QotW: How safe do you feel on the road with your JNC?

Posted on April 30, 2018 by Brandon Kelley

No doubt, new cars are safer than our beloved JNCs. The latest vehicles have systems to make sure that you, and the car, are in a heightened state of awareness, from automatic braking to lane keeping Assistance. Heck, the highest level of safety on some JNCs are seatbelts, and ABS brakes if you’re lucky. That said, how do you feel driving around in your JNC? Do you wonder about a possible fender bender, damaging your prized possession, or an injury?

How safe do you feel on the road with your JNC?

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 argument for keeping a JNC in a relationship?” Continue reading →

Posted in Question of the Week, Uncategorized | 15 Comments

Consider the Following: First-generation Acura Integra

Posted on April 27, 2018 by Ryan Senensky

With the prices of the most popular JNC models entering unattainable status for many younger enthusiasts, it’s time to highlight another painfully overlooked yet still affordable (for now) model. Welcome to another Consider the Following installment, in which we ponder the original DA1-4 Acura Integra.  Continue reading →

Posted in Consider the Following | Tagged , , | 17 Comments

VIDEO: Soichiro Honda’s rousing speech explains “Why we Race”

Posted on April 26, 2018 by Ben Hsu

Honda has released a video called “Why we Race.” The title is taken from an impassioned speech founder Soichiro Honda himself back in the day. Honda’s actual words is played over archival footage of Honda’s racing successes (and failures) from bikes at the Isle of Man to F1 cars at Monza, making for an inspiring picture of Honda’s racing history.  Continue reading →

Posted in Video | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments

VINTAGE RACING JOURNAL: Road to The Mitty, Part 02

Posted on April 26, 2018 by Glenn Chiou

The decision to make the trek out to Road Atlanta for the Mitty after hearing Nissan was going to be the featured marque was an easy one. The preparation that the car would require to drive at the Road Atlanta? Not so much.  Continue reading →

Posted in Vintage Racing Journal | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Happy DNA Day from JNC

Posted on April 25, 2018 by Ben Hsu

Today is National DNA Day, which celebrates the discovery, 65 years ago, of the double helix structure comprising life’s building blocks by James Watson, Francis Crick, Maurice Wilkins, and Rosalind Franklin. And while DNA usually applies to, you know, biological organisms, cars can have DNA as well. What’s your favorite example of classic DNA found in a newer car?

Posted in Holidays | Tagged , , , , , | 11 Comments

JNC THEATER: A review of Velocity’s JDM Legends

Posted on April 25, 2018 by Ryan Senensky

The premiere of JDM Legends on Velocity Channel premiere is old news by this point, but as a watcher of many automotive-themed TV shows I wanted to sit down and actually think about how I feel about the program. As the first TV series centering around classic Japanese cars, it is a watershed moment for our community. Other programs have included bits about Japanese cars and classic car YouTube channels review them, but often it’s in a condescending tone. Statements like, “The 2000GT is really good, it’s like a Japanese E-Type,” get thrown around, as if Japanese cars needed the comparison. Continue reading →

Posted in media, Video Games | Tagged , , , , , , | 17 Comments

KIDNEY, ANYONE? 12k-mile EM1 Honda Civic Si sells for $24,000

Posted on April 24, 2018 by Ben Hsu

It was only a few weeks ago that a near-new EM1 Honda Civic Si sold for $22,750. As far as we know, that was a record price for the much lauded 1999-2000 Civic Si, but in less than a month it has already been broken.  Continue reading →

Posted in for sale | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

NEWS: Mitsubishi may bring back the Lancer as a crossover

Posted on April 24, 2018 by Ben Hsu

Rumor on the street has it that Mitsubishi is bringing back the Lancer, a name used on its compact sedan for over 40 years, as a crossover. The idea is perhaps not as egregious as the Eclipse Cross, as the Lancer did famously have some dirt throwing AWD versions, but still.  Continue reading →

Posted in News | Tagged , | 9 Comments

VINTAGE RACING JOURNAL: Road to The Mitty, Part 01

Posted on April 23, 2018 by Glenn Chiou

Editor’s note: Vintage Racing Journal is a new segment on JNC following the exploits of Glenn Chiou, owner, restorer, and vintage racer of two historic Datsun race cars. Glenn is based in California and actively participates in vintage motorsports, and his series will document what it’s like to own, drive, and campaign a Japanese nostalgic race car. 

For over 30 years, the Mitty has been vintage racing’s diamond event of the South. Road Atlanta offers the ideal racing venue with its perfect formula of long straights and challenging bends. Before the Sports Car Club of America started rotating track venues for their championship finale, the SCCA Runoffs, Road Atlanta was the track that crowned SCCA National Champions for 23 years.  Continue reading →

Posted in Vintage Racing Journal | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

QotW: What’s your argument for keeping a JNC in a relationship?

Posted on April 23, 2018 by Brandon Kelley

JNCs have some tough love when only half of a couple is enjoying it. Sometimes a relationship between two people feels like three if you include a JNC that smells of oil and gasoline. It can get harder to justify that 2-door sedan with bucket seats and no aircon when you want to get away for the weekend, too. In that case, an ultimatum is cast: me or the car. Tell us, what’s your argument for keeping your JNC when your significant other is not feelin’ the love?

