muscle car in general 😛

 

[GP403]

What would you have done if you seen an all american Muscled out G-body cruising around? Or just an american muscle car in general 😛

Ha, probably try to get my picture taken next to it with a big thumbs up! 😀

Yeah, the van is a subaru conversion. I looked it up after I posted this. It's still damn cute, makes you want to go "awwww" like at a kitten or something.

The GT-R though kicked *ss, there were about 3 guys peering in the windows and nodding, and then he pulled off giving it some gas and got approvals from everyone...

I think I did spot one of those Toyota Century's, although I think it was an older one, not a limo version. Think Crown Vic or Cadillac.

And yes, there are ricers there although strangely enough I didn't see any of that until we got out of the city, and even then only a couple. Neither was really that bad....

 

[Furtrader]

Enough of the cars.
Did you get nice pics of beautiful Japanese women? :wink:

 

[beermonkey9417]

take a look @ this:
www.tradecarview.com
theres a bunch of used and new cars you can buy from japan, but you have to pay 1800 bucks to get them shipped to cali and then ya gotta go get em. theres some raelly nice 70's skylines and celicas on there that make me drool a lil. there was this one wagon that was soo a rat rod i forgot what it was cakked but it was a flat black wagon and it had white striping and white walls, frenched taillights and was t*ts!

 

[beermonkey9417]

good site huh? :lol: