LDC427 is pretty much right, except they're giving a lot more that a couple grand for hot rods and customs, at least in SoCal. For the most part, they want cars mechanically done and leave the paint/graphics and details for when the car reaches its new owner in Japan. With the exception of shops like Paradise Road in Nagoya and a few others, most the cars you see were built in the US. For a while, I knew quite a few guys that would build cars specifically for the Japanese "exporters", but since the economy has dropped off, I'm sure it's slowed down a lot. Either way, it's expensive as hell to own a vintage "foreign" car in Japan--gas prices, tolls, and registration fees would send most of us to the poor house in a year!
my car is now gor sale $50 000 or a whole bunch of yen, buyer arranges shipping. oh, and throw in a dvd player too, and some of that poky candy
I like seeing cars like these: How rare are they in Japan? They crush nearly all of their cars after a few years of use because they become outdated or whatever right? You'd never see more than one or two at a show i'm sure, as opposed to all the mercs (no matter how custom they are, they really don't stand out much)
Look. I wasn't hassling you. My point was that not every car you see could be built by some Asian man waving a check book around. Well at least RF understands you....great. I hope you're happy together. You can move in togther and sell cars to Japan and retire in a couple years since no one in over there really loves cars or has the passion to create something that rules by them selves.
[ QUOTE ] since no one in over there [/ QUOTE ] What ever you say grammar boy! Hooked on Foniks sure worked for you!
[ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] since no one in over there [/ QUOTE ] What ever you say grammar boy! Hooked on Foniks sure worked for you! [/ QUOTE ] Oooh, an ad hominem attack! Classy move. Next time, try to refute his logic instead. Who cares if they don't build them there? At least their goldchainers have some pretty cool lookin stuff built for em. That 55 Plymouth just needs a chop to be the most EVIL lookin car I've ever seen. If they want to throw gobs of money at people to build stuff like that, I say go ahead and let em.
Hey, check this out, FUCK YOU. Hahahahaha. You're fucking knob, get it? I didn't even WANT to argue and all you can come up with is "Well....your grammar is sub-par." Grammar boy? Jesus, what a dork. The red Deuce with the E&J's and all black running gear is it. I'm inspired. I need to go build. Been thinking about my windshield for months - now I realize my car doesn't need one....I love that car.
Jealous? You can move in, too, if you want. But beforehand, pull your panties outta yer crack and relax. Read before you spout and quit assuming. If anything, I admire Japanese rodders because they have a deeper passion for American culture than most Americans do. Whether they build a car or buy it, they probably have more respect for it than any of us do for our own...they don't take anything for granted. If you're gonna make a crack at me, at least make an intelligent, justified one.
RF - I understood exactly what you were saying and I shouldn't have included you in my problem. It was an easy crack at the other guy at your expense - and dead wrong. Never got the vibe that you were calling out the Japanese rodders as dumbass rich kids either. But got plenty of that elsewhere in this post. I run the risk of swinging on Germ's nuts here but he's right. They RULE us with a lot of those cars. And your second paragraph is right on.
Just bustin' balls...no feelings meant to be hurt. I just didn't want anyone to get the impression that I look down upon Japanese rodders. It's hard to see so many cars get shipped out of the country, but the saving grace is knowing the people buying them really appreciate them.
Not to sound like a total moron, but what kind of car is that, that K&R posted? I know I've seen 'em a million times, but I just cant place it.
all I can say is WOW, true artists........... p.s. we nuke them and to get revenge they take american cars and make them look better than any american could ever make them look...
thanks for the links mal.... very cool site and some really nice kustoms!... I dig the 50's rock on ya'lls website too!
Hey the rest of us take a heap more cars outa the US then the Japanese....mainly 50's stuff as anything earlier is only affordable as project stuff due to the cost of getting work done in the US, on the flip side everyone is taking a whack of early stuff out of here and Aussie most of it to the US. Seems a shame that the 150k or so used jap cars heading this way from Japan never contain anything cool.....
