At the Kyoto villaHidetomo KimuraI was once again shown just a small portion of Mr. [Name]'s car collection. When I visited last summer, the garage was completely filled with cars, but since some have been moved to Tokyo, only a few cars were on display on this day.
In the back, there's a classic car racing simulator. Designed by the famous Italian coachbuilders Pininfarina and Zagato, the simulation machine incorporates vintage elements throughout, allowing you to experience driving a truly authentic classic car. While classic car racing is typically for wealthy collectors and car enthusiasts, racing old cars on a real racetrack carries some degree of risk. However, with this classic racing simulator, you can enjoy racing to your heart's content without crashing valuable and expensive vintage cars, and you can even compete online, allowing you to interact with classic car collectors from around the world. Furthermore,
"Pininfarina"
As a simulation machine, it is remarkably well-made, featuring a classic style with a real wood steering wheel, three high-definition screens, three pedals and a stick, a state-of-the-art hydraulic system (recreating the movements and G-forces of all classic cars from the 1950s to the 1970s), and a Logitech sound system.
"Zagato"
Zagato has worked on luxurious models such as the Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa, the Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato Continuation, and the Aston Martin DBS GT Zagato. The software for both racing simulators was developed in collaboration with the Swiss company Racing Unleashed, with design and production handled by Pininfarina and Zagato.
After receiving instructions from Mr. Kimura, we also got to try it out. The vibrations and impacts were so realistic that it felt like our feet would be thrown off if we weren't wearing driving shoes. It's a unique machine that closely resembles a real racing experience. Normally, you register your own classic car, but we chose from the registered car models, selected a course, and enjoyed the racing simulation. Let's keep the number of crashes a secret (laughs).
"Disco Volante coupé"
The Disco Volante is an exclusive sports car customized by the Italian coachbuilder Touring Superleggera, based on the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione. The name "Disco Volante" is the nickname of the legendary racing car "Alfa Romeo 1900C52" manufactured by Alfa Romeo in the 1950s, and its sexy, rounded design, which means "flying saucer" in Italian, is eye-catching.
Historical background and concept
The Disco Volante is a special vehicle designed and manufactured by Touring Superleggera, and was first unveiled at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show. This car is inspired by the design of the original "Disco Volante" from the 1950s, and blends modern technology with classic styling.
Base vehicle: Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione
The Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione, on which the Disco Volante is based, is a high-performance sports car produced by Alfa Romeo in limited quantities from 2007 to 2009. This car is equipped with a Ferrari-made 4.7-liter V8 engine that produces 450 horsepower. The 8C Competizione was highly acclaimed worldwide for its beautiful design and performance.
Customization and design
The Disco Volante by Touring Superleggera uses the same chassis and powertrain as the Alfa Romeo 8C, but features a completely redesigned body.
This new body combines handcrafted aluminum panels with carbon fiber elements, resulting in a remarkably lightweight yet highly rigid design. The car's design inherits the flowing curves of the original Disco Volante while incorporating a modern approach.
Production volume and rarity
Only a very limited number of Disco Volantes were produced, making them highly valuable collector's items due to their rarity. Each vehicle is customized to the customer's specifications, making it a truly unique vehicle.
performance
Like the base Alfa Romeo 8C, it is equipped with a 4.7-liter V8 engine, achieving 0-100 km/h acceleration in approximately 4.2 seconds and a top speed of approximately 290 km/h. This combination of a high-performance engine and lightweight body results in excellent handling.
Its design, beautiful craftsmanship, and overwhelming rarity have earned it extremely high praise among car enthusiasts and collectors.
Hidetomo Kimura and "The Last of Line C52 Vintage Edition"
This special Disco Volante is the eighth and final vehicle ever produced in the world and is known as the "Last of the Line C52 Vintage Edition." This name pays homage to the original design of the 1950s Alfa Romeo 1900 C52 Disco Volante, making it a special edition that evokes a sense of historical roots in the modern Disco Volante.
Design and details
As a special edition, it reproduces the distinctive design elements found in the original Alfa Romeo 1900 C52 Disco Volante. The body color is also the same as that of the time, making it a one-of-a-kind Kimura Special. Specifically, it includes the following details:
Grill design
The grille, featuring a cross within a shield, is directly inspired by the original C52. This design emphasizes the image of a classic racing car, giving a vintage feel to a modern vehicle.
Quadrifoglio (four-leaf clover)
The "Quadrifoglio" emblem positioned on the front fender also symbolizes Alfa Romeo's racing heritage. The Quadrifoglio is an iconic mark that Alfa Romeo has used on its racing cars for many years, and it embodies the wish for good luck and victory.
Special edition background
Mr. Kimura is also known as a collector of art and luxury cars, and this car, manufactured for him, possesses extremely high quality and originality. His special customizations, based on the original model, set this car apart from other Disco Volantes.
The "Last of Line C52 Vintage Edition" is a masterpiece of Touring Superleggera craftsmanship and, due to its rarity, is a significant vehicle in automotive history. This car is highly regarded as a tribute to the original Disco Volante and as a demonstration of the possibilities of modern custom cars. The emblem on this car is also a one-of-a-kind piece, specially gifted by Alfa Romeo from 1952.
The signatures of everyone involved in the creation of this Disco Volante are engraved on the underside of the hood, recording the passionate feelings they poured into this one car.
The Disco Volante is a premium production model limited to 15 units worldwide—8 coupes and 7 spiders—created by Touring Superleggera in collaboration with Alfa Romeo to commemorate the company's 90th anniversary.
"Disco Volante Spider"
Mr. Kimura owns both the coupe and spider, special editions of the Last of the Line dedicated to the original, and we received permission to publish photos of them taken in front of the "Museo Storico Alfa Romeo/Alfa Romeo Museum".
The more I hear from Mr. Kimura himself about the story behind the creation of this car, and the many subtle details that differentiate it from other Disco Volantes, the more I understand just how special this particular car is.
"Concorso d'Eleganza Kyoto/Nijo Castle"
Furthermore, this Disco Volante is organized by Mr. Kimura.Concorso d'Eleganza KyotoThere's an incredible anecdote that when the car was delivered to Mr. Kimura, Alfa Romeo, in tribute to his Disco Volante concept, transported the original 1952 Disco Volante, an Italian cultural heritage, from the Alfa Romeo Museum, air-shipped it to Kyoto, and displayed it alongside his car.
All of Mr. Kimura's car license plates are "614". This is a numerical representation of his nickname "Royce" in the world of car enthusiasts. At some point, it became his dream to own a 1950s Ferrari that displayed the number "614" and competed in the Mille Miglia, and he has unified the license plates of all his cars with that number. It symbolizes good luck and a wish for victory. Mr. Kimura values connections in all things. We were fortunate enough to be blessed with such a connection, which led to this trip to Kyoto. We look forward to the day we can visit again.
Hamamatsu: "An encounter with Hidetomo Kimura, a world-renowned artist who creates art aquariums"
