Maybe because Arizona isn't a very old state, as far as states go, and the population was fairly low until recent years, there aren't very many vintage Japanese cars floating around. I think most "drivers" that I see are along the line of Honda Civics or Toyota Cressidas, but for the most part cars here are either new, or old American cars. I wander around the state a lot taking photos and I don't think I've ever seen a Japanese car sitting in a yard rotting away. But, I do see tons of vintage American cars and a few European imports (and lots of VWs). I figured I'd post a few of the cooler examples I've found here in the off topic section...

An old Sunbeam in Jerome.



A couple more in Jerome







In Vicksburg





Williams



Miami





At an abandoned mine near Wickenburg



Phoenix



Flagstaff



This was in Ripley, CA along the AZ border (may be Japanese? though looks like a Pontiac or something)



And lots of boats...

















Just thought people might be interested! I can post more if desired...

Very cool pictures!

BTW, your "may be Japanese" car is a Mazda RX-3 (or 707, or whatever else they called non-rotary variants). So, it is. And it's actually a fairly desireable car too.

That Sunbeam Alpine in the top pic is a Series III, which is kind of an oddity among them, has the largest fins of any Alpines. I have a friend restoring one right now.

And that's an old Ford Popular in the mining shot photo, next to the '30s shell. Also kind of odd to find these days.

Lots of cool ish. Post more pictures!

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Wow! What a great set. Love those Polaroid / desert colors, and the toy camera blurred stuff looks tremendous too. A real series happening here.



Always an 'expert' somewhere - apologies. Alpines came with two fin types; I, II, and III (as per above fin), and IV and V (Minx-like fin as used same tail-light). So this could be a Series I, II or III. Though I've restored / worked on a range, I still cannot tell the difference between a II and a III. A I is easy as it has no A-pillar on the door.

Another Alpine on Polaroid, next to a Skyline this time, this one in Japan, and either a Series IV or V GT (as only IV or V had the no soft top option GT model I think):



See ya! Neko.

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The Black Cat - S800M Coupe.

Always an 'expert' somewhere - apologies. Alpines came with two fin types; I, II, and III (as per above fin), and IV and V (Minx-like fin as used same tail-light). So this could be a Series I, II or III. Though I've restored / worked on a range, I still cannot tell the difference between a II and a III. A I is easy as it has no A-pillar on the door.
quote]
Sorry then, I had been under the impression only the Series III had those fins.

Back into the corner for me.

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I would agree with this. I rarely see old japanese cars driving around on the street here.

a few more cars in AZ and CA...

Is that a Stout I see...?

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Michael - Collector of Toyotamobilia ~ www.toyotageek.com
Tomica Fan Club ~ www.tomicafanclub.com

Very cool photos. Im digging the Sunbeam & the old vicks.

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http://www.HistoricJ.com

Is it odd to see British cars like this there as well?

very interesting.
I also noticed no old subarus.
I wonder why...
They are roasters when engine is correct..
very hot drivers in the summer, even here in maine.
I found some outrageous flow problems in the chassis (cabin), as if to promote upside down. Couple that with EGR.. I think I would have snapped and beat my little sube to death with a cactus.

I could also guess that the thin metals and squishy suspension (dramatic as temp climbs) not desirable.

the engine is tougher than a beetles, and of course mexican beetles would be found, for the reason of being convenient manufacture.

I know a certain guy (user here) in Arizona who is contributing meaningfully to the ratio of J-tin per capita in the state. Hopefully he'll chime in here.

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http://minkara.carview.co.jp/u...file/

most of the older cars i see that are "collectible" are either american or british. old drivers are typically 1970's boats or VWs. AZ makes it kind of difficult to register here as anything 1966 and after has to pass emissions, and there aren't many japanese cars here that are older than that. and emission controls i don't think were much used until 69? so they have to be tuned really well.

part of the problem, too, i'm sure was that in 1967 phoenix only had like 400,000 people, so it didn't have the same car market as Orange County and LA, where most of the japanese cars seem to reside.

You guys are commenting on not having old JNC's? Well ish, up in the midwest, this is what happens even to American cars of the era.







As far as classics here go, if it's not a barn find, it's from another region.

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92 Honda Civic - 65 Ford F100 V8

Very nice pics. I am also in AZ and I never see old cars. Its a changed place, everything is new now.

I don't know, I was born and raised in Sierra Vista and all I grew up around were classics.

There are plenty of classics between Douglas and Tucson, most of them just don't come out daily if they're nice due to the horrible driving of others, but you'll see them cruising fridays and saturdays and some sunday mornings.

As for J-cars, Sierra Vista is full of Zs. Not a whole lot of really nicely built ones, but plenty none the less.

Damn, that Dodge Aspen is HURTING... and I thought the cars around the Northeast had rust. That's a bad hit.

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1987 Nissan "Datsun" S12 200sx XE notch
1988 Acura Da3 Integra RS
1981 Toyota Te72 Corolla
1983 Toyota Ae72 Corolla

yeah there do seem to be a lot of older cars, and lots of older japanese cars in southern AZ. douglas, bisbee and sierra vista seem to be crawling with them. part of it may be the emission standards in maricopa county, which are pretty strict. 1963 and newer have to pass emissions, unless you have classic car insurance, which has rules...

My family had the Plymouth Aspin a version of that nasty Dodge, we bought it new in 78 it was the main reason my parents never bough another Chysler product again. all it did was brake down all the time. As a matter of fact the the 74 Dodge Cornet wagon that my dad gave me out lasted the Aspin by 5 years or more.

I think you mean, Plymouth Volare... the Dodge Aspen's twin.

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1987 Nissan "Datsun" S12 200sx XE notch
1988 Acura Da3 Integra RS
1981 Toyota Te72 Corolla
1983 Toyota Ae72 Corolla

im from az as well. grew up near holbrook. i think i might be contributing to this thread soon!