One of the biggest news items in the world of nostalgic motorcycles came last year at the Tokyo Motor Show when Kawasaki unveiled the retro Z900RS. Our own San Mamiya called “the Kenmeri Skyline of bikes” due to the impact it had on the motorcycle scene when the original Z900 was released in 1972. Last weekend at the Tokyo Motorcycle Show, a retro Kaw inspired by the 1979 Z1000 MkII made its own debut. Continue reading
NEWS: Retro Kawasaki Z1000 MkII-inspired bike unveiled at Tokyo Motorcycle Show
Posted in Motorcycles
Tagged Doremi Collection, kawasaki, Tokyo Motorcycle Show, Z1000, Z900RS
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QotW: What do you do with the Double DIN hole?
Arguably, one of the best features of any JNC is the double DIN section of the center console. Originally reserved for the latest in cutting edge Japanese audio fidelity; the area is now home to anything under the sun from new MP3 decks, a place for CDs to hide, boost gauges and more! So, tell us:
What do you do with the Double DIN hole?
The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What about your current JNC made you buy it?” Continue reading
Posted in Question of the Week, Uncategorized
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Tokyo Auto Salon: The awesome stuff we didn’t get to
In the past, the Tokyo Auto Salon has been pretty easy for us to cover. The show is still geared towards cars on the cutting edge of performance tech and style, so true chrome-bumpered classics were fairly thin on the ground. However, as time marches on more and more cars from the golden age of tuning fall within the 25 year threshold, the scope of what JNC covers has grown as well.
There were a lot of highlights at the Tokyo Auto Salon, but there was even more stuff we didn’t have time to feature. Rather than let those images go to waste, we are throwing them all into this catch-all for you to peruse. Continue reading
Posted in Tokyo Auto Salon
Tagged 2000gt, ae86, b110, c10, corolla, corolla levin, drifting, fairlady z, g-works, hachiroku, Hakosuka, kp61, mazda, miata, mx-5, nissan, Obayashi Factory, r31, R31 House, r32, rocky auto, s13, s30 z, skyline, sprinter trueno, star road, starlet, sunny, tokyo auto salon, tomei, Top Secret, toyota
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NEWS: JDM Legends TV show premieres April 17
Well here’s some very exciting news. JDM Legends is a new show that will debut on Velocity Channel on April 17. As the name implies, it follows the Salt Lake City-based shop of the same name. Finally, a TV show, in America, about the cars we know and love. Continue reading
PRODUCT GUIDE: Dixcel brakes for classic Japanese cars
Established in 2003, Osaka’s Dixcel Brakes is a relative newcomer to the tuning scene but quickly established themselves in SuperGT and other Asian racing series. However, with their new line of kyusha-oriented brake components they’re targeting owners who want stronger stopping power without changing the look of their nostalgic cars. Continue reading
VIDEO: The FJ Company is the Singer Porsche of Land Cruisers
We first came across The FJ Company’s work at SEMA 2016 and were impressed by their workmanship. The company’s latest promotional video gives a peek inside their shop, showing how much effort goes into building one of their FJ40s. Continue reading
NEWS: No Nissan-Mercedes collab on new Z, new claims of 2019 production debut
The rumor last week that Nissan — looking on forlornly as rival Toyota joined hands with BMW on the new Supra — would turn to Mercedes to co-develop the next Z has sparked another round of gossip. This time, the Mercedes partnership is debunked, while other theories take flight. Continue reading
NEWS: Here’s Japan’s most delicious service area food
The food at Japan’s service areas is so good that NEXCO East, the expressway management company for eastern Japan, holds a contest to determine which one has the most tasty lunch. The Grand Prix winner this year was just announced, and it is — drum roll, please — Tomobe Service Area in Ibaraki Prefecture. Continue reading
Happy first day of spring from JNC
This is a friendly reminder from JNC that it’s the first day of spring. That means it’s time for the cherry blossoms to come out, and for your car that’s been in hibernation all winter to come out as well. Take to the roads again, and happy first day of Spring from JNC!
Posted in Holidays
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VIDEO: Mazda Canada celebrates 50 years
Fifty years ago, Mazda Canada started when a Familia Rotary Coupe, known on this side of the Pacific as an R100, went on sale. To celebrate half a century of sales, Mazda Canada released a flashback video covering significant milestones and models. Continue reading
QotW: What about your current JNC made you to buy it?
Sometimes, when we see a car, it’s love at first sight. An example of this is the primal reaction to motor show unveils (as in last week’s QotW). A car can have that special “something” that shoots straight to your heart, and puts blinders over your eyes to any mechanical annoyances or glaring faults.
