Classic cars delight at Coppa di Tokyo
Classic cars are your thing? If they are, the Coppa di Tokyo is a must-see for you. Imagine cruising the city’s streets in a Maserati? Held on Italia Street in Shiodome, this event is not just a showcase of automotive history. It’s a rally that brings the best of Europe and beyond to Japan. Here are the photos from my Saturday morning with these timeless machines.
Coppa di Tokyo is a brilliant event if you are into classic cars. 100 of them participated. BMW, Porsche, Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Messerschmitt, and Arbath were there. Japanese motor enthusiasts had brought their European vehicles.
Even a few American muscle cars snuck their way in. I saw a couple of Corvettes and Mustangs. Car photographers must have been in their seventh heaven. I know I was!
I believed the event started at 10 AM. But when I arrived about 9:30, it was already underway. Coppa di Tokyo was a rally. The cars did a circuit around Tokyo that took in Asakusa, Ueno, and Jingu Gaien. They had to go through checkpoints at certain times. The fastest wouldn’t necessarily win.
The event was a rare chance to see many classic cars. I would have a hard time calling my favorite. Maybe it was the Alfa Romeo Gran Sport Quattroruote? Don’t hold me to that, though. The Porsche 550 Spyder caught my eye too. So many cool ones took part in the rally.
A good crowd was there to see the start. There must have been several hundred people. How many more were at the checkpoints cheering the drivers and their vehicles on? I’m sure many people walking around Tokyo that day were delighted to see them.
I’ll turn up earlier to the Coppa di Tokyo in 2025. It would be great to photograph the cars at a more leisurely pace. Anyway, it was a great Saturday morning for me. Leave comments and questions below.
These photos were taken on November 23, 2024.
Rohan Gillett
Rohan has lived in Tokyo for 30+ years. He loves photography and plans to capture the entire city.
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External related websites:
- Coppa di Tokyo (external website)