Monthly Archives: November 2023
Nissan helps rebuild long-lost Prince 1900 Sprint sports car concept
Sometime in the early 1960s in a small workshop in Turin, two men work at their drafting boards. One is an Italian master, designer of what are considered to be the most beautiful cars ever made. The other is Japanese, … Continue reading
Posted in News
Tagged Franco Scaglione, nissan, prince, skyline, Sprint 1900, Takeshi Inoue
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A deep dive into the ever-evolving Hakosuka Skyline of Roy de Guzman
We’ve been on a long journey with our friend Roy de Guzman, one of the first Americans to ever own a Hakosuka Skyline. We first met Roy back when JNC was on paper and Roy’s car was all white. We … Continue reading
Honda’s behind-the-scenes motorcycle manufacturing doc from 1962 is a must-see
Honda has released an astounding documentary from its early days of motorcycle manufacturing. The 34-minute This is Honda dives deep into Honda’s factories, depicting every step of the production process, from raw steel to finished bike. Arguably the most amazing … Continue reading
QotW: What series should we binge over the holidays?
In 2014 a new trilogy of Initial D movies came out. Called New Initial D Movie — Legend, It was a reboot complete with new animation style, a retelling of the earlier chapters of the beloved series. We watched the … Continue reading
Yamaha’s miniature SR400 fuel tank marks over 40 years of production having ended
In 2021 we reported on the sad end of the Yamaha SR400, a beloved motorcycle that had been in production for 43 years. Not only did it have a long life but Yamaha kept it remarkably faithful to the 1978 … Continue reading
The 1992 Honda Prelude Si 4WS came highly recommended, even in automatic
I never liked the fourth-gen Prelude’s styling. I remember thinking it looked like a squashed Oldsmobile, and that its profile was too far a deviation from the angular wedges of its predecessors. That belief was only confirmed when the fifth-gen … Continue reading
QotW: What car-related things are you thankful for?
This week is Thanksgiving (if you’re reading from the US), that time of year when we talk about the things in life that, big or small, we are grateful for. In the very futuristic sounding year of 2023, we are … Continue reading
A Honda Prelude was Jean-Luc Picard’s Earth transport
When Star Trek: The Next Generation debuted on September 28, 1987 it was clear that this new show would be a departure from the occasionally campy escapades of the original. For one thing, the two-fisted antics from Captain James T. … Continue reading
Posted in Celebrity Nostalgics
Tagged honda, Patrick Stewart, prelude, Prelude 3g, Star Trek
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Toyota “Land Cruiser FJ” may be a baby off-road machine
If there’s one thing Toyota loves it’s reviving the chassis codes of past successes and making them full-blown model names. It did that with the FJ40-inspired FJ Cruiser back in 2007, then the AE86-inspired Toyota 86 in 2012. Now Toyota … Continue reading
Plymouth Arrow promotional video from 1976 shows its many quirks
The Plymouth Arrow is nearly forgotten today, but the badge engineered Mitsubishi Lancer Celeste had a lot to offer. Its handling was rated quite positively in magazine tests of the era, and Mitsubishi’s signature “silent shaft” technology used a counterbalanced … Continue reading
Posted in Video
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QotW: What technology made modern cars less interesting?
To the average consumer the formula is pretty straightforward: new = good. But JNC owners know better than that. The last couple of decades have seen an in-car technology boom, but if you’re reading this you likely long for the … Continue reading
Follow vintage Toyotas from factory to family in this 1973 promotional film
In 1973 Toyota released a 20-minute promotional film called “In Small Packages”. It was created to introduce the company and its various models to Americans. Not only is it filled with beautiful footage of Corollas, Celicas, Coronas, and Land Cruisers, … Continue reading
Posted in Showa Snap
Tagged a10, a20, carina, celica, corolla, corona, Corona MkII, e20, ex-III, fj40, hilux, land cruiser, te27, toyota
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Toyota teams up with streetwear brand Huf for 70s-inspired swag
Toyota is teaming up with streetwear brand Huf on a new line of apparel. Said to be inspired by 70s graphics, the clothes and accessories feature heaps of Toyota trucks and plenty of the red-orange-yellow tricolor. Some of the designs … Continue reading
Japan Automotive Hall of Fame honors Lexus founder, Honda F1 engineer, pioneers of four-wheel-steering
The Japan Automotive Hall of Fame has named four individuals to be inducted into their ranks. Each has been chosen for their contributions to Japan’s automotive industry. As with the four cars that were announced this year, there are names … Continue reading
Posted in Legends
Tagged 2012 All-Toyotafest, Airtrek, cordia, daihatsu, debonair, Diamante, formula 1, Galant Σ, honda, honda 1300, japan automotive hall of fame, Lancer EX Turbo, lexus, mazda, Miata NA, mira, mitsubishi, Mitsubishi i, prelude, ra271, ra272, RA300, RA302, Shoichi Sano, Shoichiro Toyoda, toyota, Tredia
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Japan Automotive Hall of Fame welcomes Nissan 510 Bluebird, Mitsubishi Pajero, Mazda 787B, and more
The Japan Automotive Hall of Fame has announced the inductees that will honored in its Historic & Heritage Vehicles category. The vehicles chosen have each determined to have contributed to the development of Japan’s automobile industry and car culture, and … Continue reading
Posted in News
Tagged 24 Hours of Le Mans, 510, 787b, bluebird, datsun, japan automotive hall of fame, mazda, mitsubishi, nissan, otomo, pajero, prius, toyota
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QotW: What works from your childhood fueled your love for cars?
Last week I visited the home of some distant in-laws who were meeting my 4-year-old for the first time. They’re grandparents already and asked my kid if he’d like to play with some toys that once belonged to their now-adult … Continue reading
The Toyota Retro Cruiser concept restored, 25 years later
The Toyota Retro Cruiser concept made a big splash when it debuted in 1999. It looked like an FJ40 from the outside, but the running gear underneath came from the most advanced Land Cruiser at the time, the J100. Not … Continue reading
Posted in concepts
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