EVENTS: 2015 Nissan Jam, Part 01

30_Nissan Datsun 510

Though only in its third year, Nissan Jam has become a regular on the nostalgic car show calendar. For 2015, the show moved from its former home to a new location, West Covina Nissan. The larger space allowed for more cars than before, as well as the opening of the all-Nissan show (which already incorporated the Datsun brand) to welcome the Infiniti marque as well. 

04_Nissan Datsun 510 BRE replica & Fairlady Roadster

The venue, West Covina Nissan, has been around for a long time and held similar shows of their own some 20 years ago. The showroom was a different building altogether but the shows were well attended. The dealership is part of the Sage Automotive empire, whose owners have quite a collection of classic Nissans that include a BRE 510 replica and low-windshield Datsun Fairlady Roadster.

02_NIssan Maxima 2016 4DSC

Nissan USA brought out their just-released 2016 Maxima, a 300hp sedan that seeks to bring back the 4DSC name. While the lack of a manual transmission (or even a traditional automatic, for that matter) precludes it from true “4-door sports car” fame, it is a supremely comfortable cabin worthy of any Infiniti.

60_Nissan Datsun 240Z hashiriya

We invited Kevin Yeung’s flared out 240Z that made such a splash at the Z-Bash to be the official JNC booth car. We selected Kevin’s car because the white beast exemplifies a lot of trends coming out of Japan at the moment that combine new school tech with old school flare.

The wheels, for example, are classic Work Equip 03s, but inched up and deep-barreled and given a modern black finish. The motor, too, is a proper L-series instead of an RB or SR, but rather than stick strictly with triple carbs Kevin chose to turbocharge it using an 80s-era setup with HKS surge tank plenum. It wouldn’t be hard to imagine this car gliding down the Wangan, duking it out with R32s and Blackbird 911s.

Infinitii G20 Nissan Primera

Our very own forum moderator Matt brought his Infiniti G20, which turns 25 this year. I can already feel Matt staring daggers at me for calling it an Infiniti, though, as he’s converted it to Primera spec, complete with intercooled SR20DET that US-spec G20s never got.

77_Nissan Datsun 240Z

Cars were lining the streets as early as 7:00 am, causing quite a bit of commotion on streets adjacent to the dealership. When the gates finally opened for show cars at 9:00, the roll-in was a sight to behold. John Williams was one of the first to appear with his 240Z proudly bearing his recently earned “I Survived the JNC Touge California” decal.

32_Nissan Datsun 240Z45_Nissan Datsun 280Z & 280ZX

By far, the most dominant model present was the classic Z, comprising about one quarter of the 130-plus cars in attendance. It can be rather difficult to photograph Zs because usually all you get is a wall of front-hinged bonnets, but every color, engine displacement, and body style you could imagine was represented in full.

10_NIssan 350Z & 370Z12_NIssan 350Z & 370Z

Of course, being an all-Nissan show means it’s not just classic Zs. Plenty of gawk-worthy 350Zs and 370Zs were on hand as well, showing off their well-sculpted badonks.

24_NIssan Skyline C10 Hakosuka

The presence of both old and new afford us the experience of seeing not just classic Skylines, like this pair of red and blue Hakosuka, fine as they may be.

23_NIssan Skyline R32 & C10 Hakosuka27_NIssan Skyline C10 Hakosuka

Instead, we also have the pleasure of observing multiple generations of Godzilla eye candy, 30 years’ worth of Japanese steel never actually sold on US soil.

58_Nissan Datsun 280Z 2+2

Holding court at the Datsmo booth was company founder Josh Kreat’s 1977 280Z 2+2 and a fine selection of Datsun-themed stickers and JDM parts straight from the motherland.

59_Nissan R32 Skyline GTS-t sedan

Meanwhile, International Vehicle Importers brought something slightly different than the typical Godzilla: a Skyline GTS-t sedan. Since the R32 turned 25, IAV has been quite busy with orders of federally legal Bubble Era Skylines.

54_NIssan 240SX S13 Rocket Bunny 53_NIssan 240SX S13 & 200SX

No list of iconic Nissans would be complete without the Silvia. Here, three generations are arranged, including Giovanni Franco’s white S14, pro drifter Stephanie Rodriguez’s pink S13, and Richard Mena’s 1987 S12 that’s been in his family since new.

51_NIssan 240SX Silvia S13 2-tone

Our favorite, however, was Rene Rivas’ 1989 coupe in the classic silver-green over gray two-tone. Rene tells us that he bought the car (which had been painted another color) thinking that he was going to paint it white, but when he took off the topmost layer and saw the S13’s hero color underneath, he knew he had to bring it back. The decision seems to have paid off, because the car was gorgeous.

40_Nissan Datsun 51050_Nissan 510 Bluebird Coupe

510 Datsuns and Bluebirds could be found in abundance as well, including Mynor Campos’ beautiful JDM Coupe.

68_Nissan Datsun 510

With its period BRE spook and molded flares and blacked out window trim, this 510 wore many of the modifications popular with American J-tin during the pre-internet era. Matt was pretty sure this car attended the old West Covina Nissan shows back in the 90s. Whether it was under the same ownership is a different story.

