It’s 2019, and a new crop of cars will officially become classics this year, part of the 25 Year Club eligible for a smog check-free existence and historic car plates and insurance in most states. And then there’s the JDM cars released a quarter-century ago in 1994 that will become legal to import by year’s end, offerings conceived at the height of Bubble Era madness.
Which 25-year-old cars are you most excited about?
The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What’s your JNC New Year’s resolution?”
We can definitely relate to some of your New Year’s resolutions. Getting moving on a long dormant project, like Bryan Kitsune, is one example. Perhaps ceasing Yahoo Japan Auction bids, like Chris, or getting a handle on our diecast addiction, like エーイダン, are a couple first steps to doing that. As another year rolls by, we creep ever closer to a future where human-driven cars will be banned, so let’s enjoy these cars while we can, like our winner this week, Howard:
My resolution is to take my 1989 Mitsubishi Starion out more often. I am the original owner, and she has always treated me right, and I get a lot of comments when Im driving it, or showing it at a car show. I wish everyone a safe, and great driving year!
Omedetou! Your comment has earned you a set of decals from the JNC Shop.
How ’bout some Isuzu ‘LUV”. (Get it!?…Ha.). Third Gen Spacecabs, I think, are very cool (I know, they really started in the late ’80’s.) Standing by for the Vehicross in a few.
Former Gen I LUV (“Faster” in the JD market) driver.
Mitsuoka Viewt. The cachet of an odd ball boutique Japanese Coach Builder that has the asethic design cues of 60’s Jaguars built on a Nissan March platform that was washed by bath salts.
“Look honey, somebody left their Jag in the dryer too long!”
No 25-year import rule for us Limeys! I’m gonna throw in a curve-ball anyway though, as this year the Toyota RAV4 officially becomes a JNC.
In some ways you could consider the RAV4 the beginning of the end, given it was among the first cars to popularise SUVs that drove more like cars, a category that’s all too busy today…
…but its significance can’t be understated for the same reason. It’s easy to forget that back in the day it was pretty unique too, unlike its modern equivalents today. And while SUVs drove terribly as a rule back in 1994, the Toyota was pretty nimble in the corners.
I’d give the thumbs-up to anyone rocking a JNC sticker on an original RAV4.
Not JDM, but I’m a bit excited to start seeing the Renault Twingo make its way over to the US.