For Ross and me, the day started off painfully...
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Some of these pics were taken as cars were leaving, so hence why this Chrysler/Mitsubishi Galant looks like it's leaving!
The owner, Jason, is very Bellett-friendly; he's a member of the SMASA club and is always championing the JDM cause amongst their extremely V8-centric members! His car is pretty tidy; painted it himself, fitted an Astron 2600cc motor with Magna EFI, fitted a bunch of JDM stuff and currently dailies it!
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Chrysler Galant coupe with JDM Mitsubishi bits - 02.JPG [ 173.77 KiB | Viewed 36043 times ]
This Daihatsu had stance... it's no Compagno, but the stance makes up for some of it.
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Daihatsu L700 Cuore with stance - 03.JPG [ 184.48 KiB | Viewed 36043 times ]
Previously Iron Chef (organiser of All Japan Day) has been resistant to Holden Geminis because of their Holden-ness, but there were two really tidy items there, including this sweet TD sedan with old-school Simmons B45 alloys. I wonder if he's come around because despite the badge, they're about 90% Isuzu and probably more Japanese than the majority of Toyota and Nissan items there!
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I didn't photograph many new-school cars, but this Civic with a Huffy Slider on the roof rack had killer stance AND a Huffy Slider on the roof rack. Did I mention that?
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I LOVE the Mazda 1500. I'm glad the owner of this one has resisted the urge to put an 1800 bonnet on it (they have an integrated bonnet scoop and are very cool). Nice hubcaps too!
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I took special interest in this early-model, RWD Mazda 323 hatch. I grew up driving an identically-colour 1.4 litre wagon. It had my Mum's personalised numberplate JOY-034 which really cramped my style as a kid. And it was SLOW! And all my friends lagged on the colour.
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Mazda AP 323 hatch with JDM grille and rotary conversion - 01.JPG [ 139.42 KiB | Viewed 36043 times ]
This one had been fitted with a JDM grille which stretched up to the bonnet (all the Aussie cars the grille stopped in line with the top of the headlights).
They're not well regarded amongst the Mazda set either given they were never optionable with a rotor, but given they're pretty much a re-skinned 808, they're not hard to fit one to. This one had its speed deficit corrected by a tidy rotor conversion.
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Not many cars can boast the hatchback and RWD combo, but the old 323 certainly can.
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There was a tidy silver example too. Nothing suss!
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Perhaps my car of the show was this immaculately restored Mazda Bongo. Remember them?
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I didn't get the best pics of it compared to some people, but still, what a car!
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This little Mazda 1000 ute was very cool.
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...and look what was hiding in the tray! Just your average billion-killowatt 20B triple rotor engine.
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Mazda FA2 1000 ute - 05 - 20B rotary in tray.JPG [ 135.83 KiB | Viewed 36043 times ]
Strangely, Mazda weren't the only brand offering rotary engines to stare at and gawk; no NSUs obviously as it's All Japan Day.... and no prototype Isuzu rotaries either, I can assure you!
How about a super-rare Suzuki RE5 rotary motorcycle?
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I heard these ride really strangely, with the reciprocating mass inside the engine casing making them hard to tip in, like some warped gyroscope!
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I've also read that their carburettor systems are impossible and the bizarre plastic covering over the speedo and tacho basically disintegrate. Not this one though!
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There were a couple of cool Mitsubishis, including this Sigma with turbo conversion (not to be confused with the earlier factory-built Sigma turbo).
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I'm a sucker for a good Starion, I must admit. Must be because of Cannonball Run II.
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Another of my favourite cars of the show was the Nissan Pao that attended last year; now owned by a young collector rather than a dealer, he hopes to get it registered this year. Oh, and he loves putting wheels on the roof because he can.
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Nissan Pao with rims on roof - 01.JPG [ 177.44 KiB | Viewed 36043 times ]
For your information, the Nissan Pao was sold between January and April 1989 only; with orders taken for 51,657 vehicles to be supplied between 1989 and 1991. The Pao was sold alongside the Nissan Figaro, BE-1 and Escargo, part of the "Pike" line that created unique, retro and desirable designs based off the Nissan March/Micra platform.
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That's pretty cool.
Any given Japanese show will feature Toyotas representing heavily and this was no different.
My favourite Toyota of the show was this immaculately restored KE26 Corolla panelvan (KE26 means KE20, but in panelvan form!).
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This is one of my favourite photos of the show, featuring the "Atlantic Tower Motor Inn" aka "Roundhouse" in it's full glory.
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Toyota KE26 Corolla panelvan with Datsun 1200.JPG [ 174.73 KiB | Viewed 36043 times ]
I used to drive a KE70 Corolla and, like the Mazda 323 hated it for being a slow and uncomfortable way to travel. If only I'd known that in a few short years (OK, about 20) it would suddenly become hugely desirable, with plenty of scope for modification via JDM parts and bolt-in 4AGE engine hardware.
