Thursday, July 31st, 2008

We all fantasize about the barn find. For some, it’s better than winning the lottery. A big wad of cash can get you that new Maserati, but there are some cars where it’s not a matter of buying them, it’s a matter of finding them. (more…)
Posted at 10:57 pm by Ben, 2 Comments »
Tags: australia
Wednesday, July 30th, 2008

Last weekend the 24 Hours of LeMons South took place at Carolina Motorsports Park in Kershaw, SC. The epic beater endurance race of cars that cost $500 or less saw a 1-2 sweep by none other than a pair of Mazda RX-7s. When was the last time you saw a Wankel, much less one that cost only half a grand, survive this much abuse? (more…)
Posted at 10:48 pm by Ben, 5 Comments »
Tags: mazda, motorsports, rx-7
Wednesday, July 30th, 2008

Look, we love Corvettes. In fact, the C3 Stingray was our favorite car when growing up. This may surprise some JNCers, but the truth is we love all kinds of cars. That’s why it’s kind of a bummer when muscle car snobs immediately shout “ricer!” any time they see a Japanese car used for something more than A-to-B transportation. It’s happened to us, and if you’re reading this site, it’s probably happened to you. Well, today we’ll supply you with all the comeback ammo you’ll ever need. (more…)
Posted at 12:04 am by Ben, 13 Comments »
Tags: film/tv
Monday, July 28th, 2008

Automakers are always testing the marketplace waters with new concept cars that never hit the market, and Nissan is no exception. However, the thing that leapt off the page when we came across this otherwise typically futuristic dream car is the name, the Datsun X-Link. That’s right, not Nissan. Datsun.
(more…)
Posted at 11:28 pm by Ben, 9 Comments »
Tags: datsun, nissan
Sunday, July 27th, 2008
Well, it’s Monday. We know everyone hates them and feel sluggish when it rolls around. So to start your week off right here’s a 3S-GTE Starlet with an intercooler bigger than its entire frontal surface area doing one massive burnout.
[Cardomain]
Posted at 11:48 pm by Ben, 4 Comments »
Tags: starlet, toyota
Friday, July 25th, 2008
The Pyramids of Giza. The Great Wall of China. These are just some of human civilization’s accomplishments that are nearly as epic as what we’re about to show you. Once in a while, you come across one of those projects that just makes your chin hit the floor like you’ve eaten a grenade. Such is our reaction upon seeing JNCer BigJohn’s ongoing restoration of his 1979 Datsun Stanza (or Violet, 160J, 510, 710 depending on what country you’re from). In case you missed it, this is a must-see.
We simply cannot describe the skill, dedication and thoroughness of this project in words. Neither can BigJohn. Being from Thailand, he doesn’t know much English, but his pictures and usage of a single emoticon speak for themselves. (more…)
Posted at 12:26 am by Ben, 2 Comments »
Tags: asia, datsun, how to, howto, nissan
Thursday, July 24th, 2008
As part of Subaru’s continuing celebration of its 50th anniversary, its official Japanese blog has taken the car that started it all - the Subaru 360 - out for a spin. It’s short drive, but a rare glimpse into the O.G. kei car, and in case you were wondering how it feels to be behind its wheel, here’s our poorly translated version of their writeup.
First off, the author points out how surprisingly low the seating position is, yet visibility is excellent. The 360 was intended to seat four adults, and the author notes that this is possible, without mentioning specifics about comfort (or lack thereof).
(more…)
Posted at 12:39 am by Ben, 4 Comments »
Tags: subaru, subaru 360