Tag Archives: Question of the Week

QotW: What vehicle would you use to escape a war-torn hellscape?

It was a good five minutes we had between a global pandemic and a world order-realigning conflict that will likely plunge us back into a new cold — or maybe even hot — war. Our hearts go out to the … Continue reading

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QotW: How do you feel about auction prices affecting JNCs?

We’ve seen some pretty astronomical prices for J-tin in recent years. We always knew cars like the hakosuka and kenmeri GT-Rs, Toyota 2000GT and Fairlady Z432 were going to be rise in price. Frankly, they were never that cheap to begin with. This week, we saw even new-ish cars … Continue reading

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QotW: If you could witness one automotive moment, what would it be?

We recently asked about what car you’d preserve if you had a time machine, but what about a memory? Kenichi Yamamoto having his eureka moment about the rotary engine? Tetsu Ikuzawa passing the Porsche 904 at the 2nd Japan Grand Prix? Keiichi … Continue reading

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QotW: What would you do with 24 hours in Japan?

For some reason your flight to O’Hare was diverted to Tokyo instead. You have one day see the one shop, buy the one part, or drive the one car you’ve always dreamed of before you have to fly back across the Pacific. What … Continue reading

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QotW: What was the last great golden era Japanese car?

The era of the Japanese performance car is one of automotive history’s great epochs. With everything from kei sports cars to supercar killing sedans, there was seemingly nothing the Japanese wouldn’t build. Despite cars like the Nissan GT-R and Lexus LFA, … Continue reading

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QotW: What JNC would you get if you had a time machine?

Time travel is real, but it only goes to one point on the space-time continuum: Showa Era Japan. For some reason, you have a briefcase full of 1960s-era yen in large bills. You also know of a remote garage in rural Japan … Continue reading

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QotW: Which JNC sighting will you remember forever?

As a die-hard car nut, you may not remember how many kids your boss has, your first kiss, or even your birthday, but you can sure as hell remember every vivid detail about the millisecond you laid eyes on a mind-blowingly awesome JNC. I, for … Continue reading

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QotW: How can Nissan save the Z?

The news late last week that Nissan is releasing a crossover inspired by — not necessarily replacing, but inspired by — the Z caused “grab the pitchforks” style unrest among the enthusiasts. We know the automotive landscape does not favor sports cars now, and it is … Continue reading

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QotW: What’s the next blue chip JNC?

Cars like the hakosuka and kenmeri Skyline GT-Rs, the Fairlady Z432, Cosmo Sport and Toyota 2000GT have already hit prices that we bitter, long-time JNCers can no longer afford. What’s the next ship we should jump on before it leaves port? What’s the … Continue reading

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QotW: What’s the greatest nostalgic Nissan?

Last week we learned that an R35 GT-R is not the only Nissan that knows how to steal a supercar’s thunder. It’s hard to believe, but we haven’t yet asked what the greatest nostalgic Nissan is. We’ve inquired about the greatest Toyota, … Continue reading

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QotW: What car of the Nineties will be the next sought-after classic?

With cars like the R32 Skyline GT-R increasing in price, other Bubble Era sleds are sure to follow suit. Though the Nineties are not quite nostalgic, we can already predict what might be the next sought-after rarities (a 320hp, AWD, 6-speed folding … Continue reading

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QotW: What JNC design has aged better with time?

Like many JNCs, when it debuted the X70 Cressida was an utterly nondescript family hauler. The ur-Avalon’s boxy lines were dismissed as typical Toyota conservative styling and it sat completely unrecognized for decades. Now we’re in a Cressida renaissance, and it’s the … Continue reading

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QotW: What JNC race replica would you buy?

Last week Ricky wrote about a British builder’s 1968 Honda RA302 replica. That gave us fever dreams of apexing an old JNC racer full tilt through a chicane, preservation of history be damned. Oh, how we wish we could buy a vintage body-in-white to pound on harder than Justin … Continue reading

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QotW: Which JNC had the coolest taillights?

Now that we’ve determined which JNC had the coolest pop-up headlights let’s focus, like Sir Mix-A-Lot, on rears. Back in the day automakers were largely confined to sealed beam headlights, but out back designers had free reign to design insect, jet … Continue reading

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QotW: Which JNC had the coolest pop-up headlights?

The pop-up headlight: automotive eyes personified, endearing relic, or just two additional unnecessary points-of-failure? Whatever you think of them, they defined an automotive era. I happen to reap a weird, endless joy from that delay between when you flick the switch and when they actually pop-up or retract. … Continue reading

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QotW: What’s the greatest Japanese nostalgic hatchback?

The hatchback. Loved everywhere in the world but the US. Rather than embrace its practicality, we Americans refuse to date anyone driving one and insist on adding a smaller, shallower cargo area that extends over the rear wheels like a portable bathtub. … Continue reading

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QotW: What’s the best shade of JNC yellow?

If July could be a color, it would be yellow. With the golden light of our sun shining brightly as ever, beating down on us, and giving Superman his powers, it is perhaps time to ponder a hue not so common … Continue reading

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QotW: Which nostalgic feature should be brought back?

The reasons for our love of JNCs are plentiful. Almost as plentiful as questions about why we’d drive a 30 year old Toyota/Honda/Mazda/Daihatsu rather than a comfortable new car. Many of those reasons, however, are actually good: simplicity in design and engineering, greater outward … Continue reading

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QotW: Which JNC is impossible to find stock?

Some cars, such as the two Kidney candidates we saw last week, are so welcoming to modifications that for it to survive decades untouched, especially at the affordable end of the blue book listings, is as unlikely as like a baby outlasting the zombie … Continue reading

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QotW: What’s the greatest JNC steering wheel?

The steering wheel. It’s probably the thing you interact with the most when driving a car, so let’s give it some consideration. What’s the greatest JNC steering wheel? Allow us to make a case for the Nissan Gloria Turbo Brougham VIP … Continue reading

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