Tokyo Coffee & Cars: The German Edition

Japan never stops impressing. The sheer amount of collectable metal that exists in this country is simply mind-blowing, to the point that it’s hard to really quantify just what is tucked away deep in collections or at the back of some dusty barn out in the boonies.

So you can expect to see some pretty nice cars show up at any car meeting in Japan, and even more so if the meet is held in the heart of Tokyo.

german_cc_tokyo_dino_dalle_carbonare_03

This is the second event of a new meet – Tokyo Coffee & Cars – that’s being put together through a collaboration of Octane magazine (Japan edition), Ralph Lauren, and an events company. The two first gatherings have been themed, with the inaugural meet held in October open only to British cars, while this second one was dedicated to German metal.

german_cc_tokyo_dino_dalle_carbonare_04

Seeing as the British event had a pretty big turnout, I wanted to make sure I didn’t miss shooting the German-themed follow-up. And it didn’t disappoint; there was much to drool over in the Tokyo Prince Hotel parking lot, starting off in the Porsche camp with this meticulous 964 3.6 Turbo.

german_cc_tokyo_dino_dalle_carbonare_46

It was parked next to a pair of original Turbos – a welcoming sight for everyone who arrived through the gates on this cold autumn morning.

german_cc_tokyo_dino_dalle_carbonare_01

For the fans of a rawer, naturally aspirated 911, this 2.7 RS commanded attention as it slowly drove through to join a bunch of other air-cooled cars at the far side of the parking lot.

german_cc_tokyo_dino_dalle_carbonare_27

I’ve seen this yellow 993 around Tokyo a few times; it’s hard to miss with a nicely executed look that draws inspiration from the Porsche model it ended up parking next to. The Fuchs-look wheels and ducktail spoiler set it off rather nicely, don’t you think?

german_cc_tokyo_dino_dalle_carbonare_47

Upon entering the meet I was given a number to place on my dashboard and directed to a corner where some other BMWs were parked up.

german_cc_tokyo_dino_dalle_carbonare_28

I still have to give you guys a proper introduction to Project Drop Top 2.0, but I think I will do so once I get the first round of mods fitted.

This car has the BMW version of an ‘air scarf’ that shoots hot air onto and around your neck from a couple of vents underneath the headrest. It means you can get away with top-down motoring, even on chilly days.

Shall I ignore the A90 Supra that parked up next to me? I’ll let you guys unleash in the comments… please entertain me!

german_cc_tokyo_dino_dalle_carbonare_23

This cream-colored 928 S4 was the reason I decided to follow up this event with a post. I published a picture of it on my social channels and was bombarded with messages asking me to post hi-res images. Well, here you go…

german_cc_tokyo_dino_dalle_carbonare_26

It’s easily one of the cleanest 928s I’ve seen, let alone being finished in such a rare color. Do you remember the abandoned one I found?

Parked behind the 928 was what I can only describe as 356 perfection, a car meticulously restored and I’m sure looking even cleaner than the day it rolled off the production line in 1956.

german_cc_tokyo_dino_dalle_carbonare_30
german_cc_tokyo_dino_dalle_carbonare_34

The biggest surprise of all came when Japan’s only Singer build rolled in. I heard it a mile away, its fully rebuilt and massaged Ed Pink 4.0-liter flat-six sounding pissed off with its lumpy cams.

I hold these cars in the highest of regards and I don’t really care what the purists think. I was once lucky enough to sample a Singer 911 in the canyons outside LA, an experience I will forever cherish. In fact, that’s a story I still want to share with you guys some day. I thought the images were totally lost to a failed hard drive, but we’ve since been able to retrieve a whole bunch of them.

german_cc_tokyo_dino_dalle_carbonare_08

Moments after the Singer made its jaw-dropping entrance, this true unicorn arrived at the entrance gate, oozing elegance like only a piano black 300 SL can. Gangster points for the owner rolling in with his gullwing door swung open too!

german_cc_tokyo_dino_dalle_carbonare_20

The 300 SL had a steady crowd around it for the entire morning, and it’s not hard to see why. That interior – speechless.

german_cc_tokyo_dino_dalle_carbonare_07

It was nice to see a 914 in the lines of cars too. This is a model often snobbed by the 911 guys, but it’s still a Porsche and one that steers like a proper driver’s car to boot.

german_cc_tokyo_dino_dalle_carbonare_57

While the BMW showing wasn’t so bad with a few M3s and a Z8, it was Alpina that stole the show. Firstly, they officially entered with a small display of their latest cars, including the potent new B3.

