Oct. 23, 2015
Toyota Remembers a Simpler Age at Classic Car Festival in Tokyo
Tokyo, Japan, October 23, 2015―The Toyota Automobile Museum will host its annual classic car festival at Meijijingu Gaien park in Shinjuku, Tokyo on November 28. This year's theme will be "lightweight cars without the frills," in honor of the quest to create simple, light, and efficient designs that represented exceptional value for money. A special display will showcase six historical models from the museum's collection, including a Franklin Series 9 (1918, United States) and a Flying Feather (1955, Japan). With the cooperation of Honda Motor Co., Ltd., this year's festival will also include Honda cars from the Honda Collection Hall.
A crosstown parade featuring approximately 100 privately owned classic cars from around the world will start shortly after the festival begins. The parade will be followed by an exhibition of cars from a variety of periods from the museum's collection and other special programs to promote and develop automobile culture and encourage interaction among car fans.
This year's festival will also feature a bigger Food Garage, which debuted last year, to make this a truly enjoyable event for car fans and their friends and families.
"With the warm support of car fans and the local community, we're proud to be hosting our eighth classic car parade under the autumn foliage here in Tokyo," said Toyota President Akio Toyota. "This will be a great event for car fans of all ages―including kids, who will have a rare chance to see unique classic cars."
| 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 details, and higher-quality body panels. The first Japanese car with a 3-speed automatic transmission and overdrive. |
| Vehicle | Details |
|---|---|
| Franklin Series 9 (1918, U.S.) |
The Franklin Series 9 was designed to be light, with an aluminum body, wood frame, and air-cooled engine. The car featured improved startability in cold weather, better riding comfort, long-life tires, and easier maintenance. |
| Flying Feather (1955, Japan) |
The Flying Feather was an attempt to deliver an inexpensive utility car to the masses amid the severe post-war economy. Too austere to attract a following, the Flying Feather was nonetheless a supremely rational car, with little waste on its ultra-lightweight body. |
| DAF 600 (1959, Netherlands) |
The DAF 600 was the first Dutch-built passenger car in the post-war period. The car boasted a continuously variable transmission (automatic) and all-wheel independent suspension, which were revolutionary for a compact car at that time. It was known for its easy operation and comfortable ride. |
| Chevrolet Corvair (1960, USA) |
The Corvair was designed to take on European compact cars. The car featured a spacious interior despite its compact size and came in a variety of configurations, helping it to win the hearts of drivers. |
| Toyota Publica Convertible (1963, Japan) |
A four-seat sedan with a soft-top roof, the Publica Convertible represented an entirely new "open sports" concept for its time. The car gained a following with its easy-to-operate convertible design. |
| Honda 1300 Coupe 9 (1970, Japan) From Honda Collection Hall |
The Honda 1300 Coupe 9 featured a flowing, elegant styling and a revolutionary Duo Dyna Air Cooling (DDAC) system for its air-cooled engine. This was Honda's last air-cooled engine, as the company shifted to water-cooled designs to satisfy more stringent emissions standards. |
- Note
- Rain might prevent display of certain vehicles.
| Date | November 28, 2015 |
|---|---|
| Time | 10:00-15:30 (regardless of weather, however specific items might be rescheduled) |
| Location | Meiji Memorial Picture Gallery, Meijijingu Gaien (1-1 Kasumigaoka-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo) |
| Admission | Free |
| Program | Time | Content | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening ceremony | 10:00-10:20 | ||
| Classic car parade (featuring approx. 100 privately owned vehicles) |
10:20-12:00 (approx.) |
Parade starting and finishing at the Meiji Memorial Picture Gallery (taking an approximately 11 km route through the Ginza district) | |
| Classic car exhibition | 11:00-15:30 (approx.) |
Exhibition featuring privately owned vehicles from the parade alongside vehicles from the Toyota Automobile Museum | |
| Classic car popularity contest | 10:00-14:45 | Contest in which visitors can vote for their favorite classic car from among the privately owned cars on display. | |
| Classic Car Circuit (CCC) | 12:30-15:00 |
|
|
| Classic Car Studio (CCS) | 12:30-15:00 | MC-hosted panel discussion featuring owner interviews; running commentary of events | |
| Opportunity to take commemorative photos in select vehicles | BMW Isetta (1959, Germany) |
11:00-15:00 | BMW acquired the license from Italy's Iso S.p.A. to manufacture this microcar with its distinctive front door. The Isetta became a beloved car for the masses during post-war recovery in Europe. |
| Jaguar XK150S (1961, UK) |
The XK150S is the successor to the XK120 and XK140, two sports cars that built Jaguar's reputation. The car gained widespread admiration for its modern, elegant design and high performance. | ||
| Chevrolet Corvette Stingray (1963, USA) |
The Sting Ray was the second-generation Corvette, America's only mass-produced sports car. The Corvette's first coupe, the model was dubbed the "Split-Window Coupe." The production cycle for this rare model lasted but one year. | ||
| Other events | 10:00-15:00 |
|
|
Downloads (Images)
-
-
- Toyopet Crown Model RS21
(lead vehicle for Classic Car Parade)
-
-
-
- Franklin Series 9
-
-
-
- Flying Feather
-
-
-
- 2014 classic car festival in Tokyo
-
-
-
- 2014 classic car festival in Tokyo
-
-
-
- Classic Car Parade at 2014 classic car festival in Tokyo
-
-
-
- Classic Car Parade at 2014 classic car festival in Tokyo
-
-
-
- Tokyo classic car festival Logo
-
