Japanese Nostalgic Car

Today, October 27, it National Civics Day, an occasion to learn about how our govenrment, in theory, should work. But let’s not forget the Honda Civic. To the everyman, it’s affordable, efficient, and reliable, but to those in the know it’s also an insanely good performance car brimming with F1 technology, infinitely modifiable and a blank canvas for any vehicular purpose one can imagine. Parts interchange like Legos and the aftermarket selection is endless. Or, they’re just as honest and fun when restored to OEM perfection.

What is your ideal Honda Civic build?

The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What other forms of Japanese craftsmanship do you hold in high regard?“. Continue reading →

We suspect that one of the reasons you are here on a site about Japanese cars is because you appreciate how finely crafted they are. Attention to detail, thoughtful designs and innovations, and long-lasting quality are all hallmarks of Japan’s long tradition of making things. Today, October 20, is Long-Lasting Company Day, in which Japan celebrates shinise, or companies that have existed for 100 years or more. Japan has the most shinise of any country in the world, over 33,000 of them. And according to a study of companies older than 200 years, Japan leads the world with 15 percent of them. There are lots of Japanese goods other than cars to appreciate, whether it’s food, video games, carpentry, or any number of things.

What other forms of Japanese craftsmanship do you hold in high regard?

The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What’s the best tow vehicle?“. Continue reading →

We hope your cars are always running under their own power, but once in a while you’ll need to haul it. Whether it’s trailering a race car to a track, taking a classic car to a show, or bringing home a new project, anyone who dabbles in older automobiles will at some point need a tow vehicle. Fortunately for JNC owners Japanese cars are typically lightweight, so that opens up a lot of options for trucks and SUVs with lower towing capacities that may be JNCs themselves.

What’s the best tow vehicle?

The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What are your gasoline filling routines?“. Continue reading →

Today, October 6, is Oil Day in Japan, marking an occasion for average citizens to think about the many petroleum-based products used in every day life. The date was chosen because the numbers 1, 0, and 6 can be rearranged to form O (0), I (1), and L/R (6). It also happens to be the anniversary of the first global oil crisis, which led to long lines a fuel pumps around the world and began on October 6, 1973.

Some owners have an almost religious dedication to their brand of service station.  Personally I prefer Costco since it usually has the best price for a Top Tier fuel — though that’s hovering around $4.30 a gallon in southern California — but if the lines are long I’ll go elsewhere. I’m not brand loyal but only Top Tier juice goes into my JNCs. Other than that, I don’t have any hard rules except for a healthy dose of ethanol stabilizer and a full tank in cars that are sitting.

What are your gasoline filling routines?

The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “Which JNC looks most proper in red?“. Continue reading →