http://pinktentacle.com/2010/09/photos-50-years-of-japanese-concept-cars/ * * * [ptlogo1] * Art/Culture * Sci/Tech * Archives * Tags * RSS * [ ][Search] << Monster illustrations from Ultraman sonosheet book Video: Squirming 'umbilical' iPhone cable >> Photos: 50+ years of Japanese concept cars 29 Sep 2010 Here is a selection of concept cars designed by Japanese automakers from 1957-2009. Concept car -- Toyota Proto, 1957 Concept car -- Toyota Proto, 1957 Concept car -- Toyota Publica Sports, 1962 Concept car -- Nissan Prince Sprint 1900 Prototype, 1963 Concept car -- Toyota Concept, 1966 Concept car -- Mazda RX 87 (Bertone), 1967 Concept car -- Isuzu Bellett MX1600 (Ghia), 1969 Concept car -- Toyota EX-1, 1969 Concept car -- Toyota EX-II, 1969 Concept car -- Toyota EX-III, 1969 Concept car -- Mazda RX-500, 1970 Concept car -- Mazda RX-500, 1970 Concept car -- Isuzu MX1600-II Concept car -- Nissan 126X, 1970 Concept car -- Nissan 270X, 1970 Concept car -- Nissan 216X, 1971 Concept car -- Nissan Skyline Concept, 1972 Concept car -- Toyota EX-7, 1972 Concept car -- Concept car -- Concept car -- Concept car -- Toyota RV-2, 1972 Concept car -- Toyota F101, 1973 Concept car -- Nissan AD-1 Concept, 1975 Concept car -- Nissan NX-21, 1983 Concept car -- Nissan CUE-X, 1985 Concept car -- Daihatsu TA-X80, 1987 Concept car -- Mitsubishi HSR II, 1989 Concept car -- Nissan Boga, 1989 Concept car -- Nissan Figaro Concept, 1989 Concept car -- Nissan FEV, 1991 Concept car -- Mazda London Taxi, 1993 Concept car -- Mitsubishi ESR, 1993 Concept car -- Suzuki EE-10, 1993 Concept car -- Nissan AP-X, 1994 Concept car -- Concept car -- Toyota Moguls, 1995 // Nissan Hypermini, 1997 Concept car -- Nissan TrailRunner, 1997 Concept car -- Nissan KYXX, 1998 Concept car -- Honda Fuya-Jo, 1999 Concept car -- Mazda Miata Mono-Posto, 1999 Concept car -- Isuzu Zen, 2001 Concept car -- Toyota POD, 2001 Concept car -- Isuzu FL-4, 2002 Concept car -- Honda IMAS, 2003 Concept car -- Honda KIWAMI, 2003 Concept car -- Honda Pro Drag Civic Si, 2003 Concept car -- Nissan Jikoo, 2003 Concept car -- Toyota FINE-S, 2003 Concept car -- Toyota MTRC, 2004 Concept car -- Infiniti Kuraza, 2005 Concept car -- Mazda Senku, 2005 Concept car -- Mitsuoka Orochi, 2005 Concept car -- Nissan Zaroot, 2005 Concept car -- Acura Advanced Sedan, 2006 Concept car -- Mazda Nagare, 2006 Concept car -- Nissan Terranaut, 2006 Concept car -- Acura Advanced Sports Car, 2007 Concept car -- Mazda Taiki, 2007 Concept car -- Nissan Mixim, 2007 Concept car -- Nissan Bevel, 2007 Concept car -- Nissan Pivo-2, 2007 Concept car -- Honda FC Sport Concept, 2008 Concept car -- Mazda Kiyora, 2008 Concept car -- Honda P-NUT, 2009 Concept car -- Infiniti Essence, 2009 Concept car -- Nissan Land Glider, 2009 Concept car -- Isuzu FC-12 Concept car -- Isuzu Fire Fighter 2 Concept car -- Isuzu FL-1/FL-4/FL-10 Concept car -- Isuzu Lunar Rover Concept car -- Isuzu Super Heavy Dumptruck Concept car -- Lexus Minority Report Concept, 2054 [Via: NetCarShow, Car Styling, ConceptNissan, Isuzu] * 56 Comments * Design * Transportation * 56 Comments * Jay 2010.09.29 ::: 22:37 # These are great!! [Reply] + Curse 2010.11.27 ::: 08:07 # Some of these blow...... and some of these could have been better........ A few of these should be put into service and a couple should be in my garage....... The rest need scraping..... We need air-vehicles to get of this stinking planet people...... Duh! [Reply] * plague 2010.09.30 ::: 01:09 # All, the Orochi needs is a 5 painted on its side and it's good to go! [Reply] + Ultra Optimus 2010.09.30 ::: 15:59 # Actually, the Orochi made it past the concept phase and is a real car that you can buy for around $100,000 US Dollars. For that much money, you get a 3.3 liter V6 that puts out 230HP. James May drove one on Top Gear 2 seasons ago. [Reply] o Jimi 2014.05.18 ::: 23:51 # Just a shame that it's so awkward from the front. [Reply] * jason 2010.09.30 ::: 02:59 # I feel like the cars from the 60's and 