1973model Datsun Bluebird 610

Okinawa was returned to Japan on May 15, 1972…
Until then, like the United States, traffic ran on the right-hand side of the road, but on July 30, 1978—a day remembered as “730”—traffic suddenly switched to driving on the left.

In that highly transitional period of Japanese history, there were domestically sold vehicles manufactured with left-hand drive specifically for release in Okinawa. Now, more than half a century later, these historically significant cars have nearly vanished, their existence weathered away to the point of becoming endangered. Unless a truly passionate enthusiast takes it upon themselves to bring one back to the mainland and invest in an extensive restoration to preserve its story for future generations, the chances of seeing, touching, or—let alone—experiencing such a car as a classic today are nothing short of miraculous.

It was over a decade ago when a veteran owner, deeply devoted to Japanese classic cars, encountered this rare example. By that time, the exterior had already been stripped and fully repainted in Porsche red, and the engine had undergone a top-end overhaul (including pistons, piston rings, and head gasket). Apart from the aftermarket steering wheel, the car remained impressively original: the dashboard was free of cracks, and thanks to lace seat covers and additional decorative slipcovers, the original fabric seats underneath have been preserved in remarkably good condition. With so many original elements intact, the car vividly evokes the late 1960s–early 1970s era—when Japan’s domestic auto industry was emerging from its infancy and fueling the “My Car” boom. Ever since, the owner has cherished this vehicle as a precious testimony to the history of left-hand-drive models in Okinawa.

On closer inspection… the passage of time since its restoration can be seen in the condition of the clear coat and some rust surfacing below the left front door. During the Great East Japan Earthquake, a cabinet fell onto the car, leaving scars on the trunk lid and the left rear edge of the body. Yet the owner, who insists “perfection was never the goal,” carried out only provisional repairs. Those marks remain today as part of the car’s unique history—patina that speaks of survival and individuality.

In the early 1970s, when the energy of Okinawa’s reversion still lingered in the air, this Bluebird was not merely a mass-market car. It stood as a symbol of freedom and aspiration for young people reaching across the sea. This particular vehicle is a 610-series Bluebird, in the distinctive 4-door body style that still bears the unmistakable design cues of 1970s Japanese automobiles. The passion once poured into it continues to live on in this car, and even now, it beats with the same thrilling pulse of its era.