Tag Archives: brat

MINICARS: 2021 Matchbox lineup includes MR2, BRAT, T360, and more

The annual Matchbox collector’s convention was supposed to be last weekend, but the coronavirus happened. Instead, it was held virtually, with a video presentation to show what’s coming down the line. There’s a lot of excellent new castings for fans … Continue reading

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2019 Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 01 — USDM Rare

Even in the 15th year of the wonderful and ever-growing Japanese Classic Car Show in Long Beach, California, after so many iterations, there are still new things for the casual Japanese car enthusiast to discover. The phyla of Japanese cars … Continue reading

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EVENTS: Final New Year Meeting, Part 03 — Swap Meet

With the final New Year Meeting having come and gone, one of the things we’ll miss most is the swap meet that takes place during the show. For many, it was where you could find rare parts, collectible items, or … Continue reading

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KIDNEY, ANYONE? 2,500-mile Subaru BRAT sold for $46k

A 1978 Subaru BRAT has done the unthinkable and sold for $46,198. Of course, it’s no ordinary example. This one bears only 2,500 miles on the odometer, a bunch of period accessories, and is said to have been owned by … Continue reading

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EVENTS: 2018 Japanese Automotive Invitational

It has been a banner year for Nihon steel at Monterey Car Week. The annual series of ultra-prestigious automotive events have traditionally excluded Japanese cars, but 2018 saw, for example, Nissan become the first carmaker from Japan to be honored … Continue reading

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VIDEO: Subaru releases dueling heritage spots

This year is Subaru’s 60th anniversary as a carmaker, its 50th anniversary in the US, and also the 30th anniversary of STI, so it makes sense that the company is going HAM on the heritage spots. In a span of a … Continue reading

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EVENTS: Radwood 2 – Electric Boogaloo

From the moment co-organizer Art Cervantes told us the name of the event, we knew it would be incredible. Radwood. It was a car show exclusively for 80s and 90s machines. Like Goodwood but, you know, rad. 

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2017 Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 07 — Trucks

One of our favorite categories of JCCS is classic trucks. The compact pickup is a lost art, and no one did them quite like Japan. As it turns out, the truck category turned out to be the single most diverse this year … Continue reading

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VIDEO: Gerard’s Subaru GS-R Coupe and Subaru Ranch

There are people who collect classic Ferraris or Volkswagens. Some people are named Jay Leno and collect everything. Then there’s Gerard Kleyn, who collects classic Subarus. Specifically, he collects cars that utilized the 4×140 lug pattern, predating Legacys and Imprezas. … Continue reading

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BOXING DAY: 50 Years of the Subaru Boxer Engine

Lead vehicle designer Shinroku Momose “was not fussy about the engine,” recalls Motomitsu Honda, who worked in Subaru engine department in 1966. Momose merely “presented the required dimensions and performance and said that any type of engine would suffice providing … Continue reading

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PIXELATED: Hooning a Brumby through the Outback in Forza Horizon 3

Eleven years ago when the Forza franchise originally launched there was an AE86, an R32 GT-R and that was about it for JNCs. Over the last decade, however, more and more have been added to the game. Over the weekend, the … Continue reading

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EVENTS: Finnish Japanese Auto Extravaganza

Today’s guest writer is my friend Mika Latvala from Finland, who sent an event report from the Finnish Japanese Auto Extravaganza. Enjoy! —Ben The Finnish Japanese Auto Extravaganza, or FinnJAE, is for all Japanese car enthusiasts in the country. All cars are welcome, no matter … Continue reading

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MINICARS: Remember to get your Hot Wheels x JNC Datsun 510 Wagon tomorrow

Just a quick reminder: These exclusive black Datsun 510 Wagons with the JNC inkan will go on sale tomorrow at 9:00 am local time at participating Kmart stores. This is a KDay event, and in case you need a refresher on … Continue reading

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Happy Holidays from JNC

Wishing all you crazy JNCers a very Happy Holiday season. May サンタクロース bestow you with many gifts! Photo by Erik Lukas.

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MINICARS: 2015 Hot Wheels lineup announced

Mattel has announced the entire 2015 Hot Wheels lineup. Each year, there are a number of brand new castings and this year the one that jumps out to JNCers is surely the 1990 Acura NSX. Yes, by next year, Soichiro’s supercar will officially be a Japanese … Continue reading

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EVENTS: 2014 Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 06 — Trucks, Vans, and Wagons

The latest installment of our massive 2014 Japanese Classic Car Show coverage takes a look at the haulers of the J-tin world, whether they be carrying cargo, kids, or chicken tax exemptions. It’s the trucks, vans and wagons of JCCS.

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KIDNEY, ANYONE? Flawless 1980 Subaru BRAT

Subaru has always thought outside the box. Pistons pointing sideways, spare tires under the hood for traction in winter, plaid seating, seats in the bed of a pickup truck, 4WD as an option on all models, a third headlight hidden … Continue reading

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GRAND TOURING: Journey to Subaru of America’s History Collection, Part 01

You’d never guess as you drove by, but in a nondescript warehouse just across the Delaware river from Philadelphia lies the most eclectic stash of boxer motored, all-wheel-drive vehicles in the US. Earlier this year, we at JNC had the rare opportunity … Continue reading

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MINICARS: 2013 Hot Wheels Boulevard Subaru BRAT leaked

Looks like the J-tin is coming on early and often for Hot Wheels‘ 2013 lineup. Hot on the heels of the hakosuka and Jun Imai‘s 510 wagon comes this just-leaked image of the Boulevard series Subaru BRAT. This is the … Continue reading

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MINICARS: Hot Wheels Boulevard hakosuka Nissan Skyline & 510 released

We’re less than a week into 2013 and already it’s turning in to a great year for Hot Wheels collectors. First we had news of the Treasure Hunt Toyota 2000GT that’s coming out March-ish, but before that even hits the … Continue reading

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