Have you sorted out your old records and are now looking for something impressive to fill the gap on your living room shelf? There is a new solution to this problem, which incidentally makes up for another, probably even more urgent deficit: the widespread lack of sophisticated literature on automotive classics "made in Japan". We are talking about the five-volume opus with the proud name "A Quiet Greatness - Japan's Most Astonishing Automobiles".
Enlightenment for all those who think they know everything about old cars
"A quiet greatness" - this slogan is synonymous with the Far Eastern country that is so close to us with its technical products, but at the same time so far away with its mysterious culture - not least in automotive terms. JDM, as the petrolheads of America call the magic formula that stands for "Japan Domestic Market" - in other words, for the sometimes bizarre, mostly fascinating models that have never been seen, let alone bought, outside of the car- and motorsport-crazy Pacific island state. In this respect, "A Quiet Greatness" can also be seen as a work of enlightenment for all those who thought they knew everything there was to know about collector's cars.
In Western automotive literature, classic cars from Japan have so far been an absolute orchid; no car nation rich in tradition has been treated as neglected. Now it looks as if a single work is trying to satisfy this pent-up demand all by itself. Because the scope of "A Quiet Greatness" is simply overwhelming.
In fact, the above comparison with a record collection is not so far-fetched in purely physical terms: at 31.4 x 31.4 centimetres, the individual books have the exact format of an LP sleeve. However, at 17 centimeters, the massive decorative slipcase that encases them is as thick as 60 LPs in the cover - and, at around 16 kilograms, considerably heavier.
Five books with 2352 pictures on 1398 pages
The five lavishly finished volumes, whose innards are made of glossy, heavy 150-gram paper, are divided into Volumes I to IV as well as a single book containing the index and numerous tables. In total, the gigantic package comprises 1398 pages showing 2352 images, quite a few of which are generously double-page spreads.
It is pleasing to note that the individual books can be opened completely flat thanks to the expensive thread binding. The viewer can enjoy numerous new images, some of which are highly sophisticated in photographic terms. However, there is also a lot of historical material, such as old factory photos, as well as transparency drawings or illustrated brochures and homologation documents from motorsport.
Focus on classic coupés and sports cars
The vast majority of the content is made up of classic coupés and sports cars, which are also shown extensively in racing and rally use. Other vehicle categories, on the other hand, do not play a significant role, which is regrettable in view of the interesting luxury cars from the Land of the Rising Sun. For example, the Toyota Century V12 and the Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution are among the few models that fall outside the decidedly sporty scope of the content.
All in all, "A Quiet Greatness" covers around 240 models from 18 brands, spanning 68 years of Japanese automotive history. The latest models, which date back to 2019, form only a very small fraction in terms of uncompromising classic car fans.
However, the encyclopaedic dimensions of the lavishly presented large volume do not hide the fact that historically reliable texts and background information on the individual models tend to be neglected; the focus is clearly less on reading and learning, and the image-heavy content is much more for enjoyment, enthusiasm and fascination. In this respect, the fact that the book is only written in English is not a problem. Its authors, the contemporaries Mark Brinker and Myron Vernis, who are well known in the scene of collectors of bizarre exotics, are US-Americans who do not have the Old World in their primary field of vision.
Exotics included - from Dome to Mitsuoka to Prince
Naturally, their choice of content fell on such self-starters as the Mazda MX-5, the Nissan/Datsun Z/ZR and Skyline coupés, the Subaru Impreza WRX, Toyota's Celica and MR2, the Mitsubishi Rally Lancers - and indeed all generations of each; such model series are presented in great detail and impressively illustrated.
Nevertheless, exotic models such as Dome, Mitsuoka and Prince, which are virtually unknown in our cultural circles, are not neglected. However, this does not mean that "A Quiet Greatness" can claim to be exhaustive. Even for this huge scope, the portfolios of Japan's highly productive and creative car manufacturers simply offer far too many models. A complete list of all the models that drive through the four thick volumes can be found on the book's website .
Conclusion - for enthusiasts and broadly interested car lovers
Especially for fans of classic Japanese cars, this large five-volume work, strictly limited to 1000 copies, is a real must-have - and for all other petrolheads it is still a desirable can. However, at 449 euros, it is painfully expensive. At first glance, at least, which is quickly put into perspective in view of its monumental scope.
Bargain hunters who are tempted by the US retail price of 350 dollars should not rejoice too soon: Including shipping, the direct import would be more expensive on balance, especially as the European distributor based in Germany is operating extremely cheaply. German and Austrian buyers are even served free of charge, and the heavy chunk can be delivered to Switzerland for a digestible 19 euros.
Bibliographical details
- Title: "A Quiet Greatness - Japan's Most Astonishing Automobiles"
- Language: English
- Authors: Mark R. Brinker, Myron T. Vernis
- Publisher: Self-published
- Edition: 1st edition 2022, limited to 1000 copies
- Format: 314 x 314 mm, bound in five volumes, decorative slipcase
- Size: 1398 pages, 2352 illustrations (2151 in color and 201 in black and white)
- ISBN: 978-0-578-34683-0
- Price: EUR 449.00 (incl. postage for Germany/Austria, EUR 19.00 for shipping to Switzerland)
- Buy/order: Online via the German-language website for the book