This was my favourite KE70 out of a sea of KE70s, with extreme oil coolers, JDM chrome bumper and front, front spoiler, cool wheels with race rubber and...
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Toyota KE70 Corolla - with oil cooler, JDM front & star exhaust - 01.JPG [ 182.53 KiB | Viewed 36043 times ]
...insane Bōsōzoku-style, star-shaped exhaust.
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Toyota KE70 Corolla - with oil cooler, JDM front & star exhaust - 03.JPG [ 112.57 KiB | Viewed 36043 times ]
Showing restraint was this other example, with JDM grille and bumpers and a tasty set of early Supra alloys.
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Toyota KE70 Corolla with JDM front & Supra alloys - with Mazda 323.JPG [ 187.67 KiB | Viewed 36043 times ]
I was never a fan of the RA40 Celica, but "AWSOM4" deserves some commendation; it has been awarded a berth in Summernats' Top 60 in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 and won awards for Top Engine Bay in 2005 along with Top Tudor in 2004 and 2006 and Top 2-Door in 2008 (against 2-doors that invariably have more popularity like Toranas and Falcons) and Top Hi Tech in 2004 thanks to it's 4AGE power, supercharger conversion and ex-Peter Williamson 1981 Group C Celica rear end.
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Peter Williamson, by the way, was the first Bathurst racer to be fitted Channel 7's Racecam and was a Bellett dealer before becoming a Toyota dealer! In fact, my Isuzu Wasp still sports a Peter Williamson Isuzu sticker!
Another favourite of mine was this Toyota Crown ute. I think it may have been the one kicking around with a 253 in it? I'm not sure.
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Looks pretty original until you see this!
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This young guy owned both of these later S50 Crowns; he was explaining to someone at work that the sedan is Australian-built, but the wagon is JDM!
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So, onto the important stuff. And the important stuff is...
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There's been some rivalry on Facebook between the ICCA, the BCCV and the Queensland Classic Japanese Club around who wins the prize for most cars at a cruise/meet.
Although not an official club per say, I think we've set the bar at six. We actually had seven in Mr Flibbles' Florian, however he had to go home and didn't line up at the show. He still counts, I think (assuming someone photographed it; I didn't!).
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Still, I can't complain; we had six cars and two were new to us. From right to left, Bruno's GT, Chris' recently-acquired, ex-Murray Bridge Roman Red teardrop sedan, Dave's Ratter, Joshua's Wasp, George (Flying)'s beautiful silver GT1600 and Dave's GTR.
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Isuzu Bellett line-up - 09 - George's GT and Dave's GTR.JPG [ 228.17 KiB | Viewed 36043 times ]
George's car has great stance and some nice, 13" Minilite wheels. It was not an immaculate car (a couple of scratches, top of rear seat needs doing, etc) but my God it was great to see it; I think he took it off the road over 20 years ago! And look....ORIGINAL DRIVING LIGHTS!
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I brought along the GTR.
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And Bruno brought along his wife Liz and son Bradly. Oh, and his Bellett GT of course!
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Chris sourced his latest acquisition from Murray Bridge; this is the one that had those wire wheels on it. Well, after finding a few spokes missing, Chris decided to move them on and put something a bit nicer on there.
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Isuzu Bellett line-up - 10 - Bruno's GT, Chris' sedan and Dave's Ratter.JPG [ 209.52 KiB | Viewed 36043 times ]
Great to see two Roman Red sedans together; the Teardrop seems a bit rarer in that colour. There are no less than four Roman Red Belletts in SA now, with Oz (Chris), mine, Mr Flibbles and Betty Bellett all owner examples the same colour!
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Isuzu Bellett line-up - 12 - Chris' sedan, Dave's Ratter and Josh's Wasp.JPG [ 243.04 KiB | Viewed 36043 times ]
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Isuzu Bellett line-up - 13 - Bruno's GT, Chris' sedan, Dave's Ratter and Josh's Wasp.JPG [ 220.68 KiB | Viewed 36043 times ]
Big thanks to Chris for busting out his new ride as well as George.
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Also big thanks to Josh for bringing along his Wasp despite the heat.
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I had a guy ring me at work today to say he saw my Wasp on Sunday driving up Anzac Highway. I assured him that I hope it wasn't given it should be at home with faulty brakes! I'm glad Josh has this car, or I'd be very confused.
Anyway, it was a great show as always and get this... Kristian from Iron Chef has said that because we've had a marked showing in every single AJD since inception, he wants to FEATURE ISUZU IN 2015!
He kind of did that last year, but lined us up under a bunch of trees. This time he means IN THE MIDDLE!!!
So we've got 12 months to ensure all our machines are ready! I need to get at least 4 there, I've decided!!
Roll on 2015!
Cheers,
Dave