Monthly Archives: May 2016
NEWS: Fuji Heavy Industries changes name to Subaru Corporation
Subaru’s parent company, Fuji Heavy Industries, is changing its name. Stemming from what is known as “an extraordinary meeting of its Board of Directors” FHI will be known as Subaru Corporation starting in 2017, pending stock holder approval.
Posted in News
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EVENTS: 2016 All-Toyotafest, Part 02 — Straight Sixes
As engines go, the Toyota straight-six is one of the best conceived by humankind. Smooth as Suntory whiskey, as long-lived as a mountain, and capable of stupid amounts of horsepower in later iterations, they are a triumph of automotive engineering. It’s no wonder the … Continue reading
A list of cars lost in the International Vehicle Importers fire
International Vehicle Importers has posted a list of the cars that have been lost in the warehouse fire on the evening of May 1 that claimed the lives of two company employees’ dogs. There were a dozen imported JDM cars lost, as … Continue reading
NEWS: Nissan to take control of Mitsubishi Motors
Breaking news from Japan tonight: Nissan has agreed to take a 34 percent controlling stake in Mitsubishi Motors in a deal worth $2.2 billion, according to Bloomberg. It is now the single largest shareholder in the beleaguered automaker, even larger than than parent company … Continue reading
MINICARS: Matchbox Hakosuka Nissan Skyline
Matchbox has just teased a new casting for 2016, and it’s none other than the hakosuka Nissan Skyline. Technically, it’s a 1971 Skyline 2000GT-X, complete with the surf line over the rear wheels and it’s still in prototype form (that’s what those numbers … Continue reading
VIDEO: Battle of the 80s track weapons
Long before it was Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, the circuit was sponsored by Nissan and had the 200-horsepower 1984 300ZX Turbo as its official pace car. In a video from the period, the most 80s vehicular battle you can imagine pits … Continue reading
EVENTS: 2016 All-Toyotafest, Part 01 — A preview of what’s to come
Now in its 21st year, the All-Toyotafest has become quite possibly the most popular Japanese car show in southern California. How popular? Online registration for the 2016 gathering — all 450 spots — sold out just eight hours after going … Continue reading
Happy 5/10 Day from JNC
2016 marks JNC‘s 10th anniversary. The 510 has been an important car for us over the years, including serving as the subject of our very first feature story. As such, we’ve decided to celebrate 5/10 Day by taking a look at the most memorable … Continue reading
VIDEO: A 240Z built for a 10,000-mile off-road race
You thought Touge California was tough? It was only eight hours, 200 miles, and took place on pavement. This Datsun 240Z was built to tackle a rally that starts in Beijing, China, goes 10,000 miles through the Gobi Desert, Mongolia, Russia … Continue reading
Happy Mother’s Day from JNC!
Show how much you love your mom by singing her a Carol today. Happy Mother’s Day from JNC!
NEWS: Toyota builds an 86 shooting brake
The shooting brake has long been the holy grail of a certain type of car guy. Half sports car, half station wagon, it’s a body style long extinct from the automotive kingdom but not from the hearts of enthusiasts. Google … Continue reading
EVENTS: Nostalgic2Days 2016, Part 01
At this year’s Nostalgic 2 Days show, we were on assignment to meet a very specific person, a towering figure from the golden age of Japan’s automotive history. Before our appointment — which will be covered in the next installment — … Continue reading
Posted in events
Tagged 117, 2000gt, 510, 6M, bellett, bluebird, c10, c130, capella, cosmo sport, dekotora, Endless brakes, fairlady z, familia rotary coupe, Garage Iwasa, gt-r, Hakosuka, honda, isuzu, Isuzu Eagle Sports, kpgc10, Laruel, Lotus Elan, mazda, nissan, nos2days, Nostalgic 2 Days, prince, r100, r30, rocky auto, rx-2, s30 z, s54, s600, skyline, soarer, sports 800, toyota, UnLimited Kustoms, z10
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An interview with NeoClassic Japan’s editor-in-chief
Japan’s Kousoku Yuen magazine recently celebrated their 50th volume. Written for fans of all the lesser loved, non-Skyline, non-2000GT specimens of the Japanese automotive kingdom, it is perhaps the most otaku title of the JDM magazine world. To mark this momentous occasion, as well … Continue reading
Posted in japan, media
Tagged cedric, cressida, crown, gloria, kousoku yuen, mark II, NeoClassic Magazine, nissan, toyota
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RIP Peter Williamson, Aussie Toyota racing legend, 1938-2016
Australia, Toyota, and the world of motorsport has collectively lost a great ambassador with the passing of Peter “Willo” Williamson. For those of us who grew up in southwestern Sydney in the 1970s and 1980s, Willo was a legend and a … Continue reading
Posted in motorsport
Tagged a20, a40, a60, a70, australia, Bathurst, celica, Peter Williamson, supra, toyota
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THE SPOT: Acura 30 Years Strong
Thirty years ago, Atari was a relevant name in video games. No one had yet heard the beauty that is the song “Another Day In Paradise” by Phil Collins. And Acura was just bringing their first cars to America. Honda’s … Continue reading
NEWS: Mazda’s new Australian HQ proudly displays Heritage Collection
Mazda Australia recently celebrated the opening of its new headquarters in Mulgrave, a suburb of Melbourne. While this type of news usually excites business journals more than enthusiasts, the new state-of-the-art building does have something that catches our attention: a … Continue reading
Posted in News
Tagged 110s, Bathurst, capella, cosmo sport, fd3s, M2, M2 1020, mazda, Mazda Australia, Mazda3, Mazda3 MPS, mazdaspeed, miata, mx-5, rx-2, rx-7, RX-7 SP
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60 YEAR CLUB: Happy birthday to Akio Toyoda
Today is the 60th birthday of Toyota Motor Corp’s head honcho Akio Toyoda. Even at six decades old, the great-grandson of Toyota founder Sakichi Toyoda shows no signs of slowing down. Over the weekend, he was seen donning a racing suit and getting … Continue reading
REMINDER: Toyotafest 2016 is this Saturday
Just a friendly reminder. The 21st annual Toyotafest is this Saturday, May 7. The celebration of Toyota, Lexus and Scion cars returns to the Queen Mary in Long Beach, California. Gates open at 9 am and close at 3 pm, and admission is … Continue reading
NEWS: Warehouse fire at importer destroys dozens of cars
Yesterday evening a fire destroyed one of the warehouses of International Vehicle Importers. The Ontario, California-based company was well known in southern California and beyond for importing unique cars from Europe and Japan, with a specialty in Skyline GT-Rs, mostly R32s. … Continue reading
