Japanese Nostalgic Car

MOTORSPORT: SuperGT champ buys his dream Supra

Posted on March 7, 2018 by Ricky Silverio

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 →

Posted in motorsport | Tagged A80, JGTC, juichi wakisaka, SuperGT, supra, toyota | 5 Comments

Happy TE37 Day from JNC

Posted on March 7, 2018 by Ben Hsu

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!

Posted in Holidays | Tagged corolla, e30, te37, toyota | 4 Comments

NEWS: This is the new Toyota Supra

Posted on March 6, 2018 by Ben Hsu

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 →

Posted in News | Tagged A90, Gazoo Racing, geneva motor show, supra, toyota | 27 Comments

EVENTS: 2018 New Year Meeting, Part 03 — Seventies and Eighties

Posted on March 6, 2018 by Ricky Silverio

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 | 7 Comments

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 QotW | 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 bomber, hayashi | 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 300zx, fairlady z, nissan, z32 | 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 impreza, subaru, subaru 360 | 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 300zx, fairlady z, nissan, z31 | 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 →

Posted in events | Tagged 510, bellett, bluebird, cedric, cedric 130, corona, crown, Hakosuka, isuzu, new year meeting, nissan, s50, skyline, T20, toyota | 6 Comments

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 →

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 | 9 Comments

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 datsun, nissan, Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion | 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 suzuki, Suzulight | 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 →

Posted in Tokyo Auto Salon | Tagged cosmo, fd3s, mazda, re amemiya, rx-7, tokyo auto salon | Leave a comment

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 impreza, legacy, subaru, tokyo auto salon, wrc | 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 QotW | 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 faster, isuzu, Lunar New Year, P'up, trucks | 4 Comments

NEWS: Subaru of America celebrates 50 years