31_Nissan Datsun 510

Sebastian Hill’s simple two-door sedan, which you may remember from the recent Touge California, is powered by a KA24DE but you wouldn’t necessarily guess it from its stock body lines. While we at JNC can respect the work put into any project, our fondnesses definitely gravitate towards the clean, less-is-more approach.

42_Nissan Hardbody pickup44_Nissan Datsun 620 & Hardbody

In addition to all the canyon carvers and Wangan brutes, Nissan Jam also welcomed the humble pickup. In past years, Datsun 521 and 620 trucks dominated the field, but this year we were greeted with some D21 Hardbody pickups as well. The Safari Gold 620 pickup shown here belongs to Alain Montiel, who served as the official Nissan Jam MC.

47_Nissan Datsun 510 & 610 Wagon

Last but not least, my personal favorite category — wagons. Sadly, there weren’t a whole lot this year, but Raymond Mediero’s 1972 510 and Jouse Elias’s 1973 610 goons made a nice roof-racked, fender-mirrored duo.

49_Nissan Datsun 610

We conclude (because of today’s date) this installment with William Woerz’s 1973 Datsun 610, which has been in his family for 34 years. According to William, it is the only 610 in North American with the L4N71B 4-speed with overdrive transmission option. The L20 motor is also built with a JDM W53 cylinder head and 38mm Hitachi carbs. Happy 610 Day!

To be continued…

We’ll have more 2015 Nissan Jam coming soon, but in the meantime, check out our coverage from Nissan Jam 2014 (Part 01, 02 and 03) and 2013 (Part 01 and 02). Also, if you missed out on Nissan Jam, prepare yourself for the upcoming Japanese Classic Car Show. Registration opens July 1!

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20 Responses to EVENTS: 2015 Nissan Jam, Part 01

  1. RandyWanger says:

    Some stunning examples there.

  2. burabuda says:

    Props to JNC & JCCS for putting on the event & West Covina Nissan for graciously hosting!

    Having said that, been some murmerings on the web about parking issues & access. (No, fella, it’s not a stadium event)
    Some guys thought this was the Fontana Nissan Event, lol. So… maybe some media clarification is in order for next year?

  3. Censport says:

    That S13 looks so good in its original colors. And that 610 sedan in the last picture! Awesome color scheme and wheels.

  4. Terrance P says:

    Great coverage sir! This made my day!!

  5. disappointed says:

    “gliding down the Wangan, duking it out with R32s and Blackbird 911s.”

    are you kidding with that line? i thought you guys would be above referring to EVERY SINGLE Z on earth as a devil z

  6. Seiko The Neko says:

    Always love to see these event coverage articles! It’s especially cool when I see you taking these photos and looking at how great they turn out to be.

    I remember leaving the show and seeing John Williams’ 240z speed down the highway along with a pair of ’86 & ’87 S12s. Cool stuff!

  7. Ken S. says:

    Was my first year there and I thought the event went pretty smoothly, had a feel of an ‘appetizer’ to JCCS looking at all the regulars. Only feedback is maybe separating z31’s from z32’s for award categories… seeing how they’re worlds apart.

    I think most of the attendees were civil which was great, except for the two kids in the z33 & s14 revving their motors at idle on the way out. Was really hoping they get popped by the local PD.

  8. Rene says:

    thank you for your positive words

  9. Ray says:

    Very good show not to long not to short, but just right. The peoples choice award was a good idea this year, wonder who came up with that idea. hmmm

    The only thing I will say is is it possible to get the cars and trucks in as they come in the future, we were not making a lot of people happy [the locals] with blocking the road and so.

    But this was a great show and look forward to next year. And the trucks need more love.lol

    • Ken S. says:

      There was some sketchy lane cutting / driving the opposite way shenanigans too, some even waived by the volunteers. Witnessed couple of close calls, it’s a miracle there wasn’t a front end collision before the gates opened.

  10. Jun says:

    That two-tone coupe is just PERFECT.

  11. John Williams says:

    Great show, Great coverage as always. Thanks Ben…
    Seiko the neko..Was I speeding???? Not me I never get on the freeway hauling a*#
    O wait I pretty much do that every time I get on the freeway.

    A big plus is you had a few food options not just the food truck.

  12. Fairlady says:

    Great event and great coverage!!! The turnout was amazing, even the parking lot across the street looked like a Nissan/Datsun show!

  13. Nigel says:

    Great coverage Ben, I like the 620 and wagon representation, as well as seeing an S12.

  14. hector concepcion says:

    The beige flared datsun 510 has been owned by my father for 24 yrs and was completely stock when purchased. My father William Concepcion is the third owner of the car. The mods were made in the early 90s and has looked the same way eversince. He also attended the old west covina show and many of gardena nissan headquater shows in the 90s. Thank you jnc for the awesome coverage and kind words. Ig-@510billy

  15. Oracles says:

    Great event! Lots of really cool cars

  16. TonyGold says:

    Show looks siiick! Hey guys..did anyone see a 710 wagon model there? Thanks

  17. Ray says:

    John Williams always drives like a maniac. He thinks his speed racer.lol

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