QotW: What was your favorite JNC commercial as a kid?

Posted on March 5, 2018 by Brandon Kelley

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 →

Posted in Question of the Week | Tagged | 14 Comments

Hayashi Racing is (maybe) bringing back the Bomber wheel as part of a (maybe) Heritage Wheel reissue program (…maybe)

Posted on March 2, 2018 by Kevin San

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 →

Posted in Vintage Barrels, wheels | Tagged , | 9 Comments

Happy Z32 Day from JNC

Posted on March 2, 2018 by Ben Hsu

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.

Posted in Holidays | Tagged , , , | 14 Comments

NEWS: Subaru 60th Anniversary cars released in Japan

Posted on March 1, 2018 by Ben Hsu

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 →

Posted in News | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Happy Z31 Day from JNC

Posted on March 1, 2018 by Ben Hsu

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.

 

Posted in Holidays | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

EVENTS: 2018 New Year Meeting, Part 02 — Sixties Sedans

Posted on February 28, 2018 by Ricky Silverio

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 →

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EVENTS: 2018 New Year Meeting, Part 01 — Sixties Specials

Posted on February 27, 2018 by Ben Hsu

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 →

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MOTORSPORT: Nissan will be the featured marque at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion

Posted on February 26, 2018 by Ben Hsu

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 →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

QotW: What’s your best junkyard score of 2017?

Posted on February 26, 2018 by Brandon Kelley

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 | 12 Comments

VIDEO: The introduction of Suzuki’s first car

Posted on February 23, 2018 by Ben Hsu

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 →

Posted in Video | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Tokyo Auto Salon: RE Amemiya’s personal Cosmo Sport

Posted on February 21, 2018 by Ricky Silverio

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 →

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Tokyo Auto Salon: Subaru Rally Legends

Posted on February 20, 2018 by Ben Hsu

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 →

Posted in Tokyo Auto Salon | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

QotW: What JNC trinkets do you collect?

Posted on February 19, 2018 by Brandon Kelley

My office desk has everything from the latest JNC Hot Wheels, to an Auto Salon media badge with a sticker from Top Secret on it, to canned coffee promotional Super GT replica race cars. I kind of gravitate to any and all things car-related, especially JNC (remember that Blade Runner record with the FC RX-7 on it?). How about you? Is there anything specific you collect, or are you like me and just got for whatever floats your boat?

What JNC trinkets do you collect?

The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What makes you cringe about the current JNC culture?” Continue reading →

Posted in Question of the Week | Tagged | 19 Comments

Happy President’s Day from JNC

Posted on February 19, 2018 by Ben Hsu

What better way to leave it all behind than with the memory of your last ride, a black Nissan President hearse? Get carried away by its grace, class, and dignity, and forget your troubles back on Earth. ‘Cause at the end of the day, it’s all about exiting in style, and that big golden topper will leave ’em in tears.

Posted in Holidays | 1 Comment

Happy Year of the Dog from JNC

Posted on February 16, 2018 by Ben Hsu

For all those that celebrate the lunar new year, we at JNC wish you a happy Year of the Dog. Look at those li’l P’ups coming down the ramp, so eager to see you!

Posted in Holidays | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

NEWS: Subaru of America celebrates 50 years

Posted on February 16, 2018 by Ben Hsu

February 15 marked the 50th anniversary of Subaru of America. Half a century ago, the company consisted of two guys hawking Fuji Rabbit scooters and trying to drum up interest in the Subaru 360 kei car. Now it sells nearly 650,000 cars a year and enjoys sales growth that’s the envy of every other automaker.  Continue reading →

Posted in 50 Year Club | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

You can now get Honda-branded fashion at Forever 21

Posted on February 15, 2018 by Ben Hsu

Most of us at JNC are what the kids today call “old” and therefore our fashion tastes very rarely converge with those who consider Snapchat a news channel. However, fashion retailer Forever 21 has a new collaboration with Honda that we finally get.  Continue reading →

Posted in nostalgic gear | Tagged | 5 Comments

VIDEO: This stunning Mazda collection goes beyond rotaries

Posted on February 14, 2018 by Ben Hsu

When you hear Mazda collector, typically that means a fleet of rotaries or Miatas. Danny Irvine has one of the most impressive Mazda collections around, precisely because it goes beyond RX-7s and Cosmos. In fact, his stable includes everything from K360 and T2000 3-wheeled trucks to Carols to Familias.  Continue reading →

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Happy Valentine’s Day from JNC

Posted on February 14, 2018 by Ben Hsu

Fall in love with the Nissan Skyline 1800 this Valentine’s Day. This series of commercials from the late 1960s can’t get any more romantic, with a walk along the beach, warming up in front of a fireplace, and attempts to push a cow out of the road — all made possible with the Nissan Skyline. Happy Valentine’s Day from JNC!  Continue reading →

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KIDNEY ANYONE? First Mitsubishi Lancer Evo I legally imported to the US

Posted on February 13, 2018 by Ryan Senensky

Hot on the heels of the first Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution officially joining the 25 Year Club, a rally tribute 1993 Evo I, nicknamed Stickers, is now stateside and ready for a new home. It is likely the first LanEvo imported to America, having arrived just before the car turned 25, according to Brian Jannusch of Top Rank/International Vehicle Importers.   Continue reading →

Posted in for sale | Tagged , , | 5 Comments