Category Archives: toyota

Friday Video: Jay Leno drives Toyota’s 1936 Toyoda AA

What’s it like to drive the first Toyota ever built? Jay Leno answers that question. Leno’s been on a whirlwind tour of Japan. First he stopped by the Nissan design center to drop hints about the 2014 Fairlady Z and take a … Continue reading

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EVENTS: 2012 Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 09: Editors’ Choice

It should be no surprise by now that the Japanese Classic Car Show continues to grow each year, but we still weren’t quite prepared for just how much bigger and better it was for 2012. Let’s recap some of the highlights … Continue reading

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EVENTS: 2012 Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 08: Two-Door Sedans

Some of you may be wondering what the deal with the two-door sedan is. Isn’t that just a coupe, and didn’t we already see the classic coupes at JCCS? The answer to that is, confusingly, no.

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QotW: What’s the greatest Japanese racing livery?

Graphics. Livery. Warpaint. Originally meant to identify the country of origin and visually distinguish fast-moving cars on the track, they are now the domain of corporate sponsors. Either way, there have been some darn cool ones. Therefore we ask: What’s … Continue reading

Posted in honda, minicars, nissan, Question of the Week, toyota | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 31 Comments

Garage Life: Classic Car Nagoya Diary

Today’s guest writer David Lovett lives in Japan and works at Classic Car Nagoya. Here is a dispatch about what it’s like to be employed at what most of us would consider the ultimate dream job. Enjoy. —Ben Just about … Continue reading

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EVENTS: 2012 Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 07: Trucks & Vans

Thought we were done with our barrage of 2012 JCCS photos? Think again! From mini trucks to land crushers, trucks have been part of the Nihon nostalgic scene for decades. And like their car counterparts, they have just as many … Continue reading

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EVENTS: 2012 Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 06: Wagons & Hatchbacks

It’s no secret that many of us on the JNC team are certifiably nutty about wagons, yours truly included (There are a couple that aren’t, and they look at us as if we’re the weird ones when it’s clearly the … Continue reading

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Jay Leno tours the Nissan Zama Warehouse, gets dirt on potential S30 successor for Nissan’s 80th Anniversary

Jay Leno is in Japan. What comes of this trip should be interesting, but for now, watch as he tours the Nissan DNA Garage. UPDATE: Leno goes to Toyota and drives the Lexus LFA Spyder as well! 

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Marty McFly’s Back to the Future Toyota Pickup getting a restoration

While plebeians consider the DeLorean the “cool car” from Back to the Future, JNCers know that the real gem from the series was the jet black 1985 Toyota 4×4 Pickup that Marty McFly owned in his new-and-improved future. Now an outfit called Time … Continue reading

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EVENTS: 2012 Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 05: Sports Cars

You want Zs? You got Zs. We begin Part 05 of our 2012 JCCS coverage with the seminal Japanese sports car, the one that forever changed perceptions of what it meant to be “J-tin” and swept America by storm. Here … Continue reading

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EVENTS: 2012 Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 04: Luxury & GT

By the mid-70s Japanese automakers had their sights firmly set on comfortable long-distance runners that could eat up highway miles. They were often luxurious too — well, more luxurious than a Datsun 510 at least — and built for the new … Continue reading

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EVENTS: 2012 Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 03: Sport Coupes

Part 03 of our 2012 Japanese Classic Car Show coverage considers the very vehicles that put Nihon cars on the map. Agile and stylish, the rise of the Japanese sport coupe gave those of us who like to do our … Continue reading

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EVENTS: 2012 Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 02: Sedans

In Part 02 of our coverage of the 2012 Japanese Classic Car Show we examine the fabulous four-doors that graced the Queen Mary lawn. 

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Friday Video: Celica Panic!

After seeing a prototype of Jun Imai’s latest design in the flesh at JCCS last weekend, we’ve had nothing but Celica on the brain all week here at JNC.

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EVENTS: 2012 Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 01: Debuts

The 2012 Japanese Classic Car Show has come and gone, and this year’s was the hottest one yet. We mean that literally, as it was an unseasonably scorching 100-plus degree day, rare even for SoCal in September, but that didn’t … Continue reading

Posted in datsun, events, honda, jccs, mazda, mazda rx-7, mitsubishi, nissan, suzuki, toyota, Toys, Uncategorized, wagon | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 22 Comments

Grand Touring: The Kii Peninsula via the newly opened Shin-Tomei Expressway

Earlier this year the first section of the Shin-Tomei Expressway opened for traffic, marking a new era for Japan’s highway system. Naturally we went exploring, taking this newest road to one of the oldest inhabited regions of Japan, the Kii Peninsula.

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MINICARS: Hot Wheels X JNC Toyota AE86 Corolla

The beans have been spilled. Those of you who came by the Japanese Nostalgic Car booth at JCCS on Saturday were treated to a very special surprise — the Hot Wheels Toyota Corolla AE86 new for 2013. We are very proud to once … Continue reading

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QotW: What made you fall in love with Japanese nostalgic cars?

This past weekend one of my oldest friends, whom I’ve known since the eighth grade, came to his first JCCS (more on that later). After his baptism by fire into the world of nostalgics, he immediately went home and began scouring … Continue reading

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MINICARS: 2013 Hot Wheels 1970 Toyota Celica revealed

Toyotaku, your offerings to the diecast gods have paid off. This is the first official photo of the Hot Wheels 1970 Toyota Celica. We saw a prototype of this car a few months ago, but had been sworn to secrecy … Continue reading

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MINICARS: 2012 Hot Wheels “Hot Ones” Subaru BRAT and 1982 Toyota Supra

Back in April we reported some news about some upcoming Hot Wheels cars — a Subaru BRAT and 1982 Toyota Supra. Well, Subarites and Toyotaku rejoice, cause photos have now been released by Mattel! 

Posted in minicars, subaru, toyota | 7 Comments