NEWS: LA Times discovers classic Japanese cars

LA Times Japanese Classic Cars

The Los Angeles Times recently published an article about the rising costs of classic Japanese cars. And while it’s likely not breaking news to JNC readers, it provides an interesting outsider’s perspective to something you know intimately. Plus, it profiles everyone’s favorite kyuusha power couple, Koji and Terry Yamaguchi, founders of the Japanese Classic Car Show

It’s somewhat amusing to see a writer try to explain why a Nissan Skyline is cool to an audience that’s probably never heard of it before. But even the most hardened JNCer must feel a sense of validation when Japanese nostalgic cars are recognized as genuine collector’s items by a mainstream media outlet. The only problem is, now their prices will shoot even higher.

Photo courtesy Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times

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14 Responses to NEWS: LA Times discovers classic Japanese cars

  1. tboned says:

    Problem? Hah! I already own a JNC. Things can only get better now! bwahahah!

    • thatdirtykid says:

      But one isn’t enough. I need a project when one is “finished” and I need parts cars. There is nothing worse than someone selling a parts car with no title say “yes I am firm on $1200, I saw one of these things sell for ten times that at auction!

      • Power Tryp says:

        Except that while parts cars are getting harder to come by, reproduction parts for the more popular makes and models are being produced in greater numbers.

        Cars like the 510 and 240Z are seeing more and more reproduction body panels being made and maybe as popularity surges we’ll see a full on dynacorn style reproduction chassis! Wouldn’t that be amazing to build your very own JNC from the ground up with new metal just like the Muscle car guys can?

        I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again now, we are at the very front of a wave of price jumps on these cars.

  2. The Black CRX says:

    Having owned one of my now-JNCs since it was my first new car, it’s been fun to see the term “Japanese Classic” finally start to get uttered without disbelief or derision. I’ve popped the Honda cherry on a few multi-make shows with my CRX and my ’80 Accord (meaning I was the first person who ever dared to show up with one), and the response to the cars has been incredible. For the 1G Accord, I guess that happens with a car everyone seems to have owned but no one has seen for 20 years.

    We owe Koji and Terry a lot of thanks for promoting JCCS for ten years. They really changed the show scene, and gave us a place to be among friends old and new. And for many people, it introduced them to a new kind of old car.

    Of course, we owe several tons of thanks to Ben for JNC, too!

  3. JDM Only says:

    Toyota and Nissan need to bring back that 70’s look (celica and skyline) like Ford and Chevy did to the mustang and camaro.

    • sabin simard says:

      NEVER. They only need to bring back parts to help us to keep our cars alive and you only have to take realy care to majestic cars, NOT DRIFT IT.

      • Steve says:

        I agree, completely. I can stare at a 1960/70s Mustang/Camaro/Firebird/Challenger/Cuda all day and not be bored. The new retro Mustang is okay (just) but the new Camaro is such a cartoonish caricature of the original. Either way, after a few minutes I am not interested in either.

        It’s too bad all the molds and dies are destroyed after the model run because I too wish they would produce OEM replacement parts.

        • sabin simard says:

          Welcome to my world my friend. You’re right. The mustang was good looking about five year but after that it’s another story and are like all today’s cars, TOO MUCH ROBOCOP. I’m near fifty years old and do not want to see all the beautiful classic challengers, camaro, mustang or any beautiful classic japanese cars destroy by any teenagers who do not realize what they have. I even saw all these cars in showroom when they were brand new, i’m full of memory and nostalgia to have seen all these cars on the road in that magic period of creativity.My father was even car dealer in that same period.

        • JDM Only says:

          u telling me its not gonna look better than the style they’re putting out now days. i’ll take my chances… look at the skyline look just like the 350z, the celica today just don’t do nothing for me. bring it back i wanna see haa.

          • sabin simard says:

            No, there will never be better styling than 50’s, 60’s and 70’s styling, especialy for todays robocop bullshit styling, the cars of today are the worst design of all times for porsche, benz, gm, ford, chrysler, all japaneses, name them all. The manufacturers do not want to see us developed any appartenance links with the objects they sold to us, it’s all about disposability that fit with throwaway society. It’s even the same for ferrari (pininfarina) just any comparaison between classic styling versus modern styling, 250GT SWB california spider versus today’s california, it’s like all have been created. But ferrari is far away from the worst of them all, that palm goes to TOYOTA. Finally, you just have to look at the classic cars auctions, the results will tell you all, it’s all about DESIRABILITY, the cars of yesterday were all good looking and desirables, and if you not see that, my friend i can do nothing for you. And yes, all the first skylines were much better looking than R35, even R32-33 and 34. Have the most beautiful day of your life.

  4. Bart says:

    That Patrol is sweet.

  5. Nigel says:

    Only been to two all JNC shows here in Canada.

  6. Censport says:

    What took them so long? 😉

  7. Dave says:

    That’s a great photo! I agree, we do owe Koji & Terry a debt of gratitude!

    One thing about the article though, I don’t love these cars because they’re (or were) cheap to buy. I love ’em ‘cuz they’re awesome! Sure there’re investors and speculators who profit from them, but I’d guess most of us JNCers are in it for the love of the cars themselves.

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