In the latest episode of Jay Leno’s Garage, the car collector gets behind the wheel of another Japanese great, the Autozam AZ-1. The gull-winged, mid-engined, kei-classed sports car seems to charm the host, who actually says he might consider buying one to add to his Mazda collection that already includes an RX-8 and 12A-swapped Cosmo Sport. Continue reading
Happy 86 Day from JNC
Today is the day we honor the last of the rear-wheel-drive Corollas. Many perished in the touge battles of the 1990s, but those sacrifices early on gave us the freedom to not drive in a straight line, countless works of art made in tribute to their cause, and also cartoons. Happy 8/6 Day from JNC!
QotW: What’s the most important info on the instrument cluster?
In a perfect world, the instrument cluster (or multi-information display for some) would consist of a tachometer and a constantly illuminated thumbs up. But, for older vehicles and JNCs in particular, we need all the information we can get to make sure we continue to hum down the road.
What cluster needle, lamp or digital display do you keep one eye on whenever you take your pride and joy out on the street? Why?
What’s the most important info on the instrument cluster?
The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “Dive, Sell, or Garage: Unobtainium Edition” Continue reading
NEWS: Nissan to exhibit racing legends, R390 GT1 road car at Monterey
Nissan has announced some details about its plans for the upcoming Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. The event will be a significant milestone, since it is the first time a Japanese marque has headlined the RMMR since its inception in 1974. As such, Nissan is bringing out several cars of historic significance, including the first ever appearance on US soil of the R390 GT1 road car. Continue reading
Posted in motorsport
Tagged 240z, 510, adam carolla, bob sharp, bre, datsun, GTP-ZX, john morton, le mans, nissan, paul newman, peter brock, r382, R390 GT1, s30 z, z31, z32
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MINICARS: A beginner’s guide to JNC Legos, Part 01
The popularity of Legos had exploded in recent years, leading to many fans going beyond off-the-shelf kits and building their own custom creations. We’ve posted about Legos before, starting from back in 2013, and while the Lego renaissance was already underway then, it’s gone positively supernova in the half-decade since. Many of our favorite custom builds are JNCs, naturally, so let’s take a look at some of our recent favorites. Continue reading
Posted in minicars
Tagged 2000gt, 240z, 280z, 787b, a20, a60, acura, ae86, Autozam AZ-1, aw11, back to the future, c10, camry, Cara, celica, cherry, civic, Civic EF, corolla, crx, daruma, e70, Eagle Talon, eclipse, f10, fairlady z, fj cruiser, fj40, fj60, formula 1, gt-r, GT-R LM NISMO, GT-R NISMO, GTP-ZX, Hakosuka, hilux, honda, impreza, Initial D, isuzu, land cruiser, le mans, lego, mazda, miata, Miata NA, mitsubishi, mr2, mx-5, nissan, nsx, pajero, prelude, r35, R89C, R92CP, RA300, rx-3, s2000, s30 z, skyline, sprinter trueno, subaru, supra, suzuki, sw20, toyota, toyota 86, Toyota Van, wangan midnight, wrc, WRX STI
10 Comments
EVENTS: Petersen Museum Cruise-in, Part 02
The Petersen Museum in Los Angeles puts on many events throughout the year, each with a theme ranging from hot rods to Porsches. Recently, they hosted their annual cruise-in for Japanese cars, inviting Nihon Steel both old and new to fill out their parking garage. Here are our favorite photos of the day. Continue reading
Posted in events
Tagged 240sx, 240z, 350z, 4runner, 510, 626, a60, a70, acty, acura, ae86, bluebird, bosozoku, celica, civic, Civic EF, Civic EG, corolla, cressida, crx, datsun, datsun 521, datsun 720, F30, f31, fairlady roadster, gloria, gt-r, hilux, honda, infiniti, integra, Integra Type R, kaido racer, kei, leopard, Lexus GS, m30, M45, mark II, mazda, Mazda B-Series, minitrucks, nissan, nsx, Petersen Museum, r32, r35, s14, S160, s30 z, skyline, supra, te27, toyota, vip, wagons, x30, x70, Y34, z32, z33
6 Comments
MINICARS: Rio Red will be the first color of Hot Wheels’ EF Honda CRX
We’ve been pretty excited at the prospect of a second-generation Honda CRX ever since Hot Wheels released a teaser pic. That photo was in black and white, though, but now we can reveal the first color that will adorn the CRX — Rio Red. Continue reading
VIDEO: Even when skies are gray in 1970s Tokyo, the cars shine
