Keeping Classic Cars Alive: A Young Mechanic's Dream in Yokohama

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Step inside the shop and you are immediately greeted by legendary cars like Nissan's first Fairlady Z and the Skyline. With their round headlights and fender mirrors, they have a beauty you no longer see in modern cars.

The Yokohama-based dealership CLASICA, located in Tsuzuki Ward, specializes in classic cars made before the 1970s and neo-classics from the 1970s through the 1990s.

*Legendary cars, including a Skyline (front right) and a Fairlady Z (front left), on display. (©Sankei by Takumi Kamoshida)*

*The cars' bodies gleam after careful polishing.*

Inspired by Hayao Miyazaki's Films

"People love classic cars because they have personality — they're fun, and even a little cute," says 22-year-old mechanic Takumi Yamada. Before joining CLASICA, Yamada worked as a vehicle mechanic in the Self-Defense Forces, an unusual career path.

*A 1932 bicycle owned by Takumi Yamada since high school. The light is lit with a match to ignite the oil lamp. (©Sankei by Yasuhiro Yajima)*

A lifelong fan of vintage things, he even owns prewar bicycles and motorcycles. His fascination began with the retro worlds depicted in Hayao Miyazaki's films such as "Porco Rosso" and "Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro".

*Yamada owns a 1941 British-made motorcycle, the Matchless. After repeated repairs, it’s nearly ready for its public road debut. (©Sankei by Yasuhiro Yajima)*

*A match is used to light the bicycle's lamp. (©Sankei by Takumi Kamoshida)*

The Challenges of Old Machines

CLASICA also deals with cars from manufacturers that no longer exist. "Maintenance is really tough. Sometimes the parts don't exist, or they don't fit properly," Yamada explains as he works.

Devices no longer found in modern cars, such as carburetors, require completely different methods, often involving trial and error. "But when I finally figure something out, it feels great, and I learn a lot from it."

*A Triumph TR4 undergoing maintenance. (©Sankei by Takumi Kamoshida)*

Classic cars are more fragile and require more care than today's models, but Yamada sees that as part of their charm. "The more time you spend with them, the more they become irreplaceable partners," he says.

*Cars displayed inside the shop. In the foreground is a Mazda Cosmo AP, and at the back left is a British Triumph TR4. (©Sankei by Takumi Kamoshida)*

His goal is to become a next-generation classic car mechanic.

"Opportunities to work on old cars are disappearing every year, which makes it harder to train new mechanics. In 20 or 30 years, there may only be a handful of people left who can maintain them. When that happens, I want to pass down the skills and help preserve this culture."

For this young mechanic, the journey has only just begun.