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 →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

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

Tokyo Auto Salon: Daihatsu Charade De Tomaso

Posted on February 13, 2018 by Ben Hsu

If you’re into tiny hatchbacks and Italian sports cars with Ford V8s, in 1980s Japan you could get a car combining both of these worlds. The Daihatsu Charade De Tomaso melded the work of Toyota’s compact car subsidiary and the Argentinian-Italian car builder into one machine. At the Tokyo Auto Salon this year, Daihatsu brought a fine example of this rare oddity, and put it front and center at its booth.  Continue reading →

Posted in Tokyo Auto Salon | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

NEWS: Toyota teases MkV Supra

Posted on February 12, 2018 by Ben Hsu

Toyota tweeted a dark image today of what is almost certainly the fifth-generation Supra. After not showing up at the Tokyo, Los Angeles or Detroit motor shows like it was rumored to, it looks as if it will make its public debut next month.  Continue reading →

Posted in Next Version | Tagged , | 15 Comments

VIDEO: The origins of Suzuki in anime form

Posted on February 12, 2018 by Ben Hsu

Suzuki has released a new animated video showing the origins The origins of Suzuki go back to the late 1800s, when founder Michio Suzuki was finishing up an carpentry apprenticeship at the age of fourteen. He devised an automatic loom, as he hailed from Japan’ Enshu region, known for its textiles. After building a loom of his own design for his mother, a weaver, he founded Suzuki Loom Works at the age of 21.  Continue reading →

Posted in Video | Tagged | 2 Comments

QotW: What makes you cringe about the current JNC culture?

Posted on February 12, 2018 by Brandon Kelley

We’ve see many trends roll through JNC culture over the years. Some great (upgrades in body rigidity and period correct wheel re-pops), and some not so great (such as over-use of accessory add-ons). Personally, I wince every time I hear people waxing on about “JDM” this and that. It comes off as very boy-racer and an air of elitism. How about you?

What makes you cringe about the current JNC culture?

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 favorite JNC underdog story?” Continue reading →

Posted in Question of the Week | Tagged | 26 Comments

Tokyo Auto Salon: Honda goes retro, announces plans for used car refurbishment

Posted on February 9, 2018 by Ben Hsu

Continuing the tour of Auto Salon automaker booths, we arrive at Honda. The company has its fingers in almost as many types of auto racing as Toyota, but perhaps more overall thanks to its motorcycle division. It also debuted an unusual retro design to whet the appetite of vintage Honda owners.  Continue reading →

Posted in Tokyo Auto Salon | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Tokyo Auto Salon: What Lambos? Liberty Walk’s Advan-livery Hakosuka

Posted on February 9, 2018 by Ricky Silverio

Liberty Walk never ceases to up the ante at each Auto Salon, each time showcasing a car that somehow manages to be more mind-blowing than the year before. The internet-melting buzz this year, as you may have heard, was the Lamborghini Miura done in the style of traditional Japanese tuning melded with modern stance culture (don’t worry, purists, it’s a replica). However, it was a different car at the Liberty Walk booth that got our motors revving here at JNC.  Continue reading →

Posted in Tokyo Auto Salon | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

KIDNEY, ANYONE? $10,000 for a Hot Wheels some paint missing

Posted on February 8, 2018 by Ricky Silverio

There is no doubt the Japan Historics 2 series are the hottest Hot Wheels of 2018. Given the rabid enthusiasm for diecast JNCs, that’s not surprising. What is surprising, however, is that a Skyline C210 from that series has sold for — pinky to mouth — $10,500. That is not a typo. The new casting is a highly desirable model both in real life and in diecast form, but what could possibly prompt someone to pay real car prices for one?  Continue reading →

Posted in minicars | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments

Tokyo Auto Salon: A gorgeous restomod Hakosuka shows off Yokohama’s vintage tire revival

Posted on February 8, 2018 by Ben Hsu

Draped in the company’s trademark colors of black and red, the Yokohama Tire booth at the Tokyo Auto Salon was among the best of the show. A gleaming white Hakosuka Skyline stood proudly at its center, and while the goal was to show off Yokohama’s newly re-released vintage tires, the car itself was stunning as well.  Continue reading →

Posted in Tokyo Auto Salon | Tagged , , , , , , | 16 Comments

VIDEO: Subaru, A Life Story on the Line

Posted on February 7, 2018 by Ben Hsu

A new Subaru commercial follows the multiple generations of a family that owns nothing but Subaru wagons. It starts out with a daughter being born and leaving the hospital in a DL. Continue reading →

Posted in cm | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Tokyo Auto Salon: A woman-run tuning house’s ultra-Japanese custom creations

Posted on February 7, 2018 by Ben Hsu

The car world is still, unfortunately, very male dominated, with few woman-run shops anywhere on the planet. At the Tokyo Auto Salon this year, however, one of the most striking booths was that of L-Tide, a woman-led shop located in western Tokyo, and its display cars hailed from two of the most testosterone-fueled subcultures of Japanese tuning.  Continue reading →

Posted in Tokyo Auto Salon | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Happy TE27 Day from JNC

Posted on February 7, 2018 by Ben Hsu

Have a mango today, for it is TE27 Day. Take your Corolla Levin or Sprinter Trueno out for a drive to celebrate!

Posted in Holidays | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Tokyo Auto Salon: Nissan, Mitsubishi show cars with American roots

Posted on February 6, 2018 by Ben Hsu

We’ve seen how Japanese tuners glean inspiration from vintage American styles, but it’s interesting when actual automakers do the same. Though Nissan and Mitsubishi are of the same family now, their branding is still very separate. Coincidentally, both showed cars whose roots came from the States.  Continue reading →

Posted in Tokyo Auto Salon | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments