Category Archives: mazda

An ND Miata morphs into Mazda RX-3 convertible for Tokyo Auto Salon

The Tokyo Auto Salon is approaching, and that means it’s time for some truly stupendous vehicular creations to emerge from the Nihon Automobile College. This year, Japan’s future automotive technicians are bringing a Mazda RX-3 convertible to the tuning extravaganza. … Continue reading

Posted in mazda | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Japan Post celebrates 40th anniversary of Mazda RX-7 with exclusive rotary goods

Japan’s post offices have unleashed a slew of Mazda RX-7 themed merch to mark the 40th anniversary of the iconic Hiroshima sports car. The goods celebrate all three generations of the RX-7, as well as the rotary engine. The only … Continue reading

Posted in mazda | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Koenigsegg founder built his own supercar as a tribute to his Miata

There are few cars so transcendent that they permeate the souls of people at every station in life. I think we can all agree that the Mazda Miata is one of them. We love the Miata, so do many of our … Continue reading

Posted in mazda | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

DETROIT: Soul Red is the new white

Despite our decree that white was the best color for Japanese cars, Nihon automakers are still continuing to make cars in other colors. One hue that seems to be surpassing the traditional white is Soul Red. 

Posted in mazda | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

JCCS 2015: The Ibarra Brothers’ incredible collection of classic Mazda rotaries

No one that walked through the Japanese Classic Car Show last weekend could have missed the astounding collection of half a dozen classic rotaries parked on the Queen Mary lawn. Each one was more pristine than the next, as if we had jumped a few … Continue reading

Posted in jccs, mazda | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 20 Comments

How the Mazda RX-3 and RX-7 came to be called “Savanna”

Fuji, 1971. The mighty Hakosuka was slated to reach its record 50th win in Japanese touring car racing, only to have that taken away by a plucky upstart from Hiroshima known as the Mazda Savanna (aka. RX-3). Years later, its spirit … Continue reading

Posted in mazda | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

The saddest poem you’ll ever read

Forget Keats, forget Yeats. An unnamed Mazda RX-7 owner has penned the world’s saddest poem. Found in the missed connections section of Austin, Texas’s craigslist, it tells the tale of a new FC owner that found his formerly original-paint ’88 was no longer … Continue reading

Posted in mazda | Tagged , , , | 15 Comments

Happy Mother’s Day from JNC

A page from the 1962 Mazda Carol 360 brochure, one of Japan’s first family cars. Happy Mother’s Day from JNC.

Posted in mazda | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

25 YEAR CLUB: The Mazda MX-5 is officially a Japanese Nostalgic Car

Break out the champagne, because the Mazda MX-5 Miata is 25 years old. Later this week at the New York Auto Show, Mazda will throw a birthday party for what is not only one of the most significant Japanese cars … Continue reading

Posted in 25 Year Club, mazda | Tagged , , | 22 Comments

EVENTS: Naniwa Swap Meet

Among the items on our Japan bucket list was checking out a real swap meet. Turns out, automotive-themed ones are not terribly common there, but we were fortunate enough to have Osaka’s Naniwa Swap Meet coincide with our stay. 

Posted in events, honda, kei, mazda, Motorcycles, nissan, suzuki, toyota, wagons | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 20 Comments

EVENTS: Tokyo Motor Show, Day 02

On Day One of the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show we saw one of the most significant concepts to come out of Japan since the FT-86. With that excitement out of the way, we spent Day Two seeing what Nissan’s major … Continue reading

Posted in concepts, events, honda, mazda, minicars, Motorcycles, toyota | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 20 Comments

EVENTS: SevenStock 16

Mecca for Mazdafarians. That was the scene at SevenStock 16 last weekend, held at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. This year’s gathering for fans of rotary engine was one of the biggest in recent memory, and although everything … Continue reading

Posted in events, mazda | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

EVENTS: 2013 SEMA Show

The SEMA show is a purist’s worst nightmare. Stock is a dirty word to these people. You won’t find a single unmolested car in the whole Death Star-sized convention hall, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Those brave enough … Continue reading

Posted in events, honda, Lexus, mazda, nissan, toyota | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

NEWS: NFL running back reunited with restored Mazda 626

NFL running back Alfred Morris got his 1991 Mazda 626 back today. As you may remember, Morris recently signed a $2.2 million contract with the Washington Redskins, yet continued to drive the car he’s nicknamed “Bentley.” Upon hearing of his … Continue reading

Posted in mazda | Tagged , , , | 15 Comments

EVENTS: 2013 Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 06 —Gladiators and Flagships

For the final installment of our 2013 JCCS tour, we present a rarefied selection of automobiles. Some have been sent into battle for their respective marques. Others were made to be proud standard bearers.

Posted in events, honda, mazda, nissan, toyota | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

NEWS: NFL player Alfred Morris’s Mazda 626 under restoration

Despite signing a $2.2 million NFL contract, Alfred Morris has chosen not only to keep his 1991 Mazda 626 5-speed, but to restore it. Until recently, Morris daily drove the car, which he’s named “Bentley,” to his job as running back for … Continue reading

Posted in mazda, News | Tagged , , , | 13 Comments

EVENTS: 2013 Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 05 — Less is More

There’s no replacement for displacement? Bzzzt, that is incorrect! The answer is weight, or lack thereof. This year’s JCCS had plenty of small wonders (including motorcycles) that warrant attention. They might not roar when you goose the throttle, but they’re … Continue reading

Posted in events, honda, mazda, Motorcycles, nissan, subaru, toyota | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

EVENTS: 2013 Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 04 – Rolling Stock

Purists will be pleased. This year’s JCCS had significantly more bone stock cars on display than any previous show. And they weren’t of the standard variety of, say, a 2000GT or Datsun 312, though those were well represented. We’re talking … Continue reading

Posted in events, honda, isuzu, mazda, nissan, toyota, trucks | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 25 Comments

EVENTS: 2013 Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 03 — Mad Tuning Styles

The Japanese Classic Car Show showcases a wide variety of makes and models, but perhaps even more diversity can be found in the subject of this week’s QotW — the multitude of tuning styles. Not only are there differing genres … Continue reading

Posted in events, honda, mazda, nissan, toyota, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

EVENTS: 2013 Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 02 – Diversity

The sheer size of this year’s Japanese Classic Car Show was unprecedented. Organizers Koji and Terry Yamaguchi told us that registration filled up in just a matter of weeks and that there were over 100 people on the waiting list, … Continue reading

Posted in events, isuzu, mazda, mitsubishi, nissan, toyota | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments