Japanese Nostalgic Car

Today, August 25, is Instant Ramen Day, honoring the day in 1958 when the flash-fried noodles first hit the shelves. The original instant ramen was developed by Nissin Foods, but soon after NissAn also released a ramen. In this 1963 campaign, you could win a Cedric if you collected enough points attached to the ramen packages. The convenient meal-in-a-packet, which has spawned many imitators and can still be had for less than a buck each, has since become the default dinner for those saving money for a greater cause… like car parts. Can you even call yourself a car enthusiast if you haven’t eaten ramen for weeks, worn the same raggedy event T-shirts, or refrained from haircuts just to put funds towards a car?

What have you sacrificed for your car?

The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “Which beloved nameplate will be revived next?“. Continue reading →

The reborn Acura RSX gave Honda heads a collective “ick” when it was announced last week. Automakers must perform a difficult balancing act when they resuscitate a cherished model name. One wrong move and legions of loyal fans who loved the original will feel betrayed. On the other hand, it’s difficult to launch a new car these days when attention spans are are shorter than a nose hair, but a library of proven names is just sitting there ripe for the picking. For every hit like the Honda S2000 there’s many more Mitsubishi Eclipse Crosses littering the shoulders of the model name highway, but that doesn’t seem to stop automakers from giving in to this unbearable temptation.

Which beloved nameplate will be revived next?

The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What’s an automotive bonding activity you can do with kids?“. Continue reading →