Great Doc on Japanese Classic Car racing and Restoration

[Kiwiboss]

This is a 45 minute Video well worth watching, classic car restoration and racing in Japan.

http://vimeo.com/58849310#at=0

Dale M

[zombie289]

Deleted from site :(

[TonyG]

Try this;
http://www.speedhunters.com/2013/02/auto-artisans-the-retro-car-kings/

[Kiwiboss]

Deleted from site :(

Was working? thanks TonyG. Dale M

[rogered]

Is there such a thing as a Japanese classic car?

[AMCO72]

Rogered........I dont think it would be wise to go along that path. There were lots of cars in that video that were not 'Japanese'. Whats more I think we can do restorations in NZ, certainly as good, if not better, and without a doubt cheaper, than these guys were doing.
And of course the two schools of thought....restore to original, or 'restore' and modify along the way. A bit like that Beecham outfit that specializes in 'improving' older model Jaguars..... argh......bang bang........

What we tend to forget is that Japan has had a 'classic car culture' for some time. Witness all the British vehicles that ended up there. I know my car dismantling friend Glenn, who I have written about in previous threads, has exported container loads of British stuff there, especially BMC. The Mini Cooper is much revered there.

Actually, I think Dale started this thread to try and 'kill-off' the Skoda thread, but most of us nut cases are still here and not in Siberia as he would like!!!!!!!!

[rogered]

The video is great, and there are a lot of grouse cars on there.
However i have yet to see (in my opinion) any thing come out of the geograhical are that i would ever call a classic.

What scares me more is the thought that we could have, in 40 years a classic GEELY or GREATWALL.
Worse, Can you imagine the SANGYONG club getting overall honours at elisile in the future.:o

[AMCO72]

Fortunately rogered, I will not be around to see such a thing........I would be 113 years OLD. There probably wont be any fuel to run these things on anyway, and they will all be static displays in some museum. But yes, perish the thought.

[Haga]

I can think of quite a few japanese classics and future classics. Early Zeds, Rxs, AE86, early EVOs, WRXs, GTRs etc.

Some of these vehicles values have increased ten fold in the last 10 years due to desirability.....and cult status.

We all know the term "classic" has different meanings to different people. I suppose personal definition is based on what you have and when you were born and got enthused about cars......and what people tell you!!

Oh well Im off out to the shed to look at my Japanese "classic", next to the English "classics"...next to the Ozzie "classics"......and then pop up town in my Japanese non classic......

PS: enjoyed the video.

[Steve Holmes]

Gee, call me crazy but I'm a big fan of several late '60s and early-mid '70s Japanese cars, especially some of the rear wheel drive coupes they produced. Much of it was never sold outside Japan, or if it was, in quite small numbers. Even some of the more widely available cars like the 240Z, 510, early rear wheel drive Celica's, Galants etc are nice looking, well proportioned cars, and in my opinion deserved to be considered classics. Also, some of the '60s Japanese prototype sports racing cars are stunning!

To my mind, as much as anything, what the Japanese car industry has brought to the world is build quality, which is something previously lacking from several more established car building countries.

[Kiwiboss]

Fortunately rogered, I will not be around to see such a thing........I would be 113 years OLD. There probably wont be any fuel to run these things on anyway, and they will all be static displays in some museum. But yes, perish the thought.

Yeah, that'd be rite, 113 years old and still driving your Trekka around, LOL

Dale M.

[Kiwiboss]

Gee, call me crazy but I'm a big fan of several late '60s and early-mid '70s Japanese cars, especially some of the rear wheel drive coupes they produced. Much of it was never sold outside Japan, or if it was, in quite small numbers. Even some of the more widely available cars like the 240Z, 510, early rear wheel drive Celica's, Galants etc are nice looking, well proportioned cars, and in my opinion deserved to be considered classics. Also, some of the '60s Japanese prototype sports racing cars are stunning!

To my mind, as much as anything, what the Japanese car industry has brought to the world is build quality, which is something previously lacking from several more established car building countries.

I just like the way they have the same issues as we and the rest of the world have when its comes to restoring and racing classic cars!! i did like seeing the Mk1 Cortina in the back ground on track though(probably had a DETT? or something motor in it)!! i also liked some of the garages with all the junk and parts in the back ground, just like some in NZ.

Great video i thought.

Dale M

[seaqnmac27]

Ok so Datsun 240Z, Toyota 2000GT and Mazda RX3 are NOT classic cars? sorry are not GREAT Classic Cars? Then what about the Honda S600 or the Prince Skyline or Datsun 510/1600 and that is just some of the late 60's early 70s classics, without going into the more modern classics. It is a little narrow minded just palm off of a certain countries cars without taking a closer look at what is underneath.

[seaqnmac27]

Then there is this.

http://www.earlydatsun.com/nissanr380II.html

[shellsport]

Ok so Datsun 240Z, Toyota 2000GT and Mazda RX3 are NOT classic cars? sorry are not GREAT Classic Cars? Then what about the Honda S600 or the Prince Skyline or Datsun 510/1600 and that is just some of the late 60's early 70s classics, without going into the more modern classics. It is a little narrow minded just palm off of a certain countries cars without taking a closer look at what is underneath.

Well said , no place for one eyed " Redneck " attitude here !

[AMCO72]

Boys, the title 'Classic Car' has been bandied around since Auntie fell off the tram. But there is a sure way to tell whether a car deserves to be called a Classic or not, and it doesnt matter whether it came from Australaia, Italy, Japan, or indeed Czechoslovakia!!!!!!