Most of us probably try to avoid driving our 1970s JNCs in the rain. But decades ago, in 1970s Tokyo, streets teemed with yet-to-be-nostalgic cars, even during a downpour. Bluebirds, Celicas, Savannas, Crowns, Sambars, Skylines, and even a few examples of Detroit Iron packed the city. It’s a glorious sight to behold. Continue reading
VIDEO: Tokyo life in 1992 was filled with boxy cars
The short film Goodnight, Tokyo is a love letter to Japan’s capital city. The 1992 video captured perfectly a slice of daily life in the metropolis — people going to work, children going to school, and trains, cars and boats going wherever it is they go. What’s unusual about this video is that it was filmed in high-definition, a rarity at the time. You can tell it’s 1992 by the skyline, the women’s hairstyles, and, of course, the cars. Continue reading
Posted in Video
Tagged cedric, corolla, crown, fj40, land cruiser, nissan, TownAce, toyota
7 Comments
SHOWA SNAP: Yurakucho Crossing, 1971
For this edition of Showa Snap, we take a look at the same area as the one Dave posted, kicking off the series. That area is Yurakucho Crossing, just south of Tokyo Station. where an elevated Shinkanesen embarks from the capital to points south and west. In this photo, taken in 1971, there’s no bullet train on the bridge, but a few cool cars are on the streets. A Nissan Cedric taxi and van in the foreground dart across the intersection, while making a left is a Hakosuka Skyline van. You can almost smell the hydrocarbons in the air!
Image: eBay.
QotW: Drive, Sell, or Garage? JNC Unobtainium Edition
Welcome to our version of Bang, Marry, Kill — Drive, Sell, Garage. You have three cars, and you must assign one action to each of the three cars. Which do you daily drive, knowing that it will require some mods and experience the most wear and tear; which do you sell, because you like it the least; and which do you garage and pass down to your grandchildren or donate to a museum? For the first installment, we give you three examples of JNC unobtainium, you decide their fates, and be sure to tell us why.
Drive, Sell, or Garage: Toyota 2000GT, Hakosuka Skyline GT-R, and Mazda Cosmo Sport.
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 most fitting match of car and place?” Continue reading
PROJECT DUSTBUS: 800 miles in an untested $50 Toyota van
Imagine that you’ve just purchased a 30-year-old barn find for $50. What’s your next move? You could do a slow, methodical refresh of all the important mechanical and safety bits, taking only short drives while you make certain that everything is in perfect nick before attempting any long-distance treks. Or, you could do what I did: immediately take it on an 800-mile road trip, because really, what could go wrong? Continue reading
EVENTS: Petersen Museum Cruise-in, Part 01
Last weekend the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles hosted their annual cruise-in for Japanese cars. J-tin of all eras and styles flocked to the museum’s parking structure at the corner of Fairfax and Wilshire Boulevards on a sweltering LA summer day. Here’s a gallery of the highlights. Continue reading
Posted in events
Tagged 240sx, 240z, 3000GT, 70, a60, A80, accord, Accord 1G, acura, ae86, aw11, b310, c10, celica, civic, Civic 1G, Civic EF, Civic EG, Civic EK, civic wagon, corolla, corolla fx, cressida, datsun, e80, f10, fc3s, fd3s, fit, Hakosuka, honda, integra, Integra DA, Lexus GS, Lexus LS, mazda, mr2, Mtisubishi, N360/N600, nissan, nsx, pathfinder, Petersen Museum, r32, r33, r34, Rogue, rx-7, s13, s14, S160, s30 z, S500/S600/S800, scion, Scion FRS, silvia, skyline, sti, subaru, sunny, supra, sw20, T200, wrx, x30, x80, Z360/Z600
7 Comments
MINICARS: Subaru SVX and Sambar, Honda S2000, Nissan trucks join Matchbox lineup in 2019
The annual Matchbox convention took place last weekend in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This is where the diecast brand has traditionally revealed the new cars to appear in next year’s lineup. As it turns out, in 2019 there will be several Japanese cars added. Continue reading
VINTAGE RACING JOURNAL: Five forgotten heroes of Datsun racing
As we prepare for Datsun race cars to flood Raceway Laguna Seca for the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion in August, let’s take a moment to remember the forgotten heroes of Datsun racing. You’re probably already familiar with names like Brock Racing Enterprises and Bob Sharp Racing, officially sponsored by Datsun.
