Fans at least year’s NISMO Festival were treated to the spectacle of Nissan’s historic racing machines tearing around the legendary Fuji Speedway. Though we were able to share photos of the event, there’s nothing like being there and hearing the cars actually running at full tilt. Well you’re in luck, because Nissan has released on-board footage of their HS30 240ZG doing exactly that. Continue reading
NY Auto Show: The coolest car in New York right now
JNC is at the New York International Auto Show, and despite all the big reveals of new crossovers and luxury sedans, the coolest car in city right now is what our own Ryan Senensky describes as “the first Japanese car to achieve 100 horsepower per liter.” Continue reading
EVENTS: Old School Reunion Las Vegas
When a new car show for classic imports sprang up Las Vegas, it was an opportunity for our friends in the Wild Cards car club to reunite. Usually it’s the Las Vegas cohort that has to travel to SoCal, but in this case it would be a contingent of Skylines and Zs tearing eastward across the Mojave Desert. Continue reading
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Tagged 240z, 280zx, 510, a20, a60, c10, c110, celica, corolla, corona, cressida, datsun, dodge colt, dr30, e30, Fairlday Roadster, gc10, Hakosuka, kenmeri, kgc10, kgc110, lancer, Las Vegas, mitsubishi, nissan, Old School Reunion, r30, s130, S30Z, sa22c, skyline, te37, wagons, Wild Cards, x70
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EVENTS: Nostalgic2Days 2017, Part 02 — Skyline Central
When Nostalgic Hero lists their top Japanese classics of all time, the winner is not a Nissan Fairlady Z, Mazda Cosmo Sport, or even at Toyota 2000GT. It’s the KPGC10 Skyline GT-R. Whether you agree with the choice or not, there’s no denying that at a two-day event organized by Nostalgic Hero, the Hako is going to reign supreme. Continue reading
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Tagged c10, c110, datsun, dr30, Hakosuka, hks, japan grand prix, kenmeri, kgc10, kgc110, kpgc10, kpgc110, Kusaka Engineering, nissan, os giken, panasport, pit house, prince, r30, r31, R31 House, radio control, rocky auto, rs watanabe, s54, skyline, Tea Valley, Tetsu Ikuzawa, UnLimited Kustoms, utilitas, Victory 50, Yoshikazu Sunako
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Happy National Pet Day from JNC
We’ve seen how JNCs, especially Hondas, can be loyal companions. In Japan, they have a whole campaign involving man’s best friend called Honda Dog. So in honor of National Pet Day, here’s a doberman pinscher that’s almost as tall as an S600 Coupe. Go hug your doggo (or catto or goldfisho) today.
Image courtesy of Honda.
KIDNEY, ANYONE? The actual EF Civic from the world’s saddest Honda ad is now for sale
That little girl from the saddest Honda commercial in the universe may have missed out on her chance to drive her beloved EF Civic, but you don’t have to. The actual car used in the spot is now for sale on Craigslist San Francisco. Continue reading
QotW: What do you put up with on your JNC?
Greetings, JNCers. Today marks the first week in Japan that the weather is actually turning for the better. The sakura are in bloom and a gentle breeze beckons us to get on the road for a casual jaunt down the nearest winding road. Back in the states, this would signal the time to take my US/J-spec mishmash zenki AE86 out of the garage. But as many know, owning a JNC is not always as easy as turning the key and driving off. They all have their own quirks and temperaments, some small and some large.
I have a 5AG stroker kit and AE101 ITBs installed. This gives the engine a roaring song at WOT not unlike the trumpets of victory as Perseus returned from defeating the Kraken. The tradeoff was the fuel mileage was awful, just above double digits on nice days. This meant I needed to several trips to the gas station a week and allocate a small fortune for fuel. Oh, but that sound. It was a temptation I could not fight.
This leads us (finally) to the QotW. We want to know about the things you look past when owning a JNC. Parts availability? Bolts not in metric? Tell us:
What do you put up with on your JNC?
The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “Will the coming influx of JDM imports make US-spec cars less desirable?“.
VIDEO: Custom Nissans used for baseball promos
Any baseball fans out there? It’s not uncommon for Japanese automakers to sponsor their home city teams. For years, Nissan sponsored the Yokohama Baystars and donated parade cars for the teams to use. As is the custom, Nissan would chop to the tops off of the cars so fans could see their favorite players arriving, making for some interesting one-offs. Continue reading
VIDEO: Why must Honda torture us with this horrible tragedy?
Honda is apparently on a quest to make grown car-loving men and women weep like little babies. In its latest ad, titled “You Are the One,” a girl is cruelly separated from a beloved family member, an EF Honda Civic. Get an onion ready though, so you can explain why you’re tearing up while watching a car commercial. Continue reading
NEWS: Honda Civic Si revealed live on YouTube
Honda is about to revive a beloved nameplate from the tuner world. Both the 2017 Civic Si coupe and sedan will debut online today, April 6, at 8:00 am Pacific Time on YouTube. For seven generations, the Si has been the top-dog performance variant available stateside, but with this latest generation Honda has announced that it will bring the Civic Type R here as well. Will anyone still care about the Si? Continue reading
NEWS: Nissan reveals 1977 Zzzap-inspired Heritage Edition 370Z
Nissan has revealed a special edition 370Z ahead of its debut the New York International Auto Show. The 2018 model seeks to honor the many Zs that have come before it with a special appearance package that recalls 1977’s ZZZap 280Z. Continue reading
EVENTS: Nostalgic2Days 2017, Part 01 — Starting with Z
The annual Nostalgic 2 Days show in Yokohama is a fantastic weekend of cars organized by Nostalgic Hero magazine. It’s as if the pages spring to life, with many of its featured cars gathered in one spot. Though it does tend to be a little Nissan-heavy, it does give attendees the opportunity to see a wide variety of models, from Cherrys to Skyline GT-Rs. We start, however, with perhaps the most iconic name of them all, the Z. Continue reading
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Tagged 240z, 260z, 280z, advan, fairlady z, Glow Star, Mizukami Auto, nissan, Nostalgic 2 Days, os giken, rs watanabe, s30 z, Speed Forme, star road, Tea Valley, work wheels, Yokohama Tire, z432, z432-R
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KIDNEY, ANYONE?: 1988 Nissan Desert Runner
“You’re looking at what may be the meanest nastiest 4×4 truck ever to escape from an assembly line,” were Nissan’s actual words when the limited edition Desert Runner hit the streets. When the truck was produced in 1988, only 1,000 were made and it wasn’t just a badge on a tarted up stock truck, it was an actual baja off-road truck available to the public straight from the factory. Incredibly rare, they are one of the most sought-after variants of the Nissan D21 chassis, and now there’s one for sale in Georgia. Continue reading
NEWS: Honda Monkey celebrates 50th anniversary, to be discontinued in August
It is with great sadness that we report the Honda Monkey will cease production by the end of this summer. Honda has announced that at the end of August 2017, the 50cc minibike will finish its 50-year run. Before it goes, though, Honda is releasing a 50th anniversary special edition. Continue reading
MINICARS: 2017 Hot Wheels X GReddy X JNC Datsun 620
For 2017, the estimable Hot Wheels Datsun 620 returns to the main line with a new livery. It’s that of a fantasy shop truck for GReddy, the performance parts brand of legendary Japanese tuning house Trust. Continue reading
QotW: Will the coming influx of JDM imports make US-spec cars less desirable?
Take a car like the Honda Civic. For decades, the ultimate version to own has been the 125-horsepower 1993-95 Civic Si hatchback, or maybe the 1999-2000 Si coupe, preferably in an exclusive and rare color like Electron Blue Pearl. Finding a clean and unmolested one is like discovering Bill Gates is a distant uncle and has written you into his will. However, now that it’s 2017, the Japanese-spec 1992 Civic SiR is legal for import to the US, along with its way better 168-horsepower engine. And if you can wait a few more years, we’ll have access to the incredible Civic Type R.
Will the coming influx of JDM imports make US-spec cars less desirable?
This same question can be asked for a number of cars. Will an FD RX-7 R1 be as coveted when a Type R II Bathurst or Spirit R becomes importable? Will the Subaru Impreza 2.5 RS be kicked to the curb when you can legally bring in an GC WRX type R STi or 22B?
The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What repair/mod/upgrade do you do on all your JNCs?” Continue reading
NEWS: Nissan to bring back Stanza Wagon
To the surprise of many the automotive media, a leaked Nissan press release has revealed that the automaker is reviving the Stanza Wagon nameplate as a retro car aimed at millennials. The concept image accompanying the release shows a wagon-like car with sliding rear doors, just like the 1982 original. Continue reading
KIDNEY, ANYONE? Nissan President Sovereign VIP going up for auction
In recent years we’ve seen 2000GTs, Skyline GT-Rs, Z432s, Cosmo Sports, FJ40s and Centurys cross the auction block at some of the most high-profile auctions in the US. This weekend, a new contender will try to make a play for becoming the next blue chip JNC. A 1987 Nissan President will be up for bidding at Auctions America in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Continue reading
MINICARS: Lego JNCs that need to be made into sets
Did you know that Lego has an Ideas website where you can submit models for a vote, and if you receive enough, the company will consider making the set? It takes 10,000 votes to get a model reviewed, and combing through it we’ve seen some incredible JNCs that deserve to get made. Continue reading
Koenigsegg founder built his own supercar as a tribute to his Miata
There are few cars so transcendent that they permeate the souls of people at every station in life. I think we can all agree that the Mazda Miata is one of them. We love the Miata, so do many of our readers, and today we learned that that puts us in the same Venn diagram circle as Christian von Koenigsegg, creator of some of the world’s quickest and most expensive supercars. Continue reading
