Before the famous BRE Datsun 510s and 240Zs, there was the Datsun Roadster. This is the actual, restored car driven by Frank Monise. As the story goes, when asked why he hired Monise, Peter Brock said, “Because he kept beating me.” Happy 311 Day!
Happy E39A Day from JNC
We thought we’d throw Mitsubishi fans a little love today, March 9. Please excuse the grainy quality of this photo, as it is one of my own personal Galant VR-4, taken in 1992, before I had a digital camera.You might think, “This is a funny-looking BMW 5-Series.” Well, that’s what all the grey-market Hartge E30 drivers said to themselves after they took a sniff of the HKS exhaust blowing past them. Happy E39A Day!
PIXELATED: JNCs of the Grand Theft Auto universe
With rumors of the next installment of the Grand Theft Auto franchise taking place in Vice City, we began to ponder the possibilities for in-game cars. If publisher Rockstar Games does indeed return to their caricature of 1980s Miami, it could make way for tons of JNCs. Will we see a Z31 or MR2? How lucky would we be to get a Toyota Van Wagon or an E70 Corolla? Continue reading
EVENTS: 2018 New Year Meeting, Part 04 — Trucks
The New Year Meeting has plenty of cars and wares, but one needs to get them to the show in style. We’ve covered the classics, now let’s look at some of the commercial vehicles — utes, vans and trucks — that are part of the NYM scenery. Continue reading
Posted in new year meeting
Tagged Acty Street, Autolook, b120, butaketsu, c10, c130, canter, civilian, datsun, datsun 220, datsun 620, dekotora, elf, Every, fuso, Hakosuka, hilux, honda, isuzu, laurel, mitsubishi, N20, new year meeting, nissan, sambar, sanitora, skyline, subaru, sunny truck, super cub, suzuki, Torakku Yaro, toyota, Victory 50
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MOTORSPORT: SuperGT champ buys his dream Supra
Juichi Wakisaka is a three-time JGTC and SuperGT champion and a well-respected driver in Japan. In addition to his GT500 wins, he also has several F3 and Formula Nippon victories under his belt, has won the Suzuka 1000, achieved class wins at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring, has appeared on Hot Version, and written for Best Car magazine. Yesterday, Wakisaka finally bought his dream car — a new Supra. No, not the new Supra, a JZA80, on the exact same day the next-generation Supra was revealed. Continue reading
Happy TE37 Day from JNC
If you were a child of the 80s, you might remember a time when E30 Corollas were just about everywhere. Today, they’re mostly gone, and don’t even get as much love amongst collectors as TE27s and other Corollas. That is why we should honor the top-spec models today, March 7. Happy TE37 Day from JNC!
NEWS: This is the new Toyota Supra
The last Toyota Supra is one of those rare cars that became a legend in its own time, but it’s been 16 years since it was discontinued. At the Geneva Motor Show this morning, the next generation of this venerated nameplate was unveiled — in racing form. Continue reading
EVENTS: 2018 New Year Meeting, Part 03 — Seventies and Eighties
Our first two installments of the 2018 New Year Meeting featured cars from 1960s Japan. Those beautifully crafted machines from the early days of country’s motorization served a specific purpose, but the 1970s is when the modification culture became truly widespread. Continue reading
Posted in events
Tagged 117, 230, 240rs, 300zx, a20, advan, Autolook, b110, b310, bluebird, c10, c110, cedric, celica, civic, corolla levin, e30, fc3s, fronte, gloria, Hakosuka, honda, isuzu, kenmeri, kp47, mazda, minica, Minica Skipper, mitsubishi, mr2, new year meeting, nissan, r30, r32, s110, silvia, skyline, starlet, sunny, suzuki, sw20, te27, TE55, toyota, ts cup, U12, wagons, z32
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QotW: What was your favorite JNC commercial as a kid?
Last Friday, Ben posted my all-time favorite JNC commercial. The first time I saw it was while watching a sporting event on TV with my family. It was my first time seeing the Z32 and first time hearing Van Halen’s “You Really Got Me”. The commercial had my attention like never before. Remember when car commercials were fun and funny? What say you JNCers?
What was your favorite JNC commercial as a kid?
