In 1918, the Japanese government passed a law under which car companies dual purpose- civil and military, will be eligible for a subsidy. Mitsubishi was the first to react, followed by Tokyo Ishikawajima Ship Building and Engineering, which launched the Wolseley A9 in 1922, and two years later the Wolseley CP. In 1929, the Sumida truck, the founder of the Isuzu brand, went on sale.
The very first Japanese retro car assembled on the assembly line was Mitsubishi Model A 1917 Fiat Tipo 3, however, the cost of the car turned out to be too high even for high-ranking officials, the products were inferior to European and American counterparts, so Mitsubishi also switched to the production of trucks in 1921.
After the earthquake in 1929, transportation to Tokyo stopped. On the basis of the Ford T, local craftsmen created 800 buses, and the Americans, seeing the prospects of a new market, began to open assembly plants in the country in 1925. Purely Japanese retro cars that period is a rarity.
It would seem that Ford, GM and Chrysler will sell their products and flood the country with cheap transport. It wasn't there! There was a war in the country - in 1931 the Japanese occupied Manchuria, in 1937 they took it into occupation eastern part China. The country needed powerful technology local production. And it's good that I needed it, but not for the Big Three - today the sale of retro cars from Japan in Russia is in full swing.
In 1937, the subsidy law was replaced by the Automotive industry. The government needed a continuous supply of vehicles for the army. The yen exchange rate was artificially collapsed and Ford, GM, Chrysler left Japan.
The green light was given to the production of buses and trucks for the transportation of manpower. Created by Mitsubishi in 1931, the diesel engine is put on the B46 bus, after a while a truck with a diesel engine appears. Just a year before, Kiichiro Toyoda travels to America to study its car industry and starts developing a car with gasoline engine. Life will dot Yo, the gasoline crisis will break out, Japanese retro cars will reach their contemporaries, mainly with diesel engines. But this is later, and now the government is encouraging the initiative of Toyoda Automatic Loom Works.
Japanese retro cars after the subsidy law
The first prototype of the all-wheel drive passenger car PX33 Mitsubishi built in 1933 for the military command. It has survived to this day, the company uses it for promotions. Toyota took advantage of the state order that turned up and was the first to master the mass production of cars.
The founder of the company of the same name Soichiro Honda in 1937 created devices for automated production piston rings and started them mass production. Newspapers called him an "industrial hero" and high-ranking military officers sent letters of thanks. Japanese vintage cars from 1937-1941 are quite common - in these years, the increase in production was 270%.
After the defeat in World War II, the country needed road transport to restore the economy. But there was no one to make Japanese retro cars: lack of materials, power outages... Automobile companies mastered the production of kitchen utensils and agricultural equipment. The Americans were ready to go to any lengths to slow down the development of Japanese industry. For example, supply your own damaged cars to create additional jobs. The number of dissatisfied people grew in the country, a serious crisis developed, accompanied by mass strikes. As a result, the restriction on production was removed, enterprises received benefits and low-interest loans, and the first automobile associations were founded.
Japanese cars with the beginning of the arms race
In 1950, the Korean War and the arms race began. The United States viewed Japan as an ally in the war against Soviet Union Therefore, trying to appease the government, they removed the occupation status from Japan and invested huge amounts of money in the economy. In 1954, the first car show opened in the country, which was attended by 550,000 spectators. Today, fewer people come to watch retro cars in Moscow!
In 1955, the People's Car program was announced. Companies have stepped up production. Wild competition has given collectors such Japanese retro cars as Suzulite from Suzuki, Subaru 360 from Fuji Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi 500 from Mitsubishi. Five years later, Toyo Kogyo creates the Mazda R360 coupe, another year later Toyota Publica conquers the hearts of drivers (officially Japanese retro Toyota car Publica began to be produced in 1961)
Some companies have chosen the path of cooperation with foreign partners. Nissan assembled the Austin A40 in 1953, Isuzu produced the Hillman until 1957, Mitsubishi produced a jeep in 1956, using ideas implemented in the American Willys.
However, Toyota and Nissan focused on manufacturing in the long run. own cars. In Japan, you can not find German retro cars manufactured in 55-58, but there are enough Toyota Toyopet Crown, Nissan Prince Skyline and Datsun Bluebird.
