QotW: Which S13 would you get, Silvia or 180SX?

Silvia. 180SX. Which is the better design from the Nissan draft table? Before you post, no, we’re not talking about a Sil-Eighty or the USDM 240SX sedan/hatch designs. We’re comparing only the pure breeds:

Which S13 would you get, Silvia or 180SX?

The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “Do you prefer stock or aftermarket wheels?

Continue reading

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NEWS: Akio Toyoda checks out a classic Crown in Finland

Akio Toyoda was recently overseeing his business empire in Finland, when he came upon a vintage Toyota Crown. According to Toyota, the CEO was astounded to come upon the S40 sedan in a rural Finnish village, still looking as if it was brand new. Continue reading

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EVENTS: 2018 Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 08 – It’s a Sunny Day in Long Beach

Sure, Zs and 510s are great, and all, but they’re a bit, how do you say, common. When it comes to Nissans, these two model lines often make up the vast majority of the field. This year, however, the humble Sunny made one of its strongest showings in JCCS history. Here are some of the rarest Nissan models to ever appear at the show. Continue reading

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EVENTS: 2018 Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 07 — Beaucoup Bluebirds

Of all the marques at JCCS, Nissan and Datsun were by far the most prevalent. Riding high off the momentum from prestigious events like The Mitty and Monterey Historics, where Nissan was the featured marque, the carmaker’s fans had a lot to celebrate. They turned out in big numbers in Long Beach, an unofficial tally pegging them at nearly half the field. Here are the Bluebirds of JCCS 2018. Continue reading

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VIDEO: Starlet, Sunny, and AE86 on Maou Touge

In a recent Hot Version video, the gang takes a pack of highly tuned cars to the Maou Touge. However, rather than the standard Honda S2000 and WRX STI models, this time they are modified versions of old school RWD compacts. Continue reading

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KIDNEY, ANYONE? 15k-mile Toyota Celica All-Trac

The Toyota Celica All-Trac is often overshadowed by its AE86, MR2 and Supra siblings. However, the all-wheel-drive, turbocharged, and rally-inspired sports coupe was just as important a pillar for Toyota’s lineup of “Fun to Drive” machines in the 1980s. Now, what is quite possibly the cleanest example left in the country, with only 15,476 miles on the odometer, is up for sale. Continue reading

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NEWS: Mazda announces the official return of the rotary engine

The rotary engine is officially back. Mazda issued a press release this morning laying out is plans for electric and hybrid vehicles for the coming decade, and the rotary engine is a integral part of those plans, serving as a range extender for gasoline-electric hybrids. Continue reading

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EVENTS: 2018 Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 06 — Mazdas

Vintage rotaries took a prime position at this year’s JCCS, thanks to a classy display by Mazda. Imagine a hillside blooming with brightly colored pistonless wonders from Hiroshima, and you’ll have a pretty good idea of what the Mazda section looked like at this year’s Japanese Classic Car Show. Continue reading

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VIDEO: Jay Leno drives a Toyota Century with blood in the trunk

It’s the moment when Jay Leno is shown a blood stain in the trunk that he really warms up to the Toyota Century. Whether its really hemoglobin or not isn’t known, but Leno is clearly stoked to be driving what could be an ex-yakuza car. Leno says he’s always heard about the the “Rolls Royce of Japan,” but in the latest episode of Jay Leno’s Garage the former talk show host and car collector finally gets to drive one. Continue reading

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QotW: Do you prefer stock or aftermarket wheels?

Some JNCs came with absolute knock-out wheels — the AE86 snowflake, the 240Z iron cross, while other JNCs came with steelies that would never steal anyone’s heart. How could they when you have classic rims such as Star Sharks and Work Equips? Now, there’s a great divide. Keep everything stock and authentic; or upgrade to something vintage, or new-old vintage.

Do you prefer stock or aftermarket wheels?

The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What do you want to know about living in Japan?Continue reading

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Happy 929 Day from JNC

It’s September 29, which means it’s time to honor the plushest Hiroshima sedan ever built. Even when it’s on the road it feels like it’s sailing along calm waterways. Happy 9/29 Day from JNC!

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MARKETWATCH: Integra Type R sold for $58,000

What if I told in you in 1997 that you could buy an Acura Integra Type R, store it in a garage for 21 years, and put only 1,191 miles on it during that time, and make about $34,000 in profit? Would that be worth it to you? Because at a Barrett-Jackson auction this week, that’s exactly what happened. Continue reading

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EVENTS: 2018 Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 05 — Trucks

Trucks are the unsung heroes of the JNC world. While many of us would love to have a Skyline or Supra, the truth is that these rigs did just as much to earn credibility and loyal customers for our favorite marques. We are always thrilled to see the turnout, so here are the trucks, SUVs and vans of JCCS. Continue reading

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EVENTS: 2018 Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 04 — Subaru and Isuzu

One of the clues that JCCS 2018 was history’s biggest was the presence of Isuzus and Subarus. Not a lot, granted, but in past years we would have said there were a lot if even one car of either marque showed up. This year, both did! Continue reading

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NEWS: Mazda completes first factory NA Roadster restoration

Mazda has completed its first factory restoration of a Eunos Roadster. The program was launched in August 2017 to help owners get their beloved NAs back to new condition, as well as to manufacture discontinued parts for the first-gen Roadster. To celebrate the completion of the first job, Mazda invited the owner to one of its restoration facilities to hand over the keys. Continue reading

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JCCS Spotlight: This N600 was Honda’s first race car in America

At this year’s Japanese Classic Car Show, you may have been wondering why there was a rusty heap of an N600 given prime position in the middle of the Honda booth. Surrounding it were a new Civic Type R and NSX, and clean examples of a first-gen Civic and Legend. This N600 was special, though, because this very car was the first Honda race car in America. Continue reading

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EVENTS: 2018 Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 03 — Hondas

To celebrate the 70th anniversary of Honda has  founding, we continue our JCCS coverage with the brand that Old Man Soichiro built. Thanks to a bigger venue this year at Marina Green Park, JCCS is now able to allow 90s cars, arguably the prime decade for Honda. Continue reading

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Happy 70th Anniversary to Honda Motor Co.

On this day 70 years ago, Honda Motor Corporation was officially established. The photo above is that of Honda’s first factory, in Hamamatsu, with 34 employees. The company’s first product was a small engine strapped to a bicycle, making it the first Honda motorcycle. Founder Soichiro Honda was inspired to build it a few year earlier, when he saw his wife riding her bicycle to town every day and wanted to make life a bit easier for her. Continue reading

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QotW: What do you want to know about living in Japan?

We’re doing our first AMA (Ask Me Anything). As one of the JNC staff living in Japan, I can say that one of the best things about it is the daily exposure to all things JNC. Want to know more about a car? Head over to a bookstore and grab a copy of the numerous magazines or mooks available. Want to start a crazy JNC garage? Go for it, as long as you have a parking space approved by the local police force. Living in Japan is not just about geeking out on JNCs, though. This is a whole different world and culture. We’ll do our best to answer, so:

What do you want to know about living in Japan?

The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “Do you rock JNC gear on the regular?Continue reading

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WILDLIFE: A Land Cruiser and Skyline GT-R become buds

You know those animal videos where a dog and a tortoise become friends? That is what this in-the-wild spotting of an R34 Skyline GT-R and a Toyota Land Cruiser in Yokohama reminded us of. Each one has come to represent the pinnacle of enthusiast vehicles for their respective brands. Nissan’s fans today are pretty much all about the GT-R, and Toyota’s are all about off-roaders. Who would’ve thunk?

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