1957 classic oval window Volkswagen bug, Rare Yanase Japan import Patina

Description

Yanase was established inHibya, Tokyo in 1915 initially as a truck and bus builder byChotarō Yanase, as a part of theMitsuiGroup. By 1920 the company became an importer of General Motors products, primarily Buicks and Cadillacs.[1]Yanase was born inToyooka Village(now Takasaki), Usui, Gunma, Japan December 5, 1879 and died July 11, 1956. After graduation from the Tokyo Commercial High School in 1904, he worked for the Mitsui OSK Shipping Lines when the company was previously known as Osaka Shipping. When Yanase began the importing company with Mitsui, he also imported petroleum mineral oil products. The mineral oil business became Yanase Shoji Co. Ltd. while the importing of automobiles became Yanase Automotible Co. Ltd, where Mr. Yanase served as president. The automobile business was in danger of going bankrupt, until theKantō earthquakeof 1923, where his company was instrumental in importing General Motorstrucks to help with the disaster recovery efforts, and continued to provide vehicles as the transportation infrastructure was rebuilt.Yanase also importedREO Motor Car Companyvehicles and chassis.

After the war, Yanase resumed importing operations, selling Cadillac, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen under the direction of Yanase's son,Jiro Yanase. Jiro Yanase was born June 28, 1916 and died March 13, 2008. He was inducted into theJapan Automotive Hall of Famein 2001, and the North AmericanAutomotive Hall of Famein 2004 for his efforts in the Japanese auto industry.[3]He attended Keio High School and graduated fromKeio Universityin 1939, with a degree in Economics, and soon began to work for his fathers company, with a position on the Board of Directors in 1941, CEO in 1945, and Chairman in 1985.[4]

Due to the vehicles being imported, Yanase had a reputation of selling large luxury cars, because European and North American vehicles did not comply with Japanese governmentregulationsconcerning exterior dimensions and engine displacement. Therefore, vehicles imported by Yanase were taxed for their larger dimensions. A meeting with the then Japanese Prime MinisterShigeru Yoshida(1946 to 1947 and from 1948 to 1954) convinced Jiro Yanase that imported cars should be sold as a luxury good, making imported vehicles more expensive than Japanese domestically produced vehicles, thereby allowing Japanese companies to sell their products that were priced lower than imported vehicles.[2]During the economic expansion period starting in the early 1970s, Yanase dealerships progressed across Japan as a retailer of imported vehicles that had a luxury reputation. In 1965, import standards were relaxed to allow the importation of left-hand drive vehicles into Japan, as Japanese vehicles made for Japan are right-hand drive.

In 1992 the European and North American companies whose products were imported by Yanase wanted to directly import vehicles to Japan. As of 2000, GM Volkswagen and Audi directly import vehicles but allow their products to be sold at Yanase dealerships. As of 2005, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, and BMW reached similar agreements with Yanase.

Yanase also sells used North American and European vehicles through their "Brand Square" locations throughout J

Every Volkswagen that came to Japan from 1953 to current had to come through the hands of the Yanase co. This 1957 was built in Germany shipped to Japan where it was sold new and then brought to the US sometime after 1964 from what we learned by the previous owner. The car runs and drives perfect and has a very straight rust free body. The car has great Character with its current Patina and if it does not sell on ebay this week it will be stripped down and refinished back to look like new again. The car is currently owned by KAO Autostyling in Las vegas who is very well known around the world for custom and classic autos. KAO builds custom vehicles and restores classic vehicles for High profile clients around the Globe. Specializing in Volkswagen Buses KAO and there guys know a treasure when they find one and this beetle is a very rare treasure with a very cool and unique history.

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