Author Archives: Kevin San

Goodbye JNC Project Hakosuka: How the scene has changed over 12 years

I can actually pinpoint the time when it all started: it was Saturday, July 16th 2007, at 10.30 in the morning when I saw my first Hakosuka in the metal, in the Shirakawa district of eastern Tokyo, just around the … Continue reading

Posted in nissan, project hako, project hakosuka | 8 Comments

VIDEO: These dekotora drivers use their modded trucks for acts of charity

The image of a dekotora driver in Japan typically isn’t a wholly positive one. Much like hard core truckers in the US, they are seen as rough around the edges, people you wouldn’t want to confront alone at a remote … Continue reading

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MINICARS: A 24-karat gold Hakosuka Skyline GT-R

For those of you who love nostalgic J-Tin collectibles, here’s something you (probably) don’t have: a Hakosuka Nissan Skyline GT-R made of 24-karat gold. Yes, it’s a KPGC10 made of precious metals, built to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the … Continue reading

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EVENTS: 2019 Osaka Auto Messe

Everyone knows the Tokyo Auto Salon, the massive annual car show where the big brands and tuning houses of Japan’s automotive aftermarket goes all-out to show its wares. But, there’s an equally big show that’s not quite as well known, … Continue reading

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Debut! Hayashi Racing tires for all your Kaido Racer needs

Mention the Hayashi Racing name to any J-tin enthusiast, and they’ll think of wheels. Hayashi Racing was the first to cast aftermarket wheels in Japan, but the true heritage of the marque, is as a racing car manufacturer. In 1967 Hayashi-san … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | 12 Comments

This Kenmeri Skyline does not look o-kei

Japan is a place where space to park for your car is at a premium. Compared to most driving populations, Japan is full of visible feats of Jedi parking, where cars are squeezed with millimetric precision into the smallest parking … Continue reading

Posted in kei | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments

Hayashi Racing is (maybe) bringing back the Bomber wheel as part of a (maybe) Heritage Wheel reissue program (…maybe)

Hayashi Racing may be best-known for its venerable Street Wheel, which was Japan’s first aftermarket alloy wheel, and has been in production since 1967.  However, they do also have a bulging back catalog of wheels from the pre-bubble era which … Continue reading

Posted in Vintage Barrels, wheels | Tagged , | 9 Comments

NEWS: Hayashi Racing is making A-Series valve covers

Hayashi Racing is now making some lovely cast aluminum rocker covers for the Nissan A-series. Available in black or red (the blue one above is a custom job for a Hayashi Formula J race car). We expect most of these to be … Continue reading

Posted in Product Guide | 9 Comments

EVENTS: Classic Japan 2017

As the JNC crew in SoCal was getting their 80s and 90s car show fill at Radwood, we here in Australia were going further back in time. Classic Japan in Melbourne is probably one of the best gatherings of Nihon … Continue reading

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Tokyo Motor Show: The State of Cars in Japan

By now you have seen plenty of car magazine and social media channels declare the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show as being a disappointment. Leading up to the show, there were whispers of some tasty production cars being revealed: a Fairlady Z … Continue reading

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Happy Halloween from JNC

What’s the first rule of entering a dark garage with a classic car? Don’t go in there alone. Happy Halloween from JNC!

Posted in Holidays | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Sayonara, 2016. Happy New Year from JNC

あけましておめでとうございます。

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EVENTS: 2016 Classic Japan show in Australia

One of our favourite nostalgic car shows in any country is Classic Japan, which is held in Melbourne, Australia in December every year. Melbourne is 1000 km away from JNC‘s Australian HQ in Sydney, so it’s also an opportunity to … Continue reading

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JNC is now on DriveTribe

Japanese Nostalgic Car has created a DriveTribe thingy. The social network created by ex-Top Gear hosts Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond may be the next big thing, or it may fizzle out dramatically. We’re not quite sure what the … Continue reading

Posted in jnc | Tagged | 11 Comments

VIDEO: Abandoned Hakosuka in Cyprus

The story of a Toyota dealership abandoned in Cyprus in the 1970s is well known to long time readers. Apparently, though, old Celicas and Corollas aren’t the only J-tin left to gather dust on the island republic. Here’s a very complete … Continue reading

Posted in Video | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

VIDEO: Excellent clips from the Shakotan Boogie anime

Here are some clips from the anime adaptation of Shakotan Boogie, which came out in the early 90s. Animation-wise, it falls somewhere between Speed Racer and the original Initial D, but I think that we can all agree, that this … Continue reading

Posted in Video | 12 Comments

JNC PROJECT HAKO: look, Ma… I’m on TV!

There are lots of TV commercials which try to appeal to true enthusiasts, but if you were given the keys to a TV production company, what sort of commercial would you make? If you answered that you’d gather a whole … Continue reading

Posted in cm, project hako, project hakosuka | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

SHOP LIFE: The Barrel Bros’ super wheel restorations

One of the most important (and expensive!) purchases you’ll make for your ride, are a nice set of wheels. J-nostalgics just don’t look right without the right vintage wheels, and so you’re probably already a veteran of cruising Yahoo Auctions … Continue reading

Posted in Shop Life | Tagged , , , , | 17 Comments

VIDEO: JNC Project Hakosuka hits the skidpan!

Since 2011 or so, a very nice LSD unit has been sitting under a cloth in the corner of  the JNC Hakosuka garage.  I never finished gathering all the parts I needed to install it until I had some spare … Continue reading

Posted in project hako | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

VIDEO: Club-level race at Nakayama circuit in 1985

This video of a club-level race at Nakayama Circuit in 1985 has got everything: AW11, Gemini, Bluebird, R30, SA22, multiple generations of Truenos and Levins, and the smooth jazz of a Gran Turismo menu screen. Watch the video below.

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