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1967 Hino Contessa 1300 Michelotti Coupe JDM Toyota - $25,900 (Stanton)
1967
Hino Contessa
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Congratulations. You have made it to the wild 60’s zone. Perhaps you arrived here by spying a rarity few know about. Perhaps you lived in Japan in the 1960s. Perhaps you are a fan of the B.R.E. brand of racing cars. JDM Guy? Or perhaps you are like the rest of us who said “what the heck is that?”
“That” is a 1967 Hino Contessa 1300 Michelotti Coupe.
Driven.co is a small shop of just 4 guys and we all love the challenge of something different. We discovered and purchased this car in a Southern California warehouse. While we could have returned every part to perfect, we undertook a sympathetic refurbishment of this vehicle with an eye to maintaining its unique place in history as a Driver’s car, a weekend racer that you could drive to the track. Most of the work done recently was what you would expect: cleaning, cajoling, gently prodding and coaxing a stored car back to life. Fuel systems were cleaned. Brakes cleaned and unfrozen, new pads. Electrical systems checked - charging good, battery replaced. Polishing, waxing and some general TLC.
Rarity
Comparable sales are pretty hard to come by. Just a few thousand Hino Coupes were produced before the Contessa was set aside in favor of the Toyota Corolla nearly 60 years ago. Toyota acquired Hino in 1966 for its manufacturing capacity and Hino became the truck producing division of Toyota. Hino car production ceased.
We’re aware of just two other Contessas in the USA. A well known collector owns a gorgeous blue Coupe as well as a 4 door project. Your chances of running into another are rather remote.
The Contessa 1300 Coupe was designed by the famed Giorgio Michelotti and was lauded for its contemporary lines and sweeping greenhouse. Note his GM logo on the rear quarter panels.
This Contessa remained in Japan until 2019. During the last 58 years, just 48113 KM were recorded on the odometer. That’s 29888 miles or about 515 miles per year.
Peter Brock of the famed B.R.E. racing originally began campaigning (and winning) in two white 1966 Hino Contessas. The Pete Brock autographed print commemorates the BRE Contessas and is included.
Designed to be exported and raced at home in Japan, she likely did some club racing there. From the dash mounted ETC, which still beeps on when the car is started, we can see highway miles were likely accumulated. The Electronic Toll Collector allows the driver to quickly clear Japanese tollbooths with a prepaid card inserted.
On Jun 9, 2025 we took the Contessa out to BRE for Peter to see. He commented that this was a very nice example of the cars he used to race. He lamented that this 67 model had Disc Brakes, a feature not present on his record setting 1966 race cars. The staff at BRE remarked that although they knew the Hino Contessa story well, most had never actually seen one in person. They loved the period-correct SSR wheels but Peter commented that they were likely too delicate for the thrashing of Trans AM racing.
“IS THIS ONE OF THE 20 FAMED “L MODEL” LIGHTWEIGHT COUPES BUILT FOR COMPETITION?”
Probably not but we can’t explain why it weighs 65KG less than it is supposed to.
Here’s what we do know:
There are no side marker lamps which are common for Contessas but not an option on the lightweight.
Bare floorboards with scuff wear
We had the car weighed. It was weighed wet, meaning full of fuel, seating and spare tire in place.
The certificate shows 1940 LBS which equates to 880KG
A stock Contessa Coupe weighed 945KG dry per the brochure.
Be sure not to miss these great JDM highlights:
Build Quality. Every aspect of this car exudes a level of build quality normally associated with much more expensive cars from 1967. Pete Brock pointed this out when he was signing the glove box door. He said that a small group of guys at Hino were car guys and they wanted to make great cars. As an example, he pointed out that the glove box door was built much better than it needed to be. It is solid, well designed in and out and weighs about 4 lbs which is surprising for its small size. Typically, you would expect to see a thin light weight part.
Interior - HighwayTransport Club ETC. At first we thought it was a radar detector mounted on the dash. It’s actually an Electronic Toll Collector and you insert your prepaid card to pay the tolls in Japan without having to stop.
Interior - The HOON. Funnier now than then? Absolutely. The fact that a paper sticker glued to the dash stayed intact for 58 years is pretty amazing.
Interior - Everything works. Gauges, lights, signals, radio(s) even the co-pilot’s map light.
Interior - The “National” Japanese tuned AM radio and Beltek door speakers. A newer radio/CD player is in the glove compartment and is paired with additional Beltek speakers on the parcel shelf.
Interior - Check out that cool aluminum shift knob. We learned from the proprietor of hinosamurai.org that he hand made that shift knob for the prior owner of this car! He’s built an awesome fan website too.
Exterior - Gorgeous 13” SSR, Formula, 3 piece alloy wheels.
Exterior - Wing Mirrors
Exterior - Lowered Stance with race springs. The rear fenders have been subtly widened. (See the photos) The front inner wheel wells have been reformed in the rear to reduce potential tire rub.(“You have to do that” according to Mr. Brock) All four wheel arches have been rolled
Exterior - Port of Yokohama export sticker
Exterior.
Resprayed in glossy white over the factory eggshell (perhaps to match the BRE cars?). It was done quite a while ago and was a quality job but the emblems were not removed so you can see tiny masking errors.
Excellent body fit and finish
Solid underneath and in the spare tire storage bin.
Stainless steel bolts have been used throughout the car, replacing the standard fasteners.
95% Original survivor chrome
Wide rear grille is polished stainless steel
The emblems exhibit some minor pitting commensurate with age
Lowered in the rear with race springs.
Lowered in the front with torsion bars
Excellent glass with tilt out rear quarter windows
Front and rear bumpers and brackets are included. The rear bumper is freshly rechromed.
Wheels, Tires
Gorgeous 13” SSR, Formula, 3 piece wheels
Lightweight aluminum alloy lug nuts
Brakes
Front disc calipers have been rebuilt. Fresh pads.
Rear drums serviced
Fluids serviced
E Brake works well
Engine
1251 4 cylinder Hino GR100 engine. Engine serial number 107422.
Dual Hino branded SOLEX licensed 40MM carburetors built by Mikuni. (freshly rebuilt)
Exhaust Header
OEM Hino/Hitachi distributor.
Genuine Marmitte Anza muffler with twin chrome tips and vintage tags
Fresh tune
The missing engine compartment cooling tin is included.
Many of the accessory parts are Hino branded including the carburetors, distributor and water pump.
Transmission
4 Speed Manual transmission
Interior
Nice clean interior.
Correct Hino Sport steering wheel.
Wood dash
Glove box autographed by Peter Brock. (with ugh, taped on shift pattern. The buyer can decide whether or not the woodgrain can be saved from the tape)
9000 RPM Tachometer
Gauges (plus two additional gauges, see photos)
There is no carpet. The bare floor shows a bit of paint wear from usage
Two Hino branded keys
The door and engine compartment locks are functional with the factory keys
Trunk/Frunk
Nice condition. All covers and panels in place
New battery
Cleaned fuel tank and lines. New pump.
Spare tire and wheel
Underneath
No rust.
Solid and damage free frame and pan.
No drivetrain leaks.
Documentation
Clean and clear California title
California plates and registration tags on Non-Op.
2019 Export documentation from Japan
BRE Hino Contessa framed artwork featuring the autograph of Peter Brock.
Photo of Peter Brock with this car in front of his BRE shop.
Photo disc of our collected research documentation on the Hino Contessa 1300 Coupe.
Video: There are four videos on Youtube. Search drivenco
Trade ins
Yes we consider interesting trades.
Links
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