The Special Exhibition Theme: "Reflecting on the Past, Imagining the Future - The Transition of Power Sources"

Having celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2016, the now-traditional "Toyota Museum Classic Car Festival in Jingumae Gaien" will take place again this year.


Approximately 100 classic cars from general participants will parade from the "Meiji Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Avenue," a famous autumn spot in Tokyo, to Chuo Dori in Ginza. Vintage masterpieces will be gathered in front of the Seito Kinen Museum, the main venue at Meiji Jingu Gaien.

The special exhibition's theme is "Reflecting on the Past, Imagining the Future - The Transition of Power Sources." This year, often called a once-in-a-century transformation in the automotive industry, focuses on automotive energy and autonomous driving technology. Seven vehicles with different power sources that have shaped automotive history will be exhibited.


The exhibition will showcase the evolution from the "Benz Patent-Motorwagen (replica)," considered the world's first gasoline automobile approximately 130 years ago, to the "Toyota BM Truck" equipped with a "wood gas generator" to cope with gasoline shortages during and after the war, and finally to the "Toyota Mirai" fuel cell vehicle. It also features the "Locomobile Steam Car," an American steam car that was sold in Japan from 1901 and was once the world's largest in production.

Also on display for visitors to ride and take commemorative photos will be a 1914 "Ford Model T Touring," the American subcompact car "Nash Metropolitan," and the "Lotus Elan S4," which boasted a top speed of 185 km/h despite its 1600cc displacement.


These cars, captivating people with their different eras and power sources, offer an event to experience the history and culture of automobiles anew.

Regarding the event, Naoaki Bugaki, Director of the Toyota Museum, commented: "Automobiles are said to be in a once-in-a-century period of transformation. Electrification, autonomous driving, connectivity... the possibilities for automobiles seem to be expanding dramatically, and I am very excited about what the future holds. When we wish to glimpse the future, looking back at what happened during similar transformative periods in the past can give shape to the vague outlines of the future. The Toyota Museum's new permanent exhibition introduces the era when gasoline cars were born about 130 years ago, a time when diverse power sources competed for survival, much like today. This year's CCF takes as its theme reflecting on the transition of past power sources while contemplating the cars of the future. From steam cars, the predecessors of motorized vehicles, to electric cars popular with women for their ease of operation, wood gas cars that supported post-war fuel shortages, gas turbine cars, and hybrid and hydrogen fuel cell cars that have responded to environmental issues... I hope to contemplate with everyone how future mobility and people's lifestyles will change while standing before such cars. I hope you will enjoy a moment of excitement for both the past and the future, alongside the many precious classic cars gathered from across the country."

2017 Toyota Museum Classic Car Festival in Jingumae Gaien
Date | Saturday, November 25, 2017
Time | 10:00–15:30
*Event will proceed in case of rain, but program may be subject to change due to various circumstances.
Admission | Free
Venue | Special Venue in front of the Seito Kinen Museum, Meiji Jingu Gaien
1-1 Kasumigaokamachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo