JDM Origins » Event Coverage

What Did You Miss at JCCS 2009?

Chacko Xiong — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 03:32:45 +0000

For many people in Irvine, California, October 3rd 2009 was just another sunny day in SoCal but for a few thousand fanatics it was a stroll through Japanese classic car heaven. Although St. Peter wasn’t there to greet the crowd, we did come face-to-face with Joji Luz’s smiley yellow #5 Celica at the front gates.

Now if you are not familiar with the Joji Luz and his Celica, might we remind you that it is the oldest known production Celica this side of the Pacific. How fittingly then that it was there to greet everyone. Right along side of it was an early R100, one of the first few models that Mazda shipped over.

After that it was pretty much a blur of ecstasy. There were Honda N600’s that were so clean, if it was put next to your mother’s fine silverware, she would surely be ashamed. A couple of the custom-chopped CRX’s were also on display. These were some of the original few hundred standard CRX’s which were chopped by R. Straman Co. of Costa Mesa, California in the early 80’s.

We could only imagine how quickly we would bury the needle with the updated Silvia motor.

On the Nissan/Datsun block, the SR-swapped Sports Roadsters definitely stole the show. In one of our favorites, a red-top S15 SR20DET was shoe-horned into the sub-2000lb roadster chassis. Considering the factory 2-liter naturally aspirated and carburated motor could already take it over 100mph, we could only imagine how quickly we would bury the needle with the updated Silvia motor.

Across the aisle from the Sports Roadsters were a impressive line dance of the Z-series Fairlady’s. Many of them with more curves and dressed in wheels with fatter lips than Angelina Jolie.

Although there aren’t many Mitsubishi’s that are considered classics yet, next to the line-up of Mitsubishi Starions there were even a few Dodge/Plymouth badged Mitsu’s on the prowl. One of them was an exceptional Plymouth Arrow GT, better known as the Mitsubishi Celeste in Japan.

Although there weren’t as many spectators going far back into the field, most likely because Sevenstock was just the weekend before, Mazda really brought out the big toys. Many people don’t realize the heritage of Mazda’s racing programs both over seas and here in the States.

Down further from the Mazda’s were a “Ken and Mary” Skyline and it’s older brother the Box Skyline. Both very rare to find in pristine condition let alone any condition in the United States.

Toyota spared no expense bringing along not one or two, but THREE 2000GT’s.

In the rest of the Toyota camp there were also some very well equipped Toyota Corolla’s ranging from the TE series to the later AE series. In addition some spectacular Celica’s and Supra’s, one of which was stuffed with a Cobra V8. Close by three generations of the Cressida came in sedans and wagons.

We know most of you are here for the pictures and quite frankly we’re surprised you even made it this far. We definitely saved the best for last though. At JCCS this year, Toyota brought out their trailer and spare no expense bringing along not one or two, but THREE 2000GT’s.

That ends our tour of the 5th Annual Japanese Classic Car Show. For those who weren’t there, you all definitely missed one hell of a show. We’ll keep you posted as soon as the official list of awards gets released.

List of Awards and Winners:
5th Annual Japanese Classic Car Show – Irvine, CA – Oct. 3rd 2009

BEST OF JCCS
1st Place Kyle Ranauro
DATSUN/NISSAN 1959 1000 988cc
2nd Place Glenn Roberts
MAZDA 1967 COSMO SPORT 4M 2.6L
3rd Place Arnel ilog
MAZDA 1972 Rx-3 13brew Turbo

BEST JDM
1st Place Paul Bischoff
DATSUN/NISSAN 1971 Skyline rb25de
2nd Place Mikey Castillo
DATSUN/NISSAN 1971 Skyline L28
3rd Place Oliver Dienzo
TOYOTA 1972 Corolla 2tg

THE OLDEST JCCS
Frenchy Dehoux
TOYOTA 1958 CROWN 3RC

THE FARTHEST DRIVEN
Robert Gallagher
HONDA 1979 Accord B18C5A

BEST ORIGINAL CLASS
1st Place Kyle Ranauro
DATSUN/NISSAN 1959 1000 988cc
2nd Place Glenn Roberts
MAZDA 1964 R360 L24
3rd Place Richard Scharf
DATSUN/NISSAN 1970 240Z 2.4 Litre

BEST MODIFIED CLASS
1st Place James Standridge
DATSUN/NISSAN 1967 Fairlady Roadster SR20DET
2nd Place Eric Straw
DATSUN/NISSAN 1969 Fairlady Roadster SR20DET
3rd Place Jojo Rumbaoa
TOYOTA 1969 Corolla sprinter 2tg

BEST RACE CAR
1st Place Mario Castaneda
MAZDA 1971 R100 13B turbo

BEST WAGON
1st Place Run Calisch
TOYOTA 1978 Cressida I6, 2.6L
2nd Place Audrey Reese
DATSUN/NISSAN 1972 510 L20B-4cyl
3rd Place Martin Valle
DATSUN/NISSAN 1972 510 wagon SR20DET

BEST DATSUN- 240Z –
1st Place William Parks
DATSUN/NISSAN 1972 240z l28et
2nd Place Paul Ajari
DATSUN/NISSAN 1970 240Z L24
3rd Place Scott & Aggie Mount
DATSUN/NISSAN 1971 240Z Small Block Chevy

BEST DATSUN OTHER Z – 260Z-280Z, 280ZX, 300ZX
1st Place Brian Avery
DATSUN/NISSAN 1978 280z L28et
2nd Place Ron Sino-Cruz
DATSUN/NISSAN 1985 200zr rb20det
3rd Place Robert Heckendorf
DATSUN/NISSAN 1975 260Z Stock 2600cc

BEST DATSUN – 510 –
1st Place mark ritchie
DATSUN/NISSAN 1972 510 SR20DET Black Top
2nd Place Matt Gardella
DATSUN/NISSAN 1971 510 KA24DE-T
3rd Place Aole Espy
DATSUN/NISSAN 1969 510 KA24DE-T

BEST DATSUN – PICKUP-
1st Place Robert Laag
DATSUN/NISSAN 1974 620 L18
2nd Place Lawrence Keller
DATSUN/NISSAN 1972 620 LZ22
3rd Place David Krouse
DATSUN/NISSAN 1977 620 L-18

BEST DATSUN – ROADSTER- MODIFIED
1st Place James Standridge
DATSUN/NISSAN 1967 Fairlady Roadster SR20DET
2nd Place Eddie Wu
DATSUN/NISSAN 1966 Fairlady Roadster Nissan S15 SR20DE 2.0L I4
3rd Place Eric Straw
DATSUN/NISSAN 1969 Fairlady Roadster SR20DET

BEST DATSUN – ROADSTER- ORIGINAL sponsored by Deal’s Cosmetics
1st Place Chris Breyer
DATSUN/NISSAN 1966 Fairlady Roadster R16
2nd Place Ralph Rodheim
DATSUN/NISSAN 1967 Fairlady Roadster 1600
3rd Place Christine Rincon
DATSUN/NISSAN 1967 Fairlady Roadster 4 cylinder

BEST DATSUN – 1200-
1st Place Mark Duncan
DATSUN/NISSAN 1971 1200 Sunny A12
2nd Place David Gonzales
DATSUN/NISSAN 1974 1200 Sunny A14 1397cc
3rd Place Jose Serna
DATSUN/NISSAN 1973 1200 stock

BEST DATSUN – OTHER –
1st Place Kyle Ranauro
DATSUN/NISSAN 1959 1000 988cc
2nd Place David Chick
DATSUN/NISSAN 1970 1000 A10

BEST TOYOTA – CELICA/ SUPRA-
1st Place Steven Sego
TOYOTA 1977 Celica 2.2
2nd Place nestor rodriguez
TOYOTA 1985 Supra 6mge
3rd Place Irwin Aquino
TOYOTA 1972 Celica 18RG

BEST TOYOTA – COROLLA- PRE84
1st Place Oliver Dienzo
TOYOTA 1972 Corolla 2tg
2nd Place Erwin Lu
TOYOTA 1971 Corolla 3K Stock
3rd Place P.J Bonifacio
TOYOTA 1980 Corolla PJ

BEST TOYOTA -COROLLA AE86-
1st Place Oliver Sanchez
TOYOTA 1985 Corolla GTS 4AGE
2nd Place Dennis David
TOYOTA 1985 Corolla 4AG
3rd Place Dave Palacios
TOYOTA 1985 Corolla 4AGE

BEST TOYOTA – CRESSIDA –
1st Place Marvin David
TOYOTA 1979 Cressida stock
2nd Place Art Macabuhay
TOYOTA 1984 Cressida 5M-GE
3rd Place Edward Feliciano
TOYOTA 1978 Cressida .

BEST TOYOTA – OTHER –
1st Place Victor Rivilla
TOYOTA 1982 Starlet 4AGE 20V
2nd Place Oscar Ramos
TOYOTA 1967 LAND CRUISER stock
3rd Place Kirk Hubbard
TOYOTA 1974 Century 4VU HEMI V8

BEST MAZDA – RX2-
1st Place Carlos Radriguez
MAZDA 1973 RX-2 13B
2nd Place Edgar Sanchez
MAZDA 1973 RX-2 13B
3rd Place RENE GARAY
MAZDA 1972 RX-2 12A

BEST MAZDA – RX3-
1st Place Arnel ilog MAZDA
1972 Rx-3 13brew Turbo
2nd Place shingo konuma
MAZDA 1973 RX-3 13B
3rd Place Catherine Harrison-Smith
MAZDA 1974 RX-3 12A

BEST MAZDA – RX-7-
1st Place Juan Galindo
MAZDA 1985 RX-7 13B
2nd Place Jim Balderrama
MAZDA 1985 RX-7 13B
3rd Place Sergio Lopez
MAZDA 1979 RX-7 13B

BEST MAZDA – OTHER-
1st Place Glenn Roberts
MAZDA 1967 COSMO SPORT 4M 2.6L
2nd Place Esteban Rodoriguez
MAZDA 1972 R100 13B

BEST HONDA – PRE 1973 –
1st Place Dick Kartozian
HONDA 1970 N600 600cc air cooled
2nd Place Maurice Kleiman
HONDA 1970 N600 600 cc
3rd Place William Yee
HONDA 1970 N600 600cc

BEST HONDA – ‘74-’85 –
1st Place Ken Uk
HONDA 1975 Civic ED1 1500
2nd Place Scott King
HONDA 1979 Prelude original 1600
3rd Place Scott Ngov
HONDA 1979 Civic Wagon CVCC

BEST MITSUBISHI
1st Place James Dean Recto
MITSUBISHI 1978 Dodge Colt 4g32

Hot Import Nights, Chicago 2009

nickzachman — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 22:58:28 +0000

It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon in the parking lot of Soldier Field. The hot sun had baked the tarmac dry and though the weatherman had predicted 85 degree weather, we knew it was going to be much hotter during Hot Import Nights.

We arrived in the mid-afternoon, hours before the general public, and grabbed our press passes from the booth. The other members of the press and models were all anxious to get inside the gates. Like an over-caffeinated mob, everyone waited through the sound of burning rubber and the smell of high octane gasoline as it hung in the air. Only a hundred yards away the Formula D Pro-AM drift racers had already begun their warm up.

Outside the gates the energy coming from the event could already be felt. The music was loud and the cars glittered in all their glory with the afternoon sun beating down on them. The owners finished up the last details on their cars, shined up the tires and gave them one quick final wipe-down.

Getting there early was imperative so that our photographer could snap some clean shots of the cars well before the majority of the crowd began to pile in. After the first run through, it wasn’t hard to see that the true Japanese classic cars were few and far between. Even at an event such as Hot Import Nights where Japanese makes hold reign, it really starts to settle in that prime features of the golden days of Japanese cars are dwindling.

Of the hundreds of vehicles at the show, there were only a handful of cars from the pre-1980’s era, including a couple of Datsun Z’s and a Mazda RX-2, the car with the first rotary ever to come stateside. Their owners were all standing nearby and after a quick talk with each of them it was impressive to find that most of them had owned the cars since they were sixteen! (The owner of the RX-2 actually had a scrap book detailing with pictures the immense amount of work that it took to restore the vehicle.)

An unfortunate part of the search for the classics was the wishful thinking of seeing a few of them in the drifting competition. Although the drift event was quite furious, not even an AE86 made an appearance.

