So it seems UFOs are real after all. This is the 1969 Eva Cars Antares Type 1A, a sensational Supercar from the late 60’s. During the 2nd Tokyo Racing Car show held in 1969, a new intriguing high-performance car company stepped onto the scene with a booth of their own, that company was called ‘Eva Cars’. Tokyo born designer, Kenji Mimura, was the man responsible behind the Eva Cars brand, and although most of his creations look race-ready, the Antares Type 1A was reportedly not intended for competition use, but rather personal use. Mimura, who was born in 1947, got an early start working the automotive industry being involved in engineering and working with founder of Dome Co. Ltd, Minoru Hayashi. At the young age of just 22 years old, with some guidance & assistance from Hayashi, Mimura would create what is known as the first company-based Japanese coachbuilder, Eva Cars. Under Eva Cars, Mimura’s first project would be the car pictured here, the Antares Type 1A. The result was a wildly unique, futuristic single-seater with a sophisticated design but also a high level of manufacturing technology for such a small coach-building company. The UFO-looking 1A was subsequently partnered with a new model called the 2A & both cars were sent to the Tokyo Racing Car show where Mimura thought this would be a good platform to display his creations. It’s unclear why Eva Cars died off shortly after this debut, but what is known is that original founder Kenji Mimura then went on to develop a Japanese F1 racing team known as ‘Maki’ in 1974. After no real success in racing, the team closed down just two years later in 1976. In 1978 Mimura took over as executive director of Dome Co. Ltd & was involved with the development of the famous Dome-Zero. Following his work at Dome, he would the go on to create another company known as ‘MIM Design CO. LTD.’
How many made? It is believed only 1 was produced. 1 of 1.
Engine: 2.0L SOHC 4-cylinder derived from the 1968 Nissan Fairlady (SR311) - 137bhp.
Debut: (1969) 2nd Tokyo Racing Car Show at the Harumi Trade Center.
Top Speed: 167mph (estimated)
0-60mph: N/A
Photo Credit: automobiles-japonaises.com
Research: @rarecarsonly