The vehicle in question is NOT a classic........unless IT LEAKS OIL.........

'Laughter is the best medicine, but if you are laughing without any reason......you need medicine'.

[John McKechnie]

.....and of course you know when your classic car needs oil, it does not drop any more on your nice concrete.

[Spgeti]

Was nice concrete, now soaked in oil......

[Steve Holmes]

Boys, the title 'Classic Car' has been bandied around since Auntie fell off the tram. But there is a sure way to tell whether a car deserves to be called a Classic or not, and it doesnt matter whether it came from Australaia, Italy, Japan, or indeed Czechoslovakia!!!!!!

The vehicle in question is NOT a classic........unless IT LEAKS OIL.........

'Laughter is the best medicine, but if you are laughing without any reason......you need medicine'.

I nominate this for 'post of the day!'

[John McKechnie]

Gerald- a Classic never dates.
Do you date?
If not then you are a Classic.

[seaqnmac27]

So does that make my Focus Diesel a classic car? At least temporarirly at least.

[nzeder]

Here is a little story for you - I am a bit younger than some on this forum at a guess having been born in the 70's but one of the matchbox toys I had a kid (still have it today and my kids play with it now) was a speedkings 240z and having spent a few years living in Singapore while under the age of 5 I guess Japanese cars where the normal and what I grew up with. Other match box toys I had and still have (again the kids play with them today) are the Mercedes C111 and Lamborghini Miura. However owning such cars as the C111 and Mirua are well outside of my salary/life style but a Datsun Z car is not - much like a Escort/MG/Jag is for some.

Anyway while in Paris on business earlier this year I was walking down The Avenue des Champs-Élysées and I spied some rare cars - some Merc's other very rare Japanese Classics.

So for you guys here are some pics I took on my cell phone - I have not resized all or uploaded them to my website so there are a few samples.

http://nzeder.net/blog/wp-content/gallery/parisvisit/toyota2000gt-1.jpg http://nzeder.net/blog/wp-content/gallery/parisvisit/toyota2000gt-2.jpg http://nzeder.net/blog/wp-content/gallery/parisvisit/toyota2000gt-3.jpg http://nzeder.net/blog/wp-content/gallery/parisvisit/toyota2000gt-4.jpg http://nzeder.net/blog/wp-content/gallery/parisvisit/toyota2000gt-5.jpg http://nzeder.net/blog/wp-content/gallery/parisvisit/toyota2000gt-6.jpg

[nzeder]

http://nzeder.net/blog/wp-content/gallery/parisvisit/toyotas800-1.jpg
http://nzeder.net/blog/wp-content/gallery/parisvisit/toyotas800-2.jpg
http://nzeder.net/blog/wp-content/gallery/parisvisit/toyotas800-3.jpg
http://nzeder.net/blog/wp-content/gallery/parisvisit/toyotas800-4.jpg

[nzeder]

Some non Japanese cars now - but very cool and classic just like the ones above.

http://nzeder.net/blog/wp-content/gallery/parisvisit/merc300sl1.jpg http://nzeder.net/blog/wp-content/gallery/parisvisit/merc300sl2.jpg http://nzeder.net/blog/wp-content/gallery/parisvisit/merc300sl3.jpg http://nzeder.net/blog/wp-content/gallery/parisvisit/merc300sl4.jpg http://nzeder.net/blog/wp-content/gallery/parisvisit/merc300sl5.jpg

[nzeder]

http://nzeder.net/blog/wp-content/gallery/parisvisit/mercc111-1.jpg http://nzeder.net/blog/wp-content/gallery/parisvisit/mercc111-2.jpg http://nzeder.net/blog/wp-content/gallery/parisvisit/mercc111-3.jpg http://nzeder.net/blog/wp-content/gallery/parisvisit/mercc111-4.jpg http://nzeder.net/blog/wp-content/gallery/parisvisit/mercc111-5.jpg http://nzeder.net/blog/wp-content/gallery/parisvisit/mercgl.jpg

Cheers
Mike Lucas

[nzeder]

For the Landcruiser Fans out there a FJ25
http://nzeder.net/blog/wp-content/gallery/parisvisit/toyotafj25-1.jpg
http://nzeder.net/blog/wp-content/gallery/parisvisit/toyotafj25-2.jpg
http://nzeder.net/blog/wp-content/gallery/parisvisit/toyotafj25-3.jpg

A tidy Corolla
http://nzeder.net/blog/wp-content/gallery/parisvisit/toyotaothers-4.jpg

That is all for now.
Cheers
Mike

[Steve Holmes]

The Toyota 2000GT has to be one of the best looking cars ever made. Was its designed inspired by the E Type?

[nzeder]

The 2000GT was a project that was done by Toyota and Yamaha. What is interesting for a Datsun Z guy like me is that before Toyota and Yamaha got together on this project - Nissan and Yamaha were working a project for the concept that was canned at the time but later taken up again with out Yamaha and the Fairlady Z/240z aka S30 (chassis code for what we know as the Datsun 240z - marketed in Japan as the Fairlady Z) came out of that. What is interesting is this earlier project between Nissan and Yamaha produced clay models that were similar to the Toyota 2000GT before Toyota and Yamaha came together.

[Spgeti]

I see today on Stuff that a 1967 Toyota 2000GT sold for $1.39 Million US.....!!!! to a collector in the States..wow