Old is Gold! Japanese Retro Cars Hold Special Charm

Published February 11th, 2021 - 08:23 GMT

A loose club of fans rolls up most weekends in central Tokyo to show off their Cadillacs, Chevrolets, and other modern classic vehicles from the mid to late 20th century.

The casual society has around 10 members and the oldest cars they own are a 1941 Cadillac and a restored 1929 Ford Model-A.

They speak to the cars when drive. Each time they still get a thrill. There aren't many vehicles that give you that feeling. The shape of old cars is very charming, impossible with today's mass production. 

These days Japan is known for its practical cars that economize on fuel and space, and rarely break down -- a world away from the group's painstakingly maintained wheels.

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This picture taken on January 16, 2021 shows Hiroyuki Wada, who runs a vintage car service company, sitting in a 1959 Cadillac Coupe DeVille after a gathering of auto enthusiasts in Tokyo. A loose club of fans rolls up most weekends in central Tokyo to show off their Cadillacs, Chevrolets and other modern classic vehicles from the mid to late 20th century. Philip FONG / AFP

This picture taken on January 16, 2021 shows the side emblem of a 1964 El Camino Chevrolet during a gathering of auto enthusiasts in Tokyo. A loose club of fans rolls up most weekends in central Tokyo to show off their Cadillacs, Chevrolets and other modern classic vehicles from the mid to late 20th century. Philip FONG / AFP

This picture taken on January 16, 2021 shows Hiroyuki Wada, who runs a vintage car service company, driving a 1959 Cadillac Coupe DeVille in Tokyo. A loose club of fans rolls up most weekends in central Tokyo to show off their Cadillacs, Chevrolets and other modern classic vehicles from the mid to late 20th century. Philip FONG / AFP

This picture taken on January 16, 2021 shows Kazutaka Fukuda, who works in the construction industry, posing for a photo in front of a 1929 Ford Model A during a gathering of auto enthusiasts in Tokyo. A loose club of fans rolls up most weekends in central Tokyo to show off their Cadillacs, Chevrolets and other modern classic vehicles from the mid to late 20th century. Philip FONG / AFP

This picture taken on January 16, 2021 shows real estate and construction business owner Atsushi Hasegawa posing for a photo with a 1969 Chevrolet Corvette during a gathering of auto enthusiasts in Tokyo. A loose club of fans rolls up most weekends in central Tokyo to show off their Cadillacs, Chevrolets and other modern classic vehicles from the mid to late 20th century. Philip FONG / AFP

This picture taken on January 16, 2021 shows Hiroyuki Wada, who runs a vintage car service company, driving a 1959 Cadillac Coupe DeVille during a gathering of auto enthusiasts in Tokyo. A loose club of fans rolls up most weekends in central Tokyo to show off their Cadillacs, Chevrolets and other modern classic vehicles from the mid to late 20th century. Philip FONG / AFP

This picture taken on January 31, 2021 shows car enthusiast Masamune Isogai, who works for a logistics company in sales, driving a 1991 Trans Am Knight Rider in Urayasu, an eastern suburb of Tokyo. A loose club of fans rolls up most weekends in central Tokyo to show off their Cadillacs, Chevrolets and other modern classic vehicles from the mid to late 20th century. Philip FONG / AFP

This picture taken on January 31, 2021 shows car owners posing for a photo during a gathering of auto enthusiasts in Urayasu, an eastern suburb of Tokyo. A loose club of fans rolls up most weekends in central Tokyo to show off their Cadillacs, Chevrolets and other modern classic vehicles from the mid to late 20th century. Philip FONG / AFP

This picture taken on January 16, 2021 shows Hiroyuki Wada, who runs a vintage car service company, standing next to a 1959 Cadillac Coupe DeVille after a gathering of auto enthusiasts in Tokyo. A loose club of fans rolls up most weekends in central Tokyo to show off their Cadillacs, Chevrolets and other modern classic vehicles from the mid to late 20th century. Philip FONG / AFP

