Celebrating its eighth annual event,
the Japanese Classic Car Show’s gathering of old-school classic resto “JDM”
mods and nostalgic show vehicles was once again held at the Queen Mary in Long
Beach, CA.
Coveted as the best Kyusha Shukoi,
which translates to “vintage car meeting" in North America, the event
continues to grow in attendance each year, as the 100-plus degree temperatures
didn’t dampen attendance or enthusiasm.
Toyopet
Crown
JCCS served as a melting pot for all things
automotive. It didn’t matter if they were from the ’60s, 70s, or ’80s, if they
were Hondas, Toyotas, Nissans, or if they were stock/original or full-on
custom. If it was a classic and a pre-’89 or older vehicle, chances are it was
at the show. Among the vehicles on display were the first Toyota sold in the
United States, a ’58 Toyopet Crown, ’65 Sports 800, Coronas, Starlets, and
plenty of Celicas, Cressidas, and Corollas fully restored, with many
retrofitted with newer- model engine swaps, including the more popular SR20DET,
FJ20, RB26DETT. There was even the occasional V-8 swap (bless their souls). For
enthusiasts who were looking for rarer vehicles, a ’69 Subaru 360, which
resembled a VW Beetle, was at the show alongside the brand-new BR-Z from the
dealer.
Datsun
510
The Hakosuka GT-R has remained the most
recognizable Skyline model among the tuner market, but the C110 Kenmeri made
“Skyline” a household name. The CJL10 Kenmeri gained popularity in the early
70s due to the famous Ken & Mary television commercials that gave the
fourth-gen Skyline its nickname. Diane Krey-Wesley of Ken & Mary, now a
high school teacher, made a special guest appearance at JCCS in celebration of
the 40th anniversary of the Kenmeri Skyline. Diane was on hand to sign autographs
as well as talk with fans about being an ordinary American girl who quickly
became the most recognizable face in Japan at the time.
Mazda
RX-7
Another surprise guest who drew a big crowd
was Hot Wheels designer Junk Mail. If you own a Hot Wheels, chances are he
designed it. Jun’s been responsible for creating the many car models,
including the AE86, Datsun 510, Hakosuka and Kenmeri Skylines, Mazda RX-7, Mad
Manga, and ’70 Celica. As a true car enthusiast, he also brought out his
ultra-clean, retro-inspired Datsun 510 wagon while he entertained the crowds
with signings and some exclusive vehicle sketches on paper.
If you missed out on this show, be sure to
visit www.iapaneseclassiccarshow.com for upcoming event dates, including
additional event coverage of JCCS at www.importtuner.com
