“One is reluctant to speak of ‘a man’s car’ in these liberated times, but the Supra is exactly that,” wrote Car and Driver in 1983 when they put the MA61 Celica Supra on their 10 Best list. “The pedal effort, the shift linkage, the steering, the throttle response, the ride motions are all masculine—not fake macho, but positive male essence.” Do with that what you will. Happy 6/1 Day from JNC!
Wow, that Foxbody Mustang has a really shitty body kit.
Incredibly neat cars wish trim bits were easier to get…
Awesome !!
C&D’s interpretation of just what is a manly car has me thinking; what is the Japanese counterpart, image wise, to American cars? When American movies (Jack Reacher, Sleepless, etc.) want to show a macho man, they usually use Chevelles, Chargers, Cutlass, etc., but what would be the Japanese equivalent of say, a Ford Mustang? The Manly Supra or the effeminate(?) Civic SiR?
That would make a great QotW!
The phrase “a man’s car,” was what caught my attention. I know in ’67, Mercury was “The Man’s Car” in their ads (might have run ’66-’68), and reading that line even a few years ago caught my attention, ’cause you just can’t say that anymore, much like a good portion of the dialogue on “All In The Family.”
I’d say the J-version of “The Man’s Car” would be the Supra, as above, one of the Datsun/Nissan Zs, a Nissan Skyline, Toyota Celsior/Lexus LS400 – one of the “less-sculpted” ones. Something that a Yakuza might drive.
It would not be a base Corolla, or a Mitsubishi Colt, and it would not be a stickered up/fart-canned FnF-type car.
Think Muscle, and low-key and smooth.
Goes to that “make you feel like a hero” reference I made way back. You know the feeling when you get in the car.
My 1988 Lotus Esprit Turbo uses this Supra’s tailights. By quantum leaps, the single most reliable thing about the car. Maybe the ONLY thing reliable about the car… ?
Let’s not forget to also mention happy KP61 day! ?