Category Archives: Product Guide

Wheel lock comparison test finds only one design that’s not easily defeated

The days of “rims being more expensive than the car” are probably over for most JNCs, but a set of wheel locks is still a good investment, especially if you have super fancy expensive rollers. If you’re lucky, it’ll be … Continue reading

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Hayashi Racing debuts finned rear drums for classic Nissans

Hayashi Racing has announced a new product that is sure to be of interest to kyusha owners. These gorgeous rear brake drums are now available for Nissans of the late-60s and 1970s era. The aluminum drums are finned to help … Continue reading

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Rays releases new wheels for 80s cars, celebrates anniversary of another classic

Rays has launched two new wheels that may be of interest to JNCers. One is new wheel specifically geared towards 80s cars. The other is an anniversary model for a take on a 90s classic, but sized for cars from … Continue reading

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There is now a Takumi motor oil for Initial D fans

Since its debut about a decade ago, Japan’s Takumi motor oil has had nothing to do with Initial D. If Sears had been Japanese, its in-house line of tools would have been named Takumi, because though Takumi is a popular … Continue reading

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RS Watanabe’s classic 8-spoke wheels will soon come in 18-inch fitments

RS Watanabe announced today that the iconic 8-spoke wheel is now available in 18-inch diameters. Widths will range from 7.0J to a massive 10.5J, and they’re available only in a in 5-lug pattern. The offsets on some of the deeper … Continue reading

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Take an in-depth tour of the Bride Racing Seat factory

Chances are if you’ve been a fan of Japanese cars, you have admired Bride products for many years. As the preeminent racing seat from Japan, there’s always been a mystique about them, one that’s been fomented in part by their … Continue reading

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These Mazda rotary facemask holders are the latest from a Japanese jewelry company that makes car-themed bling

The year-plus-long hell that the COVID-19 pandemic has spawned some interesting products. For example, Japanese jewelry company Jerev has made a facemask holder in the shape of a Mazda rotary engine rotor. Basically, The flat side sticks to your dash, … Continue reading

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Enkei expands selection of Neo-Classic wheels

Enkei has added new variants for two of its iconic wheels in the Neo-Classic line, a selection of wheels that have evolved with modern production processes but still retain their classic form. The Apache 2 Neo and Mesh 4 Neo … Continue reading

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SSR MK-II and MK-III re-releases sold out in five hours

Last year, SSR made a limited re-release of the legendary Speed Star series, known for their clean, timeless spoke designs and wide barrels. Demand for the wide sizing and interest from a new generation of kyusha fans brought them back … Continue reading

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Yokohama Rubber expands selection of ADVAN HF Type D

At the 2018 Tokyo Auto Salon 2018 we saw Yokohama Rubber reveal a neo-Advan HF Type D, wrapped around Work Equip 03s, all displayed a show-stopping, glistening white Hakosuka. Seven sizes were issued then, and now, two years later, Yokohama … Continue reading

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R31 House now sells inexpensive tires for vintage Japanese cars

The seventh-generation Skyline specialty shop R31 House has entered the tire business. Sales have begun on Shiba Tire, a line of performance rubber for older cars. The company campaigns cars in Japan’s D1GP and D1GP Lights drift series, and was … Continue reading

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There’s nothing more satisfying than using the right tool for the job

Japanese tool company KTC has developed a new gadget to help ease the act of pulling out a relay. If you’ve worked on any car with a cramped fuse box, you know that what should be an easy task is … Continue reading

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BRIDE racing seat face masks now come in red

Last month, our story about face masks by Japanese racing seat maker BRIDE became one of our most-shared items of the year on social media. Why? We have no idea. But since you loved them so much, it seems only … Continue reading

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If you need Mazda RX-3 taillights, you’re in luck

For many older Japanese cars, plastic bits are near impossible to find. Or, if you do find them, they cost a fortune. They’re not like muscle cars, where you can open a Year One catalog and basically rebuild a 1969 … Continue reading

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PARTS GUIDE: Yokohama adds new sizes for GT Special throwback tire

Last year, Yokohama Tires released a modern version of its iconic GT Special tire, with sizes specifically fitted for classic cars. Due to its success, Yokohama is adding new sizes to the lineup, which should be a boon to restorers … Continue reading

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They’ve gone to plaid: You can now buy reproduction plaid fabric for the first-gen Mazda RX-7

Design patterns covering kyusha interiors fall into a special category of obsession for us. Who can resist the finely embossed crests in vinyl headrests, or the colorful swirls in 80s upholsteries? Unfortunately, these surfaces tend to be points of major … Continue reading

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PARTS GUIDE: Yokohama re-issues GT Special Classic tire

Yokohama Tire has announced the GT Special Classic, a re-issue of its iconic sports radial tire from 1967. Developed in response to the expansion of Japan’s expressway system in the mid-1960s and the rise of performance cars, the original Yokohama … Continue reading

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PRODUCT GUIDE: Dixcel has an enormous catalog of brake parts for vintage Japanese cars

Parts for older Japanese cars are pretty hard to come by, but there’s at least one brake company that has made a point to produce as many parts for vintage cars as they can. At the recent 17th International Auto … Continue reading

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PRODUCT GUIDE: Dixcel brakes for classic Japanese cars

Established in 2003, Osaka’s Dixcel Brakes is a relative newcomer to the tuning scene but quickly established themselves in SuperGT and other Asian racing series. However, with their new line of kyusha-oriented brake components they’re targeting owners who want stronger stopping power … Continue reading

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PRODUCT GUIDE: The IRC MB52 “footprint” tire has our new favorite tread pattern

Japan has an incredible penchant for making vehicle modification fun, something that is missing from a lot of car cultures. While going through Ricky’s excellent article about the odds and ends of the NYM, I came across the funkiest tire I’ve ever seen on … Continue reading

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