Tokyo’s far west is very different from the capital’s more central regions. It’s green, for starters. Plus comparatively at least, it really is quite sparsely populated. An area where it’s possible to meet bar owners in their 90s, enjoy genuinely striking views, and occasionally even spot the odd monkey.
A battered old Porsche, on the other hand, wouldn’t necessarily be on the list of expected sightings. There again, it wasn’t exactly a huge surprise to see one either. But a slowly rotting Pontiac parked next to it most certainly was.
Now wonderfully out of place and time, it’s probably the last place those who produced it all those years ago expected it to end its days. But sadly ending its days there does seem to be its destiny.
d.minnis says
Being from a military family (back in the mid 60’s) my guess is this was brought over by some G.I. and sold for a very nice profit when he was transferred back to the U.S. My parents brought a purple Cadillac Coupe de Ville over with them and sold it for a pretty good profit when we were ready to come back home.
Lee says
Ah, that makes perfect sense. Hadn’t even though about that scenario.
Tyler says
I can’t speak for the Porsche, but that pontiac’s tires are in surprisingly nice condition when compared to the rest of the car. Perhaps someone rescued it from elsewhere and is going to work on it? Hopefully.
Lee says
Yeah, we noticed the tyres. Would have expected them to be flat at the very least. The interior was in surprisingly decent condition too.
At the same time, the lines round the car suggest it has been parked there a good while.
But yes, hopefully it’s there to be fixed up and then used.
Denton says
Great find! Kinda sad, but still very cool.
Lee says
It was definitely a wonderful surprise to drive round the corner and be greeted with that. But yeah, sad it has been left in that condition…
john says
I think the owner may have purchased one of those little ever so economical Mitsubishi Wagons and never looked back.
Lee says
Haha, that’s a distinct possibility. Horribly predictable, but even more dependable. The Pontiac had no chance…
J.P. Fleetwood says
Not so sure about more dependable. I drive a ’55 Pontiac every day and never once stranded. Can’t say that of even a few years old Japanese piles.
expat says
Brings to mind the ’60’s song, “Rescue me!”
Lee says
That’s very fitting. Given the money and the parking space, I’d love too. I have neither, but fingers crossed someone does.
David Lowe says
Like yourself Lee, I love the Okutama region of Tokyo. Similar to those storm clouds you so eloquently captured a week or so back, there’s always something captivating going to on to pique your interest.
Lee says
Thanks a lot, David. Those clouds came out way better than I expected. A very pleasant surprise. Way pleasanter than the storm that quickly followed that’s for sure.
Yes, there really is, isn’t there? Plus there’s the constant amazement that it is still actually Tokyo.
cdilla says
That’s a wonderful patina of decrepitude on those cars, though as mentioned above the white walled tyres of the pontiac look contrastingly in rude health. The Indian chief hood ornament (which google assures me dates it at 1955) looks in good nick too – which, at US$500 a pop on ebay is another testament to the honesty of the Japanese. It’s funny how the pontiac wins over the porche in just about every aesthetic aspect. Gotta love chrome.
Earlier on today my windows backdrop had switched to a shot I’d taken from above of three spotless taxis line abreast waiting at a crossing, each in a different bright livery. This photograph of yours is so much the opposite, and a real treat for the eyes after hunting pokemon all day 🙂
Lee says
Haha, glad it’s something different to look at!
Yeah, it’s a weird one, isn’t it? In such bad condition, and lines around the car suggesting it has been there a long time. Yet the tires are full of air and in good condition…
Had no idea the ornament is worth so much. Reassuring that it’s still in place.
cdilla says
Maybe the owned does some sort of maintenance on them periodically. A guy that lives across the road from me has a lovely sports car that he sits in once or twice a month and runs/revs the engine for twenty minutes or so just to keep it working order. He is blind and has been for 20 years. But still, I can’t imagine someone sitting in these two, and just to pump up the tyres seems hardly worth it unless there is some local regulaton about being able to move a parked car.
Lee says
Hopefully it’s the start of someone getting it up and running again. The interior looked pretty good too. So there’s a possibility it may move again someday.