Hello from Tokyo
03-19-2010, 01:00 AM
#1
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Hello from Tokyo
Hello, this is Sangetsu writing from Tokyo Japan. I've been a Mopar fan since I was in high school, and have owned several Plymouth and Dodge muscle cars over the years (as well as a few others).
Needless to say, Mopar vehicles are not that common in Japan (though I do see them from time to time). I would love to buy another one someday, and bring it to Japan, but I'll have to see what happens.
Cars I have owned:
'66 Barracuda Formula S
'70 Challenger 383
'70 Challenger 340 convertible
'70 Challenger R/T 383
'70 Charger R/T
'71 'cuda 340
'71 Roadrunner 383
'71 Challenger R/T
'71 Charger R/T
'72 Demon 340
'73 'cuda 340
'74 Roadrunner GTX
'74 'cuda ("s" code with factory 318)
It's been a long time since I last owned a Mopar, and I miss them sorely. My last American car was a 2006 Pontiac GTO.
I'm looking forward to reading about Mopars again, and perhaps to share some of the things I know about them.
よろしくお願いします
Needless to say, Mopar vehicles are not that common in Japan (though I do see them from time to time). I would love to buy another one someday, and bring it to Japan, but I'll have to see what happens.
Cars I have owned:
'66 Barracuda Formula S
'70 Challenger 383
'70 Challenger 340 convertible
'70 Challenger R/T 383
'70 Charger R/T
'71 'cuda 340
'71 Roadrunner 383
'71 Challenger R/T
'71 Charger R/T
'72 Demon 340
'73 'cuda 340
'74 Roadrunner GTX
'74 'cuda ("s" code with factory 318)
It's been a long time since I last owned a Mopar, and I miss them sorely. My last American car was a 2006 Pontiac GTO.
I'm looking forward to reading about Mopars again, and perhaps to share some of the things I know about them.
よろしくお願いします
03-19-2010, 04:52 AM
#5
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In my scrapbook at home. I owned these cars in the late '80s when they were cheap. Believe it or not, the most expensive car on that list cost me only $1500, and 7 of the cars on that list cost less than $500.
Those were the days...
My friends and I used to drive around and look for old muscle cars to buy, fix up, and resell. We didn't make much money (who knew then how valuable they would become?), but we had a lot of fun.
I used to be a sometimes member of the DC (Direct Connection) car club in Orange County, CA at that time. If anyone here was associated with the club back then, I was the guy who drove the 70 B5 blue Challenger Convertible, and worked at the Super Shops in Garden Grove.
My garage right now is rather empty, I haven't gotten around to buying a car since I moved to Japan a few years ago, my main means of transportation right now is a '54 Schwinn Phantom bicycle. It's been restored, and gets a lot of looks around town, but it's not very fast.
The guy in the apartment building across the street from me has a '70 440 6-pack 'cuda, but he rarely drives it as he can't seem to keep it running right. I would love to buy it, but the annual registration fee for cars in Japan is partly based on engine size. For cars with engines over 7 liters, the tax is about $1300 USD per year, and insurance would still be additional. But if he were to sell it to me cheaply enough, I might be tempted...
Those were the days...
My friends and I used to drive around and look for old muscle cars to buy, fix up, and resell. We didn't make much money (who knew then how valuable they would become?), but we had a lot of fun.
I used to be a sometimes member of the DC (Direct Connection) car club in Orange County, CA at that time. If anyone here was associated with the club back then, I was the guy who drove the 70 B5 blue Challenger Convertible, and worked at the Super Shops in Garden Grove.
My garage right now is rather empty, I haven't gotten around to buying a car since I moved to Japan a few years ago, my main means of transportation right now is a '54 Schwinn Phantom bicycle. It's been restored, and gets a lot of looks around town, but it's not very fast.
The guy in the apartment building across the street from me has a '70 440 6-pack 'cuda, but he rarely drives it as he can't seem to keep it running right. I would love to buy it, but the annual registration fee for cars in Japan is partly based on engine size. For cars with engines over 7 liters, the tax is about $1300 USD per year, and insurance would still be additional. But if he were to sell it to me cheaply enough, I might be tempted...
03-20-2010, 03:00 AM
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03-20-2010, 06:05 AM
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No doubt. Of all the cars, my favorites were the Challenger convertible and the '70 Charger. I took the Challenger for long drives to Arizona and New Mexico, nothing like driving with the top down on a warm summer night.
The Charger was Sublime green with a white vinyl top, white stripes, and white upholstery. It came with the super track pack (disk brakes and Dana, etc.), and simply ran; it would leave rubber on the ground for as long as you kept the pedal pushed.
Of course, I miss the GTO as well. I had a 1966 model when I was in high school, and I always wondered what it would have been like to have bought such a car when it was new. It was ironic that I ended up buying the same car, but a 40 year newer model. Of course, had the new Challenger been out in 2006, I would have jumped on it.
The Charger was Sublime green with a white vinyl top, white stripes, and white upholstery. It came with the super track pack (disk brakes and Dana, etc.), and simply ran; it would leave rubber on the ground for as long as you kept the pedal pushed.
Of course, I miss the GTO as well. I had a 1966 model when I was in high school, and I always wondered what it would have been like to have bought such a car when it was new. It was ironic that I ended up buying the same car, but a 40 year newer model. Of course, had the new Challenger been out in 2006, I would have jumped on it.
03-21-2010, 01:42 AM
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A.K.A Bob Dodge
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03-21-2010, 05:53 AM
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One of my friends is looking at a new Challenger SRT in Tokyo, the dealer wants 8 million yen (about $80k) for it.
03-21-2010, 07:07 AM
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Mopar Lover
03-25-2010, 11:23 PM
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Because anything made in America gets a premium price on the market. There are no special import fees or taxes, but dealers charge what people are willing to pay (like the "market value adjustment" American dealers sometimes add to the sticker price of certain cars). It would have been cheaper for him to fly to LA, buy one at a car lot, and ship it himself.
One of the most popular vehicles for the young and trendy set here is the Dodge Ram van. Amazingly enough these things sell for triple in Japan than what they go for in America. I saw an '91 Dodge fan sell for $8k just a couple of months ago.
One of the most popular vehicles for the young and trendy set here is the Dodge Ram van. Amazingly enough these things sell for triple in Japan than what they go for in America. I saw an '91 Dodge fan sell for $8k just a couple of months ago.