As I remember, Japchris posted some pics a few months ago from Japan. He very eloquently and in detail described how they go about doing what they do. He also wrote about the huge efforts it takes to build and store their rides. Does anybody remember that post? I gonna try to do a search.
[ QUOTE ] As I remember, Japchris posted some pics a few months ago from Japan. He very eloquently and in detail described how they go about doing what they do. He also wrote about the huge efforts it takes to build and store their rides. Does anybody remember that post? I gonna try to do a search. [/ QUOTE ] Heres the post from japchris: [ QUOTE ] Mike - 99% of rods are imported, though they often get taken appart and totally rebuilt and given a new identity once here - just ask fellow HAMBer Nori - (more on why that is below). That Stude truck was built in USA - has a tri-carbed '59 Caddy engine I believe. Reverendz - Where in Japan is your mate? Give me a City name he is near and I can probably give you some info on local rodders. Tuck - no more photos of the '55 -I know it was for sale there cheap (Thats by Japanese standards not USA's). Has a six. For those thats interested heres a little piece I did for a mag about rodding here - A wise old Japanese Hotrodder once said "Be damn careful using that grinder in here - them walls is made of paper !" . Yes, roddin' in the Land of the Rising Sun has its own unique problems, as I'll soon explain. The hot rod scene in Japan is relatively new. It started "Post Graffiti" with just one or two people, but has grown considerably in recent years. The Japanese have some major obstacles to overcome - Mountainous ones in fact ! - You see Japan is seventy percent mountains. Everyone is crammed into the flat bits with not enough room to swing a cat, let alone a '59 Impala ! This lack of space means some gearheads don't even have a garage, just a small parking area. And unless you can prove to the Authorities that you have "off-road parking" for your car, they won't even let you register it. If you don't have your own parking space you are forced to rent one in a local carpark. In Tokyo this can cost the equivelent of $500 a month ! Working on your rod in a carpark can be difficult. Neighbours give you hell and a 300ft long extension lead on your welder just isn't ideal. So, people lacking their own decent fascilities often employ professional "shops" for the major surgery and each shop seems to have its own "club" of loyal customers. Another problem rodders and customisers face, is the lack of suitable raw material to work on. Infact US cars were once a common sight in Japan. Unfortunately the rust loving humidity and typhoons in the Summer, the lack of space, the "recycling, newer is better" culture, and that fact you have to pay huge amounts of tax on your car even if its not being used, have all gone towards destroying the older car population. I believe Japan's roddin' scene is unique in that people tend to buy relatively complete rods or customs imported from the USA, and then take them appart and modify them ! This is obviously expensive, but accepted as "the way it has to be". It's only possible to register a car with "matching" paperwork. - Not easy for a Japanese "homebuilt" with new chassis or no documented history. Many cars arrive in Japan looking finished, but just "owning" somebodyelse'e ride isn't true hotrodding - and the Japanese know it! The new owners are usually keen to add their own ideas and the "finished" cars soon develop spots of primer as tops are chopped, bodywork altered, new paint jobs and mechanical parts swapped. Then theres that other problem - language (Non-English speaking Europeans smile politely and nod now). Try buying an early Hemi workshop manual in Japanese. Or imagine phoning the States trying to do a deal on some piece of speed equipment, a copy of Hemmings in one hand and an English dictionary in the other ("Sorry, was that part of your address in Japan, or did you just sneeze ? D'you just say Ahh-so, or call me an arsehole ! ?"). Then theres the shipping costs, customs duty, postmen who build cars out of "lost in the mail" parts, etc. Again, the Pro-shops are useful. They do their best to get supplies of "unobtainium" from their own contacts in the States. Did I mention that gas is nearly three times what it costs in the US. - Or that ALL the Freeways are actually Toll "expensiveways" and we're not just talkin' a couple of bucks to use them! - Or that some roads are so narrow you can literally park your '58 Oldsmobile