Monthly Archives: October 2019
Japan’s postal service celebrates 50 years of the Z with stamps, postcards
The Nissan Fairlady Z celebrated their 50th anniversary earlier this month, and the country’s official postal service is honoring the milestone. Japan Post has issued a stamp and postcard set commemorating half a century of Nissan’s revolutionary sports car.
NEWS: Mazda’s official Miata restoration parts now available in the US
If you’re an NA MX-5 Miata owner in the US in search of hard-to-find factory parts to restore your beloved roadster, search no more. Mazda USA just released a full list of restoration parts available through your dealer, including reproduction … Continue reading
MOTORSPORT: RealTime Racing Integra Type R restored (and raced)
“Between 1997 and 2002 the Acura Integra Type R dominated the Speed Touring Car Championship,” says Peter Cunningham. The founder of RealTime Racing and prolific Honda/Acura racer and collector would know. “RealTime won five of the six championships, and no … Continue reading
QotW: What’s the best use of a JNC in cinema?
Recently around the ol’ JNC water cooler, we had a discussion about movies that contained excellent scenes of Japanese cars. We’re not talking random fillers but, cars that served to enhance the character’s persona. We asked a similar question in … Continue reading
Tokyo Motor Show: Could this be the return of the Honda Hunter Cub?
At the Tokyo Motor Show, Honda quietly rolled out a bike concept that hearkens back to the original CT110, aka the Trail Cub or the Hunter Cub. Though not for production, Honda says it was there simply to gauge customer … Continue reading
Tokyo Motor Show: A history of Honda in rap
For the Tokyo Motor Show, Honda released a rap video titled “The Power of Dreams.” We don’t know why, except that it was a collab between Honda and the Japanese rap group Scha Dara Parr, in which they shout out … Continue reading
Tokyo Motor Show: Mazda MX-30 subtly references history, may signal return of rotary engine
Mazda just unveiled the MX-30 at the 46th Tokyo Motor Show. A battery electric cross over coupe, the newest member of the MX family will be Mazda’s first production electric car. It also comes with a surprise call-out to the … Continue reading
Goodbye JNC Project Hakosuka: How the scene has changed over 12 years
I can actually pinpoint the time when it all started: it was Saturday, July 16th 2007, at 10.30 in the morning when I saw my first Hakosuka in the metal, in the Shirakawa district of eastern Tokyo, just around the … Continue reading
50 YEAR CLUB: Nissan Fairlady Z / Datsun 240Z
Fifty years ago today at The Pierre hotel in New York City, the automotive world was forever changed when Nissan unveiled the Datsun 240Z. The occasion was the car’s international press launch, where Western journalists got to see the game-changing … Continue reading
QotW: Will the sport compact style make a nostalgic comeback?
Ah, the late-90s. You know the style: retina searing paint, aftermarket roll call down the door, a wing that could double as a dining surface, unpainted carbon fiber proudly on display, Kanji that looked like the default font from a … Continue reading
2019 Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 07 — Kaido Racers
The classic Japanese street racer look has really taken off in recent years. It’s gotten to the point where even non-Japanese cars are adopting the look of deep-barreled small-diameter wheels, over-fenders with flush fitment, and a tough shakotan stance. It’s … Continue reading
The new Lupin III trailer has Bluebird-Cedric police cars
There’s a new Lupin III movie coming out, and the latest trailer shows a car chase with some classic Japanese police cars. At first glance they appear to be 510 Bluebird Coupes, but of course, it would be kind of … Continue reading
2019 Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 06 — Awesome 80s
The 80s were a pivotal time in Japan’s automotive history, and the JCCS did not disappoint with a of turbocharged, retractable-headlight, angular-bodied machines.
Japan slammed by worst typhoon in 60 years
Japan is still trying to assess the damage done by Typhoon Hagibis over the weekend. According to the Japan Times, the death toll is up to 68, and rescue crews are working around the clock to find more survivors. The … Continue reading
Drift back to school with an Initial D AE86 backpack
It’s hard getting up for class but when you’re wearing a snazzy AE86 backpack, you can slide to school in style. Forget your Jansport, a Japanese shop has made a replica of the Initial D Toyota Sprinter Trueno for all … Continue reading
QotW: What car must be saved before they’re all gone?
As much as we love Skylines, Zs, RX-7s, Supras, 2000GTs, and so on, perhaps there really isn’t a need to rescue them all, since there are so many well-preserved examples out there already. Or maybe there is, if it’s a … Continue reading
VIDEO: A first look at the new heritage gallery at Nissan’s Yokohama headquarters
As we reported in September, Nissan has opened a permanent heritage section at its headquarters building in Yokohama. Now, the company has released footage from the grand opening, giving us a first video look at the display.