So here we are. An opportunity came along that me and the wife couldn't pass up, and so we moved to Japan. 3 months on from arriving, a whole month since seeing the car and paying for it. The system here is pretty backwards and slow, especially compared to how DVLA deal with vehicle transfers. I will NEVER complain about the car buying process in the UK. It's a walk in the park by comparison. Going to the police station so they can come and measure the driveway, going to the ward office to get complete forms so I can get a registration, sorting the bank out as there's transfer limits etc etc. All this whilst not speaking any Japanese. I was asking for it really.
But none of that matters now! Freedom! It's a 1992 Toyota MKII, with a late Toyota Cresta headlight/grill swap. It purrs, it really does. Found it on Goo Net, like the autotrader equivalent in Japan, at a dealership called Three Piece!. Actually went to see a different one, but when I turned up, the lot was full of cool old cars. A limited edition 300ZX had just been prepped for sale, and a good few MKII wagons were in too. There were a few Soarers, and some VIP style more modern cars too. Really cool place. Super nice guy too who ran the place.
The car just before I bought it.
So, with the help of my Japanese friend (I cheated and had him help translate, I would have loved to speak fluently but that will take some time!), after looking around it, discussing bits, could you fix this bit respray that bit, we agreed on a price and then I started the long process of getting the car on the road. Normally the dealership does a lot of it, but as we live in Nagoya and the dealer was in Gifu (a few hours drive), it was up to me. But it was worth the wait.
Went to pick it up, drove a few blocks out of the dealership and we came across an old garage, loads of Hachirokus and Honda Citys just parked outside!
Couldn't believe it! It's amazing what you come across down the back roads, as a car guy it really is awesome! The GTO and 911 Porsche were the icing on the cake. Really was a dream come true, finding all this. I was 12 again.
Got the MKII home no problems. The next day we drove straight back out to Gifu to find some empty roads and just go for a drive.
Topped off the day with a trip to Off House (A furniture chain of the comically named Hard Off second hand store chain). Boxy estates, the best things for carrying furniture!
I've swapped out the steering wheel with one I'd brought over from the UK and a Toyota gear knob I got off Yahoo! Auctions, and got an unnecessarily large rear view mirror too, that blocks the (loose) sun visors. But it stops them falling down randomly, which is something I need to sort. Also got some typically cheap vent mount cup holders, which are surprisingly sturdy.
Note also the fully 90's double DIN head unit cassette player. Going to make some mix tapes for ultimate nostalgia!
Some other things I need to sort, there's a bracket that holds the air filter housing in place that's snapped, the bonnet/boot gas struts need re-gassing/replacing, and I need to find some centre caps for the wheels. Might see about adjustable coilovers/dampers as the ride is pretty crashy (just lowering springs at the moment), and the sun visors, but there's not a lot to sort out!
So, it might not be that eventful a car really, but I'm looking forward to the adventures we're going to have in it!
But none of that matters now! Freedom! It's a 1992 Toyota MKII, with a late Toyota Cresta headlight/grill swap. It purrs, it really does. Found it on Goo Net, like the autotrader equivalent in Japan, at a dealership called Three Piece!. Actually went to see a different one, but when I turned up, the lot was full of cool old cars. A limited edition 300ZX had just been prepped for sale, and a good few MKII wagons were in too. There were a few Soarers, and some VIP style more modern cars too. Really cool place. Super nice guy too who ran the place.
The car just before I bought it.
So, with the help of my Japanese friend (I cheated and had him help translate, I would have loved to speak fluently but that will take some time!), after looking around it, discussing bits, could you fix this bit respray that bit, we agreed on a price and then I started the long process of getting the car on the road. Normally the dealership does a lot of it, but as we live in Nagoya and the dealer was in Gifu (a few hours drive), it was up to me. But it was worth the wait.
Went to pick it up, drove a few blocks out of the dealership and we came across an old garage, loads of Hachirokus and Honda Citys just parked outside!
Couldn't believe it! It's amazing what you come across down the back roads, as a car guy it really is awesome! The GTO and 911 Porsche were the icing on the cake. Really was a dream come true, finding all this. I was 12 again.
Got the MKII home no problems. The next day we drove straight back out to Gifu to find some empty roads and just go for a drive.
Topped off the day with a trip to Off House (A furniture chain of the comically named Hard Off second hand store chain). Boxy estates, the best things for carrying furniture!
I've swapped out the steering wheel with one I'd brought over from the UK and a Toyota gear knob I got off Yahoo! Auctions, and got an unnecessarily large rear view mirror too, that blocks the (loose) sun visors. But it stops them falling down randomly, which is something I need to sort. Also got some typically cheap vent mount cup holders, which are surprisingly sturdy.
Note also the fully 90's double DIN head unit cassette player. Going to make some mix tapes for ultimate nostalgia!
Some other things I need to sort, there's a bracket that holds the air filter housing in place that's snapped, the bonnet/boot gas struts need re-gassing/replacing, and I need to find some centre caps for the wheels. Might see about adjustable coilovers/dampers as the ride is pretty crashy (just lowering springs at the moment), and the sun visors, but there's not a lot to sort out!
So, it might not be that eventful a car really, but I'm looking forward to the adventures we're going to have in it!
they are blocking your pictures. Host them directly on here matey. Good job I've already seen the car 