on both sides of the street at the same time - No joke ! Its not all gloom though. The law is fairly relaxed for old cars, maybe because there are so few. Blue dots or loud pipes are unlikely to get you stopped by the cops. You can legally go fenderless and the official technical inspection is only once in a blue moon-eyes. Speaking of Mooneyes, they really are a godsend to Japanese rodding - Not only supplying goodies, but also organising a number of the larger shows. Just finding suitable venues for these shows is quite a headache. Because of the relatively small size of the roddin' community, there is a familiarity - a friendliness. In Japan there's very little by way of the lawn chairs 'n' trailerqueen phenomenon - ( no space for lawns or trailers ! - And of course to own a trailer you have to prove you have space to keep it, AND pay to take a special driving test). So despite some difficulties, hotrodders exist in Japan. Contrary to what some believe, they are not businessmen who buy rods for investment or brainless sheep that blindly follow Western trends. They are folk who, against considerable odds, live for their rides. Its their passion - just the same as in USA, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, S.Africa or where-ever else REAL hotrodders are found. Wise old rodder say "When parking, it's better to mount curb than Mount Fuji" - Ahh-so ! [/ QUOTE ] I agree with everything thats been said on this post. The japanese know what they are doing with their cars and it really shows in a show like this. I believe they take an extra amount of pride in all hobbies they are involved in. I've witnessed it in quite a few of my interests. Thanks for the pics, I saved more than a few What really blew me away was the silver zephyr with the headlight treatment. I wonder if its glass. They are hard as hell to come across here let alone across the pond. -Dane
Daign, ya come thru again! Thanks for finding that post. I think 'nuff said. I agree with ya on the Zephyr. It could easily compete in the Oakland Roadster show or any other bigtime show.
Yes, it seems most of these cars are imported the "restyled" by their Japanese owners. I admire their determination to build a car but I will not condemn them for buying a car that was put together by some guy in the states. I sure as hell didnt feel bad buying the 33 from Rocky OR Zekes 54. In fact, All the mechanicals are done on my 54 Chevy. I would sell it to Japan in a heartbeat then sit back and watch how the new owner took it to the next level......BAM!!!
germ you stole my words. The Japanese build the best bikes in the world. They bend every rule, they skew every sacred cow, they do indeed RULE. Americans, for the most part are blase. I'll give you an example. Gene Winfield was set up in Daytona a few years back and some schmos came up to him asking "if he had any model A parts?" This guy looked over at me and said, "Gunther and Himler know who this guy is, but these dumbasses don't have a clue."
Not all these fellows that have these cars have unlimited funds. I had made plans to attend this show with a couple of guys there I know, one has a 50 Chevy, the other is without car, just sold his Merc to another, he is working on a Econoline van now.. These guys are far from being wealthy.. It was raining in Tokyo that morning and as they never showed I assume they blew it off. I am glad I did not see any of pics of the Chevy in the ones Mal posted.... These guys are very dedicated to the cars and they are aware and get disgruntled when the "importers" gouge them so. But thats business I guess... I wonder if we would be so serious if was the other way...
Why don't some of you detractors try to restore a '70 Toyota Crown in this country? Good luck bozo. The war's over, any hot rod, anywhere is a blessing to all of us, get over it.
Hell I wasn't the one who started the whole thing, I just stated some facts your the one that got your panties in a bunch. I never said anything bad, all I said was that most of the guys in Japan buy their rods and don't build them themselves, thats the truth so deal with it. I never said that they didn't have any talent or anything like that, I like what I see there. So calm down!
Asian designers are aways the best in the world at simplification of form. Thier architecture, interior decorating, hell even thier gardens are built with grace and style. Why should we be surprized that thier custom cars and hot rods are any different. It is like Feng Shui for rodders. I am inspired.
The Jalopy Journal
