QotW: What’s your craziest car parking story?

Parking is one of those unfortunate tasks that accompanies the fun of driving. Whether it’s circling for open spaces, dealing with ornery/incompetent drivers, paying exorbitant prices, of fending off door dings, parking is fraught with peril. Yet we have no choice but to endure any number of indignities that come with securing real estate for something that’s dear to you but seen by the majority of the public as a nuisance at best. This QotW was inspired by a garage that checked your entry and departure by license plate, yet failed to read ours, sending us on a Sisyphean side quest of negative net value.

What’s your craziest car parking story?

The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What’s the greatest Japanese luxury sedan?“. Continue reading

Posted in Question of the Week | Tagged | 3 Comments

Toyota GR Garage acquires a clapped out AE86

Here’s a good one for Toyotafest Eve. Toyota’s Gazoo Racing division has picked up a decrepit AE86. They say it’s the start of a new restoration project, but why begin with something so far gone? Surely Toyota has the resources to find a better starting point. Well, the selection appears to be intentional because the plan is to show what is possible using Toyota GR Heritage Parts. Continue reading

Posted in Restoration, Video | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Toyota built a one-off open-top Century SUV for sumo champions

Is the Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet too common for you? Toyota might just have the ultimate droptop crossover in the form of the Century SUV. The bad news is, there’s only one in the entire world, and you have to be a sumo champion to get a ride in it. Continue reading

Posted in News | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Iconic SP will be “a good successor for RX-7” says top Mazda exec

Few companies are making pure, timelessly beautiful sports cars any more. The Mazda Iconic SP might be the very last one that uses gasoline, if it gets made. A few more details about it have surfaced, and it seems like Mazda engineers are stopping just short of telling us that it’s green-lit. Continue reading

Posted in News | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

A 1977 Toyota Celica is driving 10,000 miles from the Czech Republic to Japan for the Osaka Expo

There are 158 countries participating in the Osaka Expo, currently being held in in Japan. As far as we know, the Czech Republic is the only one sending a delegation of vintage cars across Europe and Asia to get there. Among them, a first-generation Toyota Celica that will drive nearly 10,000 miles to visit its homeland. Continue reading

Posted in News | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

Get $5 off your Toyotafest admission with this coupon code

The 29th annual All-Toyotafest is coming up this Saturday, June 28. The location is the same as last year, Marina Green Park in Long Beach, California. We would like to offer JNC readers a coupon code that will discount admission by $5 per ticket. These must be purchased online. Just enter JNC5 in the “Coupon Code” box before you check out. Tickets are available here. We look forward to seeing you there!

Posted in Reminder | Leave a comment

QotW: What’s the greatest Japanese luxury sedan?

If you’ve ever flown on a Japanese airline or shopped at a Japanese department store you know that Japan does luxury better than almost any country on Earth. That’s why it’s a bit odd that Japanese luxury cars faced such an uphill battle in brand perception. There are so many good ones, and we don’t just mean those wearing Lexus, Infiniti, or Acura badges. And we know the Toyota Century is the obvious answer, and no hate if you must choose it, but let’s try some deeper cuts as well. And no matter which one you choose, please show your work (explain why).

What’s the greatest luxury sedan?

The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What’s the most Gen X car?“. Continue reading

Posted in Question of the Week | Tagged | 16 Comments

NISMO twin-cam conversion kit for L-series engines headed for production

The Nissan L-series is one of the most popular engines at any car show for Japanese classics. Installed in everything from Datsun 510s to Z-cars and Skylines, the tried-and-true SOHC motor is  beloved the world over. Earlier this year NISMO showed an experimental head that converted the L-series to a twin-cam. Now it’s officially going into production. Continue reading

Posted in News | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

Honda announces reproduction parts program, starting with the NSX

Following on the heels of many Japanese carmakers in recent years, Honda has announced a reproduction parts program. The goal is to keep the company’s iconic classics on the road, and the first recipient of the program’s benefits is the incomparable first-generation Honda NSX. Continue reading

Posted in News | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Initial D creator to debut Subaru-centric manga set in the Fujiwara universe

With MF Ghost having concluded and the 30th anniversary of Initial D fast approaching, author Shuichi Shigeno has announced a new manga. Subaru and Subaru will take place in the same universe his two previous street racing epics and will shift the focus from Toyotas to, as astute readers may have guessed, Subarus. Continue reading

Posted in manga | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Honda Super EV concept looks like a return of the City Turbo II

Honda has released an image of its upcoming EV concept car ahead of its official debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The Honda Super EV Concept is camouflaged and likely digital, but several design cues hint at a shape inspired by the City Turbo II. Continue reading

Posted in Next Version | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

QotW: What’s the most Gen X car?

Today, June 16, is National Gen X Day, celebrating those born between 1965 and 1980. I was born in the inaugural year of the Celica Liftback but I don’t think I’m biased when I say it’s the best generation. Our parents weren’t helicopters, we had just the right amount of technology, grew up with the best music, and got our driver’s licenses just in time for the golden age of cars.

