“I’ve never had one kick my ass like that before,” says Tim Mings of the Serial One Honda N600. It’s the latest installment of Honda’s video series documenting the restoration of the first Honda built for the US market. Continue reading
JNC VAULT: The Skyline Legend
Last week we published one of our favorite JNC stories of all time: the interview with Yoshikazu Sunako, one of the original Skyline GT drivers at the 1964 Japan Grand Prix and a man who not only witnessed, but participated in the pivotal moment that some have called the birth of the Skyline Legend. In honor of Sunako-san, as well as Nissan Jam this Sunday, here are some other Prince Skyline stories we’ve published over the years. Continue reading
NEWS: Toyota trademarks the Supra name in Europe
Further evidence that the Supra is poised for a return has arrived in the form of a trademark filing. Toyota has claimed the name in the European Union Trademark system for use on an automobile, according to AutoGuide. In 2014, Toyota filed a trademark for the Supra name with the US Patent and Trademark Office as well. Continue reading
QotW: What’s the most American JNC?
Most JNCs are great for slicing a touge, darting through urban streets, and possibly even a late night dice on the expressway if you’ve got a Bubble Era turbo. But what if you just want to take a long, comfortable cruise through several American states with Bruce Springsteen wailing through the radio? It may seem like a contradiction, but remember that many JNCs were built specifically for US tastes, and there’s no shortage of chromed land yachts or honest work trucks to take you through the heartland.
What’s the most American JNC?
What say you, dear reader? As always, the most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “How do you live the JNC life?” Continue reading
LEGENDS: An interview with Yoshikazu Sunako, original Skyline racing driver
Motor sports stories come in many types: the rookie driver winning their first race for a big name team, legendary drives from last place to the checkered-flag, the somehow magical performance in the rain that astounds everyone watching, and perhaps the most popular — the underdog team that overcomes adversary and better equipped rivals to win. In the history books of Japanese motor racing, this last category cannot be mentioned without talking about the 1964 Japan Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit. Specifically, a moment that many have since called the birth of the Skyline legend. Continue reading
Posted in Legends
Tagged 1964 Japan grand prix, nissan, prince, r380, s54, skyline, suzuka circuit, Yoshikazu Sunako
14 Comments
EVENTS: Club TE27 Meeting
Japanese owners of the TE27 Corolla Levin and Sprinter Trueno recently gathered for their annual meeting, held at the Toyota Automobile Museum in Aichi Prefecture in central Japan. Ninety-six cars in total came from all over the country, forming a sea of moss green and orange. Continue reading
EVENTS: 2016 Z-Bash
Eighty-two years ago today Nissan Motor Company was established. What better way to celebrate than with a slew of photos of its most iconic sports car? Fortunately, the recent Z-Bash show in Anaheim, California had approximately 400 of them. Continue reading
NIHON LIFE: June is Illegal Exhaust Awareness Month in Japan
Time for a JNC public service announcement: If you have a car in Japan, and you have an aftermarket exhaust on it, be careful during the month of June. It’s Illegal Exhaust Awareness Month, and authorities will be cracking down on modified cars. Continue reading
VINTAGE BARRELS: Techno Phantoms reissue
Some good news for fans of old Japanese aftermarket wheels: Hayashi Racing is re-releasing the Techno Phantom wheel. The classic rim, one of many old Japanese designs inspired by ninja stars, is now available to purchase brand new for the first time in decades. Continue reading
QotW: How do you live the JNC life?
Not all of us are lucky enough to own the car of our dreams. And even if we do, sometimes that’s just not enough. Do you pore over every volume of Kousoku Yuen ever published? Build your dream garage in plastic model kits? Fill your house with thousands of little metal cars?
How do you live the JNC life?
