SEMA’s most recent e-newsletter included a link to an article about Toyotafest! This should be of particular interest to those of us in the nostalgic car scene, as the Specialty Equipment Manufacturer’s Association is always keeping a pulse on where the car hobby is headed.

(more…)

We’re still catching up from last week’s SEMA MPMC conference, but one of the important things we learned there was that the recent threat of a national “Cash for Clunkers” program has been defeated. Yay! Thanks to everyone that wrote in protesting this vintage car destroyer of a bill.

However, a new bill is being introduced, which seeks to do the same to cars getting 18mpg or less of any model year. Most of our beloved nostalgics will be safe from this, but we’re reporting it as a service just in case you have some classic Detroit iron in your collection too.

When we told conference goers who we were, we often heard responses like, “Oh, I saw a mint Mazda RX-4 Wagon at the junkyard a few months back!” likely due to these types of laws. Heartbreaking! Some yards take an impact hammer to the engine block to every car that comes in under this program (or some other measure to ensure that the vehicle can never be driven again).

And lastly, we are reminded that even though the national program is defeated (for now), nostalgic-rich states like California and Texas still have active programs going on right now! So please, tell as many people as you can about these laws. But as we all know that money talks, so help us spread the word that an old Datsun or Toyota is something worth saving, something a collector would pay good money for, and not to be tossed aside.

Our coverage of the SEMA show. Due to the economic disaster, the mood was a bit down and every company is struggling. However, there were some bright spots, including the first JNC car at SEMA! Also, read the article to find out why we are eating our words about Toyota.

If you’ve been to SEMA you know that the vast majority of vehicles are either classic American or new Japanese. Here’s one that manages to combine both: a ‘32 Ford Highboy powered by a VG30DE from a 1996 Nissan 300ZX with its accompanying 5-speed. Much of the running gear – spindles, brakes, hubs, diff, halfshafts – were also from a Z32, mated to a custom 5-link suspension. Follow the jump for a closeup of the engine. (more…)

We’re here in Las Vegas for the SEMA Show, trying to spread the word about JNC. There are so many magazines out here, but we’re the only one devoted to old school Japanese cars! So far the response is pretty good, but unfortunately J-tin at the biggest automotive show on Earth is still few and far in between. We’ve spotted a few goodies that will be posted on later though. (more…)