QotW: What’s the craziest thing you’ve done to get the JNC (or part) of your dreams?

Posted on March 11, 2013 by Ben

Subaru 360 in snow

We’ve met a lot of crazy JNC owners over the years and heard even crazier stories. From buying a one-way ticket from LA to Philly in order to drive back with a set of Celica smiley bumpers, to putt-putting a Subaru 360 that had been sitting for years from Denver to Savannah, we’ve heard them all.

What’s the craziest thing you’ve done to get the JNC (or part) of your dreams?

What say you, dear reader? As always, the most entertaining or inspiring comment by next Monday will receive a toy. Click through to see the winner from last week’s question, “What’s the best mod you can make to a classic car?“  Continue reading →

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EVENTS: 2013 Nostalgic2Days, Part 02

Posted on March 8, 2013 by Ben

crownbooth002_Mooneyes

Welcome back to JNC‘s Nostalgic2Days coverage, from the Pacifico Yokohama convention center. The building itself might be located in the city’s Minato Mirai 21, or “Future Port of the 21st Century” district, but the cars are all from back in the day.

In the case of the Mooneyes booth, we’re talking way back in the form of an unrestored RS56 Toyota Crown pickup. The workhorse has led a hard life and has the patina and bed bars to prove it. A JZ-series swap would make this the ultimate sleeper, but we appreciate the fact that the Mooneyes crew decided to show it as is. Continue reading →

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We drive the new Toyota Pro/Celebrity TRD Scion FR-S, despite being neither Pro nor Celebrity

Posted on March 7, 2013 by Ben

ProjectNeo86-ScionFRS helmet

Since 1977, Toyota has been putting celebrities with varying degrees of track experience into race-prepped cars and unleashing them onto the streets of Long Beach. The carnage that unfolds is, thankfully, limited primarily to the sheetmetal of two dozen freshly painted Toyota sport coupes, but the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race has nevertheless been an annual ritual for over three decades and counting.

This year, the chariot for this vehicular gladiator match is the smokin’ hot Scion FR-S, complete with a slew of not-yet-on-the-market TRD goodies. So when Toyota gave us the opportunity to wring one of these tuned neo-hachiroku out at Willow Springs Raceway, who were we to refuse? Continue reading →

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EVENTS: 2013 Nostalgic2Days, Part 01

Posted on March 6, 2013 by Guest Writer

Toyota TE27 1

The latest dispatch from guest writer David Lovett of Classic Car Nagoya covers Part 01 of the annual Nos2Days event, where we first encountered CCN years ago. —Ben

There’s one show every year I absolutely refuse to miss. Nostalgic 2 Days happens every year in February, and while Tokyo isn’t always the easiest drive to make, it’s worth it for this show. The vendors always bring out there A-Game as it is organized by Nostalgic Hero magazine. Continue reading →

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PRODUCT GUIDE: Koyorad Datsun 510 Radiator

Posted on March 5, 2013 by Ben

Koyorad Datsun 510 Radiator

While we’re on the topic of mods for your classic car, cooling is an important part of keeping your nostalgic in tip-top running order. Stock radiators in older cars were usually pretty flimsy to begin with, and after years of use, can be prone to leaks. We always love it when companies pay attention to the needs of JNC owners, and Japan’s Koyorad has been coming out with a series of old school-specific radiators recently. Continue reading →

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QotW: What’s the best mod you can make to a classic car?

Posted on March 4, 2013 by Ben

Toyota Celica TA21

Last week’s QotW broke records for having the most answers since we started doing our weekly polls. JNCers had opinions both plentiful and strong about the absolute worst mods that could be foisted upon classic cars. Well okay then, smarty pantses, what about the flip side?

What’s the best mod you can make to a classic car?

We aren’t opposed to mods, but whatever they are we hope they are reversible. Therefore we’re going to go with a simple “low down sus” and a set of proper vintage barrels. Not only will this enhance the typical Japanese car’s innate handling prowess, it also looks fantastic. No cutting of wires, sheetmetal or upholstery required.

What say you, dear reader? As always, the most entertaining or inspiring comment by next Monday will receive a toy. Click through to see the winner from last week’s question, “What’s the worst mod you can make to a classic car?” Continue reading →

42 Comments

2013 Toyotafest Registration is now Open

Posted on March 1, 2013 by Dan

2013 Toyotafest Flyer
It’s time to get your Toyota ready for the 2013 All-Toyotafest.

The date is May 4, 2013 at the Queen Mary in Long Beach, California, but registration will close on either April 10 or when all spaces are filled, whichever come first, so don’t delay!

All Toyota, Lexus and Scion vehicles are welcome, old or new.

Click here to go to the registration page.

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Mitsubishi of Choshi, Chiba Prefecture Circa 1977

Posted on March 1, 2013 by Matt

Chiba Mitsubishi 06

Looking at old dealership photos is like stepping into a time machine. One fateful day in what appears to be 1977, an employee at Choshi Mitsubishi in Chiba Prefecture decided to take some photos of his or her workplace. If we’re right about the date, this the same year the original Star Wars debuted and most of the JNC staff was still in diapers. Continue reading →

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MOTORSPORT: 76 Years of Nissan Motorsports

Posted on February 28, 2013 by Ben

Nissan R382 1969 Japan GP

Watch footage from 76 years of Nissan motorsports, starting with the monopoly-piece looking 1936 Datsun racer to the futuristic 2012 Nissan DeltaWing. The video commemorates the new NISMO headquarters grand opening February 26, which will shift the seat of Nissan’s performance arm from Omori, Tokyo to its new home in Tsurumi, Yokohama (the former location of Nissan R&D). Continue reading →

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EVENTS: 2013 JCCA New Year Meeting, Part 04

Posted on February 27, 2013 by Ben

0464_Nissan-Skyline-C10

We continue with more parking lot finds in Part 04 of our 2013 New Year Meeting coverage. Our previous installment featured some bosozoku style rides that caused some controversy, despite their important place in Japan’s tuning culture. Today’s shakotan style selections are also decidedly old school Japanese, and perhaps will be a bit more amenable to Western tastes. Continue reading →

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