In 1962, Japan ranked 6th in the world in terms of car production, and in 1980 it came out on top. Today, Toyota accounts for 35% of all passenger cars in Japan, Nissan - 15%, Honda - 15%, Mitsubishi - 10%, Suzuki - 8.5%, Mazda - 8%.
The desire to stand out in the stream and express their own aesthetic preferences through the purchased car is completely normal for a motorist. There will always be those among us who love retro style. For a long time, automakers have understood this, and now retro fans have quite wide choose of interesting memorable patterns.
What can you buy now?
Chrysler PT Cruiser
Production: 2000-2010; USA, Austria.
It was the Chrysler concern, having thought hard about its future in the late 90s, that first decided to turn to its roots. Initially, to save the rapidly losing popularity of the Plymouth brand. In 1997, designer Brian Nesbitt introduced the Plymouth Pronto concept, which was already recognizable as the PT Cruiser.
During the ten-year production of the Chrysler PT Cruiser, outwardly it practically did not change and only “acquired” numerous special versions, including the mentioned GT and three-door convertible. In 2009, as we know, Chrysler entered into a global alliance with Fiat, and in new history there was no place for the second generation of the original vintage car. Anyway, for now.
Volkswagen Beetle
Production: 1997 - present; Germany, Mexico.
The new history of the old "Beetle" began in 1994, when the Concept One, created by American designers Jay Mays and Freeman Thomas, was shown at the Volkswagen stand at the international motor show in Detroit. The public was teased for a long time: in Geneva, they showed a convertible version of the concept, and then in Tokyo - a modified one. He got on the New Beetle conveyor in 1998, shortly after the release Volkswagen Golf IV, on whose platform the Beetle was built.
By the way, it is rather curious that within five years Volkswagen The New Beetle was produced in parallel with the original Beetle, which was assembled until 2003 at a plant in Puebla, Mexico. Of course, these cars cannot be compared, because the classic "Beetle" was a "people's" car, and its successor is a postmodern product for those who like to stand out.
1 / 5
2 / 5
3 / 5
4 / 5
5 / 5
As befits German car, New Beetle has many modifications - with front and all-wheel drive, with petrol and diesel engines. There were even "charged Beetles" with a 3.2-liter VR6 engine.
In 2011, the second generation New Beetle entered the market, which is often also called the A5 - by the way, it was “drawn” by the new chief designer Walter de Silva, who remained true to tradition. The car was made Volkswagen platform Golf VI, and in general is very good both in terms of design and driving characteristics. This is one of the few "retrostyle" models that can now be officially bought in Russia at a car dealership.
Fiat 500
Production: 2007 - present; Poland, Mexico.
Not only the Germans had their own Volks Auto, but the Italians too. From the late 50s to the mid 70s, the tiny Fiat 500 (Italian for "Cincuento") was incredibly popular in the land of pizza and spaghetti. Not surprisingly, Fiat decided to make some money by exploiting the memories of the public, and introduced the model in the urban hatch segment.
1 / 2
2 / 2
In 2004 on Geneva Motor Show journalists saw the concept of Fiat Trepiuno ("three plus one"), which was very reminiscent of the Italian legend. As a matter of fact, it also differed little from the serial Fiat 500, which entered the market in 2007.
The model, of course, did not become as massive as the original Cincuento, but the sales results are very good: in November 2012, the millionth copy rolled off the assembly line. The Italian retro-experiment is in danger of becoming more successful than the American one.
What is the danger of owning a car in retro style?
Absolutely any original car It's always a double-edged sword. Whether it's a vintage car or some rare endangered (or dead) marque like SAAB, Lancia, Plymouth or Triumph... At one end is the spotlight on the street and the satisfaction of owning unusual remedy movement. On the other - poor liquidity in the secondary market and the high cost of maintenance. Many spare parts (especially body parts) are simply not available, and they will have to be searched for in disassembly and online auctions.
