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鳥取県米子市で動物病院や犬の美容院を営む藤井夫妻が選んだお車は、美しいブルーの1981年式のメルセデス・ベンツ300D、W123です。

1962年式のランドローバーシリーズIIの他にもヴィンテージハーレーなどのバイクも所有して楽しまれていた藤井さん。新たなお車を探されていたわけではなかったのですが、たまたまCRANKのインスタグラムで京都の橋を渡るこのブルーのW123をご覧になり、すぐにお問い合わせいただきました。

数日のうちには京都までご家族とスタッフを伴い、米子から現車をご覧にお車でいらっしゃいました。印象的なブルーの外装とディーゼル車であることも惹かれた理由でしたが、住まわれていた思い出の京都も背景におありになりました。奥さまも現車をご覧になり、これならとご同意。その場でお決めになられました。今回はそのあまりのスピード感に弊社スタッフの立ち会いもないままに前オーナーに直接、お車の説明をいただきましたが、そのオーナーのお人柄とお車の背景にあるストーリーも背中を押された要因かと存じます。つい先日も前オーナーの営まれるカフェに出向かれるなど、お車を通じてのつながりも生まれそうです。

お二人のお車でお出かけになる場所などありますかとのリクエストに、ご案内いただいた場所は海上保安庁の庁舎。

？が頭に浮かびながらお二人の後について建物の中に入り、人気のない薄暗い階段を上がった先にご案内いただいた場所は食堂。でも佇まいは庁舎の食堂ながら、いかにもシェフらしい方と素敵な女性が迎えるカフェでした。

こだわりのコーヒーといわゆる洗練されたカフェスイーツに舌鼓しつつ、空間と供されるもののギャップに良い意味での混乱を抱きながら、これぞ知る人ぞ知るお店と嬉しくなるひとときを過ごさせていただきました。

米子は江戸時代には山陰の大阪と称された城下町。いまでも旧加茂川沿いには古い町家や土蔵、細い路地など昔ながらの情緒が残る街並み。古い町家を生かした新しい飲食店も増えはじめ、これからさらに魅力的で楽しい場所になりそうです。

藤井さんは音楽も嗜まれ、バンド活動も精力的に。さらに最近では、ご友人とともに、人類最古のお酒のひとつとされる蜂蜜酒『ミード』の製造・販売事業もスタートされました。

車やバイク、音楽、そして新たに始められたミードの事業。それぞれ異なる分野でありながら、そこには藤井さんならではの好奇心と、物事を楽しむセンスが一貫して感じられます。

好きなものに素直に向き合い、興味を持ったことを自らの手で形にしていく。そんな自由で豊かなライフスタイルに、私たちも大いに刺激をいただきました。

一台の車との出会いから始まったご縁を通じて、お二人の暮らしや価値観の一端に触れられたことを、とても嬉しく思います。

藤井さん、奥さま、このたびは素敵な時間をありがとうございました。

A Car, A Life — Vol.50
Mercedes-Benz 300D | 1981

The car chosen by Mr. and Mrs. Fujii, who run a veterinary clinic and a dog grooming salon in Yonago, Tottori Prefecture, is this beautiful blue 1981 Mercedes-Benz 300D (W123).

Mr. Fujii has long enjoyed classic vehicles, including a 1962 Land Rover Series II and vintage Harley-Davidson motorcycles. He wasn’t particularly looking for another car when he happened to come across this blue W123 crossing a bridge in Kyoto on CRANK’s Instagram.

Something about it immediately caught his attention, and he contacted us without hesitation.

Within just a few days, he had driven from Yonago to Kyoto with his family and staff to see the car in person.

The distinctive blue exterior and the fact that it was a diesel were certainly part of the attraction. But Kyoto itself also held special meaning for him, as a city where he had once lived and made many memories.

His wife saw the car, gave her approval, and the decision was made on the spot.

Everything happened so quickly that none of our staff were even present for the viewing. Instead, the previous owner personally introduced the car and shared its history.

We believe that the previous owner’s character, along with the stories behind the car, played an important role in their decision.

In fact, the Fujii family recently visited the café run by the previous owner. It seems that this car has already begun creating new connections between people, something we always find particularly rewarding.

During our visit to Yonago, we asked the couple if there was somewhere they enjoyed driving to that they might like to show us.

Their answer was rather unexpected: a Japan Coast Guard building.

A little puzzled, we followed them inside, climbed a dimly lit, deserted staircase, and arrived at what appeared to be an ordinary government building cafeteria.

But what awaited us was something quite different.

We were welcomed by a gentleman who looked every bit the chef and a charming woman, in a space that felt more like a thoughtfully curated café than a government cafeteria.

Over carefully prepared coffee and beautifully refined desserts, we found ourselves pleasantly bewildered by the contrast between the surroundings and what was being served.

It was exactly the kind of hidden gem that makes discovering a new place so enjoyable.

Yonago itself is a fascinating town.

During the Edo period, it was known as the “Osaka of the San’in region,” reflecting its importance as a thriving commercial castle town.

Even today, the streets along the old Kamo River retain much of their historic atmosphere, with traditional townhouses, old storehouses, and narrow alleyways.

New restaurants and cafés are beginning to breathe fresh life into these historic buildings, and we have a feeling Yonago will become an increasingly interesting place to explore.

Beyond his passion for cars and motorcycles, Mr. Fujii is also an enthusiastic musician, actively performing with his band.

More recently, he and his friends have embarked on another venture: producing and selling mead, a honey-based alcoholic beverage considered one of the oldest in human history.

Cars, motorcycles, music, and now mead.

Although these interests may seem unrelated, they all reflect the same qualities we came to appreciate in Mr. Fujii: an endless curiosity, an appreciation for things with character, and a natural ability to find enjoyment in whatever captures his imagination.

There is something inspiring about a life shaped by genuine interests rather than convention.

To discover what you love, pursue it wholeheartedly, and turn your curiosity into something tangible — this is a wonderful way to live.

What began as the purchase of a single car gave us the opportunity to glimpse the lives, personalities, and values of two remarkable people.

And for us, that is one of the greatest pleasures of what we do.

Mr. and Mrs. Fujii, thank you so much for welcoming us and sharing such a wonderful time together.