Category Archives: Spotlight
SEMA SPOTLIGHT: Daniel Wu’s show-stopping Honda S800
Even with countless companies spending big bucks, it’s hard to find anything truly stunning at SEMA anymore. The race to outdo each other and grab eyeballs, has resulted in some high-dollar builds, but when everything is extreme, nothing is. It’s … Continue reading
SEMA 2019: Finally, you can get an inexpensive ultra-wide bosozoku tire in the US
One of the most unexpected treats of the SEMA Show was the surprise appearance of Banzai Sports’ Bluebird SSS Sanitora. We first spotted this eye-catching ute at the Tokyo Auto Salon in 2018 and were extremely taken by it. Half … Continue reading
Toyotafest Spotlight: Our favorite car of the show
Just when you think you’ve seen it all, a unicorn appears out of nowhere. It has always been a rare sight, even at Toyotafest and JCCS, to find any A10 Toyota Carina. To observe one as clean as Nestor Rabanal’s? … Continue reading
Toyotafest Spotlight: This mint Starlet was once part of the Toyota USA Museum
We’ve already covered the Starlets from this year’s Toyotafest, but there was one particular example we had to point out. It’s not that it was bone stock, or flawless, or a rare 3C5 Coral Metallic color, though it was all … Continue reading
TOYOTAFEST SPOTLIGHT: One-owner Supra
Every once in a while you run into a car that simply drops your jaw. At this year’s Toyotafest, one of those cars was Gary Toomer’s 1984 Toyota Celica Supra. It looked as it it had rolled straight out of … Continue reading
One of the few Toyota Sports 800s sold new on US soil
These days, it’s easy, but also not terribly difficult to see a Toyota Sports 800 in the US. Though Toyota never offered them in the US, they’ve been part of numerous car shows and museum exhibits. And with their build … Continue reading
Toyotafest Spotlight: A true kaido racer on American soil
“We used to do this with hot rods,” said Shige Suganuma, president of Mooneyes, as I pointed out the unmissable Mark II kaido racer in the Cressida section at Toyotafest. We were walking the grounds, and he recalled how, during the Bubble Era, his … Continue reading
SEMA 2017: An unmolested Toyota MR2 gave us the strength to carry on
Dearest Martha, As I took respite to pen this letter, I wondered if I would return from war the same man I was when I left home. SEMA is hell, my love. It has been just two days, but it … Continue reading
SEMA 2017: Into the Badlands star Daniel Wu’s Datsun 510
One of the standout cars at SEMA was a 1972 Datsun 510 sitting in the Toyo Tires Tread Pass section. Though owned by a celebrity — Into the Badlands star Daniel Wu — that’s hardly the most interesting thing about it. … Continue reading
SEMA 2017: Jun Imai debuts his widebody Datsun Z
Five years ago, we watched as the pink slip of a dusty blue 1974 260Z was signed over to Jun Imai. It appeared as if attempts to turn it into something greater had been cut short, leaving a car that was neither stock nor carefully modified. If … Continue reading
JCCS Spotlight: Joseph DeMeo’s 1988 Toyota Celica All-Trac
One of the most mind-blowing cars at this year’s Japanese Classic Car Show was Joseph DeMeo’s 1988 Toyota Celica All-Trac. With just 15,200 miles on the odometer, the rally-inspired AWD coupe was basically showroom and the finest example we had ever … Continue reading
Posted in events, Spotlight
Tagged all-trac, celica, japanese classic car show, JCCS 2017, st165, toyota
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SEMA 2016: Mazda Miata concepts
It’s that time of the year, the automotive spectacle that is SEMA is almost upon us. Manufacturers have begun to preview their builds soon to debut in ‘Vegas. For their part, Mazda just dropped a pair of special MX-5 Miatas.
Posted in Spotlight
Tagged mazda, miata, mx-5, ND, Retractable Fastback, RF, roadster, sema, Speedster Evolution
7 Comments
SEMA 2011: Datsun 510 at Enkei Wheels Booth
A big company like Enkei Wheels could have just about any car they wanted in their SEMA booth. We are right chuffed that they chose a JNC for this year’s display. It also happens to be wearing their sexy new … Continue reading
Yellow Torpedo: New Year Meeting Hino Contessa
We rarely get to post a photo of a Hino Contessa, but here’s a slick little rear-engined torpedo found at the 2010 New Year Meeting. Obligatory black Wats and a dab of drop. [Minkara]
More from Odaiba Car Show
Here’s another photo from the weekend’s Odaiba car show sent to us by Mooneyes. There seems to be something car-related going on all the time there. This Celica may seem as painful as the itasha cars to some, but it’s … Continue reading
Posted in Spotlight, toyota
6 Comments
Hot Rod Nissan
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 … Continue reading
Posted in events, nissan, Spotlight
12 Comments
Hot Rod Datsun
We’ve seen Toyota and Mazda-powered hot rods, but here’s a totally bitchin’ speedster pushing Datsun power. A 260Z inline 6 to be exact, and it’s even made to resemble a Miller/Offy from back in the day. Blasphemy to some, perhaps, … Continue reading
Posted in datsun, Spotlight
4 Comments