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 best junkyard score of 2017?” Continue reading
Hayashi Racing is (maybe) bringing back the Bomber wheel as part of a (maybe) Heritage Wheel reissue program (…maybe)
Hayashi Racing may be best-known for its venerable Street Wheel, which was Japan’s first aftermarket alloy wheel, and has been in production since 1967. However, they do also have a bulging back catalog of wheels from the pre-bubble era which haven’t been available in decades. But, that is possibly about to change, with Hayashi-san thinking of re-issuing some of his earlier wheels as part of a limited heritage collection. Continue reading
Happy Z32 Day from JNC
Sleek lines, twin turbos, and enough swag to steal Barbie away from Ken. That was the 1990-96 Nissan 300ZX. Let’s all rewatch one of the greatest car commercials of all time (it was so great in fact that the 300ZX had already been discontinued when it aired) today, March 2, also known as Z32 Day.
NEWS: Subaru 60th Anniversary cars released in Japan
Subaru of America might be celebrating 50 years since its founding this year, but Subaru Japan is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2018. To commemorate the occasion, it too is making a special edition car and a promotional campaign to go with it. Continue reading
Happy Z31 Day from JNC
It’s March 1, the day on which we celebrate the 80s icon that is the third-generation Nissan Z. May your day be filled with pop-up headlights, turbocharging, and T-tops. Happy Z31 Day from JNC.
EVENTS: 2018 New Year Meeting, Part 02 — Sixties Sedans
In Part 01 of our New Year Meeting coverage we concentrated on sports cars and coupes from the 1960s. However, there were many fine four-doors from that era as well, and as the two-doors rise in price the once neglected sedans are gaining in popularity. Continue reading
EVENTS: 2018 New Year Meeting, Part 01 — Sixties Specials
The New Year Meeting is the oldest classic car event in Japan, held annually at the end of January, closer to the lunar new year than the Gregorian one. Having started in 1977, this year marked the 42nd time it was held. This year’s show was smaller than years past, perhaps having to do with the frigid temperatures and cloudy skies, but there was still no shortage of stunning J-tin. Continue reading
Posted in events
Tagged 117, 2000gt, 510, bellett, bluebird, contessa, cosmo sport, datsun, fairlady roadster, hino, honda, Honda S-Series, isuzu, mazda, monkey, new year meeting, nissan, publica, r360, toyota
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MOTORSPORT: Nissan will be the featured marque at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
Nissan has confirmed that it will be the featured marque at the 2018 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. The event celebrating vintage racing machines takes place at Laguna Seca during the Monterey Historics car week, and remains one of the most prestigious automotive events in the world. This will be the first time a Japanese marque has been honored there. Continue reading
QotW: What’s your best junkyard score of 2017?
Now that we have all gotten used to writing “2018” like a pro, let’s take a gander back to 2017 and relive your junkyard highlights of the past year. Being in the heart of Tokyo, I don’t get many chances to hit junkyards but sometimes you can find cool stuff on the side of the road. One of my best junkyard scores was making friends with a yard owner and staff. They were a fountain of knowledge and, if you played your cards right, they would give you a heads up when a 1985 Supra rolls in the yard with mint 14×7 rims. But enough about that! I want to know what the scene is like in 2017. Is it getting harder to find stuff, more cut throat?
What”s your best junkyard score of 2017?
The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What JNC trinkets do you collect?” Continue reading
Posted in Question of the Week, Uncategorized
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VIDEO: The introduction of Suzuki’s first car
Suzuki’s first car, the Suzulight, was launched in 1955. At a time when few in Japan owned private cars, and few roads existed, the first cars were sold to doctors so they could make house visits. Continue reading
Tokyo Auto Salon: RE Amemiya’s personal Cosmo Sport
For Mazda fans the name RE Amemiya need no introduction. Isami Amemiya founded his rotary tuning house in 1974, and has been responsible for the world’s most insane modified Mazdas since. Ama-san has been sending these mad creations, usually FC or FD RX-7s, to the Auto Salon since the days when it was still called the Tokyo Exciting Car Show, but this year he turned heads with a classic build. Continue reading
Posted in Tokyo Auto Salon
Tagged cosmo, fd3s, mazda, re amemiya, rx-7, tokyo auto salon
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Tokyo Auto Salon: Subaru Rally Legends
Subaru’s headline at the Auto Salon was the Viziv STI Concept, a potential preview of its next Impreza WRX STI. To support it, they also brought out a pair of rally legends that spawned a generation of fans who bleed blue and yellow, including the car that kicked it all off before the Impreza even set tire on a WRC stage. Continue reading
