Author Archives: Ricky Silverio
Happy Independence Day from JNC
Released in 2017, the US-flag Tomica Toyota 2000GT was part of a special edition Flags of the World series that decked out Japan’s O.G. supercar with — you guessed it — flags of the world. In fact, it is the second … Continue reading
JNC THEATER: A Datsun 510 episode of Wheeler Dealers
It’s been a while since we mentioned Wheeler Dealers (is the show any good since Edd China left?) but tonight’s feature car is something that piqued our interest. It’s a Datsun 510, that seemingly had hopes of being a BRE tribute car … Continue reading
Happy 50th Birthday to Hot Wheels from JNC
Today we mark 50 years of Hot Wheels, the brand that changed toy cars forever and stoked the flames of automotive passion in millions. Since 1968 was the debut year for Hot Wheels and the US-market Datsun 510, we wanted to commemorate … Continue reading
VIDEO: The world’s biggest classic Isuzu meet isn’t in Japan
It is noted somewhere in this video that the Isuzu Car Club of Australia is one of the country’s smallest car clubs, but also one of the oldest. This year it celebrates its 50th anniversary and, despite its size, dwarfs … Continue reading
MINICARS: Datsun 240Z wins the Hot Wheels RedLine Club Selections bracket
Each year Hot Wheels allows collectors to choose one casting that will be made into a premium collectible. Eight cars are nominated, and then voted on by the Hot Wheel Collectors community in a March Madness-style bracket elimination. This year, the Datsun 240Z won … Continue reading
MOTORSPORT: Historic racing Datsuns are headed to The Mitty
It is a landmark year for Nissan. Its classic models are growing in value, and its long history of racing achievements are finally being recognized. Not only is Nissan the first Japanese marque to be featured at the Rolex Motorsports Reunion during … Continue reading
Posted in motorsport
Tagged 240z, 510, bluebird, datsun, fairlady roadster, john morton, nissan, s30 z, the mitty, Z Car garage
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Tokyo Auto Salon: The awesome stuff we didn’t get to
In the past, the Tokyo Auto Salon has been pretty easy for us to cover. The show is still geared towards cars on the cutting edge of performance tech and style, so true chrome-bumpered classics were fairly thin on the ground. However, as time … Continue reading
Posted in Tokyo Auto Salon
Tagged 2000gt, ae86, b110, c10, corolla, corolla levin, drifting, fairlady z, g-works, hachiroku, Hakosuka, kp61, mazda, miata, mx-5, nissan, Obayashi Factory, r31, R31 House, r32, rocky auto, s13, s30 z, skyline, sprinter trueno, star road, starlet, sunny, tokyo auto salon, tomei, Top Secret, toyota
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VIDEO: GrassRoots Garage comes to California for Datsun Heaven
The online space for car videos is pretty crowded, but a favorite among the JNC staff right now is Australia’s Grassroots Garage. The editing is straightforward , their videos aren’t crammed with fancy drone tracking shots, and the host has a great accent. … Continue reading
Happy E39A Day from JNC
We thought we’d throw Mitsubishi fans a little love today, March 9. Please excuse the grainy quality of this photo, as it is one of my own personal Galant VR-4, taken in 1992, before I had a digital camera.You might think, … Continue reading
MOTORSPORT: SuperGT champ buys his dream Supra
Juichi Wakisaka is a three-time JGTC and SuperGT champion and a well-respected driver in Japan. In addition to his GT500 wins, he also has several F3 and Formula Nippon victories under his belt, has won the Suzuka 1000, achieved class … Continue reading
EVENTS: 2018 New Year Meeting, Part 03 — Seventies and Eighties
Our first two installments of the 2018 New Year Meeting featured cars from 1960s Japan. Those beautifully crafted machines from the early days of country’s motorization served a specific purpose, but the 1970s is when the modification culture became truly widespread.
Posted in events
Tagged 117, 230, 240rs, 300zx, a20, advan, Autolook, b110, b310, bluebird, c10, c110, cedric, celica, civic, corolla levin, e30, fc3s, fronte, gloria, Hakosuka, honda, isuzu, kenmeri, kp47, mazda, minica, Minica Skipper, mitsubishi, mr2, new year meeting, nissan, r30, r32, s110, silvia, skyline, starlet, sunny, suzuki, sw20, te27, TE55, toyota, ts cup, U12, wagons, z32
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EVENTS: 2018 New Year Meeting, Part 02 — Sixties Sedans
In Part 01 of our New Year Meeting coverage we concentrated on sports cars and coupes from the 1960s. However, there were many fine four-doors from that era as well, and as the two-doors rise in price the once neglected sedans are gaining … Continue reading
Tokyo Auto Salon: RE Amemiya’s personal Cosmo Sport
For Mazda fans the name RE Amemiya need no introduction. Isami Amemiya founded his rotary tuning house in 1974, and has been responsible for the world’s most insane modified Mazdas since. Ama-san has been sending these mad creations, usually FC or FD RX-7s, … Continue reading
Posted in Tokyo Auto Salon
Tagged cosmo, fd3s, mazda, re amemiya, rx-7, tokyo auto salon
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Tokyo Auto Salon: What Lambos? Liberty Walk’s Advan-livery Hakosuka
Liberty Walk never ceases to up the ante at each Auto Salon, each time showcasing a car that somehow manages to be more mind-blowing than the year before. The internet-melting buzz this year, as you may have heard, was the Lamborghini Miura done in … Continue reading
Posted in Tokyo Auto Salon
Tagged acura, advan, Black Emperor, c10, God Speed You Black Emperor, gt-r, Hakosuka, honda, liberty walk, nissan, nsx, r35, s660, skyline, tokyo auto salon, yokohama
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KIDNEY, ANYONE? $10,000 for a Hot Wheels some paint missing
There is no doubt the Japan Historics 2 series are the hottest Hot Wheels of 2018. Given the rabid enthusiasm for diecast JNCs, that’s not surprising. What is surprising, however, is that a Skyline C210 from that series has sold for — pinky to … Continue reading
VIDEO: Let the gift of a Toyota 2000GT get you in the holiday spirit
The Degeneve family has been dealing in classic cars for four generations. In 1971 the grandfather, Jean-Pierre, began selling Toyotas in France, making Degeneve dealership the oldest Toyota franchise in the country. Before cars, the family ran a successful bicycle business, but Jean-Pierre was always into classic … Continue reading
MINICARS: Hot Wheels X JNC Japan Historics 2
2018 isn’t even here yet, but we are very excited to show what we know already be the hottest series of the year. The five-car Japan Historics 2 features two new castings, retooled versions of popular existing castings, and some seriously epic card … Continue reading
Posted in Hot Wheels, minicars
Tagged 510, bluebird, butaketsu, c130, c210, datsun, fairlady z, hot wheels, Japan Historics 2, laurel, mazda, nissan, rx-3, S30Z, skyline
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QotW: Would you buy a new electric car with with retro JNC styling?
Brandon’s question last week about the electric JNC was especially prescient, because just a day after he posted it Honda went and unveiled a retro-styled electric car. Jaguar, too, has unveiled an electric E-type, one with not just a retro … Continue reading
MINICARS: Get your Then & Now Hot Wheels Mazda RX-7s this Saturday
This Saturday, September 16, is another one of Hot Wheels’ Kmart exclusive K Days, and it’s one you won’t want to miss. It will be the only opportunity to buy this Mazda RX-7 pair in red at a retail store.
