Apr. 22, 2015

Toyota Celebrates Vintage International Motorsport Culture
at 26th Classic Car Festival

 

Tokyo, Japan, April 22, 2015―The Toyota Automobile Museum will host its annual Classic Car Festival on May 24, headlined by exhibitions and running demonstrations of vintage racecars chosen in recognition of their esteemed contribution to international motorsports:

1930 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport (Italy)
1930 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport (Italy)

A famous sporty car in Italian red with an engine significantly smaller than its rivals, it was the first vehicle to win the Mille Miglia open-road race with an average speed of more than 100 km/h.

1930 Bentley 4 1/2 Litre (U.K.)
1930 Bentley 4 1/2 Litre (U.K.)

Bentley won Le Mans five times from the 1920s to the early 1930s. This success inspired the creation of the Bentley 4 1/2 Litre, a 4.5 liter touring car with a large body and big bore engine. The car on display boasts a typical British racing green exterior.

1926 Bugatti Type 35B (France)
1926 Bugatti Type 35B (France)

Covered in French blue, this is a Bugatti masterpiece. With devotion to functional beauty, you could say the shape of this vehicle is transformed into a work of art. It enjoyed enormous success as a mass produced racing car.

1918 Franklin Series 9 (U.S.A.)
1918 Franklin Series 9 (U.S.A.)

When many manufacturers increased size in pursuit of performance, Franklin took the unique path of an air-cooled engine and lighter weight that boasted excellent performance. With its air-cooled in-line six-cylinder engine and aluminum body, etc., it was loaded with the latest technology at the time.

1939 Delage Type D8-120 (France)
1939 Delage Type D8-120 (France)

Delage was an extremely progressive and exceptional racing car manufacturer that developed popular luxury touring cars in the 1930s. The D8-120 is one of the most beautiful models thanks to its iconic and classy French appearance.

This special exhibition—in addition to the festival's signature crosstown parade featuring approximately 100 pre-1985 privately owned cars from Japan, the U.S., and Europe—will provide an arena for car fans to communicate and share their passion for cars, while also aiming to promote automobile culture to a wider audience. The festival will be held at the Aichi World Expo 2005 Commemorative Park in Nagakute City, Aichi Prefecture.

Toyota President Akio Toyoda expressed his passion for cars and excitement for the event and said: "The classic car festival is supported by car fans across the world as well as local residents, and has grown to the point that 20,000 people visit each year. I would like to see more and more people come and experience the joy of automobiles."

New logo design for the Classic Car Festival

New logo design for the Classic Car Festival

Marking the 25th anniversary of the Toyota Automobile Museum, the Aichi spring show and the Tokyo autumn show will now be universally titled the Classic Car Festival with a new logo. The program has been further developed to include a Classic Car Circuit and a Classic Car Studio.

Overview of Toyota Automobile Museum Classic Car Festival

Date May 24, 2015
Time 9:00–16:00 (specific events may be rescheduled subject to weather conditions)
Main Location Oshibafu Hiroba at Aichi World Expo Commemorative Park, Nagakute City
Exhibits Approximately 100 privately owned classic cars; 11 cars from the Toyota Automobile Museum Collection
Admission Free
Details (see appendix for more information)
  1. Classic car parade
  • 9:00–9:15
    Start
  • 9:15–10:00
    Parade
  • 10:00–11:00
    Arrival
  1. Exhibitions, driving demonstrations, commemorative photos, and test rides
  • 11:00–15:30
    Car exhibitions
  • 11:50–12:40 and 13:40–14:30
    Classic Car Circuit (driving display around the venue)
  • 10:00–14:45
    Live coverage of events from a special Classic Car Studio booth
  • 09:30–16:00
    Commemorative photos
  • 12:30–13:00, 13:30–14:00 and 14:30–15:00
    Test Rides
  1. Other events
  • Traffic safety zone
    Traffic safety events and pedal-powered car rides for parents and children alike
  • Great East Japan Earthquake relief donation booth (09:30–16:00)
    Toyota will again be collecting donations to support the areas that were affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake. Collected funds will be donated to the Japan Red Cross.
  • Linimo Spring Greenery Walking Tour (starts 09:30–11:30, ends by 14:30)
    Participants will travel from Linimo Hanamizuki Dori Station to the Aichi World Expo Commemorative Park. The first 2,000 participants to make it to the final destination will receive a commemorative badge.
  • Market zone
    The museum shop as well as many local restaurants and eateries will have booths at the event.
    The first 1,000 people who show the pamphlet distributed at the event along with the museum admission ticket to the Museum Reception Counter in the Main Building will receive a gift.

