There’s not an SUV in sight in this busy Tokyo intersection circa 1984. Instead, it’s populated by Nissan Cedric and Toyota Crown taxis and a lone privately owned dark blue X60 Cresta lurking behind the bus. Nor are the delivery vehicles are SUV-shaped. Workers chose a practical Mazda Porter kei truck or various Toyota wagons to make their rounds. Today, the landscape further changes as even the city’s trademark neon signs, like the Columbia Records billboard, disappear. Other old school signs include the original Tokyo Metro “S” to indicate a subway entrance, and the S&B Foods sign. Now I’m in the mood for curry…. and sedans.
In my New England neighborhood, it’s ALL SUVs. Spring is just around the corner, but I was impatient and decided to drive my 300ZX into work. On the freeway they are all crossover SUVs. Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Tucson, Ford Escape, VW Tiguan, Audi Q5, Nissan Rogue, Chevy Equinox, Jeep Compass, it just goes on.
People used to commute in their sports cars to work. Drive that old Prelude, or that MX-3, or that Integra RS / LS / GS-R, or that Sentra SE-R, or that Eclipse GSX, or that Celica GT, or that Miata, or Maxima SE (4DSC); it just goes on. Not anymore.
Sorry, the topic of crossovers and how they’ve taken over stings me hard.
Love seeing these high-quality scans of film. They just have a certain warmth and feel to them that gets lost in digital shots.
Love me some sedans, as well.
80’s Wagons!