What say you, dear reader? As always, the most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What should the next JNC wagon be?” Continue reading
EVENTS: Nostalgic2Days 2016, Part 04 — Odds and Ends
One of the excellent things about a show like Nos2Days is that there are plenty of things for sale. You never know what you’ll come across, which can make browsing the aisles rather dangerous to your wallet. From new-old-stock center caps to a complete, restored DR30 Skyline, there’s something for everyone. Continue reading
Posted in events
Tagged a60, alto, Alto Works, aristo, bbs, bridgestone, c10, c130, c230, celica xx, Dampachi, dr30, eunos roadster, Ford F-350, GX70G, Hakosuka, Kusaka Engineering, laurel, lexus, mark II, mazda, Melber, miata, NA Miata, nissan, Nos2Days 2016, Nostalgic 2 Days, r30, rb26, Renoma, s20, SkyActiv, skyline, soarer, supra, suzuki, toyota, utilitas, x70, yokohama
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NEWS: Refreshed Nissan GT-R NISMO debuts
In a nod to Godzillas past, Nissan took to the Nürburgring today to debut the 2017 GT-R NISMO. It was only appropriate, since the famed German circuit was the site where its predecessor, the R33 Skyline GT-R, broke the production car record and brought the company worldwide notoriety in the 1990s. Continue reading
EVENTS: Nostalgic2Days 2016, Part 03 — The Fast & the Fastidious
In this installment, we take a look at two very different types of cars: original barn finds and restorations whose every last nut is factory correct, and those that were treated like instruments of war. In other words, all the stuff that’s prized by predictably obvious “traditional” collectors. Continue reading
Posted in events
Tagged 610, a20, all-trac, bluebird, bosozoku, capella, Cedric Royal, celica, cherry, csp311, daihatsu, datsun, e10, Fellow Buggy, gt-four, kawasaki, kei, luce, mazda, Motorcycle, nissan, Nos2Days 2016, Nostalgic 2 Days, r130, ra28, rotary engine, rx-2, silvia, soarer, st185, Tein, toyota, wrc, y31, yojiro terada, z10, Z400FX
9 Comments
EVENTS: 2016 All-Toyotafest, Part 05 — Editors’ Choice
For the final installment of this year’s Toyotafest we share the JNC staff favorites. In a show packed with prime Aichi steel, it wasn’t easy to narrow down the field, making the results probably over-long. But hey, it’s a good problem to have, right? Continue reading
VIDEO: Australians explain why the “shovelnose” was so important to Toyota
The RT40 Corona was hugely important in the US, saving Toyota’s skin after an embarrassing debut with the S30 Crown. However, that was nothing compared to the way it utterly transformed the Australian market for Toyota when it debuted in 1965. Continue reading
PIXELLATED: Gran Turismo Sport in-game trailer looks amazing, and you can now race on the Shuto
Playstation owners, rejoice! Your racing sim is here. After a console generation of Forza giving Gran Turismo a run for its money, it looks as if Turn 10’s David has not beaten Polyphony’s Goliath. In graphics alone, Turn 10’s Forza franchise appears to have competition again. Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized, Video Games
Tagged Akihabara, FT-1 Concept, gran turismo, gtr, Hakozaki Junction, mazda, miata, Miata ND, MX5, nissan, shuto, subaru, Super GT, toyota
9 Comments
QotW: What should the next JNC wagon be?
After 9 years of dutiful service it has come time to retire the JNC Cressida wagon. It has faithfully carried the JNC crew to nearly every Toyotafest, JCCS, SevenStock, Nissan Jam, and SEMA — usually packed to the headliner with gear — for almost a decade, but California’s debris-covered, oil-pan denting roads and incessant sun have not been kind to this increasingly rare workhorse. Don’t worry, we’re not selling it. We’re going to give it a proper reconditioning so it can shine once again.
In the meantime, we’ll need another hauler. It doesn’t have to be a station wagon, but it’ll need to have at least as much cargo space as the Cressida, be somewhat reliable (or easy to find parts for), and be appropriately Japanese nostalgic.
What should the next JNC wagon be?
What say you, dear reader? As always, 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 baddest Nissan-Mitsubishi combo?” Continue reading
VIDEO: Watch the Drift King drift a hakosuka GT-R
Keiichi Tsuchiya might be happy smoking new GT-Rs, but he has nothing but admiration for the old ones. In another Best Motoring video uploaded last night Keiichi Tsuchiya climbs into a couple of Victory 50-tuned Hakos and gets ’em slideways like the days when Kunimitsu Takahashi would break loose his bias-ply tires. Continue reading
Posted in Video
Tagged best motoring, c10, gc10, Hakosuka, keiichi tsuchiya, kpgc10, nissan, skyline, Tsukuba Circuit
2 Comments
VIDEO: Watch a Toyota Starlet destroy an R34 GT-R
Power-to-weight ratio is the key in this old Hot Version race in which Keiichi Tsuchiya and Akira Iida pit a pair of Toyota Starlets against an R34 Skyline GT-R and the Kei Office S15 Silvia. The Drift King puts it all on the table in a classic David vs Godzilla battle, but the ending may not be what you expect. Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged akira iida, best motoring, hot version, keiichi tsuchiya, kp61, starlet, toyota
3 Comments
VIDEO: Honda Collection Hall video dump
The Honda Collection Hall museum at Twin Ring Motegi has just uploaded another several videos to their YouTube channel. Following on the series launched earlier this year, several 80s Honda cars and motorcycles get their turn to exercise their engines around the museum grounds. It’s not quite an extensive a collection as the first round, but we get some sweet Prelude and CR-X action. Continue reading
Posted in Video
Tagged crx, ef, honda, honda collection hall, Odyssey, prelude, spacy, Stream, twin ring motegi
5 Comments
