Exploring JDM Classics at USS Tokyo Car Auctions.
The good old days are gone… or are they?
Before embarking on my journey, one of my friends told me, “You just don’t see old cars in Japan anymore,” which proved to be incorrect less than ten minutes after leaving the airport. No matter which era of car tickles your fancy, the culture is alive and well, and I spent the month of April trying to chase it all down.
On the first of the month, my friend and I went to a night meeting in the Kanto area. There were a few great kaido racers there, and I enjoyed getting to meet some new people while also catching up with other friends. Later that week, I went to the USS Tokyo Car Auctions with my friend Muneeb, who exports cars (@project_m_japan on Instagram). I’ve always wanted to go and see what it’s like to buy cars at auction. Nothing could have prepared me for just how many cars there were. Imagine the biggest Costco parking lot you’ve ever seen, double it, and then fill it with literally every car ever. As far as the eye could see, there seemed to be at least one of everything. Some cars that particularly caught my eye were a Nissan Skyline Kenmeri GT-R and a Toyota 2000GT.
The following weekend, I was invited to go for a mini daytime touring event with a huge selection of kaido racers. The sun was shining, and it was the perfect day to cruise along the highway with hundreds of custom cars and bikes. I appreciate when we get to have meetings in the daytime. The way that the sunlight hits the sparkle and showcases every intricate detail allows you to appreciate how much effort goes into building these cars.
The following weekend, my friend and I made the drive out to Nagano for the Nostalgic Car Show. This event is honestly one of my favourite trips from my time in Japan. Not only was it a beautiful drive there and back, but also seeing such a huge turnout of old-school cars and bikes of all types was really exciting. As always, it was great to talk to so many different people and learn about their cars.
I’m beyond grateful to my friend Mr. Kanamori for taking me to so many wonderful events. The memories that I’ve made, especially the ones from this month in particular, are some of the best in my life. I’ll always cherish these times.
