Yahoo Autos These Are Some Of Akira Toriyama's Best Automotive Creations And Car Cameos
The announcement of Akira Toriyama’s death on March 8 prompted a flood of farewells from fans of the manga artist’s many creations. Toriyama died at the age of 68 on March 1 due to an acute subdural hematoma, and fans are mourning the late character designer, who was so beloved around the world that he was knighted in France in 2019. As a lifelong fan of Toriyama, it’s my duty to light a candle for him before the altar of St. Goku, and to remember the artist by sharing some of his best automotive art.
Akira Toriyama’s most famous creation was the Dragon Ball series and its spinoffs, which started out as a manga and later turned into an anime. But Toriyama’s art is also behind games such as Chrono Trigger and Dragon Quest, as well as lesser-known titles like The Adventures of Tongpoo and Dr. Slump.
One thing these all have in common is a love and enthusiasm for automobiles, motorcycles and spaceships, which is apparent in renditions of the machines — some real, some fictional — that populated Toriyama’s worlds. So, kickback like Majin Buu reading CAR magazine and peruse some of Toriyama’s best auto renditions and outlandish creations:
Akira Toriyama (1955-2024)
I’d be remiss without including a photo of Akira Toriyama himself, and saying rest in peace to the manga master, whose art influenced the course of popular culture in Japan, the U.S. and Latin America alike. Thank you, Mr. Toriyama.
Renault R5 Turbo
Bulma’s Renault 5 Turbo appeared in the very first chapter of the Dragon Ball manga, when a young Goku and Bulma meet. This would mark the beginning of a saga that spanned decades and was exported around the globe to adoring fans. Kid Goku destroyed that poor R5 Turbo, which simultaneously introduced us to Bulma and cemented her excellent taste in cars.
Porsche 911 Carrera
You can make out the driver of this Porsche 911 Carrera if you squint. Master Roshi is in the side mirror there, just past Kuririn’s head. I don’t know who’s having more fun, the driver or unruly passenger, on this scenic drive.
Shelby Cobra
Toriyama has great love for small roadsters, such as the famous Cobra, as well as other vehicles made by Carroll Shelby, who was behind another car featured in this list.
Chevrolet Bel Air
Goku can’t help himself from destroying cool cars. He’s a menace to automobiles everywhere, but we love him all the same. King Kai’s beloved Chevy Bel Air convertible returns for a reprise, and Goku’s teacher is also apparently fan of other big American sedans, like the Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz.
Chevrolet C-Series
That looks like a single cab Chevy C-Series pickup, which struck me as an S-10 at first. The characteristic white squares that serve as reverse lights in the tail lights give it away. I’m absolutely smitten by Toriyama depicting such a truck.
Fiat 500 Abarth
Another of the vehicles Goku destroys is this Fiat 500 Abarth, which appeared in the Dragon Ball manga. At least it got the honor of receiving one of Goku’s first “Kamehameha” blasts, which would go on to become near-synonymous with the Saiyan himself.
Kawasaki KR250
I told you Bulma has excellent taste. Here she is on Kawasawki’s 250CC two-cylinder “tandem twin” motorcycle, which won four MotoGP championships.
Monster Carrot’s Rabbit Car
The anthropomorphic rabbit, Toninjinka, is a villain from Dragon Ball who’s also known as “Monster Carrot.” He drives this thing, which looks like a cross between a Volkswagen Beetle and a real rabbit. Just don’t call it a VW Rabbit.
Ford F-100
Toriyama seems to draw on a lot of older vehicles for inspiration, and this 1950s Ford F-100 shows his predilection for classic design. The truck shows up in early chapters of Dragon Ball, but the series has plenty of single cab trucks to show off.
Ford Mustang
This vehicle most resembles a Ford Mustang, though it’s unclear what model it could be, definitively. The roll bar reminds me of Carroll Shelby’s vehicles, so it could be a Shelby GT500, especially with those seats and racing stripes.
Jeep Wrangler (YJ)
The Jeep Wrangler has gone through various iterations and its predecessor, the Willys MB, also appeared in Toriyama’s animations at some point. But the YJ is the best-looking Jeep of all, and this rowdy group of friends knows it.
Suzuki Jimny
Why, yes, the Jimny is so damn good that even Goku and his family enjoyed owning one. This depiction proves that the Jimny’s style is, indeed, timeless.
Capsule Corporation Flying Cars (And Bikes)
The Capsule Corporation is responsible for countless ingenious machines, all of which can be held and stored in the palm of your hand. Capsule Corp. is owned and operated by Bulma’s father, Dr. Brief, who has a penchant for flying vehicles — both cars and bikes — as well as a preference for domed architecture.
Kei Cars
The inspiration for this convertible escapes me, although it looks like a cross between a Geo Metro Convertible and a Honda Beat. The car reminds me that the charm of Toriyama’s drawings is that his art style makes all cars look just as cute and friendly as Kei cars.
Bulma’s Capsule Corporation Bikes
Bulma’s bikes are arguably some of the most famous vehicles from Dragon Ball, but, unfortunately, bike makers have failed to create something alike in the real world. The closest we’ve come is the BMW C1.
Epoch Spaceship, Or “Wings Of Time”
Of course, this list wouldn’t be complete without one of Toriyama’s non-Dragon Ball creations, and what better than Chrono Trigger’s Epoch? This mechanical manta ray is a time and spaceship that Chrono and the rest of his party use to hop across eons in the seminal Super Nintendo game from 1995.