That was cool, but it was the line-up of Alpina classics that really wowed the audience, starting with this white 535i E28-based B10 3.5 from 1986. 261hp might not sound like much these days, but back in the mid-’80s it made for a pretty fast – and oh-so-sweet-sounding – high performance sedan.

german_cc_tokyo_dino_dalle_carbonare_10
german_cc_tokyo_dino_dalle_carbonare_63

If you like them extra rare, check out this B6 3.5S based on an E30 M3 but powered by Alpina’s reworked 3.5L six cylinder, as used in the B10.

german_cc_tokyo_dino_dalle_carbonare_64

So pretty much from the beginning of the M3 lineage, Alpina has had their own interpretation of it. Which one would you go for?

german_cc_tokyo_dino_dalle_carbonare_37

This little Alpina trio was completed with a narrow-body C2 based on the E30 325i.

german_cc_tokyo_dino_dalle_carbonare_39

A couple of spaces up was another rarity, a car owned by the founder of Nicole, Japan’s official Alpina importer.

This model was built on the E12 528i from the late-’70s, but thanks to a turbo setup was able to generate 300hp and 462Nm of torque. That output made the Alpina B7 Turbo one of the fastest sedans of its era. I’d love to feel the turbo lag in this thing!

german_cc_tokyo_dino_dalle_carbonare_42

It was probably my favorite Alpina at the event.

german_cc_tokyo_dino_dalle_carbonare_17

Another car from the same collection was this Z1 Alpina. Apparently only 66 of these were ever made, and this particular car is the very first one. It was the cool disappearing (half) doors that made this first Z car (no relation to the Fairlady Z) so unique.

german_cc_tokyo_dino_dalle_carbonare_18

Curiously though, the Z1 was never supposed to be a true performance car, hence why BMW equipped it with the 2.5L M20 straight six. In stock form this engine pushed out 168hp, while in the Alpina version of the car it was rated at closer to 200hp – hardly exhilarating numbers.

german_cc_tokyo_dino_dalle_carbonare_44

But what this roadster lacked in outright performance it made up for with its unique open top appearance and creamy-smooth straight-six soundtrack.

german_cc_tokyo_dino_dalle_carbonare_19

With only 12,500km on the odometer, this Z1 is a true collectable.

german_cc_tokyo_dino_dalle_carbonare_13

Crazily, there were two other Z1s present – one more Alpina and this regular (if you could even call it that) BMW iteration.

german_cc_tokyo_dino_dalle_carbonare_45

The event organizers quickly realized that the Singer was parked too far away from the main area, so they had the owner move it, in the process creating an impressive line-up of Porsches.

german_cc_tokyo_dino_dalle_carbonare_56

Let’s not forget a few of the more modern 911s.

german_cc_tokyo_dino_dalle_carbonare_49

Even as the event neared its end, cars were still arriving, so there were always new things to see.

Curiously enough though, there was only one Audi that showed up – a TTRS that didn’t stay for long. I also heard that no station wagons were allowed into the meet, which honestly makes no sense at all given all the performance wagons that German manufacturers are renowned for. It’s the reason I didn’t bring along Project Quattro. This really seemed like a big oversight from the organizers, and I’m sure it didn’t sit well with all the RS3/4/6 Avant owners, not to mention the RSQ/AMG/M SUV guys (Alpina had their demo X4 there). Hopefully the ‘no wagon’ rule is reversed for next time; there was definitely plenty of space left in the carpark for them.

german_cc_tokyo_dino_dalle_carbonare_50

Cabriolets were allowed of course, meaning I could actually bring something, and we could all feast our eyes on this W124 320 CE pairing.

german_cc_tokyo_dino_dalle_carbonare_51
german_cc_tokyo_dino_dalle_carbonare_55

As is the norm in Japan, both cars were in excellent condition despite the fact that they had obviously been used extensively over their close-to-30-year life.

