Coppa di Tokyo 2024: The Day Classic Cars Conquered a City
The Coppa di Tokyo 2024 was a premier regularity rally held on November 23, 2024, featuring nearly 100 vintage European and American classic cars. Starting at Shiodome’s “Italia Street,” the event sent pristine Ferraris, Porsches, and Alfa Romeos through iconic Tokyo districts like Asakusa and Ueno, celebrating automotive history in the heart of Japan.
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Lens: Canon RF 24-105mm F4 L IS USM at 105 mm (1/500 sec at f/8.0, ISO 3200)
The rumble of a vintage Maserati engine echoes off the glass towers of Shiodome. The flash of chrome from a Porsche 550 Spyder turning a corner in Asakusa. If the thought of timeless European classic cars taking over the streets of Tokyo gets your heart racing, then the Coppa di Tokyo 2024 was an event you shouldn’t have missed. But if you did, you can see my photos from the day.
Lens: Canon RF 24-105mm F4 L IS USM at 28 mm (1/320 sec at f/8.0, ISO 800)
Lens: Canon RF 24-105mm F4 L IS USM at 43 mm (1/250 sec at f/10, ISO 3200)
The Coppa di Tokyo: Vintage European cars in Tokyo
Starting on Italia Street, the event was far more than a static car museum. It was a full-fledged regularity rally, sending nearly 100 pristine vehicles on a circuit through the heart of the city. I spent a Saturday morning with these incredible machines, and the sights and sounds were unforgettable.
Lens: Canon RF 24-105mm F4 L IS USM at 81 mm (1/320 sec at f/8.0, ISO 800)
Lens: Canon RF 24-105mm F4 L IS USM at 105 mm (1/250 sec at f/8.0, ISO 1600)
The variety was staggering. Japanese enthusiasts have a deep love for European classic cars, and it showed. Gleaming Ferraris and Alfa Romeos parked alongside stoic German BMWs and Porsches. There were even quirky outliers like tiny Messerschmitts and feisty Abarths. In a delightful surprise, a few American icons snuck into the rally, with the unmistakable shapes of a Corvette and a Mustang adding some muscle to the mix. For petrolheads, it was heaven.
Lens: Canon RF 24-105mm F4 L IS USM at 53 mm (1/125 sec at f/8.0, ISO 800)
Lens: Canon RF 24-105mm F4 L IS USM at 56 mm (1/250 sec at f/8.0, ISO 1600)
More than a show: A rally through the city
The rally itself is a test of precision, not just speed. In this case, drivers followed a course that took them to landmarks like Asakusa, Ueno, and Jingu Gaien (2024 photos), aiming to hit checkpoints at exact times. I had planned to arrive for a 10 a.m. start, but by 9:30 the air was already thick with the smell of gasoline and the sound of engines revving to life. The event was underway, and excitement was in the air.
Lens: Canon RF 24-105mm F4 L IS USM at 50 mm (1/250 sec at f/10, ISO 3200)
Lens: Canon RF 24-105mm F4 L IS USM at 105 mm (1/320 sec at f/8.0, ISO 800)
A good crowd of several hundred attended the start. Everyone had their cameras and smartphones out to capture the cars. How many more were at the checkpoints, cheering the drivers and their vehicles on? People walking around Tokyo that day were surely delighted to see them.
Lens: Canon RF 24-105mm F4 L IS USM at 24 mm (1/250 sec at f/11, ISO 3200)
My favorite classic cars from the rally
With so many legends on the road, picking a favorite felt impossible. If I had to choose, the stunning lines of the Alfa Romeo Gran Sport Quattroruote, with its open cockpit and delicate wire-spoke wheels, might just take the prize. Then again, seeing a legendary Porsche 550 Spyder, a giant-killer of its era, was a thrill I won’t soon forget. There are more images on the official Coppa di Tokyo website.
Lens: Canon RF 24-105mm F4 L IS USM at 53 mm (1/125 sec at f/8.0, ISO 800)
Lens: Canon RF 24-105mm F4 L IS USM at 28 mm (1/250 sec at f/10, ISO 3200)
Planning for the next Coppa di Tokyo
It was a perfect Saturday morning spent among masterpieces of metal and passion. I’ll be back for a future Coppa di Tokyo, though I’ll be setting my alarm clock even earlier to soak it all in. If you love cars, you should also check out [Tokyo Motor Show 2019: Where Art Meets the Future].
Lens: Canon RF 24-105mm F4 L IS USM at 28 mm (1/250 sec at f/11, ISO 3200)
Lens: Canon RF 24-105mm F4 L IS USM at 58 mm (1/320 sec at f/8.0, ISO 400)
Date of Photos: 23 November 2024
Photography gear for this shoot
Camera body: Canon EOS R5
Lens: Canon RF 24-105mm F4 L IS USM