As the day quickly turned to night, it was becoming more obvious that the car scene doesn’t always stop to remember the originals that pushed the scene to where it is today. Those who appreciate the classics are a rare breed indeed. But those that understand where the culture has come from hold a truly unique love for the cars.

Why don’t we feature any of the other cars from HIN? Because you can find all the other cars featured everywhere else on the internet. Here at JDM Origins Magazine we look beyond the big rims and flashy stickers: we focus purely on the classics.

Jack Safro Collection Auctioned

Charles Xiong — Fri, 29 May 2009 00:55:05 +0000

Growing up in Southeast Wisconsin, I was not a stranger to the name Jack Safro. In fact, my parents and I, like many other residents within the last forty years have come to know Jack Safro as synonymous with Toyota and great customer service. Sadly, Jack Safro died of a heart attack earlier this year and a large portion of his personal estate was liquidated recently at the Mecum High Performance Auctions.

Short History
In 1962 Safro started “Jack Safro’s Pewaukee Motors” selling used cars to the local area, but it was not until 1976 that Safro began to sell a relatively unknown Japanese brand in Wisconsin. His dealership became the largest dealership in the Midwest it’s first year, selling 42 new Toyota’s.

Safro also became one of the first eight United States Lexus dealers in 1989. He stated in a New York Times interview at the time that, “he was not shocked by the scores of buyers who have been willing to spend more than $35,000 to buy Toyota’s new luxury cars [but rather] to see what many buyers are trading in: late-model Cadillacs and Lincolns.” He estimated about 10 Cadillacs, several Lincolns and European luxury cars were traded in within the first couple weeks of opening.

Mecum states that “Jack Safro began his association with automobiles by working a night job in high school recapping tires. In his early days, Jack drove modified cars and midget cars at Wisconsin tracks, demonstrating one facet of what was a life-long passion for cars.”

Jack Safro Estate Collection
Safro’s collection put on auction consisted of 50 cars total which included a 1966 Land Cruiser FJ40 which sold for $47,500, a 1966 Corona Sedan with 8,769 original miles which sold for $36,000 and more. The prices stunned Rob Sass at the New York Times, who said, “Until this weekend, there have been few if any large collections of Japanese cars sold en masse in the United States. The Jack Safro Collection … maybe have been the first such collection to sell publicly.”

In any case, we’re not surprised the prices these classics are fetching and we know this will not be the last time someone stumbles on a large Japanese collection.

1966 Toyota Corona Sedan – $36,000
1.9 liter 3R engine
8,769 original miles
Automatic transmission (rare)

1966 Toyota Corona Sedan – $4,500
1.9 liter 4 cylinder original engine
3-speed manual transmission
Radio delete

1966 Toyota Land Cruiser Soft Top FJ40 – $47,000
Complete professional restoration
6 cylinder 3-speed manual transmission
6,819 believed to be original miles
Lift kit with Alloy wheels

1968 Toyota Corona Utility Pickup – $11,000
1.5L engine 4-speed manual transmission
Rare LHD pickup version
Complete history and owners manual

1968 Toyota Corona Coupe – $9,250
2.0 liter 18RG twin cam engine
Dual side-drafts
72 Celica 5-speed Manual transmission with bronze clutch
Narrowed ‘79 Supra rear-end with Moser axles
Rebuilt and lowered suspension

1971 Toyota Mark II coupe – $12,000
2.0 liter 4 cylinder SOHC engine
Automatic transmission
Complete rotisserie restoration
Toyota’s first luxury coupe

1973 Toyota Land Cruiser Wagon FJ55 – $19,000
6 cylinder F-series engine
3-speed manual transmission with overdrive
Frame on restoration
8-track stereo
Alloy wheels

1976 Toyota Corolla SR5 coupe – $11,000
1.6 liter 185hp 2T-C engine
5 speed manual transmission
2 racing bucket seats
Full roll-cage
Past SCCA SE region showroom stock
Race prepped for vintage rules
(Apparently) Street legal

1981 Toyota Celica Supra – $22,000
2.8 liter 5M-E straight-6 with electronic fuel injection
automatic transmission
8,774 original miles

1981 Toyota Trekker 4WD pickup – $22,250
Concept approved by Toyota in collaboration with Safro and Winnebago
Frame on restoration for Jack Safro’s 40th anniversary with Toyota
4 cylinder SOHC 5-speed transmission
SR-5 gauge package

1986 Toyota Cressida Limousine – $7,500
2.8 liter 5M-GE straight-6
Armbruster Coachworks in Ft. Smith, AK conversion (1987)
1 of 10 built
Television, 2 radios, cellular phone
Wet bar and wine race

2001 Toyota Prius Hybrid – $13,000
Paul Newman’s personal car personally sold by Jack Safro
1.5L engine with electric drive motor
13,917 actual miles
Automatic transmission

2004 Toyota Tundra Long Bed Truck – $7,750
Customized for “The Benchwarmers” by Picture Car Warehouse of Los Angeles
Modeled after Darrell Waltrip’s Craftsman Tundra
Made streetable with lights, mirrors, etc.
3.4 liter 5VZE V6 engine
Automatic transmission

2006 Lexus RX400h – $55,000
Paul McCartney Signature Edition
Designed by McCartney and Lexus for 2005 US Tour
One and only, 450 original miles
Every available factory option
Mark Levinson custom sound system
Autographed by Paul McCartney

1973 MG Midget Convertible – $16,000
1.6 liter 4AGE 16 valve engine
Toyota 5speed transmission
Toyota rear-end and brakes
Full roll cage, ready for track days!

If anybody happens to know where these cars ended up, please let us know!

Question: Are you surprised that these cars (along with other Japanese classics) are beginning to be considered as collectible and are gaining in price? Give us your opinion below in the comments.

Totally Toyotas @ All Toyotafest 2009

Charles Xiong — Wed, 20 May 2009 14:59:57 +0000

It was a sunny yet breezy Saturday morning in Long Beach, California and the only thing better than the weather were the cars that were dock side to the Queen Mary. This year’s 14th annual All Toyotafest brought out more than 350 Toyota, Lexus and Scion badges onto the grass. Even more tantalizing was that over half of the vehicles were Japanese classics and nostalgic models ranging from a 1960’s FJ40 Land Cruiser to multiple late model 1980’s Supra Turbo’s.

The list of cars that were on display is too long to list, but among some of our favorites was the Toyota Crown coupe MS75 “Kujira” which was only available in the United States in 1971 and 1972. The Crown features a 2.6L 4M engine which was shared (in fuel-injection form) with the late 1970’s Celica Supra and Cressida. The 4M engine later evolved into the 2.8L 5M engine and 3.0L 7M engines available in the 1980’s Celica Supra and Cressida.

We’re still keeping our hopes up to see a 7MGTE equipped Kujira in the states but considering how few of these Crowns are even around, it will probably some time before we lay our eyes on one. (Do you know of a Crown coupe worthy of being featured in JDM Origins? Contact us!)

Other favorites of the show were the multitudes of Toyota Corolla’s from the KE10’s to the AE86 Hachi-roku’s. One of America’s favorite Toyota’s since it’s introduction in the late 1960’s, it seemed as if there were as many Corolla’s in the parking lot as in the show!

Last but definitely not least is the always beautiful Toyota 2000GT, more famously known to the common-folks as “the car from that one James Bond movie!” (The movie was actually “You Only Live Twice” which came out about two years after the car’s debut in 1965.) Keeping in mind that there are only about 50 to 60 of these vehicles originally sold in the United States, it is definitely a treat when you see one in person. One kid was even so lucky as to get a photo of himself behind the wheel.

After scoping out all the full scale cars, the show would not be complete without stopping by the HPI sponsored mini race circuit where the little guys were dueling it out. Each competitor had to use a standard Toyota body which made it all the more interesting. Unfortunately, there did not seem to be a lot of old school loving contenders.

If you missed the All Toyotafest this year, you will have to wait until next year to see all the cars for yourself. It was a blast and I think everyone there came home with a free tan and some other tradeshow goodies. If you missed it, check out the full gallery below.

** Special thanks to Michael Foertsch (Toyotageek) for filling in some pictures. It was such a blast, we lost some cars and photos in the mix!

Michael Foertsch, Toyotageek, runs his own website www.toyotageek.com and writes “Toyota Tales” about beloved Toyota’s and their owners. They are what he calls “real stories about real
people and real cars”. He also runs multiple Owners groups and is an active member of Toyota Owners and Restorers Club (TORC).