Monthly Archives: July 2012

QotW: What’s the worst model name?

A few weeks ago we asked JNCers what the best model name was. Well here’s the flipside. Sometimes the best and worst are one in the same but in any case we put the question to you. What’s the worst … Continue reading

Posted in honda, nissan, Question of the Week | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 48 Comments

NEWS: Initial-D anime to get reboot

Speaking of mad mangas, Hollywood isn’t the only one endlessly retooling comic book movies. On Monday Kodansha’s Young Magazine announced that Initial D is getting the reboot treatment as well. Further details have yet to be announced but one thing for … Continue reading

Posted in toyota | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 26 Comments

MINICARS: 2012 Hot Wheels Mad Manga now in red and gold

Grease up your rizento because second color of the Mad Manga is coming. Earlier this year, Hot Wheels shocked the minicar world by creating what is almost certainly the first diecast zokusha outside of Japan. A recolor in red and gold is … Continue reading

Posted in bosozoku, minicars | Tagged , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Britcar 24hrs Toyota GT86 to revive BTCC AE86 Corolla livery

The car you see on two wheels above is an AE86 in its prime, campaigned by the UK’s Chris Hodgetts Motor Sports. With it, CHMS won the British Touring Car Championships during the hachiroku‘s heyday in both 1986 and 1987. This fall its … Continue reading

Posted in mitsubishi, motorsports, toyota | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Tamiya R/C Honda Ballade Sports Mugen CR-X Pro

If the upcoming Hot Wheels Honda CR-X is too small for you, try this one on for size. Japanese hobby company Tamiya has released a radio control version of the Mugen CR-X Pro, the ne plus ultra of early 80s pocket rockets. Not … Continue reading

Posted in honda, minicars | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Grand Touring: Up the California Coast in a Toyota FJ Cruiser

In Part 01 of our Bayline Gathering coverage we promised an in-depth examination of the steed that carried us north, away from our familiar SoCal environs and to the Bay Area in search of precious Nihon metal. First, let’s recap. Why exactly did … Continue reading

Posted in Grand Touring, toyota | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 20 Comments

In Saudi Arabia, rockin’ a Cressida has a whole new meaning

And now for your viewing pleasure, a pair of X30 Cressidas on plinths. Raising cars on makeshift rock structures is apparently all the rage among the youths in Abha, Saudi Arabia. But lest you think this is the Saudi equivalent of … Continue reading

Posted in toyota | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

EVENTS: The Bayline Gathering, Part 04

Our final installment of the Bayline Gathering kicks off with one of the Bay Area’s infamous Bluebirds that are not 510s. Remember the Appliance-shod 710 from Part 03?  This tsurikawa strappin’ Datsun 610 is his partner in crime. Despite the mismatched Longchamps and MKIs it exudes shakotan cool.

Posted in events, mazda, mitsubishi, nissan, toyota, wagons | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 29 Comments

QotW: What’s the best Japanese car commercial from the West?

The Japanese are known for offbeat, zany or downright insane car commercials, but clearly not all of them would translate to western audiences. International marketing departments have their own way of luring you into the showroom, so we ask: What’s the … Continue reading

Posted in honda, minicars, Question of the Week, subaru | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 37 Comments

EVENTS: The Bayline Gathering, Part 03

We begin Part 03 of our Bayline Gathering coverage with a pair of matching ’85 A60 Celica ‘verts. San Francisco’s hills form one of the most beautiful urban landscapes in America and navigating them with an open top must make for a … Continue reading

Posted in events | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

EVENTS: Mooneyes Mania Cruise Bluebird-Corona Day, Part 01

In the debut article from our newest contributor, Rod Serikaku of AutoNGraphic, we visit the Mooneyes Mania Cruise, an informal, early morning gathering of petrolheads. It’s a Japanese domestic version of Cars & Coffee of Japan except much, much cooler, … Continue reading

Posted in events, toyota, wagons | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

2012 Hot Wheels X JNC Mazda RX-7 now in white, Kroger’s mystery pack

Sorry to do this to you guys, but there is now a third Hot Wheels Mazda RX-7 to be look out for, and it’s a beauty. The latest recolor is an ultra-Japanese pearl white with our JNC inkan in classic red on … Continue reading

Posted in mazda, minicars | Tagged , , , , , , , | 27 Comments

EVENTS: The Bayline Gathering, Part 02

In Part 01 of our Bayline Gathering coverage we gazed upon the show’s centerpieces, a collection of rare vintage Nissan Skylines that had journeyed across the Pacific to be revered by a new generation of enthusiasts. But with nearly 200 cars … Continue reading

Posted in events, mitsubishi, nissan, toyota, wagons | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

QotW: What’s the best car commercial from Japan?

Now that the star of one of the most famous Japanese car commercials has been rediscovered, it’s time we asked: What’s the best car commercial from Japan? The 1972 Nissan Skyline hit the market just as Japanese citizens getting hooked … Continue reading

Posted in mazda, minicars, nissan, Question of the Week, toyota | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 30 Comments

Friday Video: Nostalgic Nissan art by Osamu Samurai

Now that we’ve found Mary perhaps it’s appropriate that we share a video full of tricked out kenmeri artwork. Well not a video per se, but these frames of customized Skyline and Fairlady Z renderings by Osamu Samurai are nevertheless killer. They’re … Continue reading

Posted in Art Corner, Friday Video, nissan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

EVENTS: The Bayline Gathering, Part 01

Ever since Motoring J Style faded in 2008 there’s been a void in the NorCal nostalgic scene. The Bay Area is rife with vintage Nihon steel, and it needs a bona fide show to bring the cars out from their garages.

Posted in events, nissan, toyota | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 27 Comments

Hungarian in JNC T-shirt makes world’s greatest neo-hachiroku video

Look out, Top Gear. A Hungarian in, at varying times, Initial-D and JNC T-shirts has created what is being hailed as the world’s greatest Toyota GT 86 review. It might even be one of the greatest car review videos, period, neo-hachiroku or … Continue reading

Posted in toyota | Tagged , , , , , | 28 Comments

Kidney, Anyone? 1979 TE51 Toyota Corolla SR5 Sport Coupe

This 1979 Toyota Corolla SR5 Sport Coupe popped up on eBay over the weekend with a $4,250 asking price and several days left on the auction clock. Then, faster you can say “Kidney, Anyone?” it was gone. 

Posted in for sale, toyota | Tagged , , , , , , , | 69 Comments

QotW: What’s the best model name?

The Japanese are known for colorful uses of the English language when it comes to christening their cars. There’s seductive women’s names like Silvia and Gloria, word salads like the Isuzu Wizard Alive and Honda Life Dunk, and perfectly chosen appellations like … Continue reading

Posted in mazda, minicars, nissan, Question of the Week, toyota | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 36 Comments

Friday Video: Against All Odds, the story of the BRE Datsun 510s

Today’s video is required viewing for any Datsun enthusiast. If you don’t yet know why every vintage Japanese car show in the US is packed with 510s sporting twin stripes down their fenders, this movie will answer all questions. Against All … Continue reading

Posted in Friday Video, motorsports, nissan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments