Subaru announced this morning that it will revive its celebrated blue and yellow livery, which famously graced Impreza WRX STI during the company’s era of dominance in the World Rally Championships. Eagle-eyed Subarists will notice that the graphics aren’t exactly the same as the ones from the mid-1990s, but it’s a different world now. Sponsorship from cigarette companies are no longer allowed. Continue reading
NEWS: Mazda to unveil 30th Anniversary Miata next month
It’s really hard to believe, but the Mazda Miata turns 30 years old next month. The original NA generation of debuted at the Chicago Auto Show in February 1989 and single-handedly revived the roadster, which was at that point a dying breed in the automotive kingdom. The rest is history, and to celebrate that history Mazda plans to release a 30th anniversary model of the 2019 Miata later this year. Continue reading
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MINICARS: Behold the most detailed Toyota Celica model kit ever made
Starting today, fans of scale model kits in Japan will be able to buy what is likely the most detailed miniature Toyota Celica ever made. Measuring over 20 inches long and over six inches tall in 1:8 scale, the Celica Liftback 2000GT will have a metal body, working lights, and several moving parts. It will also take you over two years to complete. Continue reading
THE MORE YOU KNOW: California has passed a strict new exhaust law
When the clock struck midnight on January 1, 2019, a new traffic law went into effect in California regarding aftermarket exhausts. Before, if you got pulled over for an “excessively loud” exhaust, officers had the option to give you a “fix-it” ticket. That meant rather than getting slapped with the full violation fine, you could put the stock unit back on, take it to an inspection station, and pay a small $25 fine to cover the paperwork. That is no longer possible, and you will have to pay the full fine. Continue reading
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VIDEO: The 1989 Nissan Maxima was pretty cool
Remember the original “4DSC” Nissan Maxima? The so-called 4-Door Sports Car was a notch above the standard family sedan offerings at the time. It tempted us with a dedicated chassis and V6-only drivetrain. The design was clean, it was tossable, and you could get it in a stick. Continue reading
QotW: Which 25-year-old cars are you most excited about?
It’s 2019, and a new crop of cars will officially become classics this year, part of the 25 Year Club eligible for a smog check-free existence and historic car plates and insurance in most states. And then there’s the JDM cars released a quarter-century ago in 1994 that will become legal to import by year’s end, offerings conceived at the height of Bubble Era madness.
Which 25-year-old cars are you most excited about?
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 JNC New Year’s resolution?” Continue reading
KIDNEY, ANYONE? The oldest known Japanese car officially imported to America needs a new home – UPDATE
About ten and a half years ago, we told you about the oldest known Japanese car officially imported to the US. That car was a 1958 Toyopet Crown, which was then auctioned on eBay and purchased in part by the Tupelo Automobile Museum in Tupelo, Mississippi. Unfortunately, that museum is closing and all its cars, including the now-restored Crown, are to be auctioned off. Continue reading
VIDEO: Restored 1967 Toyota Corolla KE10
One of our favorite episodes of Grassroots Garage was recently posted, and features a restored 1967 KE10 Toyota Corolla. It’s a beautiful example, one that hails from the first year Corollas were imported into Australia. The owner, Nat, achieved the difficult feat of restoring what needed to be restored while keeping what needed to remain original original. Continue reading
KIDNEY, ANYONE? Could this be the $100,000 Supra? UPDATE: Yes, it is.
This might be it, the example that takes the A80 Supra over the $100,000 mark. Just about everyone and their mother speculated that 2018 would be the year of the six-figure Supra, but the right one never came up until the last few days of 2018. It has just 7,111 miles on the odometer. Continue reading
VIDEO: Jay Leno Drives a Datsun 1200 Sedan
In the latest episode of Jay Leno’s Garage, the collector and host visits the stateside Nissan Heritage Collection in Franklin, Tennessee. In the first half of the video, he tours the collection but when it comes time to pick a car to drive, he skips right past the 240Z, 510, and Patrol and jumps into a Datsun 1200 Sedan. Continue reading
2018: A Year in Review
2018 has been an absolute watershed year. More than anything, 2018 will go down as the year that Japanese nostalgic cars have moved from being a niche corner of the classic car biosphere to being a respected mainstream category for collector cars. Let’s take a step back and look at all of the major events that have happened this year while we welcome the coming of 2019. Continue reading
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QotW: What’s your JNC New Year’s resolution?