However, thanks to their sheer affordability and incredible performance, by the 1970s Datsuns campaigned by privateer teams — those who did not receive any backing from Nissan — were swarming America’s race tracks. Here’s five underdog Datsun racers that we should all remember and praise for their contributions to the brand. Continue reading
Posted in Vintage Racing Journal
Tagged 240z, 260z, 280z, 510, 610, 710, datsun, Dave Frellsen, Frank Leary, Logan Blackburn, motorsports, nissan, Rob McFarlin, s30 z, scca, Walt Maas
39 Comments
VIDEO: Akio Toyoda travels through time to talk to his grandfather Kiichiro
Apparently, in addition to making cars, Toyota has taken its substantial profits to invent and build a time machine so that its current president, Akio Toyoda, could go back to the 1950s an interview his grandfather, Toyota Motor Corporation. founder Kiichiro Toyoda in a cringeworthy video that basically gets the one car in it completely wrong. Continue reading
Japan Post celebrates 40th anniversary of Mazda RX-7 with exclusive rotary goods
Japan’s post offices have unleashed a slew of Mazda RX-7 themed merch to mark the 40th anniversary of the iconic Hiroshima sports car. The goods celebrate all three generations of the RX-7, as well as the rotary engine. The only problem, other than the fact that they are available only in Japan, is that they’re shockingly expensive. Continue reading
NEWS: Toyota brings back vintage tricolor livery on 86 TRD Special Edition
Toyota has announced a new version of its 86 sport coupe and bringing back some retro colors to go with it. The 2019 Toyota 86 TRD Special Edition is the most performance-oriented 86 (née Scion FR-S) offered in the US yet, and Toyota is really trying to go retro with it. Not only does its name harken back to the legendary AE86, but it also wears Toyota’s old racing tricolor. Continue reading
QotW: What’s the most fitting match of car and place?
We all have our favorite cars. We all have our favorite places. But do your favorite car and place match? For example, I love my AE86, but I live in Los Angeles. But to be honest, the Hachiroku’s sharp handling and notoriously crackable interior is simply not suited to LA’s long, vast freeways and blazing heat. It would absolutely brilliant in Monterey or Napa, with its cool climates and endless ribbons of two-lane winding roads. What would be ideal for LA is something like an MA71 Supra or Z31 300ZX, a with a torquier motor that longs to stretch its legs but a cabin that’s comfortable if you find yourself stuck in a two-hour traffic jam — which is coincidentally where I came up with this QotW.
What’s the most fitting match of car and place?
The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What JNC would you import from Japan?”
EVENTS: Radwood NorCal 2018, the Greatest Hits
Among the many examples of 80s and 90s Japanese cars that populated Radwood NorCal this year, there were a few that really stood out to us. We hesitate to call them the best; except for the actual “Best Of” voted upon by the Radwood staff, these are merely our personal preferences. But much like 80s songs, there are ones that just bring a whole lot of joy, even if they aren’t technically The Best. Continue reading
Posted in events
Tagged 240sx, 323 GTX, accord, Accord 1G, b13, camry, cressida, cultus, Dodge D50, Eagle Talon, eclipse, f31, fd3s, forte, geo, honda, infiniti, leopard, m30, mazda, metro, miata, Miata NA, Mighty Max, mitsubishi, mx-5, nissan, prelude, Prelude 3g, Radwood, rx-7, s13, sa22, sentra, silvia, suzuki, swift, tacoma, toyota, v10, x70
15 Comments
