We at Japanese Nostalgic Car are proud to announce that Touge California, our vintage road rally for all Japanese marques, returns for 2017 with Mazda as the title sponsor. It is a particularly great honor this year, as 2017 marks the 50th anniversary of Mazda’s rotary engine, and Touge California will be part of the festivities. Continue reading
EVENTS: All-Toyotafest 2017, Part 04 — The rise of the E30 Corolla
There is never a shortage of Corollas at Toyotafest, and for years the best builds in the field belonged to the AE86, TE27, and TE72 contingents, maybe even a front-driver AE92. This year, however, the 1975-79 E30 Corolla has emerged as a new “it” chassis. Continue reading
Posted in events
Tagged ae86, corolla, corolla levin, e10, e20, e30, ke15, sprinter trueno, te27, te37, te51, toyota, toyotafest, Toyotafest 2017
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QotW: What does your mom think of your JNC?
As Mother’s Day rolls on by (Hi, mom!) we take time to say thanks to the one that helped raise us to upstanding citizen and avid JNC fan. I wonder, does dear ol’ mom share the same understanding and admiration for J-tin as you do? Share your story with us.
In my case, my mother didn’t see my AE86 until several months after purchase. I was in college at the time and though I had owned several cars in the past, this was the first one that I would update her on the progress of fixing up. Those repairs and upgrades were also the reason I had to skip out on making the trek back home for a family visit. So, when I finally took the GT-S back home to show my pride and joy, I was greeted with a, “So… that’s it?” rather than a “Wow, so that’s it!”. To my mom, it was an old car with chipped paint and dirty wheels. It wasn’t until I painted the car (self taught) that she started to see the value. That grew as people would stop and ask to buy it during weekends I was at the house.
Now, I think she sees it as just a part of me and not a mistake on four wheels. The car is in mid-refresh now and even though I am an ocean away, she took the time to still look after it. Even steam cleaned the seats! That’s progress. Thanks, mom! So how about our readers?
What does your mom think of your JNC?
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 ‘3-digit purchase price’ car story?” Continue reading
Happy Mother’s Day from JNC
To all the moms out there, thanks for doing all that you do. Happy Mother’s Day from JNC!
Mazda museum to open in Germany, first outside of Japan
A museum dedicated to classic Mazdas is about to open in Augsburg, Germany. Operated by Auto Frey, a Mazda dealer in the Bavarian city, and with support from Mazda Germany, Frey’s Mazda Classic Car Museum promises to be the first and only such museum outside of Japan. Continue reading
Toyotafest Spotlight: Orly Tapay’s Works replica KP47 Starlet
One of the stars of Toyotafest this year was Orly Tapay’s 1974 Toyota Starlet. Not only was it a rare model never sold in the US, but it was a stunning replica of a Toyota works racer from the heyday of Japanese touring cars. Continue reading
Toyotafest Spotlight: JZ-powered Celica drag racers
Two of the biggest head turners at this year’s Toyotafest were a pair of seriously mean drag racers built on a daruma Celica chassis. Both were caged, tubbed, and running mills from the legendary Toyota JZ family. Continue reading
Posted in events
Tagged a20, celica, daruma, drag race, toyota, toyotafest, Toyotafest 2017
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EVENTS: All-Toyotafest 2017, Part 03 — Fun to Drive
“Fun to Drive” was the tagline of Toyota Japan for much of the 1980s, and it was absolutely true. Toyota once had a whole portfolio of stylish, slingable cars that were also — and this is a key component of fun — affordable. Thanks to the new venue for Toyotafest this year, there was even more space to welcome greater numbers of these delightful machines. Continue reading
Toyotafest Spotlight: Richard Pope’s 1977 Celica Liftback
After a decade of attending Toyotafests, the thing we look forward to most are the surprise builds that come out of nowhere. This year, one of the cars that really caught our eyes was Richard Pope’s 1977 Celica Liftback. Continue reading
Happy 510 Day from JNC
Nissan introduced the Bluebird 510 in 1967. Here’s to killing giants for half a century. Happy 510 Day from JNC!
EVENTS: All-Toyotafest 2017, Part 02 — Celebrating the all-conquering Land Cruiser
Toyotafest this year took the opportunity to honor what could be Toyota’s most legendary model. Sure, a neck-snapping Supra, drifting-birthing AE86, or luxe Lexus may be the dream cars of the first world, but for the rest of the globe the Land Cruiser is the ultimate aspirational machine. Continue reading
Posted in events
Tagged FJ25, fj40, fj45, fj60, fj62, J80, land cruiser, toyota, toyotafest, Toyotafest 2017
11 Comments
EVENTS: 2017 All-Toyotafest 2017, Part 01 — New Digs
Like RAV4 sales numbers, the number of cars at Toyotafest is ever-expanding. Now in its 22nd year, the country’s most comprehensive Toyota, Lexus and Scion car show has outgrown its home at the Queen Mary. This year, organizers from the Toyota Owners and Restorers Club moved to a new venue, giving the event the space to truly show off all the branches of the Toyota family tree. Continue reading
Posted in events
Tagged 4runner, a20, a40, a60, ae86, avalon, aw11, camry, Camry Coupe, celica, Colin Project, corolla, corolla levin, corona, cressida, e70, e90, focus racing, ke10, lexus, Lexus GS, Lexus LC, Lexus LS, Lexus RC, longchamp xr-4, mr2, s190, scion, Scion xB, star sharks, sunchaser, sw20, t80, toyota, Toyota Van, toyotafest, Toyotafest 2017, UCF20, UCF30, x30, XV10
7 Comments
QotW: What’s your best “3-digit purchase price” car story?