Some prices for spare parts for Chrysler PT Cruiser, VW Beetle and Fiat 500
| Chrysler PT Cruiser | Volkswagen New Beetle | Fiat 500 | ||||
| Original | Analog | Original | Analog | Original | Analog | |
| Fender front right | 13800 | 1800-2300 | 17000-25000 | out of stock | 5000-6000 | 2000-2200 |
| Door rear left | out of stock | out of stock | out of stock | |||
| Fuel pump | out of stock | 7700-8500 | out of stock | 1800-2500 | out of stock | 7500-8700 |
| Clutch kit | out of stock | 9300-13100 | out of stock | 6900-7500 | 12600-15500 | 5600-7500 |
| Generator | out of stock | out of stock | 10000 | 15700-18700 | 5500-6600 | |
Retro as a brand philosophy
Above we considered specific models. But there are manufacturers who regularly release more and more new versions of their once very successful models.
Take, for example, Mini cars, which have not changed their basic proportions for many years.
Porsche's flagship 911 has been produced in the same style since 1963.
Well, Rolls-Royce is a real personification of conservatism. I think that few people imagine a car of this british brand without a massive “grill” and a bulky silhouette resembling a chest… But this is no longer retro-futurism and not nostalgia, this is a lifestyle.
What awaits us in the future?
Nissan IDx Freeflow
Production: probably from 2016; Japan.
IN last years Nissan prefers to make rather conservative and unemotional cars. New Teana, X-Trail and Qashqai are proof of this. The company of exception models, now represented only by the Juke, should get a new coupe in a couple of years, which was called the IDx Freeflow at the November Tokyo motor show.
1 / 3
2 / 3
3 / 3
Unexpectedly for everyone, Nissan decided to rethink the design of their compact clockwork "two-doors" of the 70s - Nissan Skyline GT-R and Datsun 510s round headlights and as if chopped off at a negative angle fore and aft. It is assumed that if the release is recognized as commercially viable, the car will receive the chassis from the Infiniti Q50 and will be released in 2016.
What else is on the American market?
Chevrolet SSR
Production: 2003-2006; USA.
As the legend goes, back in the summer of 1999, Vice President of the Design Center General Motors Wayne Cherry decided that the marque Chevrolet it's time get your own Halo vehicle, that is, a halo car that would remind you of glorious history American brand. Then he presented sketches of the Chevrolet SSR roadster pickup truck, made in the style of the 50s. Rumor has it that Wayne Cherry was "knocked out" by another retro-style devotee, Bob Lutz, who previously worked at Chrysler and became the ideological inspirer of the PT Cruiser.
1 / 2
2 / 2
One way or another, but the concept car was prepared in a shockingly short time - for the Detroit Motor Show in January 2000. It turned out to be more difficult to bring the model to mind: the retro bodies were put on an elongated platform from the Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT, a folding roof was designed and supplied with a 5.3-liter V8. By 2003, this explosive cocktail was ready for sale.
The car, of course, immediately gathered an army of fans ... and haters. Chevrolet SSR many times included in various "anti-charts" of the ugliest cars in the world, but still remained a highlight in the gloomy (in recent years) history of the American auto industry.
Chevrolet HHR
Production: 2005-2011; Mexico.
The abbreviation HHR stands for Heritage High Roof, which translated into Russian means "Heritage: High Roof." Now we would call such a car a crossover, but in the mid-2000s in America it was considered a station wagon. The heritage is mentioned here for a reason, because the Chevrolet HHR is a remake of the iconic model for the United States. Chevrolet Suburban 1947, with very similar optics and grille shape to the original.
To implement such a project, GM decided to invite the person who is best versed in turning the “well-forgotten old” into the new, that is, Brian Nesbitt, the same designer of the Chrysler PT Cruiser. The very successful GM Delta, which is known in America by Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac G5, and in Europe and Russia - according to Opel Astra and Opel Zafira.
Cars Japanese made appeared on the roads outside of Japan in the 1970s and immediately gained well-deserved popularity. Motorists were attracted not only by the price, but also by the traditionally high Japanese quality, interior performance and unique car design. In our review of 10 Japanese cars, released at different times and which have become a real "talk of the town."
1. Mazda MX 5 Miata
After exit Mazda MX 5 Miata to the market back in 1989, the car had a lot of detractors. The reason for this was a series technical shortcomings. However, the 1993 modification made it possible to correct the situation, and as a result the car became a real legend of the end of the 20th century.
2. Datsun 280Z
Perhaps there is no person who has not seen at least once Datsun car 280Z. This famous sports car with an unusual and memorable design was created by Nissan specifically for the European and American market in the 70s of the last century.