To find out more about the Toyota Automobile Museum, visit http://www.toyota.co.jp/Museum/english/.

Appendix

2015 Toyota Automobile Museum Classic Car Festival in Aichi

Program Time Content
Classic car parade 9:15–11:00 The museum's Toyopet Crown Model RS21 (1960, Japan) will lead the 14 km parade, followed by approximately 100 pre-1985 privately owned cars from Japan, the U.S., and Europe.
Vehicle exhibition 11:00–15:30 Exhibition featuring privately owned vehicles from the parade alongside vehicles from the Toyota Automobile Museum
Classic Car Circuit 11:50–12:40
13:40–14:30
Driving display featuring five of the museum's vehicles (see below) and 20 privately owned vehicles (scheduled)
Classic Car Studio 10:00–14:45 Live coverage of the event, the Classic Car Studio, and interviews with car owners
Commemorative photos Jaguar XK150S
(1961, UK)
9:30–16:00 The Jaguar XK series represents the type of sports car that enjoyed high popularity during the early 1960s. Servo-assisted disc brakes on the XK 150 led to triumph at Le Mans and these were included as a selling point on all wheels of the XK 150.
Chevrolet Impala
(1959, USA)
This beauty sports large tailfins that extend horizontally and the rear style is reminiscent of a cat's eyes. Mass-market vehicles in the U.S. during the late 1950s would commonly exceed 5 meters in length and engine displacement of 5 liters or more. These cars composed a market that was unprecedented worldwide.
Test rides Ford Model T Depot Hack
(1914, USA)
  A body designed to transport both people and belongings was assembled by external operators and installed on this Ford Model T's chassis. It is the original form of the present day station wagon. This is a valuable opportunity to ride in a vehicle that is over 100 years old!
Jeepney
(1991, Philippines)
12:30–13:00
13:30–14:00
14:30–15:00
This vehicle is widely used as a bus by the general public in the Philippines. It came about by converting jeeps disposed of by the US army. Nowadays, they are mostly made from Japanese light-duty trucks with Philippine-made stainless steel bodies and utilize a variety of used parts. The attention-getting ornamentation is also a feature.
LTI TX1(London taxi)
(2001, UK)
  Introduced in 1997, this is the successor to the familiar Austin FX used as London taxis for almost 40 years since 1958. It continues the tradition of the London taxi which is able to fit through narrow spots and features a turning radius of 3.8 meters!
All events 9:30–16:00
  • Traffic safety zone
  • Great East Japan Earthquake relief booth
  • Market zone, etc.

Lead Vehicle at Toyota Automobile Museum Classic Car Festival Classic Car Parade

Vehicle Details
Toyopet Crown Model RS21
(1960, Japan)
A modified version of the first-generation Crown with enhanced engine performance, changes to interior and exterior design detail, and higher quality body panels. The first Japanese car with a 3-speed automatic transmission and overdrive.

