Monthly Archives: March 2009
A Visit to S&A Auto Create
We’re still not finished with coverage from Japan. During our visit we had the privilege of visiting Kanagawa Prefecture’s S&A Auto Create. The owner has been doing modern engine swaps in older cars and fabricating the parts needed for almost … Continue reading
Posted in datsun, kei, mitsubishi, nissan, toyota
Tagged datsun 510, mitsubishi debonair, mitsubishi minica, nissan bluebird, S&A auto create, toyota ae86, toyota land cruiser, toyota soarer
5 Comments
Back When Men Were Men… etc.
Yesterday’s post about the Lancer 1600GSR rallycar go to thinking about Japanese rally successes in the 70s. Here’s a clip of the 1979 World Rally Championship, which was contested by a rich variety of cars. On the one hand you … Continue reading
Posted in motorsports, rally
4 Comments
Rally Lancer Mk1 on Gravel?
At least I think that’s what he’s riding on … ! Yet another obscure old school Mitsi video for you closet Mitsi fans!
Posted in mitsubishi, motorsports, rally
4 Comments
Isuzu Trucks Can Do Wheelies (Results May Vary)
Back in the day, Isuzu wasn’t shy about doing outlandishly extreme commercials for its sometimes mundane products. This reaches a zenith with these commercials for the mid 80s Forward truck. More after the jump.
Friday Video: Detective Story's Mazda Cosmo AP
This week’s video is a clip from 1979’s Detective Story. The 27-episode series was a comedy-drama about down-on-his-luck private detective Shunsaku Kudo. You see, Kudo was once a good cop in San Francisco that somehow felt responsible for the death … Continue reading
Posted in mazda, Video Games
Tagged Add new tag, detective story, mazda, mazda cosmo ap, mazda rx-5, yusaku matsuda
3 Comments
Asics Onitsuka Tiger Shoe with Toyota 2000GT
Here’s an interesting item found in one of the many small shops in the Ameyoko district near Ueno Station. It’s a glow-in-the-dark shoe featuring a Toyota 2000GT. We’re not sneaker freaks, but we tend to gravitate towards anything vintage and … Continue reading
Posted in honda, nostalgic wear, toyota
Tagged asics, asics onitsuka tiger, honda, honda civic, onitsuka tiger, toyota, toyota 2000gt
8 Comments
The Road to Narita
JNC is back home in the States, but there’s still much leftover material from Japan to write about. Here’s a look at the typical Japanese scenery one encounters during a drive to Narita Airport. This was my coach, my friend … Continue reading
Posted in japan, toyota, wagons
10 Comments
GRAND TOURING: Fuji Speedway in a Toyota Crown
So sad… our last day in Japan, but at least it ended with a bang. Here’s a behind the scenes look at some upcoming material. My friend Goshu and I went to the Time Machine Festival at Fuji Speedway. Why … Continue reading
Posted in events, japan, toyota
Tagged crown, fisco, fuji speedway, mooneyes, s50, time machine festival, toyota
9 Comments
Friday Video: Mitsubishi Kei Car vs. Mustang II
Perhaps the Skyline vs. Cougar video from two weeks ago was a bit too much excitement for your delicate sensibilities. If so, this week’s video is another Japan vs. Detroit matchup that flexes considerably less muscle. In 1985’s My Lucky … Continue reading
NIHON LIFE: Tressa Yokohama, Toyota’s Mega-Mall
I finally got some free time to go check out Tressa Yokohama, a giant Toyota-owned mega-mall in Kohoku, Yokohama. In addition to your typical shopping mall features like a McDonald’s counter and escalators pointing every which way, showrooms representing all … Continue reading
Posted in Nihon Life
Tagged toyota, toyota 7, toyota division 7, toyota mall, tressa yokohama
11 Comments
CA Seeks to Smog Check 15 Year Old Cars, Again
Last August California assemblyman Dave Jones put forth a bill that sought to apply the state’s strict emissions inspections to cars 15 years or older. The bill was defeated, but now Jones is at it again. This time funds from … Continue reading
Posted in laws
9 Comments
More from Odaiba Car Show
Here’s another photo from the weekend’s Odaiba car show sent to us by Mooneyes. There seems to be something car-related going on all the time there. This Celica may seem as painful as the itasha cars to some, but it’s … Continue reading
Posted in Spotlight, toyota
6 Comments
Itasha Car Show at Odaiba
Yesterday at Odaiba there was a car show that featured the odd combination of American muscle cars and itasha. Itasha is the latest Japanese fad, in which fans of anime and manga plaster their cars with large images of their … Continue reading
Book Garage: Japanese Car Brochure Heaven
No trip to Tokyo would be complete without a stop to Book Garage. It specializes in old Japanese car brochures, and has shelves filled with them. Want a catalog for a 1971 Nissan Cedric? How about a 1965 Toyota Toyoace … Continue reading
Posted in catalogs, japan
20 Comments
JNC on Attack of the Show!
So I was putting the finishing touches on Issue 3 tonight and I get a call from my friend who says “TURN ON G4!!” Unfortunately, being a start up magazine doesn’t afford us luxuries like cable TV, but I was … Continue reading
Posted in jnc
20 Comments
Japan Sighting: Denso Corona Wagons
Random Japan sighting: Isn’t it nice to know the Corona wagons employed by Denso are still in service? I thought these were KE70 Corollas originally but apparently they are Coronas! Closeup after the jump
Seibu Keisatsu's Skyline vs. Mercury Cougar
Ready for some Detroit vs. Japan action? A C210 Skyline chasing down a 1970 Mercury Cougar, perhaps? In fact, it’s the episode of Seibu Keisatsu in which the chief adds a new car to the fleet, the Super Machine-X Skyline … Continue reading
Posted in datsun, nissan, seibu keisatsu, Video Games
Tagged nissan skyline, nissan skyline c210, nissan skyline japan, seibu keisatsu
12 Comments
