After a 17 year hiatus, the Supra nameplate has returned to the automotive kingdom, unveiled today at the Detroit Auto Show. A poorly kept secret and incessantly teased, the reveal is perhaps no longer really a surprise, but here are the details Toyota provided at today’s press conference. Continue reading
QotW: What’s the coolest JNC you’ve spotted in the cold dark of winter?
For half of the United States it is winter and that means the cool JNCs have been stowed away as winter beaters roam the streets. While people in places like California continue to enjoy weekly magazine coverage worthy car shows, we enthusiasts in the north might as well hibernate with our machines. As such, we begin to itch for some excitement on the roads. We get twitchy and do weird things, like get inordinately excited about seeing a V20 Camry in traffic. Which. brings us to our question:
What’s the coolest JNC you’ve spotted in the cold dark of winter?
The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “Which 25-year-old cars are you most excited about?” Continue reading
MARKETWATCH: Damn straight the Toyota Supra is worth $121,000
Last week, a 1994 Toyota Supra Turbo with approximately 7,000 original miles sold for $121,000. About a minute later, the automotive interwebs went into meltdown.
While prices for the most desirable Japanese cars have been steadily moving upward for several years, the notion that a fourth-generation Toyota Supra was suddenly a six-figure automobile seems to have been more than many could swallow. Reactions were largely negative, with commenters across a broad spectrum of platforms echoing the sentiment that this was “crazy” or “stupid” money for “just a Toyota.” Continue reading
Akio Toyoda’s Century GRMN has a touching easter egg
Akio Toyoda is a fashionable guy, and as such he knows how to arrive in style. At the recent Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival at Fuji Speedway, the Toyota CEO arrived in his custom Toyota Century GRMN, a version of Toyota’s flagship sedan tuned by his company’s racing division. At the time of this event, there were reportedly just two examples in existence (there should be another one at the Tokyo Auto Salon this weekend), built for internal use. It just might the ultimate Toyota unobtainium. Continue reading
MOTORSPORT: The Supra returns to Japan touring car racing
Toyota has announced that the fifth-gen Supra will return to Japanese touring car racing. The prototype body will be shown at the Tokyo Auto Salon this weekend, and marks the first time in 12 years that a Supra has participated in SuperGT (formerly JGTC). Continue reading
NEWS: 2020 Toyota Supra leaked ahead of official reveal
The production 2020 Supra wasn’t supposed to be shown until next Monday at the Detroit Auto Show, but a leaked video reveals the A90 in all its un-camouflaged glory. Toyota Mexico accidentally tweeted the video below, showing the Supra in action. Continue reading
NEWS: Subaru’s blue and gold livery is back, baby
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
