Option — Shōwa Car Tuning & Buyers Guide (2000 Edition)

Editors’ afterword

…about Ennepetal…

One last word from the “Showa Cars” production team!

If this book made you think, “Ah, I really want a Showa-era car”…

Just go buy one! That’s all.

“Una-don,” now “U-ya”

“Donburi-ta,” now “Sideburns Sexy”

We made a book we can be proud of! I couldn’t be happier (Amuro Ray). It was fun! Many thanks to everyone who helped!

The first car I thought was cool has stayed cool ever since. Is that like imprinting in baby birds?

“Hozu,” now “Engineer”

I have owned seven cars so far, five of them Showa-era cars. They all had their share of trouble, but I enjoyed every one.

“Kemumaki,” now “Fumin”

I was a high-school senior when the Showa era ended. Looking back, my blue era ended then, and the red era began.

“China,” now “Horse Fool for Life”

“Tama DX,” now “Tama DX 2000 Type D”

I was assigned to cover the R, and as I researched its stock character and history, I found it is actually a really good car.

So, is it that car after all? Hmm, but I want to drive this one too. Maybe even in the 21st century, the cars we want will still be Showa-era cars.

“Hekenami,” now “Living God”

The dream cars I had always wanted but could never buy are all gathered in this book. I had fun making it, and I want to show it to my old friends.

“Hulk,” now “Pink Salon”

I lived on Lawson frankfurters and Karaage-kun. Sorry about that.

“Helmet,” now “Covered in it”

I recently let go of my AE86, and thinking about it makes me a little sentimental. It was slow, but a fun car.

“Omu-soba,” now “Fake Host”

I went from omelet noodles to a fake host, and now I’m “Rei-ni.” Where are these ever-changing nicknames headed?

“Dofuro,” now “Fuku-gura”

My EP is a 1995 model, but its body rigidity is pure Showa-era car! Basically, it is a Publica.

Gottsu

Takato, the light-blue Yankee car…

A cheap Showa-era car is perfect for practice. Mine is an EF, a proper Showa car. I’m still learning to drive.

1999 is almost over. Everyone is worried about Y2K, but the thing that scares me more is the TAS special-issue deadline!

Mamezo

Spark! Matsunobu

What was the biggest event of the Showa era? Maybe Maradona’s five-man dribble at the Mexico World Cup. That was awesome.

This work is fun because it is a team effort with colleagues who keep going late into the night even when exhausted. And thank you to everyone who bought the book.

Okamoto

In the Heisei era, using a phone while driving is forbidden. In the Showa era, mopeds sometimes needed no helmet. Accidents caused the change—please be careful.

The 700-series Shinkansen Nozomi I rode for a story was incredibly fast and comfortable! But I can’t love its styling—does that make me old-fashioned?

Buichi Uemura

My first car, bought 12 years ago, was an AE86. This brought back memories of those days when I drove it hard.

Masaru

My GX81 converted to JZX specification started making a strange noise after passing 120,000 km. A little person must be living inside it!

Dave

Takahiro Shiki

A T-type plug wrench I had just bought suddenly broke while I was working and injured me. I’ll forgive it because micro-minis are in fashion.

I own three cars now, two of them Showa-era models. They are still going strong and, somehow, better built than today’s cars.

Miyatsuchi

Koji Yoshizawa

I forced my way down a narrow road sized for five-number-plate cars and bent the overfenders on my Altezza backward. My brain must have been stuck on Showa-car copy!

ZERO

No time! Nothing is harder than this (Oka). It was tough! We are hiring—see the December issue of OPT2 for details!

AD-SKI

How did you like tuning Showa-era cars? By the time this book is in stores, maybe my engine will be getting tuned at a hot spring!

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