Japan is known for its love of classic cars, having developed some of the most memorable vehicles in history. British cars have a place in Japanese culture, as reported by the team from Top Gear. The team discovered a dealership on the outskirts of Tokyo that specialises in British motors.
The hidden gem, run by mechanic Masato Hiroto, is called Garage David. This might sound quite discordant with Japanese culture, but Hiroto chose the name because he didn’t want to be limited by what he could work on. Garage David has a kind of good-natured, general vibe to it that would attract people from the west. The decor is “like falling through a portal into a serious enthusiast’s garage in Hampshire.”
The Top Gear team described Hiroto as a likeable man who is passionate about his line of work. “The entire business comes from a desire to be an engineer, a particular passion and a very specific Manga comic that featured a Lotus Europa – I think this is probably the ‘Circuit Wolf’ series featuring a white Europa, published in the late ‘70s. He begged for a job, literally did anything for a local garage, and when that premises became defunct, struck out on his own with David, fixing and mending UK-centric cars.”
The majority of the cars at the dealership consist of original Minis. This makes sense because the Minis fit the Japanese kei car rules of having 998 cc engines. Garage David is dedicated to fixing all kinds of classic British cars. Hiroto also organises races and events for Lotus owners.
Garage David is an example of how cars can be appreciated across different cultures. The dealership reflects the love that Japan has for British related items. Japanese cars also have a big presence in the UK as well, with the likes of Toyota, Honda and Nissan all having a place.
