Japanese Classic Car Show Mega Gallery

Every September the finest stock and modified Japanese cars come from all over America to Long Beach, California for the Japanese Classic Car Show. This year’s event was the largest ever with thousands of spectators filling the Queen Mary Events Park within sight of the historic cruise ship. Sponsors included Toyota, Mazda, Honda, Nissan and Yokohama.

Wheels, toys, collectibles, apparel and more were all available in the huge vendor area. We spent some time in the importavehicle.com booth. The company specializes in the legal and hassle-free importation of vehicles from Japan including Mazda RX-7s and Honda NSXs, but it’s best known as America’s premier dealer of Nissan Skyline GT-R R32, R33 and R34s.

One of the vehicles that put Subaru on the map was the quirky little pickup called the Brat. It was imported to America from 1978 to 1987. Dorin Farley brought out his 1986 Brat and it was a hit with the show crowd. But don’t look for the model’s signature bed-mounted jump seats, they were discontinued for liability reasons after the 1985 model year.

This second generation 1986 Mazda RX-7 is one of the most famous and successful race cars on display. Modified by tuner Racing Beat when new, the 500 horsepower rotary-powered sports car was driven by auto journalist Don Sherman to multiple land-speed records at the Bonneville Salt Flats with a top speed of 238.4 mph.

Mitsubishis were well represented at this year’s event, and Billy Diamsay’s black 1988 Starion was one of our favorites. Although restored, the car is an 80,000 mile original example. It’s also unmodified except for some additional chrome on the turbocharged 2.6-liter engine. Alongside is Lee Watson’s 1990 Mitsubishi Delica powered by a 2.5-liter turbo diesel.

The most significant and successful race car on display was in Mazda’s booth. At LeMans in 1989, this car finished ninth overall completing 365 laps, and then it went on to win two GTP class victories in Japan. However, this car, which is powered by a 630 horsepower three-rotor rotary engine, is best known for its “Charge” livery, with a color scheme that remains iconic almost 30 years later.

Matthew Tilden purchased this unrestored 1971 Land Cruiser from its original. It was sold new at Fann Toyota in Phoenix, AZ and still includes it original owner’s manual, jack, tool kit and factory cans of touch up paint for its Spring Green finish. On the right is Chris Millard’s beautiful 1972 open top Toyota Land Cruiser.

Imported to America and restored by JDM Legends, this 1972 Skyline wears GTR-R style front and rear over fenders, Rubber Soul front and rear spoilers and no hood so show goers could drool over its turbocharged RB25 inline six-cylinder engine from an R34 Skyline.  The wheels are 15-inch RS Watanabe R-Type which measure 10-inch wide in the rear.

Almost every generation of Nissan Skyline was represented at the Japanese Classic car show, including the R32 which was sold from 1989 to 1992. Although it’s not a GT-R, this modified 1992 example belongs to Lerry Liu and looks fantastic sitting on its oversized wheels and tires.  

A regular at JCCS and southern California events is this very yellow 1970 Datsun 240Z which once belonged to Yutaka Katayama, Nissan’s first U.S. president and the man credited with the creation of Nissan’s legendary Z car which remains in production today. Mr. K’s personal Z is easily identified by its modified front end with covered headlights and its wire wheels.

Just recently revealed to the world, the second generation of the Nissan LEAF electric vehicle made an appearance in Nissan’s booth. According to Nissan the new Leaf has 147 horsepower and it can travel up to 150 miles on a single charge. It will also have some autonomous capabilities. Prices start around $30,000.

In Honda’s booth was this beautiful and completely unmodified 1979 Accord Hatchback. The first generation of the Accord was much smaller than the tenth generation of the popular model which just went on sale. Sold from 1977 to 1981, it’s the car that started the Accord’s legendary reputation for reliability. In 1979 it was powered by a 1.6 liter four-cylinder engine making less than 100 hp.

Also in the Honda booth was a new 2017 Honda Civic Type R, the newest version of the brand’s legendary hot hatch. Powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine making 306 horsepower, the new Type R gets a 6-speed manual transmission, 20-inch wheels, Brembo brakes, a limited-slip differential and an adjustable suspension. Prices start around $35,000.

