QotW: What are the rules of the road for your JNC?

Posted on April 1, 2019 by Ben Hsu

As enthusiasts, we can be pretty particular when it comes to our cars. It can be annoying to passengers, sure, but they just don’t understand the love we have for our JNCs. My personal rule is never, ever, put your stank-ass shoes on the easily crack-able dashboards. Those are probably the single most valuable and irreplaceable parts on our entire cars.

What are the rules of the road for your JNC?

The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What’s the one car you’d get from the year you were born?” Continue reading →

Posted in Question of the Week | Tagged | 18 Comments

NEWS: Nissan expands Skyline GT-R reproduction parts program to RB26 engine, R32 body parts

Posted on March 29, 2019 by Ben Hsu

NISMO has announced a significant expansion to its Skyline GT-R reproduction parts program. While the parts offered since the program’s launch in 2017 largely consisted of rubber and plastic bits that deteriorate with age, the latest batch of items are starting to make true ground-up restorations a real possibility, thanks to new cylinder blocks and heads for the powerful RB26DETT engine, and steel body panels for the R32. Continue reading →

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VIDEO: Who did it better, Toyota USA or Toyota UK?

Posted on March 29, 2019 by Ben Hsu

Recently, Toyota subsidiaries on both sides of the pond put out a call to enthusiasts and owners, assembled them at a race track, and filmed the experience. In the US, it was to promote the new Supra at Auto Club Speedway in California. In the UK, it was an autocross session at Silverstone Circuit in Northhamptionshire. Both videos were released at the same time, but Toyota is so big that it’s unlikely this was a coordinated effort. Who did it better? Continue reading →

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VIDEO: Cringe at these old Subaru crash tests

Posted on March 28, 2019 by Ben Hsu

Do you want to see a bunch of classic Subarus crash into walls? Just a warning, they are doubly horrifying, because it’s always sad to see some now-rare cars get destroyed, but also because of the primitive safety standards of the era. Continue reading →

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NEWS: What could Nissan have planned for the NY Auto Show?

Posted on March 28, 2019 by Ben Hsu

Nissan has released a teaser for the New York Auto Show next month. Titled “Ultimate Dream Garage,” the image shows several iconic Nissans, including an S30 Z, the Calsonic R32 Group A race car, the Tokyo Motor Show Kenmeri GT-R, an R34, and several shadowy silhouettes of what appear to be a 370Z and a trio of R35s. Continue reading →

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PRODUCT GUIDE: Dixcel has an enormous catalog of brake parts for vintage Japanese cars

Posted on March 27, 2019 by Ben Hsu

Parts for older Japanese cars are pretty hard to come by, but there’s at least one brake company that has made a point to produce as many parts for vintage cars as they can. At the recent 17th International Auto Aftermarket Expo, the company showcased a fairly comprehensive catalog of parts, for everything from kei cars to Land Cruisers. Continue reading →

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BIKES: Suzuki releases retro-styled Katana

Posted on March 26, 2019 by Ben Hsu

Many Japanese motorcycle makers are coming out with retro-styled bikes these days. Kawasaki and Honda have made modern versions of the Z1 and CBX respectively, and now Suzuki has joined the fray. However, whereas Kawasaki and Honda referenced bikes of the 1970s, Suzuki has taken inspiration from the aggressively styled Katana of the 1980s. Continue reading →

Posted in Motorcycles | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

NEWS: Supra will not replace 86, next-gen in development

Posted on March 25, 2019 by Ben Hsu

We had assumed that the Toyota 86 would continue ever since Subaru shot down the rumors that a second generation BRZ was canceled. At the time, only Subaru had confirmed that a next-gen was in development, but now a spokesperson at Toyota Europe has made it official. The 86 will live on as well. Continue reading →

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QotW: What’s the one car you’d get from the year you were born?

Posted on March 25, 2019 by Ben Hsu

JNC is proud to have readers of all ages, from teenagers just getting into vintage Nihon steel, to retired folks who remember these cars when new. Some of us were fortunate enough to have been born during golden years of carmaking; others came into this world when external forces like the OPEC oil crisis had dramatic effects on the automotive landscape. I was born in 1976, not exactly a year known for peak performance. Since I’d rather have Skylines and Celicas from headier days, I guess I’ll choose from the Malaise Era a Mitsubishi Lancer 1600GSR. It won the Safari Rally that year, and launched a legacy of rally successes for decades to come.

What’s the one car you’d get from the year you were born?

The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What’s your favorite car from Japan’s tuning era?” Continue reading →

Posted in Question of the Week | Tagged | 37 Comments

Happy 323 Day from JNC

Posted on March 23, 2019 by Ben Hsu

The first Japanese car to win a Group A WRC race wasn’t a Subaru. It wasn’t a Mitsubishi, either, or a Toyota. It was a Mazda. On Valentine’s Day 1987, the humble Mazda 323 4WD (known as the Mazda 323 GTX in the US), won Rally Sweden, ahead of cars like the Lancia Delta HF and Audi Quattro. The winning car was driven by Timo Salonen with Seppo Harjanne navigating, but a second Mazda 323 4WD also finished in fourth place. Just remember that next time you see a small Mazda hatchback.

Posted in Holidays | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

MOTORSPORT: 1967 Daihatsu P-5 race car restored

Posted on March 22, 2019 by Ben Hsu

These days Daihatsu is doing brisk business manufacturing an endless variety of kei cars as a Toyota subsidiary. It doesn’t have any presence to speak of in the world of motorsports today, but in the wild west of 1960s Japan, the company built and ran a full-on race car. The 1967 Daihatsu P-5 has been making the rounds at shows like the Tokyo Auto Salon and Osaka Auto Messe, having recently emerged from a restoration that spanned over ten years. Continue reading →

Posted in motorsport | Tagged , , , , | 12 Comments

MINICARS: Praise the JNC gods for this Datsun 240Z bath toy

Posted on March 21, 2019 by Ben Hsu

Because my wife is expecting and we will soon have a little car nut of our own, I have recently spent an inordinate amount of time in the baby section of stores, desperate for cool JNC-related stuff. Not surprisingly, it’s proven difficult. Most vehicle-themed baby items are pretty darn lame, if I’m honest. The majority feature not-real cars, and seem to be 90 percent fire truck. I dreaded having to introduce my son to the world of toy cars with goofy cartoon jalopies. As enthusiast parents we should demand better for our kids, and that’s why I was so excited to discover this awesome Datsun 240Z bath toy. Continue reading →

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PROFILES: Hiep Dang got these other Nissans instead of an R32

Posted on March 20, 2019 by Ryan Senensky

Usually when we dive into the waters of collecting cars, we inherit the gene from a family member or a group of friends, and our interests follow theirs. We usually start off with something simple and move up from there. How often is it that we start our obsession with something completely unheard of and jump right off the deep end? Well there is at least one of collector like this, and his name is Hiep Dang. Continue reading →

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MINICARS: Enjoy your music through a Subaru 360

Posted on March 19, 2019 by Ben Hsu

Music is great, but speakers are typically pretty boring. If you’re tired of bathing your eardrums with your favorite bops via a dull old cube or cylinder, perhaps a speaker shaped like a Subaru 360 is more your jam. Continue reading →

Posted in minicars | Tagged , | 2 Comments

NEWS: Nissan exec suggests next Z and GT-R might be electric

Posted on March 18, 2019 by Ben Hsu

With both the Z and GT-R in generations that have lasted a decade or so with no hints about their futures. So, whenever a top Nissan executive whispers a phrase about either model, enthusiasts take notice. The most recent utterance comes from Chief Planning Officer, Philippe Klein, who told Top Gear that the company is pondering the next step for both the Z and GT-R. Continue reading →

Posted in News | Tagged , , , , | 17 Comments

QotW: What’s your favorite car from Japan’s tuning era?

Posted on March 18, 2019 by Ben Hsu

If there’s anything we learned from the tragic passing of Junichi Tanaka a week ago, it was that many of you came to the world of Nihon steel after encountering an insane demo or race car from the glory days of Japan’s tuning era. These were days when specialty shops all across Japan were creating supercar-level drag, drift, and time attack cars, from Honda Civics to V12 Supras.

What’s your favorite car from Japan’s tuning era?

The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “Daily, Garage, Sell — Honda CR-X Si, Honda Civic Si, or Acura Integra GS-R?” Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 16 Comments

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with the Irish-spec Toyota AE86

Posted on March 15, 2019 by Patrick Strong

Ah, St. Patrick’s Day, the most hackneyed of holidays, that magical time of year when Americans tack up caricatures of supposed Irish culture like shamrocks and leprechauns and guzzle offensively named cocktails. Why not switch it up and salute authentically Irish things, like immersion water heaters, rashers bacon, or the Toyota AE86. Continue reading →

Posted in Holidays | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

NIHON LIFE: Japan raises speed limit to 75 mph

Posted on March 14, 2019 by Ben Hsu

Japan has raised its speed limit to 120 kph (75 mph) on two major expressways, the highest maximum that has ever been allowed in the country. The high-speed zones span a 50-kilometer section of the Shin-Tomei Expressway between in Shizuoka Prefecture and a 27-kilometer section of the Tohoku Expressway in Iwate Prefecture. Continue reading →

Posted in Nihon Life | 5 Comments

MOTORSPORT: Everyone’s swapping 2JZs into the new Supra

Posted on March 13, 2019 by Ricky Silverio

A few of Japan’s professional drift teams have already gotten their hands on the new A90 Toyota Supra and are building them for competition in D1GP. In a new Option video, Notable AE86 aficionado and Toyota works driver Akira Iida drifts a brand new 2020 Supra before it is promptly torn down to become the D1 car of Masato Kawabata. What’s the first thing to go in? A 2JZ. Continue reading →

Posted in motorsport | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

VIDEO: JUN Auto Mechanic’s brain-melting creations

Posted on March 12, 2019 by Ben Hsu

As we mourn the loss of Jun Auto Mechanic founder Junichi Tanaka, let’s take a a look back at some of his incredible creations. These were, for many enthusiasts, the dream cars that hooked them on Japan’s tuning culture. Though decades old now, the passage of time has not made these cars any less impressive. Continue reading →

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