For me, retractable headlamps has been a repeat offense. 80 percent of all vehicles I’ve owned have had pop-ups. They are impractical, can be costly to fix, and can leave you looking foolish if they go haywire — but they are so cool looking! I’ve bought cars hook, line and sinker for this very feature, despite the presence of rust, engine gremlins and transmission issues.
What about your current JNC made you to buy it?
The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “How excited are you about the new Supra?” Continue reading
Happy St. Patrick’s Day from JNC
Do you have the luck o’ the Irish when hunting for Hot Wheels? Maybe some green in the form of a Japan Historics 2 Nissan Laurel will bring you good fortune. Happy St. Patrick’s Day from JNC!
Posted in Holidays
2 Comments
KIDNEY, ANYONE? Unmolested 1987 Toyota Corolla AE86 Coupe
A bone stock 1987 Toyota Corolla GT-S Coupe has surfaced auction on eBay in southern California. The AE86 chassis, famed for its drifting prowess and starring role in Initial D, has risen to legend status, especially as unmolested examples dwindle. That’s why even with nearly 200,000 miles on the odo, someone is asking nearly $20,000 for a 30-year-old Corolla. Continue reading
PRODUCT GUIDE: The IRC MB52 “footprint” tire has our new favorite tread pattern
Japan has an incredible penchant for making vehicle modification fun, something that is missing from a lot of car cultures. While going through Ricky’s excellent article about the odds and ends of the NYM, I came across the funkiest tire I’ve ever seen on a light green Honda minibike. I had to know more. Continue reading
VIDEO: You can’t not love the Subaru Sambar
Scott Coletti is a lifetime Subaru fanatic, and his 360 Sambar is among the best kept examples stateside. I can only think of a handful that are anywhere near to being on par. He’s honest about the van — it’s slow, hot and loud, but what do you expect from a 2-stroke air-cooled engine? However, Scott maintains that “there’s a lot of driving in driving this car.” because you have to pay attention, and even at 45 mph velocities it “has the feeling of going 100 miles per hour.” Continue reading
EVENTS: 2018 New Year Meeting, Part 05 — Odds and Ends
One of the best parts about the largest classic car show in Tokyo is the random stuff you find for sale. We’ve covered the cars and trucks, so let’s take a look at the miscellany to be discovered in various corners of the event. Whether it’s parts, lit, or collectibles, there is no shortage of stuff to feed the otaku-minded. Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Advan HF Type D, bridgestone, c210, crown, fairlady z, honda, Honda T-Series, hoshino, mazda, minicars, motocompo, new year meeting, nissan, panasport, r30, r360, rs watanabe, rx-7, s30 z, s50, sa22, skyline, ssr, subaru, subaru 360, toyota, wagons, work wheels, Yokohama Tire
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ART CORNER: Japanese artist recreates Initial D touge scenes with amazing model cars
It’s an iconic scene from the pages of Initial D — Takumi Fujiwara’s AE86 touge-battling Keisuke Takahashi’s FD RX-7, drifting through a hairpin. A Japanese artist known as Shinga on Twitter has recreated the moment, but as much as the finished product looks like pen and ink, it’s composed amazingly painted of 1:24-scale model kits. Continue reading
Posted in Art Corner
Tagged ae86, corolla, fd3s, Initial D, mazda, rx-7, sprinter trueno, toyota
8 Comments
NEWS: Next-gen Nissan Fairlady Z rumored to be co-developed with Mercedes-Benz
Should we be worried? The Axis Powers seem to be getting a bit uncomfortably close with their technology sharing. The latest rumor is that Nissan is preparing a seventh-generation Fairlady Z, one that is being co-developed with Daimler, the parent company of Mercedes-Benz. Continue reading
VIDEO: GrassRoots Garage comes to California for Datsun Heaven
The online space for car videos is pretty crowded, but a favorite among the JNC staff right now is Australia’s Grassroots Garage. The editing is straightforward , their videos aren’t crammed with fancy drone tracking shots, and the host has a great accent. But it’s honest and, well, grassroots. They recently came to America and shot a whole lot of footage for a series called Datsun Heaven. Continue reading
MOTORSPORT: Australia’s Improved Production Racing is absolutely riveting
Even to car guys, a lot of modern racing is boring because there simply isn’t a lot of differentiation in the actual cars. Sanctioning bodies have made the rules so strict that in many cases the cars are basically identical. That’s why the Improved Production class in Australia is so fascinating. Continue reading
Posted in motorsport
Tagged 510, 808, ae86, australia, b110, datsun, Improved Production Challenge, lancer evolution, Magna, mazda, mitsubishi, nissan, r100, rx-3, rx-7, sa22, sunny, toyota
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