The Day That I Wished Would Never End…

My favorite event ever.

I suppose that’s a strong statement considering how many great automotive gatherings I’ve had the pleasure to visit, but if someone asks me what my single favorite event is I’d easily answer with “the JCCA New Year Meeting”.

There are so many different words I could use to describe the New Year Meeting experience, but I think the best one is “overwhelming”. I mean overwhelming in its most positive form. Too many amazing sights and sounds for the mind to process. The New Year Meeting spans the course seven hours, but if I had my way it would last seven days.

And I don’t mean that just in the sense that the event is good, but in the literal sense that a one day is not nearly enough time to see everything the New Year Meeting has to offer. There are just so many different sides to this gathering. So many storylines in this vintage automotive opera in the middle of Tokyo Bay.

I think most of the regular attendees come to the New Year Meeting for a specific purpose. Some come to see rare foreign and exotic classics. Some come to hunt for parts and collectables in the swap meet, some come only to cruise and hang with their buddies in the parking lot.

For a wide-eyed Yankee like myself though, it’s almost too good. 2013 marks my fourth New Year Meeting experience and it just gets better each year. Where do I even start?

As I learned when I attended this event for the first time several years ago, the parking lot is just as good if not better than the show itself. This year I decided I’d head straight to the parking lot upon arriving at Odaiba in the morning.

The main gates of the show hadn’t even opened yet and already the lot was jammed full of exciting machinery. I think many of these cars gathered before dawn to make the trek down to the Odaiba, or perhaps they headed here right after a night of street running?

Whatever the case, the New Year Meeting parking lots are unbelievably awesome. Every sect of Japan’s vintage car scene can be seen here, from full-on works replicas like this flared Mazda Savanna.

…to impossibly low street machines like this Z10 Toyota Soarer – a perennial favorite of the shakotanists. While there were very few of these cars within the main JCCA show, the parking lot was brimming with them.

“Sexy Night”, proclaims the windshield banner of this Celica XX kaido racer in full competition colors.

70 chassis Corolla? Plenty of those too. This sedan was looking very tasty dumped low on Equip 03s. Ready for battle.

Of course the S30 Fairlady Z could also be found in every style imaginable. I wanted to salute this Ibaraki-based kaido racer style ZG with its stars and stripes paint work.

Meanwhile, this stunningly beautiful Z432 presents a completely different take on the S30. I especially like the modest, works-inspired front chin spoiler.

If I had time I could do several posts full of nothing but Hakosuka Skylines. Hiking around the Odaiba area on Sunday, you’d encounter everything from fully restored GT-Rs and tough looking street replicas…

…to mind blowing kaido racers like frame-dragging Shinshi Racing KGC10 on its dramatically widened steel wheels. Scrape scrape!

I certainly wasn’t the only one hunting around for cool cars in the parking lot. The Ebina Racing 910 Bluebird was stopping everyone that walked by it. As you can see, it’s been built as a rather convincing replica of the Autobacs Super Silhouette racer from the early ’80s.

Corolla perfection. Not only did this 70 sedan have the style down, it was so clean you could eat off it. Unbelievable.

Of course the New Year Meeting isn’t just about Japanese cars. Vintage imports of every type could be found mixed among the sea of domestic vehicles. Here’s a beautiful Lancia Fulvia HF I stumbled across.

Elsewhere I caught this ’70 Road Runner sporting a pretty wicked stance. The Kawasaki number plates proudly state the cubic inch displacement of its big block Mopar V8.

Speaking of rumbling V8s, at one point I was walking down the street and heard the distinctive song of a Ford small block winding up. I turned just in time to catch this ’67 Shelby GT350 disappearing into the afternoon sun. Sensory overload.

Yes. All that, and we haven’t even gotten inside the actual show yet…

By early afternoon I finally headed inside the gates and joined the massive crowd of people enjoying the “official” New Year Meeting

While there are plenty of amazing cars that enter the show every year, the big crowds and the tightly packed spaces don’t make for the most ideal photographic conditions. I wandered the rows for a bit and shot what I could, then headed for one of the greatest parts of the event…

…the fleet market and vendor booth areas. After past year’s experiences I’ve learned to keep my wallet light at the New Year Meeting or risk blowing my entire trip budget on car parts or other rare goodies.

Of course even if I did bite the bullet for a set of wheels, over fenders, or something else, the logistics of getting them back to my garage in the states would be another challenge entirely. Maybe I should be thankful for that?

Oh sweet temptation. I’m not even going to talk about how cheap some of these wheels were compared to what they sell for in the US because I’d just regret not buying a set even more…

Then again there were plenty of lighter, less expensive things to blow money on as well. Vintage model kits anyone?

Steering wheels too. More of them than you can imagine.

Speaking of steering wheels, the Datsun Compe wheel is a legendary piece among classic Nissan owners. Peek inside any properly done S30 or Hakosuka and there’s a good chance you’ll see this wheel.

I’m a sucker for old magazines, so there was a lot to like here…

Again it became an issue of time. I could have spent hours just digging through these boxes of mags, but then I wouldn’t have had time to photograph any actual cars…

The same goes for the thousands of rare diecast cars being sold by various shops and individuals. I felt like I could have spent days hunting through these things. I did end up buying a few though, which I’ll share with you guys sometime later.

Stickers! I quite liked these Ossan (old man) and Niisan (older brother) decals. Fitting, given the type of cars we are talking about here.

With so much to see and so little time, I’d be completely happy if I woke up in a Bill Murray Groundhog Day scenario where every day was the JCCA New Year Meeting. Unfortunately when I woke up this morning in my hotel it was just another Monday….

No worries though. Lots more to come from Odaiba.

-Mike

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1

Mad jelly right about now. Too much rad stuff!

2

maan that looks awesome!!!
 
Quick question: have you ever seen a Nissan Sunny RZ-1 at one of those events? This is quite a rare car here in Europe, and I've also never seen even a picture of in here on Speedhunters.... I'd like to know because I own one :)

Author3

@sean klingelhoefer I'm still processing everything I saw on Sunday man!

Author4

@Davide Prata Thank you! You know I may have seen one or two, at the Mania Cruise a couple weeks ago. Quite a few unusual Nissans from the '80s there.

5

@Mike Garrett Thank you for your answer! I'm looking forward to the rest of this event :)

6

Nice to see the Elans and especially the Fulvia!

7

urrrgh awesome.

Author8

@maxproof Yeah! To be honest I wasn't quite sure what the Fulvia was until I had a close look. Not a car you see often on the streets of California (or Japan for that matter),

9

Super Silhouette cars are so awesome, and love the livery on the Celica XX... Can't wait to see the rest !

10
function over form

This is something i would like to visit for sure.
I am still waiting to see a Subaru Brat or a Shifter what ever they are called over sea's??

11

It'd be great if you guys would do a spotlight on Body Shop Happy and their cars sometime. They're one of my favorite shops in Japan and I really haven't seen that much about them, save for some pictures of their cars.

12

I was waiting for one of you guys to post the New Year Meeting...
Thank you times three !!
(I'll take that 2 door Skyline Japan kit).

13

I was wondering Mike, do you speak or at least understand some Japanese, or was someone (Dino?) there with you to translate?

14

I love their europa. These guys need a feature soon.

15

That green 432 stopped me right in my tracks. The owner has excellent styling taste.

16

Awesome write up Mike, definitely inspires me to go to Japan specially for a New Year meet. That Celica XX is wicked! Any chance you will be doing a secondary post with strictly photos and names of the chassis/model?

17

I just realized I saw that Celica XX in the background of one of your instagram posts.

18

the ossan and niisan stickers are hilarious!  hope you bought a pair :D

19

That green E70 4-door Corolla is beautiful.   I've looked through yahoo japan for used wheels and couldn't believe some of the low prices compared the US.  Great post of cars and all the cool stuff to buy.

20

That green Z is PERFECT

Author21

@ra21benj Yeah, you still have to figure shipping though which can add up. In the end still a lot cheaper than what you'd find in the states though!

Author22

@Frozzy Agreed. If I'm not mistaken, it was built by RS Start. Amazing stuff out of that shop.

Author23

@nugundam93 I should have! I did bring home a couple other random stickers though!

Author24

@nickleboe I was actually thinking of doing something a lot like that. Keep an eye out for it shortly!

Author25

@grandtouring Agreed. Simplicity can be so beautiful.

Author26

@Schmuppes I'm at the point where I can understand a fair amount of Japanese (especially if it's car talk!). My speaking skills aren't quite as hot, but I suppose I know enough to chat and ask questions.

Author27

@jzx81 No problem at all. I will never tire of shooting the New Year Meeting!

Author28

That's a good idea! One of us will have to try and get over there sometime.

Author29

On a couple occasions I've seen LHD Brats imported from the USA here. Japanese have a big attraction to LHD Japanese models from the states.

Author30

@danjapan13 Yeah they are just so wild you have to love them!

31

Thanks for the write up Mike!
Definitely giving me some determination to make it over to Japan in the future, if only I had the money haha
Looking forward to more posts about JCCA ^_^

32

@Mike Garrett Maybe you should reconsider your 240z project haha

Author33

@torino_san Thank you! One of the great things about the New Year Meeting is that it's right in the middle of Tokyo and very accessible via public transportation.

34

Awesomeness overload, definitely want to see more of this!

Author35

@VecTT Working on it as I type this :)

Author36

@grandtouring Haha. Word! If I were to keep my Z, I'd most likely end up trying to copy that 432.

37

I wish the meet was closer to TAS so a single trip could cover both!

38

Seeing you picked up some diecast cars, will we be seing a "collectables" type post coming again soon? :D

39

i saw ... E36 alpina

40

Lotus!

41

My biggest problem is the swap meet. I would go absolutely broke on stickers, mags, parts, toys etc. Id need two days at the show, one of cars and one for the stuff. I'll be there next year.. Im going to start saving now.

Author42

@majik16106 Yes I agree completely!

Author43

Yeah for sure! I've been grabbing plenty of shots with my SLR and my iphone when I come across random cool stuff. Expect a couple posts of that kind of stuff, most likely after I'm back home in the US and have a chance to recover haha.

Author44

Just one more cool car hanging around!

Author45

@LouisSoon Yeah I know what you mean. I think JCCA has done a nice job with the date though, as it seems the weather has been perfect every year they've had it!

46

This looks like so much funnnnnnnnnnnnnnn x__x

47

hey man i was there it was awesome just wish i new more japanese but will learn more and be back for sure next year i cant belive that i was there for the hole day and still didnt see half the cars that you have posted pics of im trying to find an guy there who has a rx3 gt steerin wheel for sale and sone other stuff i have picture of the stuff he had and remember ruffly were his stand was do you no what the best way of gey a hold of someone who had a stand there is any help would be great thanks
 
cory wilson
 
my email is corywilson360@gmail.com i can send you the picture i took if it would help

48

Those wheels :O Do want! And need!

49

The Groundhog Day reference is about summed it up for me. Thanks for the coverage.

50

The Groundhog Day reference is about summed it up for me. Thanks for the coverage.

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