Japanese Nostalgic Car

Japan is a land of unbelievably cool motoring culture, a place you can see cars you’d never in a million years see elsewhere. Sure, you have your standard hakosuka Skylines and funky kei jidosha, but there are other cars the Japanese just seem to gravitate towards, so much so that you don’t really see them anywhere else.

What’s the most Japanese non-Japanese car?

We’ve always like the platypus stylings of the Lotus Europa. But it wasn’t until our first New Year Meeting in Tokyo that we got rocked by more Europas in one spot than we’d ever seen in life, ever. Not only were they plentiful, but the Japanese had decked them out in uniquely Japanese tuning styles — slammed, big wings, and with deep barrels like SSRs or Hayashis. So awesome.

There are other cars Japanese are mysteriously drawn to. The Ford Mustang II even had a Tomica version, but you won’t find a ’65 fastback or ’70 Boss 302 in their lineup. The 1970-74 Plymouth Barracuda, third-generation Dodge Ram Van and Chevy Astro also qualify.

What say you, dear reader? As always, the most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a toy. Click through to see the winner of the last QotW, “What’s the greatest front-wheel-drive JNC?”  Continue reading →