As I write this, I’m packing to make the trek up to the northern reaches of Japan to see my trusty Pajero Mini Turbo, oh and also to see family… I also take time to reflect on 2018 and my JNC plans for the new year — to beef up said Pajero Mini. Plans include a bigger turbo, possible engine overhaul and overfenders. I’d also like to simply take it out on the road more often. What about you, dear readers? What plans are you already cooking up? Want to do something different with your JNC moving forward?
What’s your JNC New Year’s resolution?
The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What did you give your JNC this holiday season?” Continue reading
25 YEAR CLUB: JZA80 Toyota Supra
In the pantheon of Japanese cars, none is more synonymous with brute power than the Toyota Supra Twin Turbo. A legend in its own time, it is one of those rare cars whose status as classic was cemented long before it reached the quarter-century threshold. With the passing of this year, however, the JZA80 Supra is officially 25 years old, and we can finally welcome the hero as an official Japanese nostalgic car. Continue reading
KIDNEY, ANYONE? 2,500-mile Subaru BRAT sold for $46k
A 1978 Subaru BRAT has done the unthinkable and sold for $46,198. Of course, it’s no ordinary example. This one bears only 2,500 miles on the odometer, a bunch of period accessories, and is said to have been owned by a former Subaru of America exec until this year. Still, this is previously unheard of territory for a classic Subaru. Continue reading
NEWS: Suzuki reveals retro-styled Jimny Pickup
Suzuki has revealed some of its concepts for the upcoming Tokyo Auto Salon, and the most intriguing one is a new take on the just-released Jimny that came out earlier this year. Based on the flared-fender, 1.o-liter version, the retro-look Jimny Sierra Pick Up Style looks like a shrunken J75 Land Cruiser pickup. Continue reading
VIDEO: An R32 Skyline GT-R is worth waiting 22 years for
“I wanted the car to look like it came out of the dealership back in the 90s and you would see it on the streets of Tokyo,” says Slide Squad’s Mark Hutchinson of his 1992 Nissan Skyline GT-R. Like many of us, Mark’s friend had shown him a Japanese car magazine, and it opened his eyes to a new world of automotive goodness. This was in 1995, and Mark had to wait 22 years to import his dream car. Continue reading
VIDEO: Watch these Bubble Era coupes duke it out at Ebisu
Holidays are typically a time for feasting. In your post-Christmas food coma, gorge yourself on this video reminder that in Japan, excess is not always best. There, engine displacement has a not insignificant effect on how much tax you pay for your car. That’s why there are insanely engineered cars that max out at 2.0 liters.
At the introduction of the R32 Skyline the 2.6-liter, twin-turbo GT-R may have been the one we all drooled about, but the GTS-t Type M was a more affordable, less complex option. But that didn’t mean Nissan skimped on the suspension, brakes, or overall competitiveness of the car. Continue reading
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Tagged a70, best motoring, fc3s, galant, Galant VR-4, keiichi tsuchiya, mazda, mitsubishi, nissan, r32, rx-7, s13, silvia, skyline, supra, Takahashi Ota, toyota
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Happy Holidays from all of us at JNC
A few years ago the Toyota Automobile Museum put on a spectacular holiday display with a 2000GT outlined in lights. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Alban Arthan, or Festivus we at JNC hope you have a warm and wonderful holiday season with your loved ones (and that includes those made of steel).
QotW: What did you give your JNC this holiday season?
Happy holidays to all! No matter what you celebrate this season, don’t forget to include your JNC in the festivities. What’s under the glowing lights or garage Christmas tree for your JNC?
What did you give your JNC this holdiay season?
The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “Will there ever be another sports car renaissance?” Continue reading
