Category Archives: toyota

The beautiful Box Art and history of Aoshima model kits

Step inside any Japanese hobby store and you’re bound to be dazzled by both the beauty and abundance of Aoshima box art. Their highly detailed plastic model kits have been around for decades, and in many cases have done a … Continue reading

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EVENTS: Mooneyes Mania Cruise Bluebird-Corona Day, Part 03

We’re devoting the third and last installment of our Mooneyes Mania Cruise‘s Bluebird-Corona Day coverage to just one car. Why? Because the Toyota Corona teased in Part 01 is utterly steeped period correct modifications from the early 1970s. 

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Tomica Limited Vintage A60 Toyota Celica 1600GT-R

A60 Toyota Celica coupes have been surging in popularity lately, and why not? It’s RWD, still affordable, and styled with that 80s angularity we love so dearly. They’re like the AE86‘s big brother, but a lot easier to find on craigslist in … Continue reading

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Initial D Fifth Stage to premiere November 9

Hang on to your e-brakes because the hit anime Initial D returns November 9. What was originally lost in translation and reported as a reboot is actually a restart, continuing the series where it left off six years ago.

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All around the world, it’s a happy 8/6 Day

It’s amazing how one affordable little car can bring the world together. Around the globe August 6th has become the de facto worldwide holy day for honoring the Toyota AE86. 2012’s 8/6 Day will forever be remembered because it’s the … Continue reading

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The astoundingly detailed custom Hot Wheels of ScaleMaster

Please allow me to introduce our two newest JNC contributors — Ricky Silverio, an unquestionable nostalgic car guru who will be writing regularly about Japanese collectibles, and Mark Jones, the man behind these custom toy cars. Enjoy Ricky’s first article. – … Continue reading

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EVENTS: Mooneyes Mania Cruise Bluebird-Corona Day, Part 02

Though the Mooneyes Mania Cruise‘s Bluebird-Corona Day started out with rain, the Sunnys did come out. However throughout the day echoes of an ancient war between Japan’s two largest industrial giants would play out. 

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NEWS: Initial-D anime to get reboot

Speaking of mad mangas, Hollywood isn’t the only one endlessly retooling comic book movies. On Monday Kodansha’s Young Magazine announced that Initial D is getting the reboot treatment as well. Further details have yet to be announced but one thing for … Continue reading

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Britcar 24hrs Toyota GT86 to revive BTCC AE86 Corolla livery

The car you see on two wheels above is an AE86 in its prime, campaigned by the UK’s Chris Hodgetts Motor Sports. With it, CHMS won the British Touring Car Championships during the hachiroku‘s heyday in both 1986 and 1987. This fall its … Continue reading

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Grand Touring: Up the California Coast in a Toyota FJ Cruiser

In Part 01 of our Bayline Gathering coverage we promised an in-depth examination of the steed that carried us north, away from our familiar SoCal environs and to the Bay Area in search of precious Nihon metal. First, let’s recap. Why exactly did … Continue reading

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In Saudi Arabia, rockin’ a Cressida has a whole new meaning

And now for your viewing pleasure, a pair of X30 Cressidas on plinths. Raising cars on makeshift rock structures is apparently all the rage among the youths in Abha, Saudi Arabia. But lest you think this is the Saudi equivalent of … Continue reading

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EVENTS: The Bayline Gathering, Part 04

Our final installment of the Bayline Gathering kicks off with one of the Bay Area’s infamous Bluebirds that are not 510s. Remember the Appliance-shod 710 from Part 03?  This tsurikawa strappin’ Datsun 610 is his partner in crime. Despite the mismatched Longchamps and MKIs it exudes shakotan cool.

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EVENTS: Mooneyes Mania Cruise Bluebird-Corona Day, Part 01

In the debut article from our newest contributor, Rod Serikaku of AutoNGraphic, we visit the Mooneyes Mania Cruise, an informal, early morning gathering of petrolheads. It’s a Japanese domestic version of Cars & Coffee of Japan except much, much cooler, … Continue reading

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EVENTS: The Bayline Gathering, Part 02

In Part 01 of our Bayline Gathering coverage we gazed upon the show’s centerpieces, a collection of rare vintage Nissan Skylines that had journeyed across the Pacific to be revered by a new generation of enthusiasts. But with nearly 200 cars … Continue reading

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QotW: What’s the best car commercial from Japan?

Now that the star of one of the most famous Japanese car commercials has been rediscovered, it’s time we asked: What’s the best car commercial from Japan? The 1972 Nissan Skyline hit the market just as Japanese citizens getting hooked … Continue reading

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EVENTS: The Bayline Gathering, Part 01

Ever since Motoring J Style faded in 2008 there’s been a void in the NorCal nostalgic scene. The Bay Area is rife with vintage Nihon steel, and it needs a bona fide show to bring the cars out from their garages.

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Hungarian in JNC T-shirt makes world’s greatest neo-hachiroku video

Look out, Top Gear. A Hungarian in, at varying times, Initial-D and JNC T-shirts has created what is being hailed as the world’s greatest Toyota GT 86 review. It might even be one of the greatest car review videos, period, neo-hachiroku or … Continue reading

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Kidney, Anyone? 1979 TE51 Toyota Corolla SR5 Sport Coupe

This 1979 Toyota Corolla SR5 Sport Coupe popped up on eBay over the weekend with a $4,250 asking price and several days left on the auction clock. Then, faster you can say “Kidney, Anyone?” it was gone. 

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QotW: What’s the best model name?

The Japanese are known for colorful uses of the English language when it comes to christening their cars. There’s seductive women’s names like Silvia and Gloria, word salads like the Isuzu Wizard Alive and Honda Life Dunk, and perfectly chosen appellations like … Continue reading

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The coolest E82 Corolla on Earth is “unreal”

Can wheels/stance make anything look good? After looking at these photos we’d say the answer is a resounding “Yes!” It appears our friend Sebastian at VirtualModels, creator of the B310 Sunny California Shooting Brake, is at it again. Thankfully he has … Continue reading

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