Did you know that the Grim Reaper’s own personal ride is a sinister S30 Z? JNCer edz280zx was somehow able to both see it and live to draw about it. Have a happy All Hallows’ Eve, everyone! Stay safe and don’t OD on chocolate!
Here are some random clips from 80s Japanese cop show Abunai Deka, starring the R31 Nissan Skyline before they switched to the F31 Nissan Leopard / Infiniti M30. We’re not sure what’s happening but there is senseless tire squealing. (more…)
We’ve seen low mileage CelicaLiftbacks before (both yellow, oddly enough), but this is the first Coupe. According to the seller, this 1974 Toyota Celica had just one owner for the first 34 years of its life. When he passed, the current seller acquired it in the estate sale with the plans of making it a “hot rod,” whatever that means. (more…)
Toyota in 2007 had a special display outside the main hall to celebrate their half-century mark, and in 2006 a bunch of their vintage trucks. Last year, Toyo Tires displayed Roy de Guzman’s 1972 Hakosuka and House of Kolor had a wicked Subaru Sambar. Next week we’ll be scouring the more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space to see what companies have brought out for us nostalgiaficionados this year. Word on the street is that Subaru will have a nice surprise, so if you happen to make it to SEMA, be sure to stop by their booth!
If you know of or would like to publicize an event, send us a tip at feedback(at)japanesenostalgiccar.com
Pop quiz: what is the coolest thing in the universe? The answer, it may surprise you to know, is Giga Pudding. Unfortunately, the gelatinous delicacy is only available in Japan. But, JNCer ohcanada_00 has come to the rescue with the next best thing — Giga Pudding stickers! We just received ours in the mail today and slapped it onto the JNC Wagon. Now we can dream of custardy goodness whenever we drive. Jealous? Order your own from ohcanada_00!
It’s the late 70s and the public is clamoring for smaller, efficient cars. Sadly, your portfolio consists of a series of monster land barges where even the smallest offering is several times the size of a Honda Civic. What’s the best way to regain market share? (more…)
As if Toyotaku weren’t already miffed enough that the long-awaited return of the AE86 was packin’ a Subaru 2.0L boxer under its sloping hood, here’s a little salt for that wound: it appears that the top line version of the Toyota FT-86 will actually be a Subaru. (more…)
After all this time we still get questions about the JNC logo. Specifically, the teardrop-shaped leaf in the upper right hand corner.
To explain, we must first describe the Wakaba Mark for beginning drivers. The Japanese government requires that new license holders display the green and yellow symbol on their cars during the first year of driving. In other words, it’s a blaring noob warning for seasoned roadgoers. Stateside, you’ve probably seen them fastened askance on tuned Civics and S13s.
So when we were coming up with ideas for the JNC logo, we chose to incorporate its counterpart, the Koreisha Mark, or elderly driver’s mark. After all, we were talking about old school cars! Display of this emblem is required when a driver reaches 75 years old, or age 70 if you have any conditions that may impair your driving.
Each mark comes in two styles: a suction cup type meant for the rear window, and a magnet type to stick on the hood. The Koreisha Mark has been in use since 1997, but recently the Japanese government has been considering a redesign. (more…)
There was one last old school car from the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show and we’re talking old old school. The triple diamond mafia calls the 1917 Mitsubishi Model A the first production car built in Japan — if by production you mean 22 units, including pre-production ones, screwed together by workers in the company’s shipyards. (more…)