This picture taken on January 16, 2021 shows Hiroyuki Wada, who runs a vintage car service company, sitting in a 1959 Cadillac Coupe DeVille after a gathering of auto enthusiasts in Tokyo. A loose club of fans rolls up most weekends in central Tokyo to show off their Cadillacs, Chevrolets and other modern classic vehicles from the mid to late 20th century. Philip FONG / AFP
This picture taken on January 16, 2021 shows the side emblem of a 1964 El Camino Chevrolet during a gathering of auto enthusiasts in Tokyo. A loose club of fans rolls up most weekends in central Tokyo to show off their Cadillacs, Chevrolets and other modern classic vehicles from the mid to late 20th century. Philip FONG / AFP
This picture taken on January 16, 2021 shows Hiroyuki Wada, who runs a vintage car service company, driving a 1959 Cadillac Coupe DeVille in Tokyo. A loose club of fans rolls up most weekends in central Tokyo to show off their Cadillacs, Chevrolets and other modern classic vehicles from the mid to late 20th century. Philip FONG / AFP
This picture taken on January 16, 2021 shows Kazutaka Fukuda, who works in the construction industry, posing for a photo in front of a 1929 Ford Model A during a gathering of auto enthusiasts in Tokyo. A loose club of fans rolls up most weekends in central Tokyo to show off their Cadillacs, Chevrolets and other modern classic vehicles from the mid to late 20th century. Philip FONG / AFP
This picture taken on January 16, 2021 shows real estate and construction business owner Atsushi Hasegawa posing for a photo with a 1969 Chevrolet Corvette during a gathering of auto enthusiasts in Tokyo. A loose club of fans rolls up most weekends in central Tokyo to show off their Cadillacs, Chevrolets and other modern classic vehicles from the mid to late 20th century. Philip FONG / AFP
This picture taken on January 16, 2021 shows Hiroyuki Wada, who runs a vintage car service company, driving a 1959 Cadillac Coupe DeVille during a gathering of auto enthusiasts in Tokyo. A loose club of fans rolls up most weekends in central Tokyo to show off their Cadillacs, Chevrolets and other modern classic vehicles from the mid to late 20th century. Philip FONG / AFP
This picture taken on January 31, 2021 shows car enthusiast Masamune Isogai, who works for a logistics company in sales, driving a 1991 Trans Am Knight Rider in Urayasu, an eastern suburb of Tokyo. A loose club of fans rolls up most weekends in central Tokyo to show off their Cadillacs, Chevrolets and other modern classic vehicles from the mid to late 20th century. Philip FONG / AFP
This picture taken on January 31, 2021 shows car owners posing for a photo during a gathering of auto enthusiasts in Urayasu, an eastern suburb of Tokyo. A loose club of fans rolls up most weekends in central Tokyo to show off their Cadillacs, Chevrolets and other modern classic vehicles from the mid to late 20th century. Philip FONG / AFP
This picture taken on January 16, 2021 shows Hiroyuki Wada, who runs a vintage car service company, standing next to a 1959 Cadillac Coupe DeVille after a gathering of auto enthusiasts in Tokyo. A loose club of fans rolls up most weekends in central Tokyo to show off their Cadillacs, Chevrolets and other modern classic vehicles from the mid to late 20th century. Philip FONG / AFP
This picture taken on January 16, 2021 shows Hiroyuki Wada, who runs a vintage car service company, sitting in a 1959 Cadillac Coupe DeVille after a gathering of auto enthusiasts in Tokyo. A loose club of fans rolls up most weekends in central Tokyo to show off their Cadillacs, Chevrolets and other modern classic vehicles from the mid to late 20th century. Philip FONG / AFP
This picture taken on January 16, 2021 shows Hiroyuki Wada, who runs a vintage car service company, sitting in a 1959 Cadillac Coupe DeVille after a gathering of auto enthusiasts in Tokyo. A loose club of fans rolls up most weekends in central Tokyo to show off their Cadillacs, Chevrolets and other modern classic vehicles from the mid to late 20th century. Philip FONG / AFP
This picture taken on January 16, 2021 shows the side emblem of a 1964 El Camino Chevrolet during a gathering of auto enthusiasts in Tokyo. A loose club of fans rolls up most weekends in central Tokyo to show off their Cadillacs, Chevrolets and other modern classic vehicles from the mid to late 20th century. Philip FONG / AFP
This picture taken on January 16, 2021 shows the side emblem of a 1964 El Camino Chevrolet during a gathering of auto enthusiasts in Tokyo. A loose club of fans rolls up most weekends in central Tokyo to show off their Cadillacs, Chevrolets and other modern classic vehicles from the mid to late 20th century. Philip FONG / AFP
This picture taken on January 16, 2021 shows Hiroyuki Wada, who runs a vintage car service company, driving a 1959 Cadillac Coupe DeVille in Tokyo. A loose club of fans rolls up most weekends in central Tokyo to show off their Cadillacs, Chevrolets and other modern classic vehicles from the mid to late 20th century. Philip FONG / AFP
