Automobile Love in Tokyo: Part 1

Hello everyone and welcome back to Tiro Finale! Today, we will be taking a little bit of a detour from our usual content coverage to focus on another interest of mine. For those of you who have followed Tiro Finale for a while, you might have noticed that I am quite the gear head myself and what better country to go searching for some of the rarest, most desirable rides if not Japan? Even their police patrol cars are cool!

In this two part series, we will be exploring the various interesting finds that I have documented along the way in my recent trip to Tokyo. While I would have loved to have taken more photos, sometimes the opportunity just does not allow for it. For example, when a GT-R zooms past or a McLaren is sandwiched between several cars at a traffic light. In those instances, I always find it better to take the moment in there and then.

But, there are times where you would find these rare machines just parked. Either in a parking lot, by the side of a house or, worse still, abandoned, you just never know what you will find. Case in point, this pristine un-modded S14. These days, it is almost impossible to find an S chassis without some degree of modification on it. This particular two tone example has clearly seen better days judging from its paint and bodywork but, it remains otherwise untouched. Why? Probably because it is equipped with an automatic transmission and, I am guessing, not the SR20DET that most enthusiasts would want. 

Not exactly an itasha, but this Toyota Hiace belonging to  Hobby Japan somehow reminded me of the van in Durarara. This particular one was spotted outside Makuhari Messe while we were lining up to enter WonFes. 

The Nissan Crossing in Ginza recently opened sporting three stories of Nissan showroom and right on the ground floor is the Concept 2020 GT-R. More on this in Part 2 of the coverage as I ogle over this and several other neat rides in the showroom.

If you ever visit Tokyo, the one place that you should never miss is MegaWeb History Garage in Odaiba. With fixed and rotating exhibits, the amount of rare metal on display never cease to impress. Most importantly, all the exhibits can be viewed for free!

When I visited, the current exhibition was about Toyota's WRC rally cars of the early 90s until the early 2000s. 

When I was young, I thought Toyota's Celica was one of the coolest cars in production especially in rally guise with the iconic red, green and white livery. 

Getting the chance to see these gravel ripping monsters in the metal was a pretty riveting experience. Each of these rally machines still wore their battle scars with pride over the many rally stages competed all around the globe. 

Toyota even included a prototype rally car for display. This particular model was developed for the WRC but, never put into use or production. 

With Toyota once again returning to WRC competitions with their Yaris hatchback, this was probably an appropriate time to display their rally machines of the yesteryears. 

If you thought today's rally machines were radical, just take a look at what they developed for back then!

Today, rally racing does not have the popularity or flare that it once possessed in the 90s. Nevertheless, this has not stopped manufacturers from continuing their racing efforts.

Now that Toyota is back, can we please get a new Celica? 

Aside from the rare exhibits at the MegaWeb History Garage, located adjacent to it is Toyota's MegaWeb Showroom. The showroom doubles as both Toyota's largest showroom as well as a museum of sorts with new exhibits every so often.

One of the concept cars on display by Toyota was the SFR. This petite little sports car was poised to become the competitor to Honda's brilliant S660. Nothing has materialized since but, I am hoping Toyota sticks with production plans for it. 

Hybrids and electric vehicles are certainly the automobiles of the future whether you like it or not. 

Having seen the FT-1 in pictures online, I was floored when I got to see the real thing then and there. If Toyota's upcoming new Supra even looks anything remotely similar to this, they certainly have a winner on their hands. 

Ever since young, I have always had a love for cars and as I grow older, that love has not seemed to fade one bit. With that, I would like to thank you my readers for indulging me in a little of my other past times and hobbies for a little while. Rest assured, Tiro Finale will still remain to be a figure and anime blog first and foremost. Until the next time, thank you so much for reading and have yourself a wonderful day ahead!