Summer 2024 is moving into our rearview mirror, and that means that Arizona car culture is waking up for the outdoor season. Kicking things into gear recently was the “Kyusha Club,” a favorite of The Journal in recent years thanks to its variety of vehicles and a laid-back atmosphere. The event is a gathering of European and Japanese cars that takes place near historic Roosevelt Row in downtown Phoenix, Arizona.
The hub of the September 28 event was an old auto shop where a few special-invite cars were parked indoors. A surface lot east of that welcomed a couple dozen more vehicles, and everyone else found street parking within a block or two of the venue. Part of the fun of Kyusha Club was simply standing along the streetside and watching the ongoing parade of interesting cars.
Here were a few of my favorite vehicles on display, in order by model year.
1970 BMW 2002
This car helped establish BMW’s reputation for sporty, compact sedans. It was produced from 1966 to 1977 and had a 2.0-liter inline-four. Enthusiasts loved the 2002’s agile handling as well as its versatility as an economical commuter. I liked the unique green paint and custom wheels on this one.
1985 Nissan 200SX Deluxe
Based on the Nissan Silvia, this rear-wheel drive sports hatchback was popular in the United States. It rode on Nissan’s “S12” platform and came with all the right 1980s goodies like pop-up headlights and a wedged-shaped silhouette. This one also boasted a set of period-correct rear window louvers.
1986 Toyota MR2
Named for being a mid-engined, rear-wheel drive two-seater (thus, MR2), this Japanese pocket-rocket was marketed for three generations. The first (from 1984 through 1989) was called the W10. It won Car of the Year in Japan and came with a suspension that was tuned by Lotus.
1993 Mazda RX-7
The RX-7’s third generation, known among enthusiasts as the “FD,” was made from late 1991 through 2002, and the United States received this car from model years 1993 through 1995. The “Efini” name was a Japanese-only designation. Power came from a twin-rotor 13B-REW rotary engine with 255 horsepower. This one had a unique carbon underbody kit, chrome wheels, and red leather seats.
1995 Mercedes-Benz C36 AMG
Jointly developed by Mercedes-Benz and performance tuner AMG, the C36 was a venerable sport sedan on the “W202” chassis which came with a strong list of credentials. Under its hood was a 268-horsepower 3.6-liter inline-six. Stand-out features on this one were its headlight wipers and gorgeous Monoblock five-spoke wheels.
2001 Honda Insight
I recently published a Pick of the Day about a fuel-sipping Civic. Here’s another example of Honda’s excellence in economy. With about 160,000 miles on its odometer, this Insight had averaged 53.3 miles per gallon over its lifetime from its 1.0-liter inline-three motor and five-speed manual transmission.
2005 Audi A4 Avant Quattro 1.8T
Wagon lovers were oogling over this super clean example from the Audi A4 “B6” generation. It had a few subtle yet tasteful touches like a lowered suspension, five-spoke wheels, tinted windows, a custom dual exhaust system, and S-Line badging. Engineering features included a 170-horsepower turbocharged 1.8-liter inline-four and Audi’s popular Quattro all-wheel drive system.
As always, the variety of cars at Kyusha Club did not disappoint. I caught up with organizer Keith Ross who said, “We plan to use this venue for the rest of the season. It has worked out well for us.” Conveniently, the downtown Phoenix locale offers walkable restaurants, coffee shops, and retail for people who feel like exploring the area. I’m looking forward to the next one already.
If neo-classic cars are your cup of tea, you’ll also want to add the Future Collector Car Show (FCCS) to your calendar. It will take place Sunday, October 13, 2024, at WestWorld of Scottsdale in connection with the (new-this-year) fall collector-car auction at Barrett-Jackson.
Stay tuned to the Kyusha Club Instagram page for announcements on upcoming events.
