Automotive Guilty Pleasures

[Slash]

I have a soft spot for Japanese coupes from the 1970s. Sure, they're like 4/5ths scale Japanese Monte Carlos and Thunderbirds, but for some reason, I just love their Barcalounger interiors and personal luxury aesthetic.


1972 Toyota Crown (MS75)


1975 Mazda RX-5 (Cosmo in the U.S.)


1979 Datsun 810 (Nissan Maxima)

These look so American.

 

[D.Kadettdriver]

Ninth gen T-Birds. This '84 Thunderbird in particular, which is currently for sale nearby. Powered by the 3.8 V6 (so, probably slow as ****), but I don't even really mind.

 

[INEEDNAWZZZ]

These look so American.

I love Japanese stuff to bits, but there is no denying that the majority of their earlier stuff was, shall we say, 'inspired' by what was popular elsewhere. This didn't just apply to sporty or luxurious stuff either. Even the more humdrum stuff got some faux American treatment:

Mid 70s Corolla, which supposedly had its front end based on a 1st gen Mustang. Take from that what you will.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As pug-faced as it is, I've become obsessed with the original Honda City, particularly the Turbo II with its swollen aero appendages.

I also have a soft spot for the Lancer O.Z. Rally, even though it is literally just a granny-spec Lancer with a spoiler and some small alloys.

 

[homeforsummer]

I'd say no guilt needed for the Honda City.

 

[Slash]

Yeah I am quite fond of the mid to late 70s Corollas for their resemblance to the Mustang II.

 

[R5]

As pug-faced as it is, I've become obsessed with the original Honda City, particularly the Turbo II with its swollen aero appendages.

I agree massively. Look strange, want 10.

 

[Niku Driver HC]

I found another of my old guilty pleasures, one that still lingers in my head:

The Nissan Almera, or more precisely the Nissan Almera N15 (its chassis code). I still enjoy seeing these everytime one passes by, I just can't explain it. It's one of the cars I have on my "first car" purchase list, and it won't leave it for a very long while. And then there's the straw that broke the camel's back:

Now, you may think that this is an Almera GTI, but it isn't. This is the Pulsar VZ-R, another magnificient case of "goddammit Japan", as it was a JDM-exclusive hot hatch. And of course, it proves that GT2 "translated" the car's name for English versions (both were called Almeras, which sort of makes sense as the chassis are the same, but the versions aren't), since this was never officially sold outside of Japan (same goes for its demented twin, the N1 version). And the reason why is it different? This here:

The NEO VVL engine, 1.6 liters and 175 hp of twin cam power, all things that never made it to Europe. The Almera GTI could only do 145 hp from an engine with the same size, which is very telling of the VZ-R's differences compared to its Euro brother. It's one of my favorite hot hatches, not to mention that it sounds glorious... (for me, at least)

 

[Liquid]

I've always really, really liked Nissan Almeras. Looks wise alone they were a breath of fresh air after the Bluebird and Sunny.

 

[Niku Driver HC]

I've always really, really liked Nissan Almeras. Looks wise alone they were a breath of fresh air after the Bluebird and Sunny.

Yeah, not that Sunnys and/or Bluebirds are common around here, but I can see your point. Oddly enough, I don't really like the more modern Almeras, they aren't special to me. Same goes of course to the new Pulsar, which hardly gives you pulse. (christ it's so dull as a car)

Also, fun fact: Did you know you could get a sedan version of the Pulsar VZ-R?

Yep, it's an actual thing. And not only that, the Sunny (!!) also had one! Unfortunately, neither had N1 versions, but I bet that hasn't stopped someone from slapping a N1 engine on one...

 

[Wiegert]

@Niku Driver HC For a moment I thought that was another Saab born through badge engineering.

 

[Niku Driver HC]

@Niku Driver HC For a moment in though that was another Saab born through badge engineering.

Which one, the Sunny?

 

[Wiegert]

Which one, the Sunny?

Pulsar. The VZ-R grille combined with the saloon body threw me off.

 

[Niku Driver HC]

Pulsar. The VZ-R grille combined with the saloon body threw me off.

Ah, that makes sense. Without the Nissan badge, then it can really throw you for a loop regarding the car's identity...

 

[homeforsummer]

Sunny.

Talking of the Sunny, one of my guilty pleasures is an offshoot from that car:

It's an unusual-looking, cheap-to-buy, targa. What more reason do I need?

 

[Clark]

 

[Sage Ages]

 

[SVX]

Always liked the old dull Corollas, especially FX-GTs.

And then there's this:

Swapped with a 4AGE Black Top. I'm in love...





Build thread here.

 

[Bo]

Don't ask why.

 

[Niku Driver HC]

Don't ask why.

I won't ask "why", but rather "what is that"?

 

[Nessy]

Don't ask why.

What car is that?

[EDIT]

Beat me too it. ^

 

[Bo]

I won't ask "why", but rather "what is that"?

FSO Ogar.

 

[Niku Driver HC]

FSO Ogar.

FSO? The same company who gave us the Polonez? No wonder I had never heard of it, FSO is not a company I know a lot about. I thought I was looking at a cheap-o Scimitar at first...

 

[Populuxe]

FSO Ogar.

Never heard of it. And that is very rare.

 

[Nessy]

Ahh.. FSO. I remember the Polonez Prima, but have never seen one of those.

 

[Bo]

FSO? The same company who gave us the Polonez? No wonder I had never heard of it, FSO is not a company I know a lot about. I thought I was looking at a cheap-o Scimitar at first...

Prototype coupe based off... you guessed it, a 125.

This version of it was a Polonez Coupe gone all Esprit-esque:

 

[Niku Driver HC]

Prototype coupe based off... you guessed it, a 125.

This version of it was a Polonez Coupe gone all Esprit-esque:

Oh boy... If anything, we can't accuse FSO of being inconsistent.

That thing looks like the bastard child of a Fiat X1/9 with the rear end of a Lancia Delta. A poor child, no less.

 

[Grandea GTR]

I have a penchant for car interiors with door-mounted side air vents.

 

[Heldenzeit]

I have a penchant for car interiors with door-mounted side air vents.

Reminds me of the XJ220 with its door mounted gauges.

 

[RandomCarGuy17]

 

[Sage Ages]

Late-80s 300E. US-market headlights and all.