In a previous Showa Snap we posted a photo of Kyoto Station full of Toyota taxis. A couple of decades earlier, in 1967, if you wanted to hail a cab from the station your choices were apparently limited to a 411 Bluebird, 411 Bluebird, or let’s see, 411 Bluebird. There was probably a barikan Toyota Corona or two sitting in the queue, but at least in this snapshot Nissans ruled the day.
Image: 昭和スポット巡り
Fifty years ago, Honda introduced the RA301 race car at the 1968 Spanish Grand Prix. It hailed from the first generation of Honda’s Formula One efforts, and was powered by a 3.0-liter V12 in an aluminum body. The original car was piloted by John Surtees, but to mark the half century of the RA301 former Honda F1 driver Jensen Button had the honor of running it up the hill. Continue reading
The designers at Hot Wheels recently revealed a teaser image of the next JNC to make it to their minicar lineup. It is the unmistakable silhouette of the second-generation Honda CRX. Unlike the first-gen CRX, this one appears to mostly stock. The proportions look great, and we can’t wait to see it in the diecast metal.
Nowadays, there are plenty of JNC offerings from importers. It also helps that you can stuff a few JNCs into a shipping container. But, most importers are focusing on a few models that bring in the biggest money. If you had a direct line to Japan, what JNC would you scoop up in a heartbeat?
What JNC would you import from Japan?
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 favorite JNC body type?” Continue reading
Kei cars are an important and inescapable aspect of life in the Land of the Rising Sun. Some are important because they were a landmark of technology, and others because they were the first of their kind, and still others because they were integral to the growth of Japan’s economy. There is one, though, that’s important merely for being the purest: the Suzuki Cappuccino. Continue reading
The Goodwood Festival of Speed is happening in England right now, and there’s a couple of neo-nostalgics headed up the hill. Here’s the first running footage for the A90 Toyota Supra and the Nissan GT-R50. Continue reading
The notion of an automotive barn find usually conjures up visions of dodgy trips up muddy country paths and into decrepit shacks, followed by a black mold discovery in what’s left of your chosen vehicle’s upholstery and the eventual adoption of a litter of opossums in the trunk. It’s worth considering, though, that with heavy vehicle concentration in and around our major cities, there must be more barn find cars out there that are not parked in literal barns, but rather hiding in plain sight.
For example, here’s the one-owner, 51,000-mile 1989 Toyota Cargo Van I bought in LA for fifty dollars. Continue reading
We’ve covered a few car shows at Meiji Jingu Park in Tokyo, but here is what it looked like as a normal, everyday street in 1967. Look at all the Showa Era cars (Toyota Crown, 411 Bluebird, Prince Gloria, Mazda Familia, etc.) and trucks (Toyoace, Prince Miler, Mitsubishi Minica, and so on). Notably, the commercial vehicles and taxis account for more than half the traffic, as it was still the dawn of private car ownership in Japan — which makes the li’l red Toyota Sports 800 in the corner even more special!
With Kawasaki’s recent debut of a K1-inspired retro motorcycle, Honda is not about to neglect its own rich two-wheeled history. Internet sleuthing has turned up a Honda patent filing with Japan’s intellectual property administration that reveals what could be a revival of the legendary Honda CBX. Continue reading
Since this year’s July 10 is the day that the famed Odakyu 7000 Series Romancecar makes its last official run after 38 years of service, we thought it only fitting to celebrate 710 Day with the rail-themed 1974 Datsun 710 brochure. On the cover, Nissan referenced the Wabash Cannonball, a train with a murky history, a supernatural origin story, and a song written about it. Continue reading
Imagine a classic Japanese vehicle, avant garde in its time, beloved by fans, and part of a record-setting and influential legacy. For fans of Japanese nostalgic train, that vehicle is the Odakyu 7000 Series LSE Romancecar. Since 1980, this Japanese railway icon has ferried people from Tokyo to Hakone in luxury and style, and today, sadly, is the final run of its long and distinguished 38-year service history. Continue reading
To celebrate summer Nissan has created a show truck called the Titan Surfcamp, modded to the nines and described a “beach oasis.” Nissan says it was inspired by the beach trucks of the 1960s and 1970s, old Patrols, and — get this — the Hot Wheels JNC Surf Patrol Datsun 510 Wagon! Continue reading
Back in the day, Japanese automakers thought nothing of offering multiple body types of the same model. Buyers had their pick — 2-door sedans, 4-door sedans, coupes, hardtops, wagons, hatchbacks, utes, and even upscale long-nose alternative versions. Do you gravitate to a certain type of body? Always have a lust for wagons, or prefer a coupe? Or are you always on the hunt for a long bed JNC truck? We want to know:
What’s your favorite JNC body type?
The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What will futurte JNCs look like?” Continue reading
We’ve arrived at the final dispatch from Toyotafest, and in this installment we look at the trucks, SUVs, and vans that graced the show. Everyone loves Celicas and Supras but these unsung heroes are an undeniable part of Toyota’s success (and perhaps just as diverse as their car lineup). Continue reading
With the impending return of the Supra, it was only inevitable that Toyota would announce its official participation in some form of motorsport. Well, the first one is here, before the car has even launched. We just didn’t expect it to be NASCAR. SuperGT, D1GP, or Formula D? Sure, those would make sense, but oddly enough after looking into it the connection isn’t that bizarre. Continue reading
On holidays, Los Angeles turns from a sprawling grid of congestion into a post-apocalyptic streetscape of empty boulevards. Drives that would take hours during rush hour take minutes as the city’s 6.4 million cars go into hibernation. Perhaps that explains why yesterday, on Independence Day, this 1997 Toyota Supra Turbo came out to play. Continue reading
Released in 2017, the US-flag Tomica Toyota 2000GT was part of a special edition Flags of the World series that decked out Japan’s O.G. supercar with — you guessed it — flags of the world. In fact, it is the second version of a stars-and-stripes laden 2000GT. The ongoing series is a collaboration with Apita Uny, a huge Japanese grocery and department store chain. Anyway, it’s not every day you see a 2000GT draped Old Glory. Have a safe and happy Independence Day from JNC.
Ginza is not just one of the most expensive areas of Tokyo, but of the world. In the early 1960s the area wasn’t quite as developed yet, but look at the cars. Toyopet Crown taxis, privately owned Datsun 210s, what looks to be a Hino bus, and even a 1961 Chevy Impala sedan swarm the streets. You can almost smell the hydrocarbons! Continue reading
Since its debut at the Tokyo Motor Show last year, the retro-styled the Kawasaki Z900RS has been well-received in its home market. The bike we called “the Kenmeri Skyline of motorcycles” for its place in Japanese motoring history just went on sale July 1 and comes to market with healthy aftermarket support. As a follow-up, Kawasaki quickly turned the nostalgia dial up to eleven with the Z900RS Cafe, to be released later this summer. If that wasn’t enough, Kawasaki then announced it’s coming to America. Now, the slate of of colors and graphics packages have been announced. Continue reading
The first true sports car since Toyota’s launch of its Gazoo Racing performance sub-brand goes on sale in Japan today. The GR Sport 86 is based of the Toyota 86 (née Scion FR-S, aka Subaru BRZ) but features a series of mild upgrades. And before you ask, the answer is no, it does not come with any more power. Continue reading
