It is with sadness that we report the passing of John Knepp, a pivotal figure in Nissan’s growth into a motorsports powerhouse in the United States. A founding partner in legendary engineering firm Electramotive, Knepp was an unsung hero of the turbocharging revolution that would propel Electramotive’s famous red-white-and-blue Nissan 280ZXs and GTP-ZXs to victory at racing’s highest levels. Continue reading
RIP John Knepp, 1942 – 2017
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged 280zx, 510, datsun, Electramotive, imsa, john knepp, nissan
8 Comments
MINICARS: Hot Wheels R33 Nissan Skyline GT-R revealed
Hot Wheels is well on their way to completing every generation of Nissan Skyline, and the latest is a beauty. For the 2018 model year, the R33 GT-R joins the lineup, beautifully proportioned and in the traditional dark blue metallic of the Hot Wheels race team. Some say the R33 is the least attractive of the modern Godzillas, but at least in Hot Wheels form, it’s gorgeous.
Image: Hot Wheels Dream Team
EVENTS: 2017 Nissan Jam, Part 02 — Celebrating 50 years of the Datsun 510
This year’s Nissan Jam celebrated the 50th anniversary of a very special model, the Datsun 510. Released in 1967 in Japan and arriving in the US for the 1968 model year, it is the car that did the most to change people’s minds about Japanese cars. It’s hard to believe it’s half a century old. Continue reading
VIDEO: The traffic to Tokyo Disneyland in 1985 was JNC heaven
Were you lucky enough to have a four-day Independence Day weekend? In Japan, one of the biggest tourism holidays is Golden Week, which takes place in the spring. So here, for your viewing pleasure, is a home video of what seems like all of Tokyo trying to go to Disneyland on the same day during Golden Week 1985. Tokyo Disneyland was only two years old back then, and the traffic jams were an asphalt sea of JNCs. Continue reading
Happy 4th of July from JNC
Here’s some red, white and blue on the most American 240SX ever — an IMSA race car, not a drift missile — in honor Independence Day. Happy 4th of July from JNC.
Happy MX73 Day from JNC!
Not particularly beloved when new, The Cressida has gained a second life as a drift missile, zokusha sled, and bona fide classic. Happy MX73 Day from JNC!
QotW: What are your JNC plans this 4th of July?
If you couldn’t tell, this is possibly the most extreme photo of a Datsun Z overfender that also incorporates the United States flag. Why you may ask? Because July 4th is just around the corner. Even though the United States’ Independence Day lands on a Tuesday, more than likely many Americans are kicking off the festivities by taking Monday off as well. For myself in Japan, I will go to the office as usual but later I will find time to grab a burger and a beverage. Heck, I can even grab some fireworks at the local convenience store. Sadly, I will need to wait for the coming weekend to get my JNC fix. Baby steps to Saturday…
Since I must wait a bit for my plans, I want to ask about your plans. Do you have any JNC plans for the 4th of July? I can even open the question up to encompass this week for those outside the 50 states.
What are your JNC plans this 4th of July (week)?
Plans to take the JNC camping? A car show? weekly detailing? Parts install? The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “JNC Challenge, Part 07” Continue reading
JCCS 2017 registration now open
Registration for the 13th annual Japanese Classic Car Show is now open.
North America’s largest gathering of historic Japanese vehicles will be taking place at the Queen Mary in Long Beach, California on September 23, 2017.
You can register at the JCCS website. starting today.
Posted in Reminder
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EVENTS: 2017 Nissan Jam, Part 01 — Starting with Z
Now in its fifth year, Nissan Jam has grown beyond its humble origins as a dealership show. While there’s still a ways to go before it catches up with events like Toyotafest in both caliber and scope, the Nissan, Datsun and Infiniti show looks to be on its way there. Of course, when one thinks Nissan, the Z is the image that is conjured first and foremost, and the Jam attracted a diverse gathering of Nissan’s most famous marque. Continue reading
The Datsun 620 looks pretty good as a wagon, it turns out
Your eyes do not deceive you. This is a wagon with a 620 front, and it’s not a one-off custom. It’s an actual car produced in an actual factory, and any Google searches conducted for it seem to only return this particular yellow example. Suffice it to say, it’s pretty darn rare. Continue reading
MOTORBIKES: This 50th Anniversary Special will be last Honda Monkey ever made
As we reported back in April, the Honda Monkey will be discontinued at the end of August after 50 years of production. To mark the occasion, Honda has created one final special edition of the famed mini-bike. The Honda Monkey 50th Special will be limited to just 500 units. Continue reading
KIDNEY, ANYONE? You’ll never guess how much this TE27 SR5 sold for
The rise of JNC prices continues, with this 1974 Toyota Corolla SR5 having recently sold for a truly impressive sum. While we have seen Datsuns and rotaries sell for around $20,000, it’s not that common to see Toyotas in the sporty RWD coupe class pull similar amounts. Why is this car special? Continue reading
