EVENTS: JCCS Part Seven: So Hard to Say Goodbye

Well folks, we’ve come to the end of our JCCS 2009 coverage. Honestly, we’re getting a bit misty eyed just thinking about it. Organizers Koji and Terry Yamaguchi told us that out of 400-plus cars displayed, 120 were first-timers. That’s great news, because it means that the nostalgic car scene is still growing strong despite these difficult economic times.

We tried to split our coverage into themes, but as when reassembling a project after a long hiatus, there’s always some leftover bits that don’t seem to fit anywhere.

Purveyor of awesome old school radio control cars, ABC Hobby had the booth next to ours (stalkers can see the Honey Bee and JNC Wagon lurking int he background). They’ve made a TE27 Corolla Levin body before, but they’ve recently improved on it a bit and this redesign is their latest release.

If you need a parts specialist who knows their stuff and is willing to go the extra mile to help you restore your nostalgic Corolla, Cabe Toyota is the place to go. A customer recently traded in this straight looking AE86 Corolla SR5 coupe on a new car, maybe a Venza or something. Nice, eh? It proves not all AE86s have been stricken with the Takumi tax.

As always, the Datsun Heritage Museum was there to preach the gospel of Mr. K! We must reiterate what a superb job they do in carrying the torch for Zs, 510s and their kin. They receive no support from Nissan, so please support them!

It’s hard to believe, but the Acura Integra is over 20 years old and thus eligible for the JCCS. Even in sunny SoCal we rarely see first-gen Integras on the road anymore, much less one this clean. We can definitely appreciate a “tuner” car if it’s nice and subtle and sitting pretty on SSR EX-Cs, as opposed to laden with over-the-top bling, kandy paint and a pointless number of TVs protruding from fiberglass cocoons.

You all know Joji Luz‘s Number 5 Celica (as in serial number 00005). If not, that’s what it looks like in 1/10, 1/43 and 1/64 scale. The detail on the largest, one of the aforementioned ABC Hobby R/C cars, is stunning.

We apologize in advance to the owner of this dual study in rarity and cleanliness for inadvertently omitting from our previous sections. We couldn’t let our coverage end without acknowledging this beautiful Toyota Corolla TE51 Sport Coupe, though! Off white and the simple use of Wats makes any nostalgic a class act, and we don’t even mind the USDM bumpers on this  great-grandfather of the AE86.

How often do you see a Honda CR-X Si that hasn’t been molested? It’s a one-owner, all original cherry, and it cost just $11,125 back in 1987.

Before the 2000GT there was the Toyota Sports 800, the company’s first sports car. And guess what? It has a boxer engine. Just sayin’.

This is another one of those cars that gets overlooked by all but the completely obsessed. It’s an uber-rare  Datsun 1000 Deluxe, also known as a Nissan B10 Sunny two-door sedan. Aside from the minor nitpick of flusher wheels, we wouldn’t change a thing about it.

As usual, Mooneyes had a terrific selection of awesome things that you can stick on your car, or your person.

By now, you must be wondering which car won Best in Show. It may surprise you, but the winner was this 1959 Datsun 1000. You could also call it the Bluebird 210, which makes it three generations and one decade removed from the beloved 510.

The 998cc motor makes just 34 horsepower and has been gorgeously restored to Nissan engine blue. It won’t win any speed contests but the it did walk away with “Best of JCCS.” with Glenn Roberts‘ Cosmo Sport as runner up. Congrats, Kyle Ranauro!

Lastly, well leave you with Koji Yamaguchi standing front and center doing his best Yusaku Matsuda impression. You have him and his wife Terry to thank for keeping the JCCS going for 5 years and bringing together this little community we like to call home.

We’re already itching for next year.