If you’ve been around J-tin long enough, you’ve purchased a 3-digit car. That’s when the transaction price is less than $1,000, and we’re not talking about the so-called “value” you declared to the DMV. We mean money that actually exchanged hands, from buyer to seller. Sometimes it’s a decrepit heap in someone’s backyard that you have to yank out of its car-shaped hole. Other times it’s a rusty parts car that you limp back to your garage. Or, if you’re really lucky, an actual, running machine that you white-knuckle home over a number of miles exceeding the number of dollars paid.
What’s your best “3-digit purchase price” car story?
The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “Which car should automakers make reproduction parts for next?” Continue reading
MOTORSPORT: Honda Civic Racing History
The Honda Civic was a giant slayer if there ever was one. Rarely in history has one model done so many things so well. One of those things was racing, a facet of the Civic rarely covered in Western media. Earlier this year in the lobby of its Tokyo headquarters building, Honda held a special exhibit on the motorsports genealogy of the Civic, spanning several generations and decades. Time for a history lesson. Continue reading
Posted in motorsport
Tagged accord, civic, Civic EA, Civic EG, ef, Fuji Grand Champion, honda, Honda Welcome Plaza, JTC, jtcc, sb1, Team Yamato
15 Comments
May the 4th Be With You
Since today is the unofficial holiday for Star Wars fans around the world, we felt compelled to post the 1977 Star Wars promo Toyota Celica Liftback. The car was given away in a contest at the launch of the original movie that started it all, but has disappeared from the public eye over the years. It seems that any record of the winner was later destroyed and they lost track of the car. We are currently looking into the status of the search for the car and will update you with details as soon as they are available.
“There is no emotion, there is peace. There is no ignorance, there is knowledge. There is no passion, there is serenity. There is no chaos, there is harmony. There is no death, there is the Force.” – Jedi Code as recited by Obi-Wan Kenobi
May the 4th be with you.
KIDNEY, ANYONE? This 1980 Honda Prelude is gold, Jerry!
For five generations and 22 years the Prelude was sports coupe of the Honda lineup. Later iterations were some of the best handling front-drivers ever built, darlings of the Tuner Era, but the SN-chassis is where it all began. And when you’re talking first-gen Preludes, an example like this one offered for sale in Kingman, Arizona, is as close to the holy grail as you can get. Continue reading
BACK ROADS: The HD Mazda 929
Mazda is on a roll these days, their current products heralded as best-in-segment in every class they compete in. Their designs have been stunning, especially in contrast to the current trend of excessively decorative styling, and their driving dynamics are top shelf. As a marque, the Hiroshima company is climbing the premium ladder, says the conventional wisdom. Yet, premium cars have been in Mazda’s portfolio from the beginning, typified by none better than the Luce. In this installment of Back Roads, we look at the long lineage of posh Mazda sedans, and specifically one of its ultimate descendants, the HD 929. Continue reading
REMINDER: 2017 Toyotafest is this Saturday
Just a friendly reminder: The 22nd Annual Toyotafest takes place this Saturday, May 6, at its new location. It’s still in Long Beach by the Queen Mary, but it will now be held at Marina Green Park. Instructions can be found on the Toyotafest website.
The new venue should help with some of the parking shortages from past shows. Doors open a 9am and the show will run until 3pm for spectators and will include Toyota, Lexus and Scion vehicles. Admission is free.
See you there!
MINICARS: Hot Wheels previews C130 Nissan Laurel
We are stoked to show you the latest Hot Wheels prototype, the C130 Nissan Laurel. Revealed by the design team in its metal and plastic form, it is a perfectly proportioned Butaketsu in true shakotan style. Continue reading
QotW: Which car should automakers make reproduction parts for next?
We learned last week that NISMO is going to start making brand new parts for the R32 Skyline GT-R again. This is great news for enthusiasts, who will be able to restore and drive their cars, and also great for the automaker, who can feel good about supporting enthusiasts while keeping examples of their best creations on the road. Perhaps other Japanese car companies will take a page from Nissan’s book and do the same.
Which car should automakers make reproduction parts for next?
The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What’s the greatest Skyline?” Continue reading