Too bad there weren’t any W201 190E 2.5-16 Evo or Evo 2s in attendance; they would have represented the Benz camp rather well. I should tell the J-Auto guys to bring some of their cars over next time.

german_cc_tokyo_dino_dalle_carbonare_58

One of the last cars to arrive was this vintage 911 that had been resto-modded in a simple yet extremely effective way. Some simple color matching and a few modern touches to bring its inner functionality and classic beauty through.

german_cc_tokyo_dino_dalle_carbonare_61

When the Singer’s engine was put on display, everyone flocked over for a look – yours truly included.

german_cc_tokyo_dino_dalle_carbonare_60

Talk about beautiful inside and out. Singer has managed to do the impossible – make a 964 engine look less like a washing machine. Those intake plenums with the filter hidden away in the center section certainly are a superb solution and a big reason that so many ancillaries were able to be removed. And considering this is a five-year-old build, the quilted purple leather heat shielding/trim has stood up to the test of time really well. That’s what you pay for though.

german_cc_tokyo_dino_dalle_carbonare_62

It’s purple to match the interior color chosen for this particular commission.

german_cc_tokyo_dino_dalle_carbonare_59

That’s all from the German edition of Tokyo Coffee & Cars. Now the question is, do you want to have a look at the British-themed event from the month prior? How many die-hard fans of English cars do we have? Let me know in the comments section, and if enough people put their hands up I’ll throw a quick gallery together.

Dino Dalle Carbonare
Instagram: dino_dalle_carbonare
dino@speedhunters.com

ADVERTISEMENT

Comments



Comments are closed.

55 comments

by Oldest
by Best by Newest by Oldest
1

cool meet, lets see the british cars too. there's a lot of nice minis in japan that are nicely modded

Author2
Dino Dalle Carbonare

Most cool cars in Japan are nicely modded haha

3

What? You go to a Coffee and Cars and don't even mention the Coffee??? Aye yai yai ! What'sa matta for you? Was it Segafreddo?? or Moak? Hahah! Yes, please show us the english edition. I'd also love to see your canyon run in L.A. Great photography, as always Signore.

Author4
Dino Dalle Carbonare

Coffee was from Ralph's, Ralph Lauren's coffee shop in Omotesando. Line was too long, prices too high, so I preferred to shoot away and then make myself a double shot of Carraro coffee at home after the event. Sorry, but don't get an Italian started on coffee haha

5

Maybe I missed the point but did they had any rule that doesn't allow modified cars? Seems there is a lack of RWBs in there.
Regarding the A90: I'm tired of all the negatives everyone throwing on this car. Toyota did approach Yamaha for the JZ engines and every one was happy, after a couple of decades the JZ couldn't meet the new standards so they did approach the best straight 6 available in the current market well,this time it's including more than the engine package this time but you know the collaboration is cutting a huge amount of R&D which is making the A90 a reality (same as the 86) but it's still a Toyota (Japanese not German).
For the Alpina, B7 is always the choice.

Author6
Dino Dalle Carbonare

I don't think it's a matter of "modified cars aren't allowed." It's that modified cars didn't come. It's a whole different scene with little crossover due to the location and the way the event is advertised and marketed. If modified cars came, they'd need half of central Tokyo to fit them all lol

7

It's not because they got a B58, it's because they got the whole Z4 shoved into the "Supra" body.

8

Well, as I stated before, this time it was more than just the engine but I see it as a good starting point to cut the R&D and revive the Supra. They've already started improving it and a new manual gearbox is rumored.
BMW took the MINI years ago and now they have their 1 series (too bad it's front wheel drive now). Toyota took the Z4, made a coupe version of it, starting improving the platform (with a very nice body design to me), and the next upgrades/generations will be totally Toyota. I see it a win/win for both Toyota and us. Maybe I'm too much optimistic this time.

9

What a weird rule that station wagons aren't accepted. Fast German station wagons are the standard in Germany itself. And who doesn't like an RS2 or an older RS4? Would have fit in nicely, just block out the newer generations which are boats instead of cars so it won't ruin the atmosphere.
Regarding the English version, yes sir!

Author10
Dino Dalle Carbonare

Yeah I don't think they will be putting that restriction for the next one. I've talked to a few Avant owners that heard the same thing and didn't bother coming. Too bad.

11
Jay Soh Tsu Chung

You said exactly the same words that I am about to write!

And agreed on the British month meet as well!

12

Awesome photos. Curious to see the photos from British cars meet as well.

Author13
Dino Dalle Carbonare

OK, it seems like the interest is there so I'll make sure I prep that set as well over the holidays while I sip on wine waiting for Santa to arrive lol

14

... no wagons...

Author15
Dino Dalle Carbonare

Big booboo...

16

Nice coverage!

I was in Japan for the first time back in February. I was walking down the street from my AirBnb in Osaka when I randomly saw a silver BMW Z8 in what looked to be some shipping company. It seemed like the owner worked at that building because it was there the next day too! What are the chances of it being the same car that made the drive to Tokyo considering its rarity?

I'm glad you brought up the abandoned 928. Is there any chance for a feature on the abandoned vehicles? I recall the Porsche, Ferrari, RS200, MR2, Alpine, and Countach (might've been Ron with that one).

