Author Archives: Brandon Kelley

QotW: What would you like to know about getting started with JNCs?

For those that may be new to JNCs, we want to encourage any and all to post questions related to the history, buying or repair of JNCs. We all have to start somewhere, so why not here with a wealth … Continue reading

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QotW: What part did you install that is completely unnecessary?

Sometimes, we just want to make our cars a bit more unique, a little touch that says this JNC is mine. Those touches can be everything from a sticker to some vintage barrels that haven’t been curbed so many times … Continue reading

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QotW: What JNC fun facts do you know?

Part of the fun in owning a JNC is researching it, how it came to be, some of its quirks, and so on. As a new series, we’d like to ask about some fun facts you’ve discovered. They could be … Continue reading

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QotW: What’s in your JNC glove box right now?

Ah, the glove box. Gone are the days when driving gloves were a thing, and so few actually store gloves in there now. Now, the little compartment on the dash is more likely to contain an owner’s manual, maybe a … Continue reading

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QotW: What’s the most important info on the instrument cluster?

In a perfect world, the instrument cluster (or multi-information display for some) would consist of a tachometer and a constantly illuminated thumbs up. But, for older vehicles and JNCs in particular, we need all the information we can get to … Continue reading

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QotW: Drive, Sell, or Garage? JNC Unobtainium Edition

Welcome to our version of Bang, Marry, Kill — Drive, Sell, Garage. You have three cars, and you must assign one action to each of the three cars. Which do you daily drive, knowing that it will require some mods … Continue reading

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QotW: What JNC would you import from Japan?

Nowadays, there are plenty of JNC offerings from importers. It also helps that you can stuff a few JNCs into a shipping container. But, most importers are focusing on a few models that bring in the biggest money. If you … Continue reading

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QotW: What’s your favorite JNC body type?

Back in the day, Japanese automakers thought nothing of offering multiple body types of the same model. Buyers had their pick — 2-door sedans, 4-door sedans, coupes, hardtops, wagons, hatchbacks, utes, and even upscale long-nose alternative versions. Do you gravitate to a … Continue reading

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QotW: What will future JNCs look like?

Nameplates like Supra and GT-R have a special place the hearts of fans and motorsports enthusiasts, and many of their design elements have stood the test of time. But could they be hindering new designs for future JNCs? What would the next GT-R look like if it didn’t … Continue reading

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QotW: JNC Roulette — Red or Black exterior?

A beautiful paint job really sparkles under the sun. Nowadays there are amazing mint rides on just about any car show lawn, and two colors that seem to dominate show-and-shine events are red and black. It’s easy to be blinded … Continue reading

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QotW: If you had a chance to buy your JNC again, what would you do differently?

Depending on the circumstances, you may have found yourself behind the wheel of your current JNC via pure luck. Maybe it was a good deal, a family member gifted it to you, or better. Perhaps it was such a rare car … Continue reading

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QotW: Which JNC Nissan should be in your garage?

Everyone’s first instinct is to head towards a Skylines or Z, but Nissan, Prince and Datsun all have long histories of varied models and cool special editions that deserve a spot in your garage to leave a small oil stain. Which JNC Nissan should be … Continue reading

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QotW: Tell us a tale of a JNC you helped rescue

Summer is just around the corner here in Japan. As we get ready to take our prized machines out on a hot sunny day with the wind in our hair, we ask you to think back on a time when … Continue reading

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QotW: What JNC belongs in a museum?

Looking over the new Petersen Automotive Museum exhibition: Monozukuri, the Creative Spirit in Japanese Automaking and Fine Tuning from last Friday’s post has me excited to see all the rare J-tin on display for all (go see it in person!). … Continue reading

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QotW: What made you start collecting Hot Wheels?

After hearing of Hot Wheels’ 50th anniversary and Jun Imai’s departure from Mattel, I began thinking back to when I started collecting Hot Wheels. It was the “Toyota AE-86 Corolla” that set my heart afire. To see the beloved Hachiroku next … Continue reading

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QotW: What JNC would your mom actually enjoy driving in?

Last year, we asked what your mom thought of your own JNC and received both fanfare and eye rolls. Maybe dear ol’ mom isn’t big on worn seats and 30-plus-year-old bushings. The smell of fuel in the interior might be a … Continue reading

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QotW: How safe do you feel on the road with your JNC?

No doubt, new cars are safer than our beloved JNCs. The latest vehicles have systems to make sure that you, and the car, are in a heightened state of awareness, from automatic braking to lane keeping Assistance. Heck, the highest level … Continue reading

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QotW: What’s your argument for keeping a JNC in a relationship?

JNCs have some tough love when only half of a couple is enjoying it. Sometimes a relationship between two people feels like three if you include a JNC that smells of oil and gasoline. It can get harder to justify that … Continue reading

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QotW: What part on your JNC just refuses to stay fixed?

We all love our cars, but sometimes they fight tooth and nail against being a good li’l JNC by refusing to stay fixed. Brakes just not wanting to seat correctly, electrical gremlins in the taillamp circuit, even trim that breaks … Continue reading

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QotW: Do you have a special spot in your heart for JNC mini-trucks?

We tend to focus on golden year JNCs of nimble coupes, opulent sedans and obscure machines that could only dream of pegging 60 mph on a long stretch of road. But, another kind of JNC was always there, doing the … Continue reading

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