Monthly Archives: February 2022
QotW: What Japanese car would you build a lowrider with?
We’ve always had a fascination for the way Japan blends a deeply studied foreign automotive style with its own. Earlier this year, a Toyota Century limousine lowrider took the Grand Prix in the sedan category at the Tokyo Auto Salon. … Continue reading
Toyota Crown making a return to the US?
The Toyota Crown might be returning to the US market, if a leaked dealer schedule sheet is to be believed. Though it’s been Toyota’s most popular and evergreen sedan in Japan for nearly 70 years, it was sold stateside for … Continue reading
An A70 Toyota Supra Turbo has sold for almost $89,000
Earlier this year we asked in a Question of the Week what the next six-figure Japanese car would be. Well, it seems that the A70 Toyota Supra Turbo is well on its way to that amount. Yesterday, a practically showroom-new … Continue reading
The original Toyota 2000GT subscription model has been re-released, requiring $1,000 and year to complete
No, you’re not having déjà vu. Another expensive, mega-scale Toyota 2000GT model kit has just be released in Japan. Actually, re-released is more like it, because the 1:10-scale DeAgostini Toyota 2000GT is the model that kicked off the modern age … Continue reading
QotW: What are your thoughts on itasha?
Over the weekend I took my toddler to a local show to see some cars. Though it wasn’t advertised as an itasha event, fully 85 percent of the cars there had anime characters plastered all over them, even cars like … Continue reading
Happy Presidents’ Day from JNC
The Nissan President was meant for the leaders of Japanese society — government officials, captains of industry, and other assorted VIPs. It wasn’t enough just to have a bigger, more luxurious car. To really separate yourself from the peons you … Continue reading
The Nissan Fairlady Z chair brings your Z into the comfort of your own home
Welcome to Japanese Nostalgic Car‘s home furniture-themed sub-section, Japanese Nostalgic Chair. Admittedly it’s not a frequently visited sub-section, as we’ve only once before had the occasion, when a small Japanese carpentry shop in Yaizu City, Shizuoka Prefecture made a living … Continue reading
Alive Hoon, the first movie about pro drifting, has a trailer and behind-the-scenes video
It’s been over 20 years since the D1GP, the first professional drifting league, was born. So it’s a bit surprising that, in all this time, there hasn’t been a feature film about the sport (no, Tokyo Drift doesn’t count). But, … Continue reading
VIDEO: Drifting in America has come a long way since 1998
Drifting was still a little-known underground activity in the United States back in 1998. However, that didn’t stop some of Japan’s most famous drift racers and judges from visiting southern California to see what the nascent scene was all about. … Continue reading
Posted in News
Tagged acura, ae86, Civic EG, crx, drifting, eclipse, honda, integra, keiichi tsuchiya, Ken Nomura, mitsubishi, mr2, s13, s14, sw20
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Toyota’s first race car, the Toyopet Racer, was nearly lost to history
For decades in the western world, the origins of Toyota’s motorsports history lay at the foot of the 1957 Toyopet Crown, which competed in that year’s 10,563-mile running of the Mobilgas Around-Australia rally. Many of Toyota’s own materials have reinforced … Continue reading
QotW: How has car ownership affected your love life?
Holidays are times we spend with our loved ones. But that time in the garage, on the road, or at the track can create conflict, because some of us also have spouses or significant others. Or, maybe your better half … Continue reading
Happy Valentine’s Day from JNC
There needs to be more pink cars. Look how great this Datsun 510 looks in sakura pink. It even has a pink JAF grille badge to match. Just something to consider on February 14. Happy Valentine’s Day from JNC!
Posted in Holidays
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This Toyota 2000GT model in 1/8 scale will cost $1,700 and take two years to complete
The latest classic from Japan to get the 1:8 treatment is the Toyota 2000GT. Issued by Hachette Collections Japan, the subscription kit will consist of 100 installments received weekly by mail with a retail price of ¥1999 ($17.25 USD) each. … Continue reading
Nissan Hardbody and Datsun 720-inspired Frontiers debut at Chicago Auto Show
Nissan is going HAM on the throwback stuff these days, and we’re not talking about the new Z. For the Chicago Auto Show they’re bringing not one, but two concept trucks with a decidedly flavor based on new Frontier pickup. … Continue reading
Happy C210 Day from JNC
Sorry, Yamaha AR210, we are going to celebrate the Nissan Skyline C210 today, February 10, in the year of our overfender, 2022. Sure, the Yamaha might cost $50,000 and can travel on water, but it will never be half as … Continue reading
Posted in Holidays
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Classic Toyota Celica and Truck appear in 2022 Superbowl commercial
Toyota has released their 2022 Superbowl ad, and it features a couple of classics. Toyota has chosen to focus not on the cars, but on two real-life brothers, Brian and Robin McKeever, who are Olympic and Paralympic medalists. Much of … Continue reading
The iconic Kawasaki Z1 celebrates 50 years with anniversary models
Everyone’s awaiting the heritage-infused Nissan Z, but there’s another iconic Z that is celebrating its history this year. The Kawasaki Z1 was the most powerful bike in its class when it debuted 50 years ago, in 1972. It was technologically … Continue reading
QotW: What’s the next Japanese car to cross the six-figure mark?
The classic car market is going bananas right now, leading to some sky-high prices for Japanese cars. The $112,000 Integra Type R is just the latest example of it, but we’ve already seen plenty of others cross the six-figure threshold. … Continue reading
Posted in News
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Happy TE27 Day from JNC!
It’s good to see that these old ‘Rollas, supplanted and long-forgotten by front-driving commuters, are still out there, doing their thing. This Mango was spotted at the 2022 Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique last weekend, one of two Japanese entrants (the other … Continue reading
That new Nissan Z Superbowl ad is not like the old one at all, because it’s terrible
Nissan misled us big time when they released a trailer for their upcoming Superbowl ad. The trailer promised big stunts and chases with motorcycles, helicopters, and Max Maxian Firebirds, but it wasn’t about that at all. In fact, it’s not … Continue reading
