Author Archives: Matt De Mangos
Tokyo Motor Show: Daihatsu brought the wrong Compagno
Daihatsu’s booth at the Tokyo Motor Show was the only one that had any sort of nostalgia factor. They even brought out a classic Midget and classic Compagno to sit prominently on stage beside the concepts they inspired. Unfortunately for the latter, … Continue reading
Posted in Tokyo Motor Show
Tagged compagno, daihatsu, DN Compagno, TMS 2017, tokyo motor show
9 Comments
VIDEO: The dying tradition of bosozoku
“The view was breathtaking, especially at night. The lights would just go on forever,” recalls Kazuhiro Hazuki, the 21st leader of Specter, one of Japan’s most famous bosozoku gangs. In its prime, the Chiba Soumei Rengo (alliance), of which Specter was a part, stretched … Continue reading
TUNE UP: Kujira Crowns in K-pop video
A couple of Kujira Crowns, both in wagon and sedan form, have popped up in the most unlikely of places — in a K-pop video. At first glance this may seem unusual because, according to the Toyota South Korea website, … Continue reading
NEWS: CA bill to allow fee payment instead of smog test introduced
Currently, California law states that your car must pass a smog test to be street legal if it is 1976 or newer. Unfortunately, that leaves a lot of classics un-registerable or sold for scrap during the Cash for Clunkers program. A new … Continue reading
EVENTS: Mitsubishi Netherlands’ 40th Anniversary Classic Car Tour
Today we are sharing an amazing story from Dutch forum member Marv666, who owns a 1983 Mitsubishi Galant GLX. Because of its condition, Marv666 was asked to participate in this event celebrating 40 years of Mitsubishi Netherlands, a older official presence history than the … Continue reading
CLASSIC CM: 1972 was a very good year, for Toyota
No matter your stage in life, the 1972 Toyota lineup has a car for you. Heading up to makeout point? You’ll get to first base at least in an E20 Corolla. Looking for a more sophisticated woman? The A20 Celica is your steed. … Continue reading
VIDEO: This is what a carbed Mitsubishi 2.6 sounds like
Mitsubishi‘s Astron 2.6-liter was one of the largest inline-fours motors available at the time of its production. It came in Fire Arrows, Sapporos, and even the Chrysler LeBaron, but in the case of this swapped 1974 Colt Galant GT, it is … Continue reading
300 brand new Mitsubishis were shipwrecked off the Canadaian coast in 1972
On March 14, 1972 the Vanlene freighter was engulfed by fog and ran into the so-called Graveyard of the Pacific, a treacherous area off the west coast of Vancouver Island. On board were 300 Dodge Colts, built by Mitsubishi, bound … Continue reading
VIDEO: This is what a Toyota car show looked like 30 years ago
30 years ago in Japan, a Toyota Sports Car Meeting was held. As you can see from the Zapruder-quality footage, it was a pretty significant affair: 1600GTs, 2000GTs, and Sports 800s of every color imaginable. According to yumejizo, who apparently filmed the … Continue reading
Old Tokyo photos oozing with Japanese nostalgic cars
We recently stumbled upon a thread of old Tokyo photos on the architecture site SkyscraperCity. Though the focus was the buildings, we came for the cars. Just look at these pictures and dream of being amongst these machines when they were still new.
THE ENGINE: HKS Mitsubishi Astron II twin-cam
Nissan had the OS Giken TC24 twin-cam conversion for its L-series motors. Toyota had its 151E 16-valver. Let’s not forget, however, that Mitsubishi had their own ridiculously expensive marvel of engineering, and it was built by none other than the … Continue reading
Ten years, 100,000km of Mitsubishi ownership
Back in 2010 Mitsubishi went around Japan looking for the most loyal members of the triple diamond clan. They sent journalist Hirohisa Kaneko across the country looking for individuals who had owned their Mitsubishis for either 10 years or 100,000km … Continue reading
Posted in mitsubishi
Tagged chariot, debonair, delica, dignity, gto, kei, lancer, minica, minicab, mitsubishi, montero, pajero, proudia
13 Comments
BUBBLE ERA EXCESS: 1984 Nissan Gloria Turbo Brougham VIP Super Selection Ⅱ
Since we’re talking about the greatest interiors this week here’s a rarely mentioned cabin that gives Mitsubishi’s plaid and Subaru’s bizarro asymmetry a run for their money. Behold the Bubble Era excess of the 1984 Nissan Gloria Turbo Brougham VIP … Continue reading
CLASSIC CM: Everything about the 610 Bluebird-U is just sex, sex, sex
What a difference two generations make. 1966 commercials for Nissan’s Bluebird, then of the 410 generation, capitalized on the car’s motorsports prowess at the Safari Rally. The 510‘s adverts were pretty tame as well, just a rundown of its design and … Continue reading
ART CORNER: Makoto Komori’s children’s book illustrations
Makoto Komori is a Japanese children’s book illustrator, and one of his favorite subjects happens to be 1960s nostalgic cars. He often incorporates them into his whimsical stories in which the vehicles, with eyes for headlights, find themselves on brilliantly … Continue reading
Posted in Art Corner, honda, mitsubishi, nissan, toyota
Tagged children's book, datsun, fairlady roadster, fj40, galant, honda, Makoto Komori, mitsubishi, n360, n600, nissan, s600, s800, sports 800, toyota
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KIDNEY, ANYONE? 19,000-mile Datsun 510 in rare factory black
Blame it on being too successful a race car, but it’s hard to find an unmolested Datsun 510 these days. Most owners seem intent on turning them into rat rods, BRE replicas or flat-out hoonmobiles with smog-exempt SR20s. To paraphrase … Continue reading
MOTORSPORT: The Reincarnation of Lady Blue
Anyone who grew up drooling over the Datsun Motorsports catalog knows the original Lady Blue. Going along with the topic of resurrection this week, it appears that she’s been reincarnated and the azure 1973 Datsun 610 spotted last Sunday.
Posted in motorsport, nissan
Tagged 610, B-Sedan, Balboa Datsun, Blue Lady, bluebird, Laguna Seca, nissan
20 Comments
