SEMA has a reputation for being a circus of cars modified to the brink of absurdity and then some. But among American cars, especially the muscle favorites of the 1960s and 70s, money-no-object yet tasteful resto-mods abound. Among J-tin, there is no model that reflects this aesthetic better than the Toyota Land Cruiser. Continue reading
QotW: What leisure activity do you do with your JNC?
When you brought your JNC home for the first time, it may have been because you had a love for its design, unique features, or capabilities. Over time, your JNC had to take on the routine duties of daily life. Sure, it can get you to school or work and back. Or, you might buff it every weekend with a diaper. But we’re curious about how do you utilize your JNC for fun? Does it pack around your set of hockey gear, or act as a quick mode of transportation to zip down to the tennis court? We want to know how your JNC fits into your leisure lifestyle.
What leisure activity do you do with 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 scariest looking JNC?” Continue reading
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SEMA 2018: Toyota brings it with Supras, Trucks, and RWD Corollas
We’ve poked fun at Toyota’s SEMA presence before, like when they brought a buncha Camrys to the world’s biggest tuner show. This year, however, they brought the ruckus, with a slew of Supras, a team of Tacomas, and a rear-wheel-drive Corolla. This is how SEMA should be done, by connecting with enthusiasts (i.e., your brand ambassadors) and not trying to foist an otherwise plebeian car dipped in kandy paint onto your fans. Continue reading
SEMA 2018: The Zs of SEMA, offered without comment
Ever since Sung Kang’s “Fugu Z” won Best of Show, Datsuns have been increasingly prevalent at SEMA, the biggest aftermarket trade show in the world. In fact, the number of classic Zs handily outnumber new ones, and Nissan even brought one of their own. Of course, that means that now, a few years on, everything must be taken to the logical extreme. Some we liked, some we didn’t. Others raise the question, at what point does a Z cease to be a Z? Here is a gallery of every Z we saw at SEMA this year. Continue reading
SEMA 2018: The winner of the Hot Wheels Legends Tour will be made into a toy car
To celebrate its 50th anniversary, Hot Wheels went on a 15-city tour of the USA this year, in search of one car they would make into an actual toy car. At each stop, the gang from Mattel held a car show and selected one finalist. All the finalists were brought to Las Vegas this week for the SEMA show, where one lucky winner was announced. Continue reading
Posted in events
Tagged 240z, b120, datsun, escudo, Geo Tracker, Hakotora, hot wheels, nissan, s30 z, sema, sunny truck, suzuki
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SEMA 2018: All five generations of Toyota Supra
As you might have heard, Toyota is coming out with a new Supra. It makes sense that they would use the aftermarket extravaganza that is SEMA to build some excitement for the model’s long-awaited return. What we didn’t expect was a lineup of every generation of Supra in its purest and most proper color. Continue reading
Who hates JNCs?
Our site was down for several hours this morning, the result of a DDOS (distributed denial of service) attack as we were on our way to SEMA. Coverage from the show will be posting later today. We will we be back to your regularly scheduled programming shortly. We apologize for the inconvenience.
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NEWS: Nissan reveals 370Z Clubsport 23 ahead of SEMA 2018
Nissan has revealed a new enthusiast-oriented Z variant ahead of the 2018 SEMA show. With the 400-horsepower 370Z Project Clubsport 23, Nissan is considering offering an official tuning package for the Z. The company intends to use this year’s SEMA to gauge interest in the “builder’s kit” to be offered at Nissan dealers, one that includes modern performance and retro styling modifications to goose some excitement out of the aging Z platform. Continue reading
QotW: What’s the scariest looking JNC?
All Hallows’ Eve is upon us, and ghosts and ghouls are stirring from their slumbers to creep into our dreams. Ancient carriages from the East don many visages, but some are truly menacing. Which chilling masque makes your heart race upon an encounter on a dark night, or perhaps lost in an abandoned warehouse?
What’s the scariest looking JNC?
The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What JNC do you spot the most on the road today?” Continue reading
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NEWS: Canadian politician to ban “RHD Asian vehicles”?
A politician in Canada appears to be working on behalf of a dealer’s association to ban “imported RHD Asian vehicles.” United Conservative Party leader Jason Kenney has received a large campaign contribution from the Motor Dealers’ Association of Alberta, in exchange for commitments regarding a host of issues, of which the car ban is just one. Also, these contributions might violate Canada’s election laws. Continue reading
SHOWA SNAP: Kujira Crown taxis await you at Ginza Tokyu Hotel
Described as “a quiet oasis in the throbbing heart of the world’s biggest and busiest city,” the Ginza Tokyu Hotel was opened in 1960. It was the first hotel of Tokyu Hotels, one of Japan’s most prominent chains that still operates today. The Ginza Tokyu was advertised as being fully air conditioned and with color TVs in every room. It was, of course, located near the high-end Ginza shopping district. As such, there is a line of kujira Toyota Crown taxis — in Nihon Kotsu and Checker livery, both of which still exist today — waiting to whisk their fares through the city in this early 1970s postcard. The hotel closed in 2001, and was taken over by Kyodo News.
