In 1980s Japan, the Honda Prelude was one of the defining “date cars”: stylish coupes associated as much with going…
Cars & Motoring
Cars examined through engineering, history, design, culture and the strange decisions manufacturers sometimes make. From modern models to forgotten machines, this category looks beyond simple specifications and reviews.
The Date Car That Steered All Four Wheels: Honda Prelude’s ¥80,000 4WS Secret (Part 3)
On April 10, 1987, Honda launched the third-generation Prelude in Japan. With its exceptionally low hood, elegant two-door profile, and…
A Yamaha 350 R1 Disguised as a Police Bike? Japan’s ¥300 Million Heist
The fake police motorcycle used in Japan’s notorious ¥300 million robbery was actually a Yamaha 350cc sports bike. On December…
The ¥1.36 Million Honda Prelude Was Built to Order—So Why Did Sales Quadruple? [Part 2]
When the second-generation Honda Prelude went on sale in Japan on November 26, 1982, it looked like a car from…
Did the Honda Prelude Really Have a “Naughty Lever”? The Passenger-Seat Mystery [Part 1]
In November 1982, Honda introduced the second-generation Prelude, a sleek two-door coupe with an unusually low hood, pop-up headlights, and…
86,000 Registrations in a Year—Why Did the Daihatsu Midget Disappear?
In 1960, approximately 86,000 Daihatsu Midgets were registered in Japan. Just three years after its introduction, the tiny three-wheeled truck…
Why Did a Gullwing Conversion Add 230 kg? The Mitsubishi Starion G2 Mystery
In April 1989, Japanese television viewers were introduced to an extraordinary Mitsubishi Starion. It appeared in Gorilla: Metropolitan Police Department…
The Daihatsu Midget Was Booming. So Why Was Mazda K360 Catching Up?
In 1960, Japan’s Daihatsu Midget recorded 86,000 vehicle registrations in a single year. Just three years after its debut, the…
From 8 to 12 HP—and Just 5 mm to Spare: The Daihatsu Midget’s Evolution
When the Daihatsu Midget DKA arrived in 1957, it was a remarkably simple little machine: a 249cc engine producing just…