Any vehicle from the 80s and 90s could probably be a Gen X car. All you need is a Pearl Jam or Public Enemy cassette in the tape deck and a Douglas Coupland book on back seat. For me it’s the first front-drive Corollas, but the GM versions of them. My two best friends from high school both drove NUMMI Novas, and my sorta girlfriend had a Geo Prizm. Aside from the west coast most of America wasn’t quite ready to embrace Japanese cars with open arms, but liked the idea of a fuel-efficient 4-cylinder that was screwed together right. When we got our licenses in the 90s, these GM-badged Toyotas made the perfect hand-me-downs. But everyone probably has a different idea based personal experience.

What’s the most Gen X car?

The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What’s your favorite radio control car?“. Continue reading

Posted in Question of the Week | Tagged | 17 Comments

Aussies know how to make a Toyota Land Cruiser commercial

A new commercial from Toyota Australia proves that it’s possible to hawk the Land Cruiser. It has just the right amount of heritage and humor, and it shows a bunch of Cruisers tearing through the Outback. It’s much better than any American Land Cruiser ad, in that we have never seen Toyota market the Land Cruiser in the US. But the Aussies, they are serious about their Land Cruisers down there. Continue reading

Posted in cm | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

RIP Brian Wilson, Beach Boys songwriter who loved Hondas

Singer and songwriter Brian Wilson has died. Co-founder of the seminal surf-rock band The Beach Boys, Wilson is credited with creating the California sound that defined an era. His musical style created a movement centered around seasides, cruising, and carefree summers, and brought 1960s California to the masses. Cars were a big part of that and Wilson’s penned many an automotive hit single, but there’s only one whose title called out a marque by name — “Little Honda”. Continue reading

Posted in News | 2 Comments

This Nissan Sunny conversion on a Suzuki kei truck is the cat’s pajamas

Converting kei cars to look like other vehicles is a tried and true tradition in Japan. Often times the transformations are tongue in cheek, morphing them into something they’re clearly not, like a baroque vintage design or a far more expensive SUV. These can be hit or, more often than not, miss, but a new kit from Japan manages to graft on a nose from an entirely different car while not looking entirely out of place. Continue reading

Posted in kei | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

J-tin abounds in Sabrina Carpenter’s latest music video

We suspect most of our readers are not in the Sabrina Carpenter demographic, but there’s no denying she’s one of the biggest pop stars in music right now. Her music video for ‘Manchild’ debuted on June 6 and it plays like a madcap 80s road trip movie. As Carpenter hitchhikes her way across the desert she encounters a wide variety of oddball vehicles, including much Nihon steel. Continue reading

Posted in JNC Radio | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

QotW: What’s your favorite radio control car?

We suspect that there’s a pretty large overlap between fans of old Japanese cars and radio control cars. After all, many of the best RC cars come from Japan, from iconic Tamiyas to new school HPIs, highly detailed Kyoshos to ready-to-run Nikkos. Plus, it’s just fun to tinker with mechanical things that mimic real cars, and there’s plenty of hop-up parts as well. It’s a great first step for those who aren’t old enough for a full-size car to get into all things automotive.

What’s your favorite radio control car?

The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What’s the best rig for a novice off-roader?“. Continue reading

Posted in Question of the Week | 8 Comments

The Japanese Classic Car Show reaches a milestone


The Japanese Classic Car Show has announced dates for 2025. It marks a significant milestone, as it happens to be the event’s 20th anniversary. The achievement isn’t just for the success of the JCCS, but the Japanese classic movement as a whole.

As the show’s announcement states, “Back in 2005, Japanese cars weren’t even widely seen as ‘classics.’ Now, thanks to a passionate community of fans, builders, and collectors, we’re proudly celebrating the craftsmanship, culture, and legacy that continue to thrive in the US and beyond.”

Twenty years ago Japanese cars were still largely seen as disposable. Many in the collector car community openly laughed at the idea that they could even become valuable classics. Today, that notion has been mostly dispelled and the JCCS, as the first show of its kind in America, played an enormous role.

The 2025 show will celebrate significant models from major manufacturers, including the first-gen Toyota Celica, Mazda RX-7, the Nissan/Datsun 240Z (with a BRE reunion including Peter Brock and John Morton), and the Honda Z600. Held within the JCCS will also be the 14th annual Japanese Classic Motorcycle Show, and there’s more to come.

The 2025 JCCS will be held at Marina Green Park in Long Beach, California on October 11. Registration will open July 7.

Posted in Reminder | Tagged | 1 Comment

Toyota Land Cruiser ‘Lite’ patent image unearthed

Toyota has been teasing the idea of a baby Land Cruiser for over three years now. The notion seems one step closer to reality now that patent images showing a full render of the vehicle have been discovered. The rendering looks like a cross between several existing Toyota models, including thew new Land Cruiser 250 and dearly departed FJ Cruiser. Continue reading

Posted in News | Tagged , | 6 Comments

Baseball legend Shigeo Nagashima was synonymous with the X60 Toyota Mark II

On June 3 baseball star Shigeo Nagashima passed away from lung cancer in a Tokyo hospital. Voted 1958’s Rookie of the Year, he was instrumental in establishing the Yomiuri Giants as Japan’s greatest baseball dynasty. By the time Nagashima retired in In 1980 he was a household name. Two years later he became Toyota’s spokesman for the new X60 Mark II. Continue reading

Posted in cm | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment