Monthly Archives: June 2025
Toyota GR Garage acquires a clapped out AE86
Here’s a good one for Toyotafest Eve. Toyota’s Gazoo Racing division has picked up a decrepit AE86. They say it’s the start of a new restoration project, but why begin with something so far gone? Surely Toyota has the resources … Continue reading
Toyota built a one-off open-top Century SUV for sumo champions
Is the Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet too common for you? Toyota might just have the ultimate droptop crossover in the form of the Century SUV. The bad news is, there’s only one in the entire world, and you have to be … Continue reading
A 1977 Toyota Celica is driving 10,000 miles from the Czech Republic to Japan for the Osaka Expo
There are 158 countries participating in the Osaka Expo, currently being held in in Japan. As far as we know, the Czech Republic is the only one sending a delegation of vintage cars across Europe and Asia to get there. … Continue reading
Get $5 off your Toyotafest admission with this coupon code
The 29th annual All-Toyotafest is coming up this Saturday, June 28. The location is the same as last year, Marina Green Park in Long Beach, California. We would like to offer JNC readers a coupon code that will discount admission … Continue reading
Posted in Reminder
Leave a comment
QotW: What’s the greatest Japanese luxury sedan?
If you’ve ever flown on a Japanese airline or shopped at a Japanese department store you know that Japan does luxury better than almost any country on Earth. That’s why it’s a bit odd that Japanese luxury cars faced such … Continue reading
NISMO twin-cam conversion kit for L-series engines headed for production
The Nissan L-series is one of the most popular engines at any car show for Japanese classics. Installed in everything from Datsun 510s to Z-cars and Skylines, the tried-and-true SOHC motor is beloved the world over. Earlier this year NISMO … Continue reading
Honda announces reproduction parts program, starting with the NSX
Following on the heels of many Japanese carmakers in recent years, Honda has announced a reproduction parts program. The goal is to keep the company’s iconic classics on the road, and the first recipient of the program’s benefits is the … Continue reading
QotW: What’s the most Gen X car?
Today, June 16, is National Gen X Day, celebrating those born between 1965 and 1980. I was born in the inaugural year of the Celica Liftback but I don’t think I’m biased when I say it’s the best generation. Our … Continue reading
Aussies know how to make a Toyota Land Cruiser commercial
A new commercial from Toyota Australia proves that it’s possible to hawk the Land Cruiser. It has just the right amount of heritage and humor, and it shows a bunch of Cruisers tearing through the Outback. It’s much better than … Continue reading
RIP Brian Wilson, Beach Boys songwriter who loved Hondas
Singer and songwriter Brian Wilson has died. Co-founder of the seminal surf-rock band The Beach Boys, Wilson is credited with creating the California sound that defined an era. His musical style created a movement centered around seasides, cruising, and carefree … Continue reading
Posted in News
2 Comments
This Nissan Sunny conversion on a Suzuki kei truck is the cat’s pajamas
Converting kei cars to look like other vehicles is a tried and true tradition in Japan. Often times the transformations are tongue in cheek, morphing them into something they’re clearly not, like a baroque vintage design or a far more … Continue reading
J-tin abounds in Sabrina Carpenter’s latest music video
We suspect most of our readers are not in the Sabrina Carpenter demographic, but there’s no denying she’s one of the biggest pop stars in music right now. Her music video for ‘Manchild’ debuted on June 6 and it plays … Continue reading
QotW: What’s your favorite radio control car?
We suspect that there’s a pretty large overlap between fans of old Japanese cars and radio control cars. After all, many of the best RC cars come from Japan, from iconic Tamiyas to new school HPIs, highly detailed Kyoshos to … Continue reading
Posted in Question of the Week
8 Comments
The Japanese Classic Car Show reaches a milestone
The Japanese Classic Car Show has announced dates for 2025. It marks a significant milestone, as it happens to be the event’s 20th anniversary. The achievement isn’t just for the success of the JCCS, but the Japanese classic movement as … Continue reading
Toyota Land Cruiser ‘Lite’ patent image unearthed
Toyota has been teasing the idea of a baby Land Cruiser for over three years now. The notion seems one step closer to reality now that patent images showing a full render of the vehicle have been discovered. The rendering … Continue reading
Baseball legend Shigeo Nagashima was synonymous with the X60 Toyota Mark II
On June 3 baseball star Shigeo Nagashima passed away from lung cancer in a Tokyo hospital. Voted 1958’s Rookie of the Year, he was instrumental in establishing the Yomiuri Giants as Japan’s greatest baseball dynasty. By the time Nagashima retired … Continue reading
A closer look at the Tommykaira ZZII prototype
At the turn of the century Tommykaira was on the verge of building a Japanese supercar. Gran Turismo players may remember the Tommykaira ZZII as a super light, mid-engined, all-wheel-drive weapon that decimated the competition. Sadly, that was as far … Continue reading
