Author Archives: Justin Principe
QotW: What non-car goods should you buy from Japan?
A couple of weeks ago we asked about tools, but what other items should you buy from Japan? Take the Converse sneaker, for example. In Japan, the Chucks Taylors are completely different than the ones you can buy in the … Continue reading
QotW: What Japanese tool is a must-have in your arsenal?
` Wrenching on your car or project can be made much easier, and even more pleasurable, if you have the right tool. It’s no secret that Japanese tools have world-class quality and thoughtful designs that can make a difficult task … Continue reading
Spoon Sports persists in the face of Honda’s modernization
For many, Honda today isn’t quite what it used to be. The company built its reputation on high-revving precision engines and razor-sharp handling on cars that could serve as equally well as everyday commuters or track weapons. Those days are … Continue reading
Posted in tuning shop
Tagged Civic Type R, FL5, honda, n-one, Prelude 6g, s660, Spoon
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QotW: What car unfairly lives in the shadow of another?
Today, February 2, is Number Two Day in Japan. It’s an occasion to celebrate the penultimates, such as Mt Kitadake, the second tallest mountain in the country after Mt Fuji, or the Shinkoro Clock Tower, the second oldest clock tower … Continue reading
Posted in Question of the Week
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Nissan Skyline GT-Rs abound at the Tokyo Auto Salon’s Craft Sports booth
Okay, fine. We’ve shown you the obscure Isuzus and Daihatsus from the Tokyo Auto Salon, but people need their Skyline GT-R fix. It used to be that just seeing any Skyline GT-R was an unforgettable moment in a Gran Turismo-lover’s … Continue reading
Posted in Tokyo Auto Salon
Tagged nissan, r32, r33, r34, Skyline GT-R, tokyo auto salon, Tommykaira
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A selection of Tokyo Auto Salon’s (mostly) stock cars
The Tokyo Auto Salon is known for insane builds, but that kind of stuff can be overwhelming. However, there are stock or mostly stock cars being restored and preserved, even among the pandemonium. Here are some of the cars that … Continue reading
Posted in Tokyo Auto Salon
Tagged 180sx, datsun, fairlady z, fd3s, GR GT3, honda, life, mazda, nissan, Nissan S13, nsx, rx-7, s13, tokyo auto salon, toyota, z32
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TOM’s Heritage gives you a peak tuner-era Toyota AE86 for $87,000
Two years ago at the 2024 Tokyo Auto Salon, TOM’s announced a heritage car program to celebrate their 50th anniversary. Rather than factory-perfect restorations, the cars coming out of TOM’s Heritage are what the company calls “reconstructions” based on the … Continue reading
Isuzu 117 Coupé quietly steals the spotlight at Tokyo Auto Salon
The Tokyo Auto Salon is full of wild sights, but one car that stood out from the noise was a wonderfully understated Isuzu 117 Coupé. The yellow classic was displayed at the Dunlop Japan booth showing off new Synchro Weather … Continue reading
QotW: Which Japanese tuning house would you most like to visit?
We’re currently in Japan for the Tokyo Auto Salon, but to maximize our visit we’re also on a tour of some Japanese tuning houses. They specialize in all sorts of cars, some a specific model, others a general make, and … Continue reading
QotW: What’s a telltale sign of a bad driver?
As car enthusiasts we have a fairly decent idea of how to handle our vehicles and how they function. Sadly, that isn’t the case for the majority of the car-owning public. Yet nearly everyone in America is allowed to captain … Continue reading
QotW: If you could travel to one moment in time, when would it be and what would you do?
Let’s say you got your hands on a flux capacitor and had the nuclear scientist know-how of Doc Brown to attach it to any vehicle you want. You know the rest — hit 88 mph, get instantly zapped into the … Continue reading
Posted in Question of the Week
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QotW: Which car had the best evolution between generations?
Today, November 24, is Evolution Day, marking the date on which Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species was published in 1859. Like in the animal kingdom, when cars go from one generation to the next, changes can occur. Sometimes … Continue reading
Nissan Pathfinder to go BoF for next generation
A Nissan exec has reaffirmed that the next-generation Pathfinder could be a proper body-on-frame SUV. There’s already pretty solid confirmation that Nissan will be bringing the Xterra back from the dead with a BoF architecture. That design could spawn several … Continue reading
QotW: How do you satisfy your car addiction when you can’t access your actual car?
It’s been raining a lot in California, a rare occurrence, keeping us from tinkering with actual cars in the driveway. But like a junkie, we’re going through withdrawal. We tried hitting up the local Target for Hot Wheels but there … Continue reading
Mitsubishi still dreams of reviving the Lancer Evolution
At the Japan Mobility Show Mitsubishi’s stand was filled with mostly kei cars, vans, and SUVs. It was a sad state for the once great purveyor of performance. However one executive, Kaoru Sawase, said that the dream of the Lancer … Continue reading
QotW: Which JNC looks most proper in orange?
Autumn, the season of turning leaves and pumpkin spice everything. Orange objects are suddenly obligatory. But in the automotive world the color of paprika isn’t particularly popular. We can think of only two eras in which orange was widespread — … Continue reading
19th Annual All-Toyotafest, a preview
JNC on the way to the 19th annual All-Toyotafest, stopping for an early morning breakfast of champions. Supra-size me!
MINICARS: Hot Wheels X JNC Mitsubishi Starion/Chrysler Conquest
StarQuest fans rejoice, as we at JNC are proud to announce the newest Hot Wheels to don our trademark inkan — the Chrysler Conquest! Our lips have been sealed shut for months, however with its imminent release to the pegs, we felt … Continue reading
VIDEO: Circumnavigating North America in a Datsun Roadster
How should one traverse the continent of North America, spanning 37,850 miles, and have the most unadulterated and visceral driving experience? Do it in a Datsun. Or better yet, do it like Scott Fisher in his 1967 Datsun Sports 1600, … Continue reading