17

It's said that a house is the most expensive purchase a man will make in his life - unless he buys a Porsche 928.

Author18
Dino Dalle Carbonare

haha that's a good one. So is a 964...but more about that in 2021

19

I like air-cooled 911s, but I'll never understand the appeal of wingless, narrow-bodied examples. 911s should always have wide fenders and big tails.

20

IMO your rule only applies to 997-generation or later. I see nothing wrong with older generations with narrow bodies and no wings.

21

I didn't either until a couple years ago the only thing speedhunters could post were rwb(s), then the narrowbody stock examples became super appealing.

Author22
Dino Dalle Carbonare

I like them all, narrow, wide and stupid wide!

23

Cool, wish I could have been there. Yeah, I'd be interested to see what they do to Mini's there. Thanks Dino

24

It wasn't long ago when I found myself bored with car shows, meet ups. I saw this and I'd be so happy to be there now, just to have some coffee and hang out with my f56.

25

British meet please.

Author26
Dino Dalle Carbonare

Ok!! Coming up

27
thathellastockusdm3rdgenyaris@instagram

DAS WUNDERBUAR

decom_dd6f18cf9b32d383f5c2ce1cb0a04784_5fdb91dc218c5.pngdecom_dd6f18cf9b32d383f5c2ce1cb0a04784_5fdb91dc218c5.png
Author28
Dino Dalle Carbonare

OK?

29

still dissapointed in the lack of mercedes coverage that seems to abound here, other than a token 190e or a 300sl all you ever see are bimmers and fancy vdubs with rwb kits again and again

Author30
Dino Dalle Carbonare

I direct you to the W124s towards the end do the post. That said, if you do mean generally on SH, we've featured shops like J-Auto who are down the road from me and a few cool MB builds over the years. Which cars are you specifically keen to see more of?

31
thathellastockusdm3rdgenyaris@instagram

thats whats popular right now unfortunately, most kids dont have the balls to modify something bigger and just want to do whats easy.

32

Air suspension, massive wheels, ECU swap and called it a build.

33

Good turn out; very nice examples on display. These Chinks are really enjoying the good life!

34

Wow. Racism has no place in the car community. It is a shame this site does not have moderators, as your comment is unworthy of this community.

Author35
Dino Dalle Carbonare

We moderate a best we can. That's totally unacceptable.

36

I am choosing to believe that this is the same abandoned 928 from you older article! Unless this isnt LHD or someone with a sharper eye can tell me their different years, then one got saved. Could even be the same wheels it sat on based on the dirt, a fresh repaint would explain the cleanness. I mean, 3 years is plenty of time of a rebuild!

Author37
Dino Dalle Carbonare

Doubtful, that car is still there

38

Yes, please put up the British event!

Author39
Dino Dalle Carbonare

Wow so many people seem to be into that. I will don't worry

40

I hope to see a DTM-themed Z1 with an Evo II-spec S14 under the hood one of these days. It would be the perfect stablemate for the S38-powered 850i.

So right to see the e500 (500E?) parking next to the Porsches.

41

I don't what it is but seeing European cars in Japan is so satisfying!

Author42
Dino Dalle Carbonare

Because they are clean, rare and stanced just right

43

Nice line up. Not the biggest German car fan but these look great and the A90 is in its proper place.

Author44
Dino Dalle Carbonare

Lol at the A90 comment

45

Some nice old Porsches and incredible BMWs but the MB Gullwing wins hands down! Interior on that car is unbelievable!

Author46
Dino Dalle Carbonare

Yep, that thing was stunning.

47

There may not have been w201s but isn’t that a w124 500E next to the modern 911’s? Surely that’s worth a notice. Awesome coverage Dino!

Author48
Dino Dalle Carbonare

Yes well spotted, never got round to getting close to that for some reason

49

Since there will be at least one E-type i guess and some more older jags

My Hand is up for some UK stuff

btw: pitty with the waggons ( not the SUVs on the other hand) , would hve complemented the line up quite nicely

Author50
Dino Dalle Carbonare

Yes one or 2 E-types

51

Brit' cars!

52

You see a Supra A90, but it is actually a BMW Z4 coupé with a Toyota Dress, so it is at home in a German meet.¿Or a German girl with a kimono is a japanese girl?

Author53
Dino Dalle Carbonare

A half?

54

Are they planning to do an Italian car edition?

Author55
Dino Dalle Carbonare

Yep maybe in March. They are pausing for winter

OFFICIAL SPEEDHUNTERS SUPPLIERS