Monthly Archives: May 2017
NIHON LIFE: Would you like a Skyline with your morning coffee?
In America, coffee costs $4 for a ridiculous latte that doesn’t even come with a toy car. In Japan, coffee companies often run promotions that attach a gift to the can, which you have to get at a specific convenience store chain. This Skyline … Continue reading
50 YEAR CLUB: Mazda Cosmo Sport and Rotary Engine
Like it or not, the automotive industry is a highly conservative one. Advances are incremental, radical innovations few and far between. Amidst this seemingly depressing state, however, genuinely novel and creative ideas that challenge convention catch our attention and imagination … Continue reading
Posted in 50 Year Club
Tagged 787b, cosmo sport, Familia Rotary, Kenichi Yamamoto, l10a, mazda, r100, rotary engine, rx-2, rx-3, rx-4, rx-5, rx-7
11 Comments
QotW: What JNC model has been the most consistent?
As more and more models enter the JNC fold, we can see a lineage forming under nameplates that span several decades. Sometimes you can track the rise (or fall) of these nameplates as the design direction or company portfolio evolves … Continue reading
VIDEO: Toyota made some ads about long-time Corolla owners
Toyota Japan is continuing its celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Corolla with a series of videos about owners who have driven their Corollas for a very long time.
VIDEO: Rocky Auto’s RB30-powered Kenmeri
You’ve seen photos of Rocky Auto‘s restomod Kenmeri Skyline. It’s got an tuned RB30 engine, a completely reworked multi-link suspension, Work Meisters over R34 brakes, and modern Recaro sport seats. Recently, Rocky-San took it to Fuji Speedway and made a … Continue reading
NIHON LIFE: Stumbling across random car shops in Tokyo
It’s easy to get lost in Tokyo. The streets aren’t laid out in a grid and often have no signs on them, or if they do, they’re in Japanese. As a car otaku, the problem is compounded because rather than looking at … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged atenza, aw11, b310, celsior, Ciic Type R, Cima, civic, Civic EK, cosmo sport, Countach, datsun, F50, fairlady roadster, fairlady z, honda, infiniti, Infiniti Q45, lamborghini, lexus, Lexus LS, lfa, mazda, mr2, nissan, porsche, prius, r33, RUF, s130, skyline, sports 800, sunny, Sunny California, toyota, vip, W50
11 Comments
NEWS: Historic Mazdas make more history at Concours d’Elegance
Ah concours d’elegance, an age-old tradition in the world of classic automobiles. It’s an aristocracy long impenetrable by anything but the most time-tested and pedigreed works of art. Mazda just made history by taking home wins at not one but two major concours … Continue reading
Posted in News
Tagged 110s, 787b, Amelia Island, Concours d'Elegance, cosmo sport, mazda, Pinehurst
8 Comments
GALLERIES: Nissan’s 60th Anniversary of the Skyline celebration continues in Yokohama
The 60th anniversary of one of Japan’s most influential models is not lost on Nissan. Last month Nissan held simultaneous events at three locations across Tokyo and Yokohama on same weekend the original ALSID Prince Skyline was launched in 1957. While that has … Continue reading
Nissan Jam 2017 will honor 50 years of the Datsun 510
In its fifth year, Nissan Jam will be returning to Anaheim, California. 2017 promises to be a very special year because it will honor the 50th anniversary of the 510, which was introduced in Japan in 1967. All 510 owners registered for … Continue reading
QotW: How should Mitsubishi have celebrated 100 years of cars?
Today’s QotW comes on the heels of Mitsubishi’s centennial anniversary of building automobiles and their announcement to rebuild a Mitsubishi Model A. It’s not a pure reproduction, but will be built on an Outlander PHEV chassis and powertrain. This Kobe … Continue reading
Toyotafest Spotlight: Mike Muniz’s 1972 Sprinter Trueno is one of the finest Toyota restorations we’ve ever seen
Without exaggeration, Mike Muniz’s 1972 Toyota Sprinter Trueno is a paradigm shift in the world of Japanese nostalgic cars. In fact, we’re pretty certain that Muniz has not only achieved one of the most stunning Toyota restorations we’ve ever encountered, but also … Continue reading
Posted in events
Tagged bridgestone, e20, sprinter trueno, te27, toyota, toyotafest, Toyotafest 2017
31 Comments
EVENTS: All-Toyotafest 2017, Part 06 — Straight Sixes
With the passing of time, we are seeing more and more cars pass into 25-year classic status from what is perhaps the most epic era of Toyota history — that of the inline six-cylinder engine. From early Land Cruisers and Crowns … Continue reading
Mitsubishi does not need subwoofers and TV screens
The news that Mitsubishi was seeking West Coast Customs to recreate their first car, the 1917 Model A, was pretty disappointing. Here’s a friendly reminder that Mitsus don’t need useless gimmicks to be cool. That is all.
KIDNEY, ANYONE? 1969 Suzuki Carry LHD
Generally speaking, here at Japanese Nostalgic Car we don’t feature JDM cars when we do Kidney Car posts because we would end up copy-pasting half of goo-net-exchange weekly. That being said, this is a very special car in that most Suzuki … Continue reading
NEWS: Mitsubishi Motors celebrates 100 years by recreating its first car
The shipbuilding giant known as Mitsubishi became a car company 100 years ago this year with the release of the 1917 Model A. Only 22 were built, giving Mitsubishi Motors the claim to the first “mass produced” Japanese car. To celebrate a century … Continue reading
EVENTS: All-Toyotafest 2017, Part 05 — Trucks
Toyotafest is the only Japanese car show that can boast such a wonderfully diverse a mix of both car and trucks. This year, Toyota celebrated the Land Cruiser but there were just as many HiLuxes, Stouts, Tacomas, and other assorted trucks.
Posted in events
Tagged 4runner, avalon, back to the future, hilux, N20, stout, tacoma, toyota, toyotafest, Toyotafest 2017, trucks
3 Comments
50 YEAR CLUB: Toyota 2000GT
Fifty years ago, the automotive world was forever changed. It was a Tuesday, May 16, 1967 that the Toyota 2000GT was introduced. It marked the dawn of a new age, a breakthrough in not only Japan’s automotive industry, but in … Continue reading
Posted in 50 Year Club
Tagged 2000gt, fuji speedway, japan grand prix, Prince R380, publica, Shihomi Hosoya, sports 800, toyota, yatabe
13 Comments
Mazda presents the 2017 Touge California — Registration open
We at Japanese Nostalgic Car are proud to announce that Touge California, our vintage road rally for all Japanese marques, returns for 2017 with Mazda as the title sponsor. It is a particularly great honor this year, as 2017 marks the 50th anniversary of … Continue reading
EVENTS: All-Toyotafest 2017, Part 04 — The rise of the E30 Corolla
There is never a shortage of Corollas at Toyotafest, and for years the best builds in the field belonged to the AE86, TE27, and TE72 contingents, maybe even a front-driver AE92. This year, however, the 1975-79 E30 Corolla has emerged as a new … Continue reading
Posted in events
Tagged ae86, corolla, corolla levin, e10, e20, e30, ke15, sprinter trueno, te27, te37, te51, toyota, toyotafest, Toyotafest 2017
10 Comments
QotW: What does your mom think of your JNC?
As Mother’s Day rolls on by (Hi, mom!) we take time to say thanks to the one that helped raise us to upstanding citizen and avid JNC fan. I wonder, does dear ol’ mom share the same understanding and admiration … Continue reading
