World's Most Expensive Car Crash

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

Some claim the Japanese don’t import enough cars. After what happened on Sunday near Shimonoseki, Japan, high value imports should experience a sudden blip.

On a freeway in southern Japan, at least 10 supercars were involved in what The Telegraph calls “likely to be the most expensive car crash outside of a car racing track.” Total damage is estimated at around $4 million.

Eight Ferraris, a Lamborghini Diablo two top-of-the-range Mercedes-Benz, a Nissan GT-R and a lone Toyota Prius hybrid crashed into each other.

The drivers were members of a car collectors club with eclectic tastes. The Ferraris include a F512, F355, F430 and a F360. The Toyota Prius was collateral damage.

A report in Mainichi Press says the accident occurred on 10:15am on Sunday. The club members were en-route to a dinner in Yamaguchi. The lead driver lost control on a wet road and hit the center divider. This caused a very expensive chain reaction.

Ten men and a woman were brought to hospitals, the injuries are described as not serious.

Mitsuyoshi Isejima, the executive officer of the Yamaguchi Prefecture Expressway Traffic Police, described the drivers as “a gathering of narcissists.”



Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

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  • Fred schumacher Fred schumacher on Dec 06, 2011

    A group of some of the most nimble vehicles on the road driven by enthusiasts can't get out of each others' way. Hubris caused this mess.

  • Dvp cars Dvp cars on Dec 06, 2011

    .......cause of crash....they're on the WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD!....a dozen narcissists tailgating each other on the left side of the road in left hand drive cars was a recipe for disaster in the first place.....toss 100mph into the scenario and bingo.....worldwide notoriety. Look for an inquiry into the importation of wrong-handed vehicles soon........and not only in Japan.

  • Dartdude The bottom line is that in the new America coming the elites don't want you and me to own cars. They are going to make building cars so expensive that the will only be for the very rich and connected. You will eat bugs and ride the bus and live in a 500sq-ft. apartment and like it. HUD wants to quit giving federal for any development for single family homes and don't be surprised that FHA aren't going to give loans for single family homes in the very near future.
  • Ravenuer The rear view of the Eldo coupe makes it look fat!
  • FreedMike This is before Cadillac styling went full scale nutty...and not particularly attractive, in my opinion.
  • JTiberius1701 Middle of April here in NE Ohio. And that can still be shaky. Also on my Fiesta ST, I use Michelin Pilot Sport A/S tires for the winter and Bridgestone Potenza for my summer tires. No issues at all.
  • TCowner We've had a 64.5 Mustang in the family for the past 40 years. It is all original, Rangoon Red coupe with 289 (one of the first instead of the 260), Rally Pac, 4-speed, factory air, every option. Always gets smiles and thumbs ups.
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