If you happen to have a free day in Osaka, Japan and you have done everything imaginable, take the first morning train headed for Kochi City. Shikoku Automobile Museum is out in the suburbs.


The building is unassuming and just off the road. Japanese minimalism or Audi knockoff I don't know. The large glass window has a Alfa Romeo RZ and a Ferrari 246GT to entice you in. The reception room has a F3000 car. Pay the fee and head into museum. It's just behind a nice aluminum automatic door. Excitement accelerates.

The door opens and shuts quickly exactly like a door from Star Trek. And the first car isn't even a car. It's a Panzerwagen. Actually, it's a Porsche 4x4.


Excitement turns to shock to disbelief. Then I noticed the door open and closed quickly because the long corridor is climate controlled. Cool and low humidity. Also, I also noticed a smell. I thought the machines were pumping out ozone. But it's motor oil. Some of these cars, including the Panzerwagen, are leaking.

The cars aren't just locked up they're actually driven and maintained. Excitement builds again. And Porsche redeemed itself with the next car. A 356A Carrera GS.


The museum is a long corridor, which doesn't allow us to walk around the cars. To get around that problem the back wall is covered in mirrors. Enter the Dragon.

Italy is well represented here. With many Ferraris, Dinos, Alfa Romeos, and Lancias. A few are race cars or rally cars with authentic battle damage.


I nearly forgot single Lamborghini Countach LP 400. My childhood is with the 80s Countachs so to see its older sibling was a surprise. No giant US bumpers to stir those childhood memories. Still a great car.


Germany is represented by the Porsches and an M1. In white with M stripes across the hood. It took all I had not to disturb the library silence in my hysterics. But I have lived in Japan many years now. I managed.


England is honored with a beautiful E-type in Steve McQueen brown. Stunning. Just Stunning. A Lotus and a RS200. Did you know the fender flares go out past the side mirrors?



USA has only one car. But it stands up well. An original Shelby Cobra 427 in blue.


Just parked there it looked liked it wanted to start a barfight. Aggressive and powerful.

The Japanese cars are on the second row. I'm going to skip over all of them except the 2000GT. In factory fresh condition.


It takes me back in time to feel how people in the 60s saw it. Inspiring. Japanese industry was still growing at the time and the society was just coming out the Post WWII devastation to imagine a nation that could be something really great. That happened in the 1970s. This car in the 60s showed people what could be done.


For the motorbike enthusiasts there are about 30 bikes from the 50s and 60s. Along with a few racing bikes from the 80s. And 2 three wheelers.


One is made entirely of wood.

This museum is quite a ways off the usual tourist path. And not anywhere near megalopolis Japan. But if you have a free day and a sense of adventure. Try the Shikoku Automobile Museum.


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