25+; Classic Japan 2018

After finding out about the Classic Japan show, it was very much on my radar. And boy, it did not disappoint.

The Classic Japan Show has been held every year in Melbourne since 2011, and showcases Japanese cars that are at least 25 years old. This year the event was held at a bigger venue than previous years to support the growing number of entrants and enthusiasts.

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This past show, over 350 cars would come to Birrarung Marr for the annual gathering, varying from R32 Skylines to 1970's Celicas.  It's important to note that $5,000 was raised for the Lost Dogs Home, so it was all for a good cause too!

It was amazing to see the level of hard work and execution put into a lot of these builds, something that is vital for any car show or meet to be successful. ​

Speaking of variety, let me go through some of the cars that really stood out.

Probably my favourite, and one car that attracted a lot of attention was the bagged Toyota Stout, wrapped in a Guinness style livery.

​It even came fitted with a beer can as a shift knob, and a compressed air tank that worked really well with the rest of the build. Hat's off to the owner!

This Suzuki MightyBoy definitely caught my attention, as it was made to look like the Tofu deliver AE86 in Initial D.

The tray cover was sticker bombed, and was towing a Mighty Boy trailer with a BBQ in the back.
Anyone want some Barbecued Tofu?

This Nissan Patrol was hiding something under the bonnet, a twin turbo V8!

Or maybe an SR20 swap is more your thing?

Of course, you cant forget that Classic Japan isn't just about cars! Quite a few bikes were on display too!

​No matter what JDM car or bike you were interested in, there was something for everyone at Classic Japan. (Unless you like JZA80 Supras. Maybe in two years time?)

Rollin' on Out

​Probably the best part of any car meet or show is watching the cars roll out. The sound of turbo spools and carbureted engines are still quite easy to recall. And you can't forget about the smell of exhaust fumes and methanol. Yeah, a brief smell of methanol. 

​These classic Japanese cars plus the Melbourne backdrop sure was a combination for some cool shots.

Going back to engine sounds, this Rotary swapped Datsun 1200 drag ute was without a doubt the loudest car at the show. So loud, it probably made all the other rotary powered wet themselves with fear!

I think it's definitely safe to congratulate the Toyota Car Club of Australia on an amazing and organised show, and for raising $5,000 for the Lost Dog's Home in the process.

Bonus Gallery