PIXELATED: Kat’s Run Zen-Nippon K Car Senshuken
Have you ever played Mario Kart and thought, “I wish these were all kei cars.”? If so, we have a game for you. Kat’s Run: Zen-Nippon K Car Senshuken produced by Atlus Games in 1995 was available exclusively for the Super Famicom (Japanese for Super Nintendo) and featured a greatest hits of the best kei sports cars around. Unfortunately this game fell into obscurity during a flood of racing games that all came out around the same time. It’s worth understanding why this game got lost in the fray since it’s not a bad game by any means. Continue reading
Posted in Video Games
Tagged alto, Autozam AZ-1, beat, cappuccino, daihatsu, honda, jimny, kei car, mazda, minica, mira, mitsubishi, Nintendo, Sega, Super Famicom, Super Nintendo, suzuki, today, Toppo, video games, Wagon R
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QotW: Take the JNC Challenge, Part 07
Congrats goes out to Ant and Jayrdee for helping us make a purchase! We are the proud owner of a 1986 (Kouki)MR2 (AW11) after nabbing it from a police auction. I guess we felt we wanted to go in an even more sportier direction than the Shuttle 😉 This “Mr. 2” is not the cleanest, nor the prettiest like the brochure pic above, but is in the US-only metallic blue (we have a thing for blue…); It is a heck of a looker (when wet and hiding all the faults). The fenders have some dents, a little rust near the fuel door but it has the “redtop” 4AGE which coming out of the factory topped out at 115 hp. Not much was done to it other than some seat covers and APC glow kit in purple under the glovebox.
We blew $2300 (a steal!) on this little 2-seater after taxes and titling. We have $1500. Now, the easy question is, what do we do with it? Take it to get detailed, maintenance? some high octane boost to shake down the engine that reads 166,000 miles?
What do we do to our MR2 with $1500 to spend?
The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What JNC memory do you have with your Dad?”
MOTORSPORT: A history of Toyota’s heartbreaks at Le Mans, Part 02
In Part 01, Toyota ended 1992’s 24 Hours of Le Mans with a second place finish, their best to date, in the TS010. Surprisingly, a 3.6-liter Toyota 92C-V fielded by Trust (GReddy) based on the older generation of Group C racers took fifth overall and won the C2 class. A second TS010 took 8th and another 92C-V took 9th. They had finally developed competitive machines, and would mount such a siege with dedicated track weapons built specifically for the race that by the end of the decade Toyota would be a major force at Circuit de la Sarthe. Continue reading
MOTORSPORT: A history of Toyota’s heartbreaks at Le Mans, Part 01
This week we learned that Toyota’s Le Mans curse remains firmly in tact, having robbed the team of what seemed like a sure-fire victory. The loss, due to a comically unfortunate mistake perpetrated by another team, prompted President Akio Toyoda to issue a heart-felt apology to fans, his crew, and even his drivers for not building a car that let them “drive all out.”
Even race fans that wouldn’t be caught dead in a Camry couldn’t help but root for them, but alas, it was not in the cards for Toyota this year. They’re the Chicago Cubs of Le Mans, except worse, because the Cubs have actually won. Here’s a brief history of Toyota’s tragic attempts at conquering the world’s most grueling race. Continue reading
Posted in motorsport
Tagged 85C, 86C, 87C, 88C, 89C, 90C, 92C, a40, celica, Geoff Lees, Hitoshi Ogawa, Kaoru Hoshino, le mans, Masanori Sekiya, MC75, SARD, Satoru Nakajima, sigma, Toshio Suzuki, toyota, TS010
4 Comments
VIDEO: Ode to an AW11 Toyota MR2
If you haven’t watched Mr Regular yet, you’ve been missing out on some truly entertaining car reviews. Punctuated with literary references and dick jokes of the highest caliber, they are the exact opposite of the typical driving impression videos. There’s no powersliding of exotics across abandoned airstrips, just countless test drives of cars anyone can afford. So, what does a guy who has driven everything under the sun buy for himself? An AW11, of course. Continue reading
MOTORSPORT: Drifting is now an FIA-sanctioned motorsport
If you are a fan of both professional motorsports and drifting, your day has come. FIA, the federation that sanctions the likes of Formula One, World Rally Championship, and World Endurance Championship — of which 24 Hours of Le Mans is a part — announced on June 21 its first Intercontinental Drifting Cup to take place this fall in Tokyo, Japan. Continue reading
MINICARS: Hot Wheels Skyline Japan and City Turbo prototypes
At the rate its going, Hot Wheels will soon have a model of every Nissan Skyline generation. The latest to come is the Skyline Japan, or C210 if you’re fluent in chassis codes. Unveiled at the Tokyo Toy Show, it appears ripe for customization, on widened fenders and small-scale wheels. Also revealing is the chassis, which does not exactly seem to be petroleum-based. A premium model, perhaps? Continue reading
Happy 620 Day from JNC
Do you need a little pick-up on this Tuesday? Just think of the Datsun 620 and you’ll feel better. Happy 620 Day from JNC.
