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Cars you didn't know existed until very recently.


philibusmo

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19 hours ago, angle said:

While searching for something else, I found a copy of a press release Toyota put out ahead of the 1977 Tokyo motor show. They displayed:

The Toyota F110, 'a luxury vehicle for the 1980s'. To maximise interior space it was designed with a short nose and long body, with asymmetrical sliding doors and no b-pillars. Allegedly a six seater with a hatchback, although I can't find a decent interior picture. 

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They also had the CAL-1, a 'utility sports coupe', a bit like a Celica-based El Camino with some speedboat mixed in. It had a teak paneled rear deck with a rumble seat, and the panels were removable to turn it into a pickup. Obviously. 

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And lastly, the 'all-aluminium body experimental vehicle'. I mean obviously it looks terrible, but it weighed 450kg and had a 547cc twin. 

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Shamelessly copied from my reply to a query in the B&W topic. It's a new one to me; the Sandal Auto 360 kei car from the mid to late 50's. Details are difficult to find, in fact there seems to be variations of the name - Japan Auto Sandal 360 seems to be it's 'Sunday' name.

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Auto Sandal. But there's also this -

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This is the same photo, in original B&W, but labelled 'Jama NJ' details of which are even harder to find.

'Sandal' here - https://jacques-leretrait.blogspot.com/2013/01/voitures-du-japon-aichi-machine.html

'Jama' here - http://theamazoeffect.blogspot.com/2012/01/kei-nation-introduction-history.html

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I've consulted the 'bible' on these things (Jeremy Risdon's Pomchi Press series, volume 4) and here's the answer: It's not an Auto Sandal, it's an NJ 54 (no mention of the 'Jama' name) with a 358cc rear-mounted air-cooled vee twin. Built by Nippon Jidosha Kogyo in 1953-54. approx 85 built, three survive. The chrome 'moustache' on the front was one of various different options you could buy to 'personalise' the car a little.

 

edit: just noticed the number plate is the make and model!

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13 hours ago, barrett said:

I've consulted the 'bible' on these things (Jeremy Risdon's Pomchi Press series, volume 4) and here's the answer: It's not an Auto Sandal, it's an NJ 54 (no mention of the 'Jama' name) with a 358cc rear-mounted air-cooled vee twin. Built by Nippon Jidosha Kogyo in 1953-54. approx 85 built, three survive. The chrome 'moustache' on the front was one of various different options you could buy to 'personalise' the car a little.

 

edit: just noticed the number plate is the make and model!

Thanks, it's a shame it's not called an Auto Sandal - it's such a Japanese name, implying it's use as a mechanised alternative to walking.

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Looks like our friend ticked the moustache box but skipped the bright windscreen surround; which would just be a tad to gaudy (particularly if that green was a genuine representation of it's colour).

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Did not know there was a 4 door RS2000 down under

Quote

The Australian RS2000 was built for two years only (1979/1980) at the Homebush plant in Sydney
Around 880 4-door cars were built with less than a dozen believed to be in the UK

https://www.silverstoneauctions.com/events/2020-auctions/race-retro-classic-competition-car-sale-2020/race-retro-classic-competition-car-sale-2020/classic-cars-saturday-22nd-february-2020/1979-ford-escort-rs2000-four-door

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2 hours ago, NorfolkNWeigh said:

I think some have been finished and registered since Saab went Tits up, even though they were never launched.

I can't find the link but I'm sure there was an article or Saab forum thread detailing the effort to road register and TuV the escaped estates. It wasn't easy lots of paperwork involved.

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Came across a site with loads of Jap car brochures. Got to be tons of tat we either didn't get to see or dissolved before they became etched in our memories. Serious rabbit hole warning.

http://www.en.japanclassic.ru/booklets

Daihatsu Naked anyone?

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How about a Honda N-Box

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Honda Quint?

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Toyota Allex

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There are loads. I'll leave you to explore

 

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12 hours ago, bunglebus said:

Came across a site with loads of Jap car brochures. Got to be tons of tat we either didn't get to see or dissolved before they became etched in our memories. Serious rabbit hole warning.

http://www.en.japanclassic.ru/booklets

Honda Quint?

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We got that in the UK, as the Honda Quintet. Also badged Rover Quintet in some markets, the first Ronda.

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On 11/7/2020 at 11:40 PM, bunglebus said:

Came across a site with loads of Jap car brochures. Got to be tons of tat we either didn't get to see or dissolved before they became etched in our memories. Serious rabbit hole warning.

http://www.en.japanclassic.ru/booklets

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Looks suspiciously like Sid James and Charles Hawtrey advertising the Suzuki Mighty Boy - which, to be fair, does have a bit of a Carry On ring to it. 

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