Japanese classics?

Looks like we're headed back to Japan, which got me thinking: What's the feeling on Japanese classics? And I'm thinking about the stuff rarely seen here like early Skyline GT-Rs, Isuzu Bellett 1600 GTR, Toyota Sports 800, etc.

All of the above, please .

Worthy of a cover feature IMHO. I was stationed in Japan from '80 to '82 and have fond memories of those '70's era cars. There was an intense rivalry between the Datsun/Toyota/Mazda guys in those days (think Ford/GM/Mopar). Datsun's Sunny (1200 here), SSS Bluebird (both the PL510 and PL610 version), Toyota's Celica and Carina in GTV , Sprinter Trueno and Levin 27 (TE27 Corolla based twin cam powered fun), Mazda's Savanna (RX-2 and RX-3), and Luce (RX-4) were all popular, fast, fun and cheap cars at that time. Good times indeed. Cheers, Scott

David,

Please, more Japanese content. I'm a subscriber to both JNC and Hemmings Sports and Exotic and would love to see what CM could do with cars from the far east. There has to be enough interest from the readers to warrant at least one Japanese car bit every month.

Any SSS car is Japanese classic. Also any Datsun/Toyota RHD. 198o for a cut off.

Do you need any help going to Japan?

Like!

http://www.japaneseclassiccarshow.com/

I'd be happy to go as your west coast liaison.

pete240z wrote: Do you need any help going to Japan?

Well, my wife has already called dibs.

David S. Wallens wrote:

pete240z wrote: Do you need any help going to Japan?

Well, my wife has already called dibs.

Okay then, but we expect a LOT of great pictures!

KaptKaos wrote: Like! http://www.japaneseclassiccarshow.com/ I'd be happy to go as your west coast liaison.

I went to the JCCS show this past September.

Except for the tool department @ Sears; this is as close to Heaven on earth that you can get........

There is a chance we may have a booth at the JCCS with some pretty rare and amazing cars displayed in it...

I will keep you posted.

Andy Reid wrote: There is a chance we may have a booth at the JCCS with some pretty rare and amazing cars displayed in it... I will keep you posted.

How about just buying JNC magazine? Keep CM for everything else vintage and that way all the Japanese stuff is in one book.

I agree with Jim Bob! Im just not in to the Japanese stuff...

Leo

Andy Reid wrote: There is a chance we may have a booth at the JCCS with some pretty rare and amazing cars displayed in it...

After attending the last show, I would challenge this statement as a lot of the cars brought were rare and amazing. Unless you can find one of those Datsun 240Z 432 versions.....

Well the 432 is a definite possibility as are one or two RHD 1970's GTR cars.

I am already making plans to go. I am pumped.

Leo Basile wrote: I agree with Jim Bob! Im just not in to the Japanese stuff... Leo

Same here, but I'm tired of all the British stuff. I subscribed to CM because of the promise that it would be diverse and not just all LBC articles. A bone once an issue would be nice.

If I'm not mistaken, the magazine that CM became was called "British Car". I think that CM should remain true to that heritage.

As having a 1979 Civic CVCC as a daily driver, I have to approve of this, lolol.

In reply to minivanman:

I believe they changed their name (and supposedly their format) to broaden their horizons (and market). I still see a very heavy lean towards the British market. In my world, they would display more Italian hardware, which is an order of magnitude more varied in available manufacturers, design studio specials and models.

First off I think CM should remain true to British Car as well as including Japanese Classics: At 48 I suspect I'm at what I call the transition age for Classic Cars. Having started riding motorcycles in the mid to late 70's Japanese bikes were the mainstream so it seemed natural that when transitioning to cars that they'd be Japanese as well.
Having owned and raced our Datsun 1200 25 years I can tell you the car has gone from being an old econo-box to a "Classic", these aren't my word but from folks at track days. If you want a glimpse into the Classic Car scene 10 years from now just look at bikes, sure there are plenty of Chiefs, Pan Heads Bonnevilles, Goldstars, 900SS Ducs, R90's etc but there are way more guys with Elsinores YZ's RD's, CB's, KZ's & TM's. As for JDM cars I'd love to see some of the hot micro cars like Honda City Bulldog Turbo etc. I think there were some really cool stuff in the 80's. A personal pick would be a Sunny Excellent (1200 with an L series engine). I'd also love to see Toyota Crown or other Japanese Luxo-Barge.

    Tom

In reply to minivanman:

Lots of Classic British Minivans to choose from eh?

Right. And in the words of John Cleese "now for something completely different..." Let's see some Japanese iron.

Especially as at least one poster in this thread is currently in the process of acquiring a classic Japanese car project .

In reply to David S. Wallens:

I'd be really interested in Japanese classics, but not just the really rare or expensive stuff. I'd like to see articles on cars like the Mazda RX's, old Celica's, Honda S series, Datsuns, cars we never got here, etc... I have a particular interest in Honda Civics and CRX's, but they still get pretty good coverage now. I'm trying to do a semi-legit restoration on my Civic now, and finding that many OEM parts are unobtanium. I wonder if that will change with time, as there are so many parts available for my '65 Mustang that I could build one from scratch.

If you are planning on also looking at so not-so-classic Japanese cars, I would suggest a trip to Puerto Rico, and check the racing scene there.

I've been pretty surprised of the '70's sedans I've seen down there.