Welcome, everyone. You’ve made it to 2021! That in itself should be reason enough to celebrate, but the new year also means that a whole slew of cars will pass the 25-year threshold to become official classics. We’re stoked that Daihatsu Midget IIs are finally federally legal for import, but perhaps a JY33 Nissan Leopard or Toyota Mega Cruiser is more your style. Or, pick a USDM car that has finally attained classic status, like the EK Civic or eighth-gen Mitsubishi Galant, for which you can now get classic car insurance and historic plates in most states.
What’s your favorite JNC from 1996?
The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What are you trying to forget about 2020 or looking forward to in 2021?”
Last year brought a lot of disappointment, tragedy, and heartache, but of the answers given we felt for Land Ark the most. There’s really nothing like going to the motherland to see in person the automotive culture we love, and to have it yanked away because of a once-in-a-century disaster is a gut-punch. Personally, my family had to cancel a long-awaited trip to Hawaii in March, so I know how you feel! Well, we know some stickers won’t make up for the lost trip, but here’s hoping 2021 turns out better for you:
I’m trying to forget the once-in-a-lifetime 3 week epic trip to Japan we had planned for April that I was anticipating for over a year after we started planning it. It would have been my 3rd trip to the Land of the Rising Sun and it made me extremely sad to have to officially cancel it.
I’m looking forward to my currently rescheduled once-in-a-lifetime 3 week epic trip to Japan in May 2021. Things need to accelerate and fall into place for this one to work out otherwise I’m going to be supremely salty if I don’t get to go again. Especially if I lose out of the JR passes we bought that are good through September.
Fingers crossed!
Omedetou, your comment has earned you a set of decals from the JNC Shop!
NISSAN STAGEA WC34 !!
Now it’s finally a JNC. Sadly the 25 yo rule You guys reffer so often dosen’t applay to my cuntry. In Poland there are theoreticly no resctirictions in buying or registreing a imported car, regardles of it’s origin. But in reality one need very often to get a governmental permission to register and use a LHD car. It sometimes takes up to 6 months, and it’s not guareanteed.
I know personally people who didin’t get such permission for their Japan-imported cars, because some official stated that a Subaru Impreza GC or Mazda RX7 FD where availible in Europe in RHD config so the steering should be swapped pirior to registration. The offials didin’t understand that the said cars where some limited edition sold only in LHD ver. and where essentially a different model from the one’s sold here. So my friends registred their cars in Germany and Czech Republic respecetively.
I’m looking forward to the Integra Type-R. Though we got a version stateside, I will go on record saying that it’s not as good as the JDM version. Heavier, missed the better seats and steering wheel.
Also, they got a sedan. That’s just the type of weird and wonderful I love about JDM cars: take the hardest core track day toy for the working man, and make a family car version.
1996 Mitsubishi Galant VR4. It’s a tank…but a cool tank.
I owned it’s arch-nemesis, the Legacy BH (3rd gen). And while technically i can’t say anything bad about Mitu, i was (and still ‘m) in love with Subaru, then the looks and coolness factor are a different story. The Galant in VR4 trim wasn’t sadly avelible in Europe, but IMO it looked waaay cooler then Legacy 1-3 gen even when it was just a FWD with 2.0D. The 4th gen was a big leap forward. But when i looked on Galant GA i’ve always had the feeling that a ninja is staring at me from uder it’s hood. Such high is my regard to it.
The angry looking S14 Nissan Silvia/240 SX
What a timeless design. Plus with that face, it was badass face with a classy proper coupe body. It was so 90’s yet so timeless. I want one now.
Hino 500 Dakar truck. They lost out to the Kamaz & Tatra but beat all the Mercedes for 6th & 11th place. Also the first year of their aluminum truck.
Without any doubt the Toyota Starlet Glanza V Turbo (EP91)! It looks mean and angry and features a turbo charged 4A-FTE under the bonnet. This car basically was what the AE86 was for the 80s: a small cheap car delivering heaps of fun! On top of that the car was featured in the first two Gran Turismo games in the Toyota dealership as new.
Nowadays these cars are really cheap to find in Japan (sub 200,000 yen!) and aftermarket parts are plenty available. Grassroots racing couldn’t have come closer than this!
Midnight Purple R33 GT-R
Thanks for your sympathies and, sadly, right now it’s not looking good for the trip in May. But we will remain flexible and reschedule once things open up. So always something to look forward to. And just as an aside, I bring a massive empty suitcase for all the diecast treasures I pick up while there.
As for the question at hand, point me to the nearest Mitsubishi Legnum VR-4. It would be the perfect stablemate for my 4th gen Legacy GT wagon. The Legnum is a breathtaking design that takes the already gorgeous Galant and adds a long roof to the equation. Absolute perfection.