Meet The Owner - Geoff Rowlands and his Mitsuoka Galue

1. What was your first experience with classic cars?

In a way my first car was a “classic” – Morris 1000 convertible – although in those days it wasn’t considered so.

2. What inspired you to become a classic car owner?

I always liked to drive something different and well designed. In my twenties, I had little money and so I chose cars that were made with quality, but old. I had a Mk 2 Jaguar, A Rover P4 100, a Rover P5B coupe, an Alfa Romeo Berlina, before settling on a Saab 96 V4. I kept that one for a few years and went on to buy other Saabs. I only choose to have “classic” cars. In recent years I have had a Renault Avantime, Mazda Xedos 9 Miller, SAAB 900 turbo, Audi A2, Nissan Cube. There’s really no excuse to drive something boring.

3. Tell us about your classic car? What made you pick this make/model? How long have you owned it? What’s your favourite feature/detail?

My current car is a Mitsuoka Galue. Like almost everyone, I had not heard of this model until I spotted this one for sale. I knew about the smaller Viewt, that looks like a Mk 2 Jaguar, and I was browsing to see if there was one for sale. Then I saw the Galue. I thought about it for a day or two, and then decided to have it.
The blend of classic styling with modern design appealed, and to me the whole idea of making such a car seemed crazy and yet brilliant too. There are many interesting features to the car, which only came to light after I had bought it and done the research. For instance, because the base car (Nissan Crew) was designed as a taxi, the left-hand side rear door is longer than the right hand side, by about 50mm. This makes it easier for passengers to get into the back from the kerb.

4. Do you have any other cars in your collection?

I’m only allowed one toy at a time – and it’s a useful discipline because I’m sure I would be tempted to buy many cars if let loose.

Restoration & Maintenance
1. Was your car restored when you bought it, or did you do the restoration yourself?

The car was ready to go with no immediate work to do. That suited me as the previous car that I had was an UMM Alter 4x4 which was almost derelict after standing for 5 years, and needed a complete restoration. That took 3 years, and I did not want to embark on another big restoration job.

2. Are there any modifications or upgrades you’ve made to your classic car?

I have done some improvements to the Galue, for instance, replacing the non-functional viscous fan clutch with an electric fan. This is quieter and wastes no power. I have also had a stainless exhaust system installed.

Driving & Experience

1. How often do you drive your classic car?

I drive the Galue all the time. If I’m going out on my own, I take the Galue. If I’m with my wife, we use her Freelander 1. She loves her car too.

2. What’s it like driving your classic car compared to modern vehicles?

Driving the Galue is no different to modern cars, except the silky smooth 6 cylinder engine, and the view over the bonnet do remind me of my Mk 2 Jaguar in some ways.

3. What’s your most memorable road trip or event?

I have been taking the Galue to motor events this Summer and that has been a lot of fun. It always draws a lot of interest, and curiosity. I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but I think it’s great. At Rustival 2 the Galue gained a great deal of interest, and it was right at home in such an eclectic mix of vehicles.

History
1. Do you know the history of your car? Any notable stories?

The Galue came with a large history file, including all of its inspections in Japan before being exported, as well as all MOT test results. There was also an owner’s manual, but in Japanese. Still, these days, with Google Translate, it’s easy to scan and translate these, even with my phone.

Community
1. Are you a part of a classic car club? What do you enjoy most about being part of the classic car community?

In the past I have always found owners clubs very supportive for all of my unusual cars.
There is no owners club, as such for the Mitsuoka, only a Facebook group; so getting information requires a bit of detective work. I am told that the Mitsuoka factory in Japan are very helpful, and will ship parts to the UK. Mechanical parts are Nissan, so that should not be an issue.

Future Plans
1. Do you plan on adding any more cars to your collection or new restoration projects?

I intend to keep the Galue for a long time, and so I have had it Waxoyled when they did the recent MOT. That means I can drive it through the Winter with less worry. As I mentioned earlier, I like to drive my classic cars. Any of the modern classics – from say 1970 onwards, are perfectly suitable for driving in today’s road conditions.