3. Acura NSX
Acura car NSX was produced by Honda in the late 80s of the last century, in the image and likeness of the Ferrari 328. For this Japanese company even had to conclude a deal with Italian partners on the transfer of rights to some technologies. As a result, Acura NSX was able to surpass the Italian in several areas at once.
4 Subaru WRX STI
Although Subaru WRX STI is quite difficult to classify as " sports cars», specifications machines say otherwise. Produced in the early 00s, the WRX STI did not become popular in its native Japan, but gained fame in the European market.
5. Toyota Supra Turbo
Cabriolet Toyota Supra Turbo was released to the market in 1995. Despite the fact that 20 years have passed, this car remains one of the best in its class. What is the 600 hp engine installed under the hood of this handsome man.
6 Honda S2000
Good example of Japanese sports car- Honda S2000 2001 release. Unlike most of its classmates, this car is not very popular abroad, while in Japan at the beginning of the 21st century it became a real hit.
7.Nissan GT-R
One of recent achievements Japanese car industry- This Nissan GT-R. The machine was released to the market in 2015. This car has impressive technical characteristics that will appeal to the most desperate thrill-seekers.
The Japanese are noticeable not only on automotive market and on the market high technology. rightfully make them legislators in this area.
In the endless bustle of weekdays, in a city where people get up before sunrise to get to work, and “lunch on the run” has become one of the options for serving dishes, we are steadily immersed in ourselves, completely and completely letting the wave of the frantic rhythm of the city overwhelm us with the head. Trying to “feel the breath” of life, to feel the pulse on our exhausted hand of the “megalopolis zombie”, we are constantly striving to learn something new, to discover a hitherto unfamiliar cuisine, country or art direction.
About 10 years ago, such a discovery for the “Russian soul” was Japanese culture, which found its distribution in the minds of a few, and Japanese cuisine, which conquered the stomachs (and hearts) of the entire population.
So, in my 15-minute lunch break, eating another portion of rolls seasoned with my favorite wasabi, I thought about how little we know about Japanese culture, which once and for all broke into our lives. Oh, nothing, sakura is not just a cherry, but a Japanese car is not just a synonym for reliability ...
The history of the automotive industry in the "Land of the Rising Sun" begins its calculation only from the beginning of the 20th century. In a country where the samurai endurance of postmen made carts the lot of the rich and emperors, where there were no minerals or fuel, the car "take root" with great difficulty. The first car whose wheel touched the ground of a Japanese island was the French Panar Lavassor.
Is it worth mentioning that now famous automakers from Japan were once engaged in building materials! It's from production building materials from cork in 1920, the history of the company Jujiro Matsuda - Mazda began.
The company got its name only in 1931 with the release of the first "car-like" three-wheeled vehicle. Mazda is the name of the Zoroastrian god of supreme light, which, moreover, was consonant with the name of the founder of the company.
- Welcome to Vladivostok - the most Russian city!
- What Russian? You have everything there Japanese cars they drive.
- Well, that's right! We made them Russian sentence which they could not refuse: either we, the Russians, drive their Japanese cars, or they, the Japanese, drive our Russians.
Indeed, Russian cities are filled with Japanese cars various brands and models. But how often do you see a Japanese retro car in our country? I'm sure many of you are surprised that such a term even exists.
Unique in its originality, the Wasabi Classics workshop does not just restore such cars, but literally resurrects and preserves the most unique of them. The company's goal is to immaculately give the car a pristine look "like from the assembly line." Some unique pieces are put up for sale, but most of them end up in the collection. The manager of Wasabi Classics, Roman, spoke about the history of the company's creation, its development and the most unique "automotive treasures".
Tell us about the history of the company? How did it all start? Why were Japanese vintage cars chosen?
The choice in favor of the Japanese automotive industry was made due to the great interest in the Japanese culture of the founder of the company. It all started with the restoration of several classic Japanese cars. Many years of experience gained in the course of work, knowledge of history and incredibly strong passion for their work not only of the founder, but also of the masters made it possible to assemble a unique and unique collection in Russia Mazda cars With rotary engine. The cars featured in the collection are "left-hand drive", with the exception of the Mazda Cosmo 110S, which has never been mass-produced with left-hand drive.