What’s your argument for keeping a JNC in a relationship?

The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What part on your JNC just refuses to stay fixed?” Continue reading →

Posted in Question of the Week | Tagged | 22 Comments

KIDNEY, ANYONE? Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 Rallye Côte d’Ivoire winner

Posted on April 20, 2018 by Ben Hsu

Before the Lancer Evolution, Mitsubishi’s AWD turbo rally warrior was the Galant VR-4. Starting in 1988 and until the launch of the Lancer Evo, Mitsubishi campaigned the Galant VR-4 in World Rally Championship races across Europe, earning the triple-diamond marque an early reputation for ruggedness and advanced technology. Now, an example with actual racing provenance can be yours, as the winner of the 1990 Rallye Côte d’Ivoire Bandama goes up for auction.  Continue reading →

Posted in for sale | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

MINICARS: Charge your phone with a Fairlady Z

Posted on April 20, 2018 by Ben Hsu

There are few phone accessories a boring as a portable charger battery, usually no more than a rectangular box with an LED light and a USB port. In Japan, however, you can now charge your phone with something a little more stylish — a Nissan Fairlady Z.  Continue reading →

Posted in minicars | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

VIDEO: A cartoon history of the Suzuki Alto and motorcycle business

Posted on April 19, 2018 by Ben Hsu

After a brief hiatus, Suzuki is back with two new cartoon videos explaining how the company got where it is today. The first outlines the genesis of the Alto, a revered name in kei cars, and the second explains how a Hamamatsu loom company became one of the world’s top motorcycle companies. Both follow the odd minimalist animation style we’ve seen from other Suzuki history videos in the series. So, if you like your car history in a format suggesting a Saturday morning cartoon with Soviet propaganda-style overtones, these are the videos for you. Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

This Kenmeri Skyline does not look o-kei

Posted on April 18, 2018 by Kevin San

Japan is a place where space to park for your car is at a premium. Compared to most driving populations, Japan is full of visible feats of Jedi parking, where cars are squeezed with millimetric precision into the smallest parking spaces. So people usually know how to park their cars. But, there are exceptions, as this Kenmeri found out to its cost. Continue reading →

Posted in kei | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments

MOTORSPORT: Mitsubishi rally cars showcased at Megaweb

Posted on April 18, 2018 by Ben Hsu

Though owned by Toyota, the Megaweb showcase in Odaiba, Tokyo and the adjacent History Garage offer much more than Aichi steel. Since last year, there has been a rotating exhibit of famous rally cars, often on loan from other automakers. Currently, it is Mitsubishi’s turn, and Tokyoites can see three of its legendary dirt throwers in person.  Continue reading →

Posted in motorsport | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

OPEN THREAD: What did you think of JDM Legends episode 01?

Posted on April 17, 2018 by Ben Hsu

The premiere episode of JDM Legends is airing on Velocity Channel on the west coast right now and has aired in most of the country. What did you think? Leave your comments in the open thread below.

Posted in Open Thread | Tagged , , | 19 Comments

VIDEO: Subaru releases dueling heritage spots

Posted on April 17, 2018 by Ben Hsu

This year is Subaru’s 60th anniversary as a carmaker, its 50th anniversary in the US, and also the 30th anniversary of STI, so it makes sense that the company is going HAM on the heritage spots. In a span of a few days, Subaru Japan has released two completely different videos celebrating their history, but one is a bit more entertaining than the other. Continue reading →

Posted in Video | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Kidney, Anyone?: Hardtop convertible Suzuki Sidekick

Posted on April 17, 2018 by Ryan Senensky

The Suzuki Sidekick hails from the waning days of the SUV golden age, before they all devolved into the rolling unibody mayonnaise jars we call crossovers. As a more civilized version of the Samurai, it was a truck admired by both off-road enthusiasts and mini-truckers alike. To the four-wheeling enthusiast, it was a cheap, small-bodied 4×4 that could punch far above it’s weight on a trail, and mini-truckers admired it for its simple, crisp lines and top-down aesthetic.  Continue reading →

Posted in for sale | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

JNC THEATER: Behind the scenes with JDM Legends on the eve of their Velocity Channel premiere

Posted on April 16, 2018 by Ben Hsu

Until now, the world of automotive-themed television shows has been pretty lackluster when it comes to Japanese cars. That’s all about to change with the Velocity Channel’s JDM Legends, titled after the Utah shop of the same name and premiering tomorrow, April 17. We interviewed shop co-founder Eric Bizek to get his insights on classic Japanese cars, what it takes to make a TV program, and what to expect on the show.  Continue reading →

Posted in JNC Theater, Video Games | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 25 Comments

QotW: What part on your JNC just refuses to stay fixed?

Posted on April 16, 2018 by Brandon Kelley

We all love our cars, but sometimes they fight tooth and nail against being a good li’l JNC by refusing to stay fixed. Brakes just not wanting to seat correctly, electrical gremlins in the taillamp circuit, even trim that breaks if you looking at it the wrong way. No matter what you do, those issues just don’t stay away for very long. Tell us,

What part of your JNC just refuses to stay fixed?

The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “Does the current state of a marque affect how you feel about its classics?”  Continue reading →

Posted in Question of the Week | Tagged | 13 Comments