This picture taken on January 16, 2021 shows Hiroyuki Wada, who runs a vintage car service company, driving a 1959 Cadillac Coupe DeVille in Tokyo. A loose club of fans rolls up most weekends in central Tokyo to show off their Cadillacs, Chevrolets and other modern classic vehicles from the mid to late 20th century. Philip FONG / AFP
This picture taken on January 16, 2021 shows Kazutaka Fukuda, who works in the construction industry, posing for a photo in front of a 1929 Ford Model A during a gathering of auto enthusiasts in Tokyo. A loose club of fans rolls up most weekends in central Tokyo to show off their Cadillacs, Chevrolets and other modern classic vehicles from the mid to late 20th century. Philip FONG / AFP
This picture taken on January 16, 2021 shows Kazutaka Fukuda, who works in the construction industry, posing for a photo in front of a 1929 Ford Model A during a gathering of auto enthusiasts in Tokyo. A loose club of fans rolls up most weekends in central Tokyo to show off their Cadillacs, Chevrolets and other modern classic vehicles from the mid to late 20th century. Philip FONG / AFP
This picture taken on January 16, 2021 shows real estate and construction business owner Atsushi Hasegawa posing for a photo with a 1969 Chevrolet Corvette during a gathering of auto enthusiasts in Tokyo. A loose club of fans rolls up most weekends in central Tokyo to show off their Cadillacs, Chevrolets and other modern classic vehicles from the mid to late 20th century. Philip FONG / AFP
This picture taken on January 16, 2021 shows real estate and construction business owner Atsushi Hasegawa posing for a photo with a 1969 Chevrolet Corvette during a gathering of auto enthusiasts in Tokyo. A loose club of fans rolls up most weekends in central Tokyo to show off their Cadillacs, Chevrolets and other modern classic vehicles from the mid to late 20th century. Philip FONG / AFP
This picture taken on January 16, 2021 shows Hiroyuki Wada, who runs a vintage car service company, driving a 1959 Cadillac Coupe DeVille during a gathering of auto enthusiasts in Tokyo. A loose club of fans rolls up most weekends in central Tokyo to show off their Cadillacs, Chevrolets and other modern classic vehicles from the mid to late 20th century. Philip FONG / AFP
This picture taken on January 16, 2021 shows Hiroyuki Wada, who runs a vintage car service company, driving a 1959 Cadillac Coupe DeVille during a gathering of auto enthusiasts in Tokyo. A loose club of fans rolls up most weekends in central Tokyo to show off their Cadillacs, Chevrolets and other modern classic vehicles from the mid to late 20th century. Philip FONG / AFP
This picture taken on January 31, 2021 shows car enthusiast Masamune Isogai, who works for a logistics company in sales, driving a 1991 Trans Am Knight Rider in Urayasu, an eastern suburb of Tokyo. A loose club of fans rolls up most weekends in central Tokyo to show off their Cadillacs, Chevrolets and other modern classic vehicles from the mid to late 20th century. Philip FONG / AFP
This picture taken on January 31, 2021 shows car enthusiast Masamune Isogai, who works for a logistics company in sales, driving a 1991 Trans Am Knight Rider in Urayasu, an eastern suburb of Tokyo. A loose club of fans rolls up most weekends in central Tokyo to show off their Cadillacs, Chevrolets and other modern classic vehicles from the mid to late 20th century. Philip FONG / AFP
This picture taken on January 31, 2021 shows car owners posing for a photo during a gathering of auto enthusiasts in Urayasu, an eastern suburb of Tokyo. A loose club of fans rolls up most weekends in central Tokyo to show off their Cadillacs, Chevrolets and other modern classic vehicles from the mid to late 20th century. Philip FONG / AFP
This picture taken on January 31, 2021 shows car owners posing for a photo during a gathering of auto enthusiasts in Urayasu, an eastern suburb of Tokyo. A loose club of fans rolls up most weekends in central Tokyo to show off their Cadillacs, Chevrolets and other modern classic vehicles from the mid to late 20th century. Philip FONG / AFP
This picture taken on January 16, 2021 shows Hiroyuki Wada, who runs a vintage car service company, standing next to a 1959 Cadillac Coupe DeVille after a gathering of auto enthusiasts in Tokyo. A loose club of fans rolls up most weekends in central Tokyo to show off their Cadillacs, Chevrolets and other modern classic vehicles from the mid to late 20th century. Philip FONG / AFP
This picture taken on January 16, 2021 shows Hiroyuki Wada, who runs a vintage car service company, standing next to a 1959 Cadillac Coupe DeVille after a gathering of auto enthusiasts in Tokyo. A loose club of fans rolls up most weekends in central Tokyo to show off their Cadillacs, Chevrolets and other modern classic vehicles from the mid to late 20th century. Philip FONG / AFP

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