Toyota’s all-new 2018 Camry also made an appearance at JCCS. The sedan just hit the market with a starting price around $24,000, and it’s a looker with a sexy new shape. It’s available in 10 trim levels, including hybrids and versions powered by a big 3.5-liter V6, and Toyota has added desirable options including 19-inch wheels, paddle shifters and a red leather interior.

First generation Mazda Miatas are quickly gaining popularity and they were a big part of this year’s JCCS event, from all-original unmodified examples to Peter Rovea’s fully built and blue 1990 droptop. Every part of Peter’s Mazda has been improved, from is interior to its 1.6-liter engine and its suspension. The little roadster’s stance is perfect, and the Blackbird Fabworx rollbar is just cool.

This was the most unusual car at this year’s event. Patrick Nguyen Huu wanted a diesel electric hybrid second-generation Mazda RX-7 so he built one. The trunk is packed with a 25 kWh battery pack which powers a 400 horsepower DC electric motor. But there’s also a 60 hp diesel gas-turbine engine under the hood. Patrick says it can travel 300 miles on No. 2 diesel and 90 miles on electric.

We’re not really sure which is cooler, Chris Elliot’s classic Toyota pickup or the 1978 Kawasaki KZ400 Scrambler it was hauling.

Built and raced by Newport Beach, CA architect George Koteles from 1979-1982, this 1972 Mazda RX-3 is now owned by Mazda executive Robert Davis. Davis just completed a three-year restoration of the little coupe and used it to compete at the recent Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion.

Mazda’s first sports car was the Wankel rotary powered Cosmos Sport, first introduced in 1967. This particular white example was one of only two officially imported into the United States. It is now owned by Mazda and shows just 16,000 km on its odometer.

Clarion Builds will auction off this supercharged first-generation Acura NSX at the Barrett-Jackson auction in Las Vegas in late October. All proceeds will be donated to the American Red Cross.

Displayed by Gabe Toyota, a dealer in Long Beach, this modified Tacoma SR5 could be yours for $39,348. Mods included wheels and tires, a 3-inch lift and a TRD grill.

This classic fastback belongs to Ryan and Shaunde Romaine of Winchester, Ca. The car is stock except for its stance and it has only been driven 28,000 miles from new. Dig the Japanese license plate.

The third-generation Mazda RX-7 or FD as it’s known by aficionados is a performance legend and they’re become quite collectable when in good condition. This is one of the finest unmolested examples we’ve ever seen. Although the lightweight, twin-turbocharged 255 horsepower sports car lived a long life in other markets, it was only imported into the U.S. from 1993 to 1995.

Lloyd Letherman brought out his clean 1984 Toyota Land Cruiser. The FJ60 was the fourth-generation of Toyota’s SUV and it was sold in America from 1980-1989. Today they’re a big part of the red hot collectable SUV craze that also includes Ford Broncos and Chevy Blazers.

Having been in many magazines over the years Tod Kaneko’s heavily-modified and very orange 1973 Datsun 510 is a well-known hot rod in the hobby. Super Street magazine even called it the zenith of the species. You should see his 1972 Datsun 240Z.

Most people don’t know that Mazda once made a pickup. And even more forget that it was rotary powered just like its sports cars. This 1974 example is one of the finest in the world.

First-generation Mazda RX-7’s have gotten hot in the collector car market, and there were plenty of them to see at this year’s JCCS. One of the best was Frank and Kim Talon’s 1983 which is all-original, stock and has been driven just 42,000 miles.

This is the AE86 featured in the Sundance award-winning film, Grook. It was used for all scenes, including the stunts, which were done by the Corolla’s owner Yuri Ranum. The rear-wheel drive Corolla is modified with JDM bodywork, a limited slip differential and a tuned suspension including front coilovers and a big TRD swaybar. And you have to love the 85 86 license plate.

This February, Subaru will celebrate its 50th anniversary in the United States. And its first car was the tiny Subaru 360 with suicide doors and an air-cooled engine mounted in the rear. This fully restored 1969 example has to be the best 360 in the world thanks to the efforts of restorer Jay Ataka.

Here’s a unicorn. It’s Joseph Demeo’s perfectly preserved low mile all-wheel drive Celica. It’s completely stock down to its original paint and has only been driven 15,200 miles in the last 30 years. The car has had only two owners in its life and has to be one of the best examples of Toyota’s street legal rally car in the world.