To celebrate Valentine’s Day, here’s a collection of red cars for your viewing pleasure. The theme is the early days of Japan’s post-war auto industry. Can you name them all? Happy Valentine’s Day from JNC!
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Oh man, that’s pretty tough. Top of the page looks like a Toyota Publica. The next one down is a Renault 4CV but no idea which Japanese brand rebadged those! After that it’s a Daihatsu Compagno, then a Subaru 360, Mazda R100. I recognise the next but couldn’t name it, the following car is a Honda N600, the one after that.., an early Crown? The next is I’m guessing a Prince Skyline, the second from last I have literally no idea, and the final car has an Isuzu vibe so… Bellet maybe?
Oh, I’ve just spotted the tags. To be honest those don’t really help me much, though maybe that second-from-last with old Citroen vibes is a Hino? Would love to know more about the “Renault 4CV”…
Ant, the one you think is a Crown is, I believe, a Nissan Bluebird.
Thanks George, my knowledge of Japanese cars that far back is pretty hazy…
The Renault was built under license by Hino. The Prince Skyline is a rare 4-cylinder model, as I was trying to stick with the not-racing, family car theme. After the Mazda is a Suzuki Fronte. That particular one was driven across Europe by Stirling Moss! Technically that’s a Honda N360, but close enough. As George L mentioned, the Crown is a 310-generation Bluebird, and the last two are a Mitsubishi Colt and a non-GT Isuzu Bellett (again, to keep with the theme). Good job!
Great, thanks! I should have probably guessed the Fronte, given it has “Suzuki” written on the side… interesting to hear about the Hino too, that one was entirely new to me.
Used to be a hobby of mine as a kid in Japan…tried by best to identify trim/detail level:
Toyota Publica Deluxe
Hino Renault 4CV
Daihatsu Compagno Berlinetta
Subaru 360, 360 Custom (bonus, Daihatsu Fellow Max, Mazda Luce, & Nissan Cedric behind)
Mazda R100
Suzuki Fronte SS 360
Honda N360 S
Datsun 312 Bluebird (export)
PMC Prince A150 (export)
Mitsubishi Colt 1000F
Isuzu Bellet