I'm finding it had to believe that I'm going to be back home in the USA in just over a month from now. The wife and I have been quite busy lately making arrangements for the move, and last weekend she had to go to Tokyo to take care of some stuff for her visa. Instead of staying home, I decided to tag along with my camera and wander the streets looking for cool cars while she was at her appointment. Since I would be around some of Tokyo's most fashionable areas like Daikanyama, Shibuya, and Harajuku, I was excited to see what sort of automotive finds I'd come across.
One of the first places I headed was the famous Shibuya Crossing, one of Tokyo's most recognizable spots and basically it's version of Times Square in New York. Besides the thousands of pedestrians crossing the intersection, I kept my eye out for interesting cars. In just a few minutes I spotted both the full normal (rare!) 180SX Type X in the opening shot, as well as this Mini Cooper racer complete with a roll cage and vintage number designs. Definitely a stylish ride for the packed streets of Shibuya…
Honda never made a Fit Type R, but this car is doing its best impression of one. Considering it's Japan's best selling car, there are tuned Fits all over the streets. They range from functional track machines to VIP style cruisers. Can't wait to talk more about Fits during Honda month!
How about this E32 BMW 7-Series sporting aggressive wheel fitment and an appropriate number plate? When I see cool cars like this, I wonder if 1980's luxury sedans are gonna be the next big thing. What do you think?
If you don't count taxi cabs and vans, there are almost literally more foreign cars than domestic cars in this part of Tokyo. This Ferrari 308 was just one of many Italian sports cars I saw cruise by in a short time.
Or maybe you prefer a more contemporary Ferrari design?
At first glance this might look like your standard Subaru Legacy Wagon, but it's actually the ultra-rare S402 model powered by the engine from the Impreza STI. The "402" designation comes from the number of these cars produced, just 402.
The kei Volkswagen bus conversion is pretty common, but here's one on a full-size van. Although there are some obvious differences between this and the original, I'm sure it passes as the real thing to most people. Note the white stripe on the side windows to make them look smaller.
One of these posts wouldn't complete without a proper R35 GT-R spotting.
And finally, a red Mustang GT gleaming in the afternoon sun outside Harajuku Station. A perfect match for this highly fashionable district…
I'll be back with more Tokyo car-spotting soon.
-Mike Garrett