A photo album of cars as part of the Japanese family
Most tourists are probably familiar with Orix as one of the major rental car companies in Japan, but the firm conducts many other auto-related businesses. One of them is EverDrive, an app that helps you track your elderly parents’ movements in cars and alerts you if it detects erratic driving patterns. To promote the app, last month Orix held a photo contest in which they asked customers to submit photos of themselves with their parents. Many took the driving theme to heart and sent in photos that included the family car. The winners were announced this morning. Continue reading
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VIDEO: Why the Mazda RX-2 is the next collectible Mazda
The Mazda RX-2 was the first truly accessible mainstream rotary-powered car. The Mazda Cosmo Sport and Luce R130 were too rare and expensive and the R100 too small, but the Capella (which eventually became the 626), was the perfect mid-size car to showcase Hiroshima’s jewel of an engine. As such, RX-2s, especially in stock or close-to-stock condition, have become sought-after classics. Nowhere is this more true than in Australia. Continue reading
VIDEO: Watch classic Mazdas rally across Europe
Earlier this year Mazda Germany found three classic cars, fixed them up, and sent three celebrities on a 3,100-kilometer rally across Europe. The cars, an SA22 RX-7, NA MX-5 Miata, and a rare European market 929 wagon, endure a lot of abuse, and not entirely related to driving. The series eventually begins to include goofy, non-car “challenges” to make for reality show-style footage. Still, there’s plenty of video of classic Mazdas traversing some of the most beautiful roads on the old continent. Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized, Video
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VIDEO: Watch a MotoGP champ ride through the history of Japanese motoring
Over the weekend MotoGP rider Marc Marquez was in Japan winning his fifth world championship. Before that, the star 25-year-old motorcycle racer made a promotional video for Redbull Racing that takes viewers through the history of Japanese motoring. Continue reading
Posted in Friday Video
Tagged c10, dekotora, fd3s, Hakosuka, honda, mazda, motorcycles, nissan, RC213V, re amemiya, rx-7, skyline, SuperCub
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QotW: What JNC do you spot the most on the road today?
The natural course of a model’s life is one of attrition. During and immediately after its initial four or five years of sales, they are most prevalent on the streets. Then, as accidents, mechanical issues, and rust take hold, the population grows smaller. Nowadays, however, more and more wonderful people like you JNCers are saving cars once destined for extinction. And with the onslaught of used JNCs being exported from Japan to new homes all over the world, spying a JNC, either imported or domestically-raised, is becoming more and more common. The answer isn’t the same for every region. Canada, for example, has a 10-year lead on importation compared to the US. How about in your area?
What JNC do you spot the most on the road today?
The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What JNC did you once hate but now love?” Continue reading
SHOWA SNAP: Los Angeles in the early 1980s
Welcome to the first Showa Snap from the US. Taken in Los Angeles in the early 1980s, it contains a glorious sampling of Nihon steel. Right in the foreground there’s three sporty coupes from three major manufacturers, all lined up like they’re in some kind of Car & Driver comparison test. — a Toyota Supra, Mazda RX-7, and Honda Prelude, all first generations. Then in the background there’s a Datsun Z, what appears to be a 610 wagon hiding behind the Cadillac, second-generations of Celica and Civic, perhaps a Mazda 626 coupe on the farthest line with a TE51 Corolla behind it, and even an elusive S10 Nissan 200SX!
Celebrate Advan’s 40th anniversary with tread-pattern erasers
To commemorate Advan’s 40th anniversary, Yokohama has released a set of erasers shaped in the tread patterns of their most famous tires. Does anyone even use pencils anymore? It doesn’t matter. These don’t look like they were meant to be used for removing graphite-based mistakes. Continue reading
VIDEO: How many Land Cruisers is too many Land Cruisers?
In the latest episode of Jay Leno’s Garage, the car collector hosts Brian Corsetti, owner of twelve FJ60 and FJ62 Toyota Land Cruisers. Of course, next to Leno’s triple-digit vehicle collection that sounds positively sane, but at least Jay has a variety of makes and models. So, how many Land Cruisers is too many? Continue reading
NEWS: The Nissan GT-R 50 anniversary watch costs more than a real GT-R NISMO
With the 50th anniversary of the Nissan GT-R coming next year, expect a deluge of commemorative items marking the occasion. Nissan already made a special car earlier this year expected to cost $1 million. Now, they’ve partnered with Seiko to make a special watch, and it will cost as much as a real GT-R NISMO. Continue reading
