2nd Annual California Japanese Classic Car Show at Queen Mary Park, Long Beach, CA. Meet the So Cal Old School Imports.
I went to the “2nd Annual Japanese Classic Car Show” in Long beach, California.
Back in old days the small Japanese cars were running on street with feeling small but to see that small Japanese cars in this mass number in California is cheering and what a nice time has came.
When I was living in California back in 70s’, many Mazda RX-2(Capella) and RX-3(Savanna) were able to see on street and hardly see any on street this days but I was so surprised to see so many Mazda cars at the show. I thought RX-2 and RX-3 were cooler to see in California than in Japan back then and that opinion is still unchanged today.
Back in old days in Crenshaw, LA. There were many Rotary cars at Street Race. Old Mazda looks cool in US just like new Honda.
I liked this Mazda RX-3 Drag Race Car。There were many Rotary Race Car seen in NHRA But these days we don’t see still running one any more except for this one. On top of that the Front wheel is brand new design of current day. The other RX-3 was nostalgic as Centerline and Traction Bar were parts from back then.
There were various years of Nissan Racecars displayed at show, Toyota had 2000GT and Mazda also had R360 Coupe and Cosmo displayed at show. Toyota and Mazda seemed very supportive to this show. With other Nissan, Mitsubishi and Subaru total 293 cars had entry.
This time at show I saw many familiar Japanese people. The two Toyota Crowns were entry from Maehara brothers, White Crown had Chevy v8 on.
There were many people magazine, “Kousoku Yuen(High Speed Leaded)” founder and chief editor of Street VWs Magazine Mr. Furuchi and Nissan NOS parts specialist shop “Barracuda” owner Mr. Iida were taking snap with this hand made banner and Queen Mary in back. This banner is like Japanese tourist group who went to Hawaii in 60s’.
Also there was this man too. The authority of ’32 Ford Deuce, owner Deuce Factory Japan and big fan of Toyota 2000GT, Mr. Kasai. If this kind of event increase, the California will have better deals for Japanese classic cars.
The best of my favorite in the show is this Bonneville style Nissan Sunny. The restoration will take a place to renew the old real race cars which is getting popular in USA to restoration and finding the old Race Cars.
Lastly like to say thanks to the host of this event, Mr. and Mrs. Yamaguchi. I am looking forward to the next years show.
I went to another show after this event, which could be a current California movement, “California JAM after Dark” which was hosted until 10pm. It was continuous surprise of the cars at show and volume of music and I had left after looking around. It was couple minutes of surprise by the radical custom seen there.
