Look what arrived in the mailbox at JNC HQ today. Nissan has finally begun sending out GT-R brochures to interested parties. In it, there’s a brief history of the Skyline GT-R and, as far as we know, it’s the first time that Nissan USA has ever officially acknowledged the 50-year history of these JDM models. And in case you were wondering: yes, we are very interested in the GT-R but no, we can’t afford one. You can get your own brochure by signing up for updates on Nissan USA’s website.

We often harp on Toyota for not doing much to celebrate it’s 50th birthday here in the US of A, but we kid out of love. Also out of the realization that it’s possible to do even less (we’re lookin’ at you, Nissan). That’s why it’s so refreshing to see the Big T succumb to the nostalgia and reflect upon its adolescence.

On the official Toyota Open Road Blog recently, the automaker took a look back on some of its past brochures to check the features that were trumpeted on those marketing materials. Amusement ensues.

Some of them fall into the “seemed like a good idea at the time category” like the 1963 Toyopet Tiara’s old school linear speedo and turn sig switch on the steering wheel. Others remind you just how sparse these cars were and what kind of features we expect to come standard today. For instance, the 1965 Corona touted its sun visors, inside rear-view mirror, the fact that every door had an armrest, and front seat-belt anchors. The belts themselves were optional, however.

The thing we found most surprising though is that Toyota USA actually kept old brochures to refer to. Ha! We kid, we kid.

[Toyota Open Road Blog]

It’s hard to believe that in all the talk about Sapporos in our forums, no one has ever mentioned this site, msapporo.com, where you can find entire brochures and owners manuals scanned, posted and categorized for your viewing pleasure. Fans of all its variants - Dodge Challenger, Plymouth Sapporo, Mitsubishi Galant and Chrysler Scorpion - are welcome too.

[MSapporo via Jalopnik]

Okay, all you brochure freaks, thanks to our dear reader colhogen, you’re in for a real treat. Prepare to whittle away hours of your once productive life at the Catalog Gallery of Automotive Nostalgia, a Japanese blog that has nothing but scan after gorgeous full-color scan of vintage car brochures. If you’ve ever been to the specialty shops catering to old brochure collectors, you know that this is several used cars’ worth of eye candy right here. Bon appétit, or should we say, Itadakimas!