History is filled with flops, but even some of the worst cars get a second chance at glory after some time has passed. There are owners who now love Chrysler K-cars, Pontiac Azteks, Trabants, and other forms of automotive awfulness. The important difference is that these owners aren’t the original ones who bought the cars when new. They’re younger, second or third owners who specifically sought out the supposedly bad cars, like automotive hipsters. And in hindsight they realize that people have been too harsh. After all, is a Honda del Sol really that bad compared to any number of modern crossovers?
Which once-derided Japanese car will make a comeback?
The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What’s your ultimate hashiriya build?“.
There’s no question that 80s and 90s performance cars look best as Shuto racers. Nigel‘s NSX, Brando‘s X90 Toyota Mark II, Tom Westmacott‘s FD RX-7, Taylor C.‘s triple threat of EG Civic SiR, R32 Skyline GT-R, and G35 would all be formidable opponents. We also love how Jacob B and Land Ark really delved into the world of Tokyo Xtreme Racer to build their Z32 and Aristo, respectively.
We were also pleasantly surprised by the out-of-the-box thinking that led to a number of non-Japanese cars, such as daniel‘s IKA Torino, Fred Langille‘s RB26 Tokyo Drift Mustang, streetspirit‘s 1969 Charger Daytona, and エーイダン‘s epic 1978 Firebird Trans-Am.
However, the build that transported us instantly to the Wangan was an A70 Supra that would be perfect for reeling in Wanderers. The winner this week was Jonathan P.:
Well, I believe the term hashiriya pretty much means “street racer”. This would mean several different racing environments which would call for different cars/setups. Which means that there’s no one ultimate hashiriya setup. A Wangan monster wouldn’t work as well running in a Touge race. Similarly, a drift missile might not be the best choice for a street drag (however rare those may or may not have been back in the day).
Anywho…let’s see what the old think tank can dream up real quick.I’m thinking and A70 Supra with aero to make it hug the pavement a little better. Painted in violet purple metallic with gold metallic piping along the body lines, twin turbos, lightened flywheel and pulleys. More than likely a bore over kit with cams. 300+ mm rear tires for grip, 275-ish mm fronts. 6 piston brakes up front, 4 pistons out back. For suspension, I’ll be honest, I’m thinking replacing the springs with airbags due to their really progressive rate. Polyurethane bushings and mounts to try and tighten up the suspension a smidgen more. For wheels I was thinking of going with Enkei 92’s or the classic Hayashis.
Omedetou, your comment has earned you a set of decals from the JNC Shop!
I am looking at the Nissan Rasheen and the Nissan Cube, they had potential. The Cube would be the ideal kind of vehicle for city running. Boxy spacious and to hell with aerodynamics. I can think of a future like in back to the future Citroen Taxi that flew, but with a Cube like autonomously driven car that is the future taxi of the world. Then the Rasheen, still wonder why they dont make anything like that anymore. Would be a nice nimble off road vehicle for the future and could compete with the likes of the Jimny and the incoming Chinese electric off roaders.
The Nissan Cube would make a *great* electric car for city dwellers!
Derided Japanese cars…that’s a tough one all in its own so best I can do are the ones that sunk into mediocrity or time forgot about.
I’m willing to wager the early model first gen Nissan Murano, Mazda 2 and rx-8 will gain quite a following someday soon though!
They’re the perfect cars for the next retro wave in fashion, especially the matte/anodized aluminium surfaces, that weird copper like hue you could get on the Murano just screams 2005-2015 retro aesthetics (an era I’d say peaked with Mumford & sons and the Graduation album by Kanye and ended with the emergence of rappers like Lil Peep and Juice WRLD).
As someone on the Gen Z / Millennial threshold I’m beginning to see the first signs of fashion from my teens returning, I mean we just had the y2k aesthetic making a comeback and scene/emo is on the rise so hipsterism will follow suit, throw in some beanies and a moustache tattoo on your index finger, a good artisan coffee and there’s a high maintenance super quirky sportscar or forgotten family mover waiting for you!
The Honda Z600 Sports Coupe … wait, they’ve already done it in the form of the Honda Z PA1 2wd or 4wd! These updated Z600s are now with some ’98s floating through the import scene via CAR FROM JAPAN. With modern amenities like AWD, PW, A/C, Turbos to go with the good mileage, I COULD see getting one … now, if I can only find one in orange with maroon racing stripes ….
