Part 02 of our 2012 All-Toyotafest coverage starts off with a pair of our favorite neoclassic Celicas. Moises Rivera (white) and Jesse Ortiz‘s (blue 1JZ-swapped) wedge-shaped A60s are the very definition of 1980s knife’s edge styling, and the US-spec GT-S flares allow for uber-deep barrels. Continue reading
The 2012 All-Toyotafest was abuzz with the excitement generated by the neo-hachiroku. After a decade and a half of supposedly sporty front-wheel-drive offerings, the lightweight FR Toyota is back with a vengeance. For throngs of Toyotaku in attendance it was cause for celebration. Continue reading
In 1981 Hot Wheels debuted the Hot Ones, a line of diecast cars with an articulating suspension and thin axles for a smooth, frictionless ride across your tabletop. Mattel has been busy re-launching many of the iconic cars from this series, as well as adding new models that weren’t included in the original collection but probably should have been. Case in point: the Honda CR-X, an 1980s icon of sport compacts.
This year Motorsport Auto brought back the Z-car West Coast Nationals with a full scale show at their headquarters. The theme was “Back to the Streets,” the street being a closed-off stretch of Collins Avenue in Orange, California, just like in days of old. Continue reading
Not counting the Fast and Furious franchise, cars of Japanese origin don’t usually feature too prominently in Hollywood productions. But that makes their rare appearances all the more special, which brings us to this week’s question:
What Japanese car was the biggest movie star?
Winston Wolf’s Acura NSX was an unexpected treat in Pulp Fiction. When Harvey Keitel’s mob cleaner was called upon to resolve a, uh, mind blowing accident, he promised to arrive on the scene in less than 10 minutes. He got there in nine and 37 seconds. Quentin Tarrantino’s script, heavily laden with details about the exact make, model and color of each car that appeared, originally called for a silver Porsche 911. But it had been written before Honda‘s magnum opus was unleashed on an unsuspecting public and became the most badass import on the block. In contrast, Bruce Willis’ totaling of a white 1980 Honda Civic in another scene is played for laughs. That only 10 years separates the two cars is truly mind blowing. What say you, dear reader? (Let’s keep it non-anime. That’ll be a future QotW.)
As always, the most entertaining, well-written, or inspiring comment by next Monday will receive a random JDM toy of some kind. Click through to see the winner of last week’s question, “Which nostalgic had the best nickname?” Continue reading
In Ashland, Kentucky right now there sits a gorgeous 22,000-mile darmua waiting for a new owner. The 1974 Toyota Celica ST is as mint as mint can be and swathed in a period brownish-green. Everything is original except for the Cragar wheels, but it appears that the original steelies and hubcaps still reside in boxes stowed in the trunk. Perhaps the only downside is the fact that it’s equipped with a 3-speed slushbox, but luckily early Toyotas have a pre-punched hole in the firewall to pass a clutch master through. Just be sure to save the rubber plug for posterity’s sake. As of this writing, its reserve has been met and exceeded at $13,050. See more photos on eBay. Continue reading
As we gear up for Toyotafest this weekend, watch this promotional video in which engineers describe incredible feats of packaging that made the Subaru BRZ and neo-hachiroku twins smaller than a Scion tC. This is the Steve Jobs-level passion for and/or obsession with a vision — beancounters and focus groups be damned — that is absolutely critical if we ever hope to stem the tide of rolling social networking pods being heaped upon the clueless driving public. Continue reading
Three letters — RWD. That says it all for the shirt we’re debuting at Toyotafest this Saturday, May 5. The lightweight rear-wheel-drive sport coupe is the magic formula that made us fall in love with old school Japanese cars in the first place, and after a decade-long absence it will return to the automotive world when the Scion FR-S arrives at dealers next week.
To celebrate, our new JNC RWD Toyota design features the Americanized Toyota 86 and the cars it drew on for inspiration — the Sports 800 for its FR boxer layout, the 2000GT for its Nozaki arc, the hachiroku for its namesake, and the TE27 for originating the affordable twin-cam Toyota.
The design works from a distance, where “RWD” in bold letters draws the eye. Those well-versed in automotive lingo will get it right away. Up close, the words “light,” “quick,” and agile describe what makes these cars the stuff of driving dreams. We used only rear 3/4 views to emphasize the driven wheels, and they’re charging straight into the owner’s heart. Continue reading
Dragging a non-car nut spouse to a car show is a hairy proposition, usually resulting in paying back a day spent gawking at old metal with some proper romance. That’s why we recommend killing two birds with one stone by dragging your spouse to the Datsun Roadster Classic in romantic Solvang, California. Continue reading
