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
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
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
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
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
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!
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
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
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
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
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
Posted in jccs
Tagged Baja 1000, honda, Honda N-Series, japanese classic car show, motorsport
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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
Posted in jccs
Tagged accord, Accord 1G, Accord 2G, acura, civic, Civic 1G, crx, dc2, ea, ef, honda, Honda N-Series, Honda Z-series, integra, Integra 1G, Integra 2G, jccs, legend, Legend 1G, Life StepVan, S500/S600/S800, vamos
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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
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
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?
EVENTS: 2018 Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 02 — Toyotas
For the first time since the show’s beginning, Toyota didn’t have a booth or any of its museum cars at the Japanese Classic Car Show. Mazda, Nissan, and Honda all had an official presence, but not the Big T. That’s because the company’s US headquarters has moved to Texas, far away from the epicenter of car culture in southern California. Luckily, individual owners represented with their own cars. Continue reading
EVENTS: 2018 Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 01 — JDM
Japan-only cars have been making their way into JCCS for a while now, but this year the trickle seemed to turn into a tsunami. You couldn’t swing a fender mirror without coming into contact with a RHD ride from the land of the rising sun. And it wasn’t just your typical Skylines and Sprinter Truenos, either. The selection was approaching a diversity of Nihon steel you might see at late night rest area meet back in Japan. Continue reading
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Tagged 510, 620, A170, Autozam AZ-1, b120, beat, bluebird, bosozoku, c10, C33, datsun, F30, fairlady z, figaro, Hakosuka, honda, jccs, jdm legends, kaido racer, kei, lancer, Lancer Evolution II, laurel, leopard, Life StepVan, mark II, n360, nissan, pao, r30, r32, r33, s30 z, skyline, sports 800, sunny truck, Tommykaira, Tommykaira ZZ, toyota, U620, vamos, wagons, Wild Cards, x70, x80
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VIDEO: Listen to the wail of the Prince R380
At the second Japan Grand Prix in 1964, Prince Motor Company pit a family sedan against a race car. And even though Shinichiro Sakurai stuffed a two extra cylinders down the nose of the Prince, the purpose-built Porsche 904 won — but not before creating the legend of the Skyline. For the third Japan Grand Prix, Sakurai didn’t mess around. Prince returned with a purpose-built race car of its own, the R380. Continue reading
Posted in motorsport
Tagged best motoring, fuji speedway, nissan, prince, r380, shinichiro sakurai, skyline
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NEWS: Akio Toyoda actually built a Century GRMN
It seemed like a throwaway joke. Shortly after the Tokyo Motor Show last year, where Toyota unveiled only the third new Century design in 50 years, the company’s car-nut CEO Akio Toyoda was interviewed on a Japanese talk show called “We Love Cars.” In it, the host asked Toyoda-san what kind of car he would like to drive. “A Century GRMN,” he replied. Would Toyoda really combine his company’s plushest luxury sedan with the top modification level from his in-house tuners? Apparently, the answer is yes. Continue reading
JCCS Spotlight: The Wild Cards always turn up
It’s become something of a tradition. The Wild Cards team rolls in like a storm with a gang of the show’s most stunning cars. There’s always debut builds of the highest quality, but even many of their existing MVPs return with new looks to update the lineup. A stroll through their ranks never fails to excite, and this year was no exception. Continue reading
