Category Archives: Uncategorized

Sayonara, 2016. Happy New Year from JNC

あけましておめでとうございます。

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MINICARS: A proper Japanese vintage barrel for Hot Wheels

Hot Wheels designer Jun Imai posted a photo of two newer Z castings recently, and hidden in the image was a surprise that bodes well for fans of proper Japanese barrels. If you look closely, you’ll notice that it’s a small size … Continue reading

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PRODUCT GUIDE: CSF BOSS External Oil Cooler

Do you have a shakotan build and want an external oil cooler that isn’t from a junkyard or some sketchy eBay seller? Luckily enough CSF has released their new BOSS External oil cooler. Originally designed for the Rocket Bunny S14 body … Continue reading

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VIDEO: Yet more cars (and bikes) from the Honda Collection Hall

Will the Honda Collection Hall ever run out of vehicles to demonstrate? It’s positively amazing that not only do they have the cars, but that they are all kept up in running condition, whether they be motorcycles, cars, or racing machines. Often … Continue reading

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NEWS: All your Mitsubishi are belong to us

Do not adjust your set. This is a takeover. Nissan’s purchase of a controlling stake in Mitsubishi Motors is now official. Transaction complete. Nissan-Mitsubishi-Renault-Samsung-Dacia-Venucia-Lada Alliance is now one of the top three largest automotive groups in the world. Plants will be optimized, … Continue reading

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Come to the Toyota USA Museum for the Touge 80s finish

This Saturday will be the inaugural running of Touge 80s, our first Touge California event with a focus on cars of the pop-up headlight era. After six hours of driving, our finish will be the Toyota USA Museum. And while all openings on the driving … Continue reading

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JCCS Preview: First US-market Honda to debut

Last year at JCCS we highlighted an old, neglected Honda N600 with peeling, non-original paint. Why? Because it was the first Honda automobile ever built for the US market. One year later, it’s been completely restored and is ready for its debut this Saturday. The … Continue reading

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JCCS Preview: Nissan 2017 GT-R NISMO debut, Matchbox Hakosuka giveaway

After a strong showing in 2015, Nissan will be back at the Japanese Classic Car Show this year in a big way. First off, they’ll be showing what is arguably the crowning jewel of its American collection, the BRE Datsun 510 raced by John … Continue reading

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Stay safe out there, Tokyo!

Typhoon Mindulle is hammering Tokyo right now with epic rains. A tunnel on the Chuo Expressway in Tokyo saw some epic flooding this morning. The storm is headed towards Tohoku next. Looks like I won’t be driving my Skyline for a … Continue reading

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VIDEO: Behind the scenes at Toyota’s Calty design studio

We all know that cars are designed, but what is “design,” exactly? A new video released by Toyota aims to answer that question via a history and tour of their Calty design studio. Toyota was the first Japanese automaker to open … Continue reading

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Happy Mountain Day from JNC

Happy Mountain Day from JNC! If you’ve never heard of Mountain Day, a national holiday in Japan, don’t feel bad. Over a third of actual Japanese people have no idea it exists either. To be fair, it’s a new holiday — so new, … Continue reading

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Happy 810 Day from JNC!

Happy 810 Day from JNC! Here’s Jorge Ramirez’s old goon for your viewing pleasure.

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VIDEO: Corolla Matsuri 2016 goes all-out 80s on VHS tape

By now you’re all familiar with the typical drift video — dramatic hi-def footage of heat waves coming off of the tarmac, wheels being mounted, zipties being zipped, and cars sliding in slow-mo to the beat of electronica. This is … Continue reading

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MINICARS: Sung Kang’s Fugu Z is now a Hot Wheels

We’ve known it was coming for quite some time, but now it’s official. Over Instagram, Fast & Furious actor Sung Kang revealed that his Fugu Z is now immortalized in Hot Wheels form. 

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NEWS: Revived Supra to use Toyota-developed twin-turbo V6?

More evidence is emerging that a Mark V Supra will soon be upon us. And this time, Toyotaku will be pleased to hear that the motor could be something Toyota is developing on their own. 

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MINICARS: Matchbox 2017 lineup revealed with surprising J-tin castings

Last week was the annual Matchbox Collector’s Convention in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Mattel took the opportunity to reveal the cars and trucks of their 2017 lineup, and there are several that will surely be of interest to JNCers. 

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Happy 4th of July from JNC

For the 4th of July, here’s the most patriotic looking zokusha we could find, the Muto Z. Happy Independence Day from JNC.

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EVENTS: Club TE27 Meeting

Japanese owners of the TE27 Corolla Levin and Sprinter Trueno recently gathered for their annual meeting, held at the Toyota Automobile Museum in Aichi Prefecture in central Japan. Ninety-six cars in total came from all over the country, forming a sea of moss green and orange. 

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VIDEO: Australians explain why the “shovelnose” was so important to Toyota

The RT40 Corona was hugely important in the US, saving Toyota’s skin after an embarrassing debut with the S30 Crown. However, that was nothing compared to the way it utterly transformed the Australian market for Toyota when it debuted in … Continue reading

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PIXELLATED: Gran Turismo Sport in-game trailer looks amazing, and you can now race on the Shuto

Playstation owners, rejoice! Your racing sim is here. After a console generation of Forza giving Gran Turismo a run for its money, it looks as if Turn 10’s David has not beaten Polyphony’s Goliath. In graphics alone, Turn 10’s Forza … Continue reading

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