Wal-Mart Parking Lot Find: Circa 1992 Geo Metro LSi Convertible

A Geo Metro may not seem that interesting to many people, but they have their place as dependable, inexpensive transportation, and they have a cult following much like the Crosley, Nash Metropolitan and Kaiser Henry J had in years gone by and still retain to a degree.

The Metro convertible was the top-of-the-line Metro in the early 90s, and as a reliable source of inexpensive open-air motoring (better than the Cavalier, Sebring and LeBaron convertibles ever were or will be), it is still a great choice.

I spotted this slightly tatty but very usable car in a Wal-Mart parking lot in early 2013, it is still seen around Eugene at the time of publication.

Parking Lot Sighting: 1993 Toyota Supra

Parking Lot Spot: 1988-90 Toyota Corolla SR5 AE92 (Sprinter Trueno)

It is refreshing to see an AE92 that is not a GT-S, has not been riced and has not quite been driven into the ground, the two-tone grey color scheme reminds me of a JDM Sprinter Trueno (the USDM AE92's basis, as with the USDM AE86) and is rather eye-pleasing, and the well-worn but not junky look is pleasant, with the prospect of this car being restorable as J-tin demand increases only adding to the appeal.

Parking Lot Photo Shoot: Nissan R33 Skyline GT-R

Side Street Find: Datsun 510 Wagon and Suzuki SJ410 Jimny

I spotted this tatty but solid Datsun 510 station wagon whilst carspotting/old-iron hunting in an industrial area near me, it was in front of a warehouse, and appears to be a daily driver.

But what's that behind it? Surely it's a Suzuki Samurai! Still a worthy spotting in uncut condition like this.

Here we have an early 80s Suzuki SJ410 Jimny, a model not sold in the continental US, but distributed on outlying islands like Hawaii, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Mariana Islands. It was the successor to the smaller, lighter-weight, less substantial LJ jeep of the 1970s and differs in numerous ways from the more familiar Samurai. This one is left-hand-drive, evidently has a few aftermarket Samurai bits on it, and appears to be owned by someone who knows what they have. The yellow Oregon plates indicate that it  has been on the mainland since at least 1986 (N numbers on Oregon plates were 1986-1987 only)

Wednesday WTF: Mitsubishi Lancer

I have no idea what happened here. I was waiting for the BART train in Castro Valley, CA one morning and this tractor-trailer rolled by on the freeway, carrying a Mitsubishi Lancer suspended in what looks like rather precarious fashion (at least it's strapped down). The Lancer appears to be a 2005 OZ Rally edition that suffered some interesting damage to warrant its high-flying ride. The car was only two years old at the time this photo was taken.

Parking Lot Sighting: Toyota J70 Land Cruiser

I know very little about the international incarnations of the Toyota Land Cruiser. Readers outside the United States will probably be amused that I got excited over an old Land Cruiser, but we Americans never got the 70 Series. To me the Land Cruiser has always been either the little FJ40 or the large four-door SUV that hardly anyone in this country bought - and which becomes increasingly rare every year as fewer people buy new ones or save the old ones.
The 70 Series Land Cruiser was introduced in 1984 and is still being made. That makes it a good candidate for importation into the States as early examples are old enough to comply with the 25 year rule and new parts are still available. I don't know the year of this truck, as the plate is not in California smog records - either making it a recent registration or a diesel engine. My best guess it it's an HJ75 "Troop Carrier" van made in the mid-1980s. The wheels look like they came off of a mid-2000s Toyota Sequoia SUV.
It's an interesting rig for sure, certainly not something I expected to see at a home improvement store in Northern California.

Wednesday WTF: Honda Del Sol

It actually got more... unique... between sightings.

Import Odd Couple: Fiat 500 and Nissan S-Cargo

Wednesday WTF: Nissan Sentra 'NASCAR'

I really don't know what the story is behind this unusual stock car homage Nissan Sentra, made to look like Tony Stewart's #20 Home Depot racer. I first saw it at a local Goodguys car show in 2006, then again two years later in the parking lot of my local supermarket. Mojo Pac Racing seems to be a defunct or nonexistent organization as I can't find anything about it online. I can't see how a cheap FWD Nissan sedan would be much good for racing, SE-R Spec-V notwithstanding. Maybe it's just a guy having fun messing with people.

Beautiful Goodbye: 1989 Isuzu 4200R Concept

(c) sportscarsofthe1980s.wordpress.com

In the late 1980s, Isuzu Motors was selling cars in decent numbers worldwide, but had mainly front-wheel-drive sedans and hatchbacks along with perhaps its best-known product, the Giugiaro-designed Piazza (badged as Impulse in North America), and worked closely with British sports car maker/engineering firm Lotus. It was also making some very nice concept cars in the COA series (to be written up another time), but in 1989, Isuzu broke the mold with the 4200R.

The Isuzu 4200R was styled by Lotus employees working with Isuzu Europe Chief Designer Shiro Nakamura, was a sleekly styled 4-passenger grand tourer with discreet rear doors and a Lotus-engineered 4.2-liter 32-valve DOHC V8 mounted midship, Lotus-engineered active suspension, an LCD screen in the dashboard, extensive use of plastics and aluminum in its construction, and appeared to be a production-ready design.

However, Isuzu's parent company, General Motors, disapproved of the 4200R's technology and its very real threats to Corvette sales and Cadillac engineering, and just a few years after the all-new third-generation Gemini, second-generation Piazza and Yanase Ltd. exclusive PA Nero luxury coupe/wagon duo debuted with styling clearly derived from the 4200R, Isuzu car production was stopped (citing "aging designs and decreasing sales"), and Isuzu made do with badge-engineered Hondas for the Japanese domestic market and several other Asian markets until 2002. 

The 4200R was broken up and destroyed shortly after Isuzu car production ended, but in 2010, Shiro Nakamura worked with game designer Kazunori Yamaguchi of Polyphony Digital to recreate the 4200R for the video game Gran Turismo 5. 

Isuzu 4200R as seen in Gran Turismo 5. Picture (c) gran-turismo.com

This pic and all following pics (c) Isuzu and carstyling.ru

Parking Lot Sighting: Mazda RX7 FD

I spotted this RX7 on my way out of Wal-Mart with a new memory card for my camera and a refreshing energy drink, and HAD TO shoot it. It has some modifications, but has not been heavily riced or hooned like most other surviving FDs. Pics have not been put through an HDR filter, however, I had to edit them because the RX7 color & detail were washed out in the original pics.

Found on Craigslist: 1974 Toyota Celica ST

One of my father's favorite cars he ever owned was a yellow 1975 Toyota Celica GT. I've long had a soft spot for the little Japanese sport coupes with their mini-muscle-car styling. This Celica is an automatic ST model in original driver condition. Perhaps the best part of this one is the interior; it looks perfect. The body has some dents and scrapes here and there but mechanically is described as being well maintained and only has 62,000 miles on it. By Toyota standards, it's just a baby!

Photos courtesy seller - Craigslist

For $4995, is this an easy sell-ica or would you rather STay away? Find it here or click here if the ad expires.