How do cars get to your workshop? What prevails: import of cars or purchase on the territory of the Russian Federation?
Each of the cars has its own unique history, unlike the others. But one thing unites them: all copies were actually imported by us into the territory of the Russian Federation, with the exception of Toyota Celica RA40 1981 release. The car found in Russia was in a deplorable state, broken body had a huge amount of rot and rust. This beautiful coupe has been completely restored with due attention to even the smallest detail.
What features do rotary retro cars from Japan have? What difficulties did you face during the restoration?
Despite the common belief about the unreliability and modest resource of cars with a rotary engine, cars with this type of engine are very simple and reliable in their structure. With proper care and Maintenance such engines can serve you faithfully for many years.
Probably, the main difficulties in the restoration are the numerous hidden centers of corrosion. In order to preserve a completely authentic look of the car, our craftsmen manually, using special equipment, like the “English wheel”, make parts to replace the rotten ones, completely repeating all factory stampings without exception. Often, cars lack "nameplates" or emblems. We recreate them on a 3D printer with the exact repetition of the font and pattern. We encountered an interesting problem when restoring the Celica RA40. A coin box was present on the center console from the factory, which subsequently sank into oblivion. Having tried many similar coins, it was decided to recreate this part on a 3D printer, relying only on its image. After the implementation of this idea, the layout was posted on the Internet, where it was found by another owner of an identical coupe from the opposite corner of Russia.
Which car is the most interesting for you? And the most difficult in the restoration?
Can't single out one specific car. For example, Mazda Cosmo is an incredibly beautiful Japanese sports car. The uniqueness of the car lies in its limited edition - a total of 1519 cars were produced. Our collection includes two such cars at once, which is a rarity even by international standards.
The Toyota Sports 800 is a fine example of classic sports cars from Japan. On this moment"this little one" is waiting for its turn for restoration. Its history is interesting in that, first of all, it is one of 300 mass-produced cars with a left-hand drive, moreover, one of 15 "left-hand drive" copies produced specifically for the island of Okinawa with right-hand traffic. The car belonged to an American officer, whose fate threw him into the notorious Vietnam. There the car migrated after its owner. He came to us already from sunny Hollywood. The second car S800 belonged to the director of the representative office Land Rover in the Congo. How magically this "baby" got to Africa in 1969 - history is silent.
What stages of restoration do cars go through?
- Vehicle inspection and troubleshooting
- Careful disassembly of the car to the screw
- Repair of the engine and attachments
- Sandblasting and powder coating of chassis and suspension elements
- Restoration work on the interior of the car
- Body treatment with soda
- Elimination of corrosion of the body, its restoration and painting (each car is handled by a single master manually)
- Anodizing aluminum parts
- Restoration of chrome coatings
- Production or restoration of all seals
- Polishing and preservation of paintwork
Restoration work on the car takes about half a year. Wasabi Classics provides a warranty for every car. Workshop equipped special system regulated air humidity and temperature to create the most suitable conditions for the long-term preservation of cars. Not a single car has seen the Moscow winter, but some of them have participated in numerous events, including the famous Bosch Klassik rally.
I hope this article will help to lift the veil of secrecy over such an unknown concept as the Japanese classic car.
We express our deep gratitude to Roman and the entire Wasabi Classics team for their help in preparing this article.
Rides a 3-Wheeler with a motorcycle two-liter V-engine, which effectively sticks out of the "muzzle". This unit has 83 forces and 140 Nm, and it works in tandem with five-speed gearbox transmission from Mazda. Do you remember how much a tricycle weighs? Then you should not be surprised that the unremarkable engine accelerates the Morgan to “hundreds” in just six seconds.
Fortunately, you don't have to spend a fortune to buy a unique 3-Wheeler: the car is in standard equipment costs about 26 thousand pounds sterling or about two million rubles. In the UK for the same amount you can buy Kia Sorento, but in Russia - Kia Mohave, but none of them look even half as cool as the Morgan.
Wiesmann GT MF4-CS
Things are very difficult for Wiesmann right now. Either she declares herself bankrupt, or she is looking for new investors and resumes the production of magnificent sports cars. And since the latest news about Wiesmann leaves hope for the company's survival, we have included the GT MF4-CS track coupe in our list.