Methinks the writer really needs to qualify – derided by whom?
If it’s USA, then perhaps the Subaru 360 (courtesy of Mr Nader who I heard never held a driver’s licence)?
It wasn’t derided downunder [i.e.; in Australia] (- although to be fair we only imported a tiny amount whereas USA imported over 10,000 of them courtesy of Mr.Bricklin)
Definitely a trick question!
Derided by journalists, customers, comedians, enthusiasts, anyone!
Datsun F-10, that was derided as an awesome pile of junk. If you can even find one now. And it’s cousin, the B-210 Honey Bee version, those would make future generations fall in love with bad design.
And how about for super future good time’s sake, the Honda Clarity and the Toyota Mirai, the first generation. Those are super duper stooper, and made fender skirts famous again. Add in the previous generation Prius Prime, like 2021, and you have a trifecta of bad style certain to make a comeback….and that prime has that moustache on the back end that will make the index finger of GenX’ers twitch uncontrollably.
Z’ers….
The Tercel name has been summoned!!!!!!!!!!
Honestly, nobody makes anything cheap and cheerful anymore. Toyota can make a killing making a barebones EV that people can afford. Slap a Tercel name on it since Gen Z is as 90s nostalgic as everyone here is for the 80s.
The base model doesn’t need self driving or all the fancy gizmos, just a steering wheel, gas and brake pedals, a Bluetooth stereo, and air conditioning. Add a funky upholstery pattern and kawaii bodywork and you have yourself a hot item.
If Toyota can get a semi-desirable base model landed at around $25k, the EV tax credit will cover $7500 of that. Break it down with say a 9% APR loan since most buyers won’t have ideal credit and you’re still below $300/mth, which is very attainable for a lot of young people.
I will have to +1 on the Nissan cube, and e-cube too. Truly derided by everyone, but it was leaps and bounds “better” than a Kia Soul (I hated those hamsters) and the Scion xB, I compared the cube with the xB during my pre-purchase trade studies, and the xB just felt like thin sheetmetal all around. The cube had nice solid “slam” of the doors, a quiet and comfortable interior, smooth ride, LOTS of legroom, and the SL package added a lot of nice luxuries. The rounded boxy look stays modern, and the big rear asymmetrical door says “unique.” Despite how my wife drives it, it still returns 31MPG average. The CVT has been criticized for being fragile, but (knock on wood) ours has been doing well for the past 15 years / 110k, about time for another fluid flush though. In our ownership I’ve replaced: ignition switch interlock, rear latch, serpentine belt, brakes / rotors, coils / plugs, an exhaust midsection (thank you New England salted winters), and fluids. I gave it a good paint correction and wax recently, and the paint still pops. Its resurrection would definitely do well as an EV; the aerodynamics aren’t optimal, but you’re only knocking off a few miles for something that tries to stand out from the crowd. If you think about it, 2014 was the last year of the cube; that makes it a classic.
The Honda Element sure was victim of finger pointing when it was new on the market, probably because of the similarities with the already failing Pontiac Astek?
Things got way better when Honda did away with the plastic sides, and a monochrome 2nd gen can be quite the looker!
A tiny bit smaller than the CR-V, front- or all-wheel drive with a K24 -but not a cool one-, itty-bitty rear doors that opened the wrong way with, get this, NO B-PILLAR! The rear seats folded to the sides, the floor was rubber in order to be cleaned with the garden hose, it kinda was the revival of the cheap compact pick-up truck, but not cheap, not pick-up trucked, and way before its time.
With the Hyundai Veracruz -more car, less pick-up- being a sales failure over here while we can see Ford Mavericks -more pick-up, less car- being way more popular than Honda’s Ridgeline -the OG modern pick-up truck-car-, there might just be a market for a new Element, a rugged family truckster smaller than the Ridge.
In the meantime, I always have a double-take when I see one for sales… Being a new-ish home owner and to wanting keep my daily driver clean and warrantied, the ruggedness and towing ability would be welcome.
Manual, with some deep-dish wheels, a good sounding exhaust…