Remembering Japanese cars from the past

Tag: Daihatsu Hijet

Irian Jaya: Bemo taxi busses


Just got back from a two week trip to Manokwari and Jayapura (Irian Jaya aka New Guinea) and I did find loads and loads of old J-tin! I spotted many old Coronas (T80 to T120s), Kijangs (especially the first three generations), Chasers and Mark IIs (X70/X80/X90) and loads of these tiny taxi busses called bemo for your everyday transportation. The drivers tend to outdo each other with modifications and I’ve sat in some very very bizarre creations already!
Bemo taxi minibus in Jayapura
Bemo taxi minibus in Jayapura

A ride costs next to nothing (2000 rupiah), you can hop on whenever you see one and they take you along on the main routes. You can also hire one for a personal destination but you can expect to pay a lot more than the 2000 rupiah…

Also at the terminal you can find loads and loads of these busses waiting for a ride:
Bemo taxi minibus in Jayapura
Bemo taxi minibus in Jayapura

Most of the busses for short distances are either the Suzuki Carry (or Suzuki Every) or the Mitsubishi Colt (Mitsubishi Minicab), but some other brands and models are also used for mid range transportation.

Bemo taxi minibus in Jayapura
Bemo taxi minibus in Jayapura

Some of them are really shabby and you really get the feeling they will fall apart while they master another hairpin of the many touges around Jayapura!

Bemo taxi minibus in Jayapura
Bemo taxi minibus in Jayapura

But most of the drivers are really creative and improve their rides every day…

Bemo taxi minibus in Jayapura
Bemo taxi minibus in Jayapura

Most of the time they start with a bunch of deep dished wheels at the rear that stick out of the bodywork with at least 3 inch. Later on they do the same up front, followed by big wings and spoilers. Steering wheel, audio, tsurikawas and dash bling are mostly done in the later phases followed by big foglights.

Bemo taxi minibus in Jayapura
Bemo taxi minibus in Jayapura

I’ve given away a couple of the Bosozoku Style stickers (only whenever I really liked the car and driver) so in case you are visiting Jayapura anytime soon you can spot one on a bemo!

Hilarious: Japanese custom cars

A popular Japanese TV show called Sokon Tokoro featured a couple of fantastic wacky custom cars last week:

The first car is the George Tokoro’s (the TV show host) Subaru R1 badged as a Ferrari. Not very hot. :(
But then a large line of wacky customs arrive around the corner of the stadium:
– A 1994 Cadillac limo lowrider limo with plush pink interior. The paint joib contains 11 colors!
– A dragster disguised as a tank! It is powered by jet engine capable of pushing more than 25000 hp! Even the fireproof camera can’t stand its blast! It can reach a speed of 400 km/h!
– A factory stock Campagna T-REX, but for people who do not know this bike it is certainly wacky! ;)

The second video:

More bizarre cars:
– A BMW E66 which at first sight looks quite normal. Then the Buddhist priest gets out and shows the trunk is decorated with sutras written in Swarovski crystals!
– The priest also owns this Toyota Celsior with gullwings, scissor doors and a split hood and way too many displays! Even the headrests have display panels (to watch with the eyes in the back of your head!)
– A Dekotora van with a Batman theme.
– A 1981 Daihatsu Hijet with a Rocket launcher on its back. The rocket does work and is propelled as an ordinary water-rocket!
– A replica of the Earth Defence Force’s Pointer from the Ultra Seven TV series showed in the late 1960s. The car itself is based upon the original car it was made of: the 1967 Chrysler Imperial.
– A Hitachi ASTACO of the Tokyo Fire Department immitating a giant crablike monster!

IMO they missed one car/owner in this video: Daisuke Shouten's Bosozoku styled Toyota Celsior UCF11 vip car
Daisuke Shouten’s Bosozoku styled Toyota Celsior UCF11 vip car
!

Through:
PinkTentacle

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