70's are really ready for the market now. Geez, they would have been awesome for the market then. They are beautifully streamlined. The Daihatsu TA-X80 would make an awesome chassis for an electric car as would the Mazda Taiki or Toyotas EX II (the best ultimate city vehicle). Where's my electric car. There's certainly no lack of beautiful and functional designs. I just wish they'd put motors instead of engines inside them. Also about the new cars - I'm sure many said the same thing about the concept cars of the 60's onwards, but they just look silly now, just bursting with eye candy but lacking elegance. I wish they'd show concept cars that had actually met road conditions with dust and scratches and mud on them to give a glimpse at what one of those would really look like on the street. Great article. Hope there's more to come [Reply] * Slow Joe Crow 2010.09.30 ::: 03:27 # It's interesting to see the influences and references in the earlier cars. The Toyota Proto has a definite GM Futurama flavor. while the Mazda RX87 looks like a 65 Corvair with a grille and the Isuzu Bellett is clearly influences by the Lamborghini Miura. Further on the the Toyota EX1 looks like George Barris custom of Toyota's own 2000GT while the Mazda MX500 has a strong flavor of Mercedes C-111 (also Wankel powered), while the Isuzu MX 1600 seems like a variation on the Alfa Romeo Montreal or Maserati Merak. After that things get less derivative, except for the Nissan Figaro, which was actually produced and the Infiniti Kuraza which has a roof line that was clearly taken from the new Mini. As for Mitsuoka, the less said the better, since they seem to exist solely to provide Jalopnik,com with punchlines. [Reply] + Mark Williams 2010.10.15 ::: 00:34 # The Mazda RX 87 is sooo much more like an Alfa Romeo 105 series Bertone GTV [Reply] o ovais909 2014.06.23 ::: 05:02 # @Mark williams thats because it was designed by the same designer Giorgetto Giugiaro and the name is not mazda rx 87 its mazda luce Luce R130 [Reply] + Daniel 2010.10.21 ::: 15:24 # Is it you, captain slow? [Reply] * yellow 2010.09.30 ::: 09:36 # Wow some of these seriously need to be made, they're excellent. The Isuzu line of public transport/trucks I wish would happen, they could really give a company or city a distinct look and because they're not consumer vehicles I think the adventurous design could take off. If the Nissan Jikoo existed, I would be forever jealous of anyone who owned one. [Reply] * BubbaJoe 2010.09.30 ::: 11:51 # lol, looks like the Jikoo was made for leprechauns. [Reply] * Seamus Dubh 2010.09.30 ::: 14:19 # You know, I could see some of those pre-2k designs on the road these days. Sometimes looking to the past for new innovation is a good thing. [Reply] * El Destructo Inc 2010.09.30 ::: 16:43 # The Lexus Minority Report Concept and Mazda Miata Mono-Posto made it to production as Hot Wheels. [Reply] * walperstyle 2010.09.30 ::: 16:50 # http://pinktentacle.com/images/10/concept_car_29.jpg They made these, and I've seen them driving in Canada now that we can legally Import them. Sure your picture may be a concept, but you could post concepts for the NSX, 240SX etc etc etc. [Reply] * franco brambilla 2010.10.01 ::: 16:12 # All the 70s mazdas looks like they come directly from UFO, the british tv show! So cool! [Reply] * Don M 2010.10.01 ::: 21:31 # That Acura sedan concept is the worst looking concept of all time. Sadly the current Acuras look just like it, ugly as hell. Shame [Reply] * Alfie Goodrich 2010.10.01 ::: 21:59 # I had a Matchbox toy version of the Mazda RX-500. Amazing how much the Nissan 216X looks like the Maserati engined Citroen SM. Very cool post. [Reply] * Andrew 2010.10.01 ::: 22:11 # A few notables missing but otherwise great list. Didn't realize Isuzu had so many concepts. That Acura sedan concept is UGLY!!!! [Reply] * Todd 2010.10.02 ::: 02:49 # This post was replicated by another blog with no attribution: http://damncoolpics.blogspot.com/2010/10/ japanese-concept-cars-of-last-50-years.html [Reply] + Gilbert 2010.10.02 ::: 23:57 # Damn uncool! [Reply] * slanty 2010.10.03 ::: 22:24 # the 1989 figaro concept is a production car! quite a few of them around ireland. jap imports i believe [Reply] * Ken 2010.10.05 ::: 02:11 # Not only is the pro-drag HONDA CIVIC Si not Japanese (it is originally built in UK, and sold worldwide), but it's also not a concept. [Reply] * J 2010.10.06 ::: 09:02 # japanese cars just plain suck. [Reply] * Craig 2010.10.06 ::: 11:56 # I want the super heavy dump truck, the awesomeness just drools from how BIG it is :) [Reply] * James 2010.10.07 ::: 17:05 # Awesome concepts ... bar a few, but how could they miss out the mazda furai :O [Reply] * Uncle B 2010.10.08 ::: 04:08 # And then the Chinese, Nuclear/electric sourced electric bullet train network and its associated infrastructures came along and obviated the need for automobiles for individuals altogether! A new society will be borne from this: and oil free, veggies and rice society of happy people doing what they must to survive to be sure, but enjoying a personal debt free lifestyle under communist Chinese rules! America will try in vain to duplicate this Chinese miracle and fail because Capitalism is given to enrich only a few at the top and enslave the balance of the population, feeding them propaganda in place of sharing the riches they generate! Beware the wily corporatist and his powerful propaganda machines! He will eat you alive as he lies to your very soul! be reminded:He is the cancer of democracies and has infiltrated Chinese communism too! [Reply] * Jose 2010.10.08 ::: 11:19 # Aren't most of those early Isuzu concepts by Italdesign? [Reply] * Michael 2010.10.09 ::: 01:43 # I'm sad that the 1990 Nissan Gobi truck concept didn't make the list. [Reply] * Unknown 2010.10.11 ::: 01:25 # Those are some weird cars. xD But I like some of them. [Reply] * Pedro 2010.10.11 ::: 21:44 # Apart from a few exceptions these are mostly ugly as shit :/ For the love of God, who whans to drive a fuckin lunchbox on 12" wheels?? Maby it's practical and economigall, but personally I wouldn't be seen dead in this piece of shit [Reply] + Monte Lukast 2014.01.19 ::: 05:59 # That was a whole bunch o' misspelled, profane nonsense there, Pedro. My personal favorite is "economigall." [Reply] * Tyler 2010.10.12 ::: 04:26 # They all get progressively dumber. [Reply] * Steve 2010.10.12 ::: 17:05 # I don't know if I'm alone in this, but very few things depress me more than the realization that we live in a world of "production" vehicles rather than "concept" vehicles. Life in the year 2000 and beyond is boring, boring, boring, boring. [Reply] * Rose 2010.10.12 ::: 19:20 # Yeah, i'm with you Steve. Current cars are just so damn boring. Would it be so hard to produce cars that have some character??!! Many of these concept cars are ugly, but at least they have some character. There were a few cool ones in there too. [Reply] * KGVee 2010.10.15 ::: 17:46 # Isuzu Zen, 200: Complete with its own source of power with a wind turbine attached to the roof. Don't think that this ever took off, literally! Isuzu FL-4, 2002: Must have been watching Dune and got inspiration from the Guild Navigators tank? Isuzu FC-12: Dusted of the old Dune video off again. Isuzu FL-1/FL-4/FL-10: Can't get that Dune movie out of the head. [Reply] * Joe 2010.10.17 ::: 23:10 # Really enjoyed this collection. Quite a few of these I've never seen. I agree with others that commented on the early Italian designed and or influenced cars, versus the later vehicles. Some really great looking vehicles early on, but with some exceptions, concepts just seem to get goofy as time goes on. Fun looking at some of these, but I cannot imagine anything like them on the street. A clear exception is the Infiniti Essence is very elegant, and seems to be a nod to Aston Martin. The Nissan Pivo on the other hand, along with many of the later vehicles, just seem to be an exercise in