Japanese Nostalgic Car

The AE86-osphere went kind of nuts last week when it was revealed that they can buy a complete unibody Sprinter Trueno shell on Alibaba. The iconic drift sled is a good candidate for this treatment, as the majority of original ones have been rusted out, drifted into walls, or otherwise had their numbers reduced by natural attrition (accidents, financially  overwhelming mechanical failure, etc.). Yet it remains a platform with a dedicated enthusiast following. Surely there are other legendary cars that are impossible to find clean shells for.

What complete JNC body shell should be reproduced next?

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It’s hard to make a car commercial stand out. Beautiful people, beautiful landscapes, the promise of adventure. Every company portrays their wares as thrilling to drive, even when they’re duller than dry dirt. What happens when you have cars that are actually fun to drive, but end up producing cringey ads that don’t really get the message across. It’s a predicament, especially when you have to talk to people who think a “V4” is a common engine. You have only 30 seconds to convince them to go visit your dealership.

How would you make a Mazda ad?

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History is filled with flops, but even some of the worst cars get a second chance at glory after some time has passed. There are owners who now love Chrysler K-cars, Pontiac Azteks, Trabants, and other forms of automotive awfulness. The important difference is that these owners aren’t the original ones who bought the cars when new. They’re younger, second or third owners who specifically sought out the supposedly bad cars, like automotive hipsters. And in hindsight they realize that people have been too harsh. After all, is a Honda del Sol really that bad compared to any number of modern crossovers?

Which once-derided Japanese car will make a comeback?

The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What’s your ultimate hashiriya build?“. Continue reading →