Classic Car Circuit

Bugatti Type 35B
(1926, France)
Covered in French blue, this is a Bugatti masterpiece. With devotion to functional beauty, you could say the shape of this vehicle is transformed into a work of art. It enjoyed enormous success as a mass produced racing car.
Bentley 4 1/2 Litre
(1930, U.K.)
Bentley won Le Mans five times from the 1920s to the early 1930s. This success inspired the creation of the Bentley 4 1/2 Litre, a 4.5 liter touring car with a large body and big bore engine. The car on display boasts a typical British racing green exterior.
Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport
(1930, Italy)
With an engine significantly smaller than its rivals, it was the first vehicle to win the Mille Miglia open-road race with an average speed of more than 100 km/h. A famous sporty car in Italian red.
Delage Type D8-120
(1939, France)
Delage was an extremely progressive and exceptional racing car manufacturer that developed popular luxury touring cars in the 1930s. The D8-120 is one of the most beautiful models thanks to its iconic and classy French appearance.
Franklin Series 9
(1918, USA)
When many manufacturers increased size in pursuit of performance, Franklin took the unique path of an air-cooled engine and lighter weight that boasted excellent performance. With its air-cooled in-line six-cylinder engine and aluminum body, etc., it was loaded with the latest technology at the time.
Note
Rain might prevent display of certain vehicles.

Getting to the Venue

As traffic is expected to be congested around the venue, measures will be implemented to encourage use of the Linimo train line (such as promotions and free shuttle buses).

  • Advantage of using Linimo
    If you present the rider certificate distributed at the ticket gate of the Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park Station of the Linimo (8:30–16:00) at the Information Kiosk at Oshibafu Hiroba or the Reception Counter of Main Building of the Toyota Automobile Museum at Moricoro Park, you will receive a free day pass to the Toyota Automobile Museum.
  • Free shuttle buses will be traveling among three bus stops within Nagakute City every 15 minutes between 9:00 and 17:00.
    Bus stops
    Aichi World Expo 2005 Commemorative Park Station, Nagakute Onsen Gozarasse, and Toyota Automobile Museum
    Park-and-ride is available for those who will drive to the event
    A temporary parking lot (free; accommodates 400 cars) will be provided on the south side of the Toyota Automobile Museum.
    Switching to the Linimo at Geidai-Dori Station takes the rider to the Aichi World Expo 2005 Commemorative Park Station in 3 minutes.

Sponsors, Co-sponsors, etc.

Sponsors
Aichi Prefecture, Nagakute City, Aichi Prefectural Board of Education, Nagakute City Board of Education, Nagakute Kankou Suisin Kaigi
Co-sponsors
Aichi Urban Development Association, Aichi Rapid Transit Co., Ltd., Nagakute Onsen Gozarasse / Agurin Mura
Supporters
Toyota City Cultural Promotion Foundation, Toyota City junior marching band, Nagakute Society of Commerce and Industry

Downloads (Images)

  • Previous venue
    Previous Classic Car Festival venue
  • 2014 parade start
    2014 Classic Car Festival
  • 2014 parade
    2014 Classic Car Festival
  • 2014 parade finish
    2014 Classic Car Festival
  • 2014 demonstration
    2014 Classic Car Festival
  • 2014 demonstration
    2014 Classic Car Festival
  • 2014 test drive
    2014 Classic Car Festival
  • 2014 Traffic Safety Zone
    2014 Classic Car Festival
  • 2014 children's pedal cars
    2014 Classic Car Festival
  • 2014 Great East Japan Earthquake Charity Collection
    2014 Classic Car Festival
  • 2014 lottery
    2014 Classic Car Festival
  • Memorabilia photograph (Jaguar XK150S)
    Jaguar XK150S
  • Memorabilia photograph (Chevrolet Impala)
    Chevrolet Impala
  • Test drive Vehicle (Ford Model T Depot Hack)
    Ford Model T Depot Hack
  • Test drive Vehicle (Jeepney)
    Jeepney
  • Test drive Vehicle
    LTI TX1
  • Lead car (Toyopet Crown RS21 Model)
    Toyopet Crown RS21
  • Demonstration vehicle (Bugatti Type 35B)
    Bugatti Type 35B
  • Demonstration vehicle (Bentley 4 1/2 litre)
    Bentley 4 1/2 Litre
  • Demonstration vehicle (Alpha Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport)
    Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport
  • Demonstration vehicle (Delage Type D8-120)
    Delage Type D8-120
  • Demonstration vehicle (Franklin Series 9: Pre-restoration)
    Franklin Series 9: Pre-restoration