Japanese Nostalgic Car

Today, October 26, is Horseless Carriage Day, marking the date in 1769 when Samuel Johnson, creator of the first complete English dictionary, supposedly learned of a self-propelled coach. Many presume that it was the Cugnot steam-powered buggy, a three-wheeled chassis with a bench and boiler. As automobiles go, you can’t get much simpler than that. These days we expect a bit more from our cars, but Japan is great at delivering minimalist machines that are still fulfilling to drive.

What’s the most basic car you’re willing to accept?

The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “How has the landscape for Japanese cars changed in the last 20 years?” Continue reading →

Japanese Nostalgic Car was launched 20 years ago in what felt like a vastly different world. In October 2006 you could walk into a dealership and buy a brand new Honda S2000 or Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX off the lot, cars like the Toyota AE86 and Z31 Nissan 300ZX had not yet hit the 25-year threshold to become historic vehicles, builds like the one above were common, and names like Hakosuka and Kenmeri were still largely unknown in the US. JNC was built to champion the overlooked Japanese classics and celebrate the rich heritage of Japan’s automotive golden eras. It’s been an uphill battle at times, but things have evolved considerably.

How has the landscape for Japanese cars changed in the last 20 years?

The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “Which JNC is most emblematic of the 1960s?” Continue reading →

Today, October 5, is James Bond Day. It marks the anniversary of the world premiere of Dr. No, the first 007 movie, in 1962. In July of this year, the Japanese government set up its own MI6, called the National Intelligence Bureau, which raises the question of what tricked out car a Japanese spy would drive. Traditionally, James Bond has driven British models, except for a period in the 90s when BMW threw a mountain of cash at the franchise. Assuming Jin Bandoh could not be bought, he’d need a Japanese car that’s swift enough to evade captors, classy enough to pull up to a casino, and moddable enough to hide an arsenal of gadgets. The cars can span decades too, whether he was saving the world in the swingin’ Showa or Bubble Era or modern day.

If James Bond was Japanese, what would he drive?

The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “How have you given old parts new life?“. Continue reading →