Now that Automobile Council has somehow swayed a bunch of automakers into putting on a big show about their heritage and getting you all jazzed about living the classic motoring lifestyle, you’re going to need a Japanese nostalgic car. That’s why the show also had select top end dealers showing off their stock of vintage steel.
One of the biggest displays was by Mie Prefecture’s Vintage Miyata Motors. Its varied collection included three cars that all priced in the same range, starting with a 1970 Honda 1300 Coupe 9. The sleek, air-cooled two-door Honda showed just 76,400 km (about 47,500 miles) on the odometer and is claimed to have never been in an accident. Asking price: ¥3.5 million ($31,800 USD).
Almost as expensive but with a third of the horsepower and displacement was a 1969 Subaru 360 Young SS, the sportiest of the early rear-engined kei cars. The nostalgia factor of these in Japan is high, prompting the ¥2.8 million ($27,600 USD) asking price.
The next car was also similarly priced and yet could not be more different. Here we have a super clean FD Mazda RX-7 with a stick shift and only 25,000 km (15,500 miles). It was described as a one owner car, no accidents, and original paint. The asking price was ¥3.0 million ($27,300 USD).
Veering into wildly more expensive territory, he fervor for Showa Era Nissans shows no signs of abating. A 1975 Nissan Skyline GT-X ES with minor but desirable modifications — exhaust system, Hayashi Streets — and 115,000 km (71,500 miles) was asking a hefty ¥8.0 million ($72,700 USD). A real GT-R would trade for over double that.
Similarly, a 1973 Nissan Fairlady 240ZG in its trademark Grand Prix Maroon with upgraded suspension and brakes and 100,000 km (62,000 miles) on the clock was asking ¥7.8 million ($70,900).
Even non-Skyline and non-Z Nissans were asking significantly higher prices than they could fetch in the US. A 1964 Datsun Fairlady 1500, said to gone just 9,000 km (5,600 miles) after a frame-off restoration, was asking ¥4.5 million ($40,900 USD). If any of these caught your fancy, you could drive it home and immediately begin immersing yourself in nostalgic car life.
Fujii Engineering, a race car builder and restorer, showed off a rare Bertone-styled R130 Luce Rotary Coupe, the only front-drive rotary Mazda ever made.
Another group focused on Italian cars showed off one of the most curious Japanese-Italian collabs in JDM history. The 1997 Autech Stelvio was a Nissan specialty car designed by Zagato. Based on tweaked F31 Leopard running gear and chassis, the cars were shipped to Italy and rebodied. The styling was unique, with “cat ear” integrated fender mirrors and S13 headlights.
Lastly, there were retailers of high-end automotive collectibles as well. We’ve covered Kusaka Engineering‘s highly detailed Nissan inline-sixes before, but now they are paring them with highly detailed scale models of actual cars as well. The first was a Skyline R32 GT-R (in Calsonic Blue, of course), which cost ¥79,800 ($725 USD) and is completely sold out. By the looks of this prototype, a Fairlady Z432 will be next.
If you go to Automobile Council’s website, you are welcomed with the words:
Maybe you’re in love with an old car.
Maybe you’re searching for something different.
Even if your car is just a way to get around …
This eye-opening show is for you.
They are trying their best to grow the classic car hobby with the support of manufacturers. With the second year of Automobile Council completed, the show is growing at a good pace. Organizers have already said they will continue next year.
This concludes our Automobile Council 2017 coverage. In case you missed it, check out Automobile Council 2017, Part 01 and Part 02, as well as Automobile Council 2016.
Bonus Images:
San Mamiya is an illustrator whose work you can find on here on JNC, Instagram and BigCartel.
That Honda 1300 it completely new to me. What a good looking car.
If as you say it is air cooled, what is that reservoir on the right inner fender that appears to have a pressure cap and a hose connecting to the top of the head?
I believe it’s an oil cooler. Here’s another photo of the 1300 engine. A work of art, if you ask me.
http://japanesenostalgiccar.com/quick-pic-honda-1300-air-cooled-coolness/
RX-7 – price seems reasonable?
Nope, jumbo tail pipe and pizza cutter Hayashi wheels detract from that Kenmeri.
Notice Toyota’s absense from any enthusiasm for old models, it’s almost like they’re embarassed/?? Or has the company become full of those so foolish to believe that history is something to be ignored?
Eventually the new guard will get jobs and replace the older generation.
From what I have seen from the new generation is that they are VERY interested in the older cars. I think this day is coming soon for Toyota whether they like it or not.
There is a sense of pride amongst JNC enthusiasts no matter what we drive but us from the Toyota camp are a bit embarassed to admit about Toyota turning their back on us interested in their old cars.
#SaveTheDragons
#NewGenerationNewMindset
I’ve been looking for a Subaru 360 Young S for a few years, since the Young SS is so rare that they don’t come up for sale too often, if at all. And, then there’s the $27,600 part.. good grief.
Just a heads up – the Subaru “Super Sports” variant dropped the “360” from its name, making it just the “Subaru Young SS”. Same went for its sister vehicle, the Subaru Young S.