absurdity. [Reply] * awesome 2010.10.20 ::: 01:28 # I love the nissan trail runner. That thing looks awesome. [Reply] * Cyber Police Man 2010.10.21 ::: 10:48 # All the designers of these concepts have been reported to me and will be found and will have to spend some time warming their asses in the cyber jail. end of conversation [Reply] * Klaus Janssen 2010.10.26 ::: 22:30 # It is a shame that some of them did not make it to production. [Reply] * doug 2010.10.29 ::: 03:45 # i would definitely buy the toyota rv-2 , mtrc, and the Mitsuoka Orochi, 2005. [Reply] * sam 2010.10.29 ::: 20:42 # on the 'Isuzu Lunar Rover' one, how can you see the moon, whan it's on the moon? [Reply] * Nasty Nate 2010.11.06 ::: 00:59 # I have to say the Lexus Minority Report Concept car is a beautiful car. The movie sucked ass but the car looks great. [Reply] * Stevie 2010.11.13 ::: 07:11 # I am with the other Steve, the world is a sadder place with the plain ordiary looking cars produced today. I wish these companies had the gumption to produce some of these models. There is is probably enough people out there that would like to drive something unique and individual and be prepared to pay for it, enough to make them profitable. Stevie [Reply] * dan 2010.11.14 ::: 09:18 # F*cking Awesome, some got bulit as well, also you can see how the new cars have evolved like the Honda one, looks like the new Civic, the Nissan 60's car got built into the fiagro, etc love it [Reply] * sarah 2010.11.30 ::: 03:59 # the following autos should `ved been made and brought to the u.s.a. toyota proto 1957 , toy concept 1966 , toy rv-2 1972 i tought were good ..now fr the others nissan 126,1970 nissan 270 , 1970 and the trail runner of 1997 i thought was good but oh well thnks bye now... [Reply] * kery 2011.01.04 ::: 17:23 # wow, some of these are completely rediculous. but some are super cool. stumbled!!!! [Reply] * Steve 2011.01.07 ::: 13:24 # Really interesting to see. Point of note, isn't Infiniti KOREAN? I would check because if it is and any Korean's discover this list will probably take your site down. [Reply] + Steve 2011.01.07 ::: 13:27 # MY BAD. Seems it stems from Nissan. I live in Korea and have only ever seen them here, and when you search, it takes you straight to the Korean site. A little more digging though reveals the brand history. My bad. Sorry about that. [Reply] * uhh 2011.01.24 ::: 09:57 # The Toyota MTRC 2004 is mine! [Reply] * Tobsterio 2011.01.24 ::: 18:13 # some of the older models look good so all the need is a bigger engine the only one i dont get is the 1st fire fighter the sketch [Reply] * blablablablablabla 2011.03.01 ::: 23:54 # Honda Fuya-Jo, 1999 is super ugly [Reply] * Zorak 2011.03.31 ::: 21:35 # ah..the new Nissan Patrol gets its shape from the Nissan Terranaut concept [Reply] * Jared 2011.11.06 ::: 13:00 # wow these are really nice... [Reply] * Archie Dux 2012.01.27 ::: 12:23 # Neato burrito! LOVE that Totyota EXIII from 1969. [Reply] * Wiley Robinson 2012.05.10 ::: 23:05 # Nissan bevel reminds me of ArkII from the 70s TV show... [Reply] Leave a Reply Click here to cancel reply. [ ] Name (required) [ ] Mail (will not be published) (required) [ ] Website [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [Submit Comment] Current ye@r * [7.2.7 ] Leave this field empty [ ] Trackbacks/Pingbacks 1. Curiosa colecciA3n de diseA+-os de coches Made in Japan 2. Nissan Figaro Concept, 1989 << NAoeAoeK 3. Site: Concept Cars... - Rockman Design 4. Awesome Thread... [Automotive Edition] 5. Interesting Reading #590 - Star Wars in 3D, Martin Jetpack, Cable TV's death, Near miss asteroid and much more... - The Blogs at HowStuffWorks 6. Prototypes << 7. 50 years of Japanese concept cars << auto 8. Link - Estadao.com.br 9. Islands << things magazine 10. ElsCunyats >> Blog Archive >> 50 Anos de Prototipos Japoneses 11. olddogg.com 12. Enlaces Recomendados de la Semana (No 70) 13. cars and mars << n i j o m u 14. 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