After featuring their Old School Love, New School Flavor show last year (Part 01, Part 02, Part 03) at Schiller Park in the Chicagoland area, organizers Team Nostalgic invited us to come out again so we could see what Chicago’s Japanese nostalgic car community looks like when it is not being rained out. This years show was easily twice as big as last year’s and was so jam-packed with Toyotas and Mazdas that they easily outnumbered every other brand ten to one. Continue reading
The latest episode of Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee just aired, featuring a 1967 Mazda Cosmo Sport and Margaret Cho. Is there rhyme or reason to the pairing? Well, both are very unique, bold, and challenge established conventions. Watch the episode to find out more about why the Cosmo — the beautiful example from the Malamut Automotive Museum — is the perfect car for Margaret. Continue reading
Twenty-five years ago today, the Mazda 787B started on a 24-hour journey that would change Japan’s motorsport history. As you know, Mazda won the 1991 24 Hours of Le Mans, and in parts 01, 02, and 03 of our tribute to this car, we provided you the historical facts of the journey that led to this victory. Now, let us put that journey into perspective and take a look at the implication and influence it has on some of our favorite JNCs. Continue reading
“It’s a bit snug,” says Jamie Bestwick in typical British understatement as he slides his racing seat into position. He bashes into the knees of his navigator, Laurence Foster, who is hunched in the back seat. Bestwick, a 13-time X-Games gold medalist in the BMX category and an Englishman, is dressed like a 1970s pimp with gold chain, bright red scarf, and a hat whose brim radius is larger than a bus tire’s. In the passenger seat, co-driver BJ Baldwin, a Baja 1000 winner, has on bell-bottoms, Lennon sunglasses, and a floral pattern shirt that would make James May seethe with envy.
The three of them are packed a 1970 Toyota Corolla about to embark on a 10-day, 2,500-mile cross-country rally. Bestwick calls it “The Man Can.” Continue reading
The Nissan IDx might be dead but it might ride again in the next installment of the Fast & Furious franchise. Continue reading
Today is 6/20. And as it happens we received the latest pre-production Hot Wheels samples at the doorstep of JNC HQ, and it’s is none other than the Datsun 620. Continue reading
It’s sure to be a quiet day at the office in Aichi today. After the exact opposite of a fairy tale ending to Toyota’s Le Mans race over the weekend, the tears of Toyotaku are flowing like the waters of the River Sarthe. In what will surely go down as one of the greatest upset finishes in Le Mans history, Toyota led for almost the entire 24 hours only to suffer a breakdown five minutes from the end, handing the victory to Porsche. It’s an ending known RX-7 owner George RR Martin couldn’t have written better himself.
What’s your most heartbreaking tale of JNC loss?
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 greatest Japanese nostalgic grand tourer?” Continue reading
Rumor has it that Mazda, as the only Japanese automaker to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans overall, has a pre-written letter ready to congratulate Toyota should it ever become the second. Despite what seemed like a sure victory, that letter will remain in a Hiroshima drawer for now, after Toyota lost its lead with five minutes left in this year’s race. Continue reading
In the previous installments of our 25th anniversary commemoration of Mazda 787B’s historic Le Mans win, we looked at the race car’s genealogy as well as the origin of its team. With the rules change imminent, it was the last year a non-piston engine would be permitted. It was Mazda’s final rotary assault at Le Mans. Continue reading
The 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans is now underway — a perfect occasion to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the historic victory of the Mazda 787B. If you’re listening to or watching the race live, join us on a break for a glimpse into Mazda’s Le Mans odyssey. Continue reading
The 24 Hours of Le Mans begins tomorrow. This year marks the 84th running of the iconic endurance race. For racing fans and JNCers in particular, 2016 is especially significant as it is the 25th anniversary of the first and, so far, only Le Mans victory taken by an Asian marque and powered by anything other than a reciprocating piston engine. Yes, the 787B is now officially a Japanese nostalgic race car. To celebrate, we’ve got a few things in store, starting with a look at the origin and heritage of the 787B. Continue reading
Recently the Skyline & Kyusha Meeting was held at Sagamiko Forest Resort, put on by the Skyline Yushi-kai, or Skyline Warriors Club. While Skylines accounted for many of the cars that attended, non-Skylines were welcome too, as long as they were of the same kaido racer and bosozoku style. Continue reading
Honda has uploaded yet another set of videos of vehicles from the Honda Collection Hall at Twin Ring Motegi taking spins in the museum’s backyard. Enjoy the sights and sounds of old motors motoring, just as Soichiro intended. Continue reading
In the trailer for the upcoming season of Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, Jerry Seinfeld drives the hubcap off a Mazda Cosmo Sport. This marks the first Japanese car to appear in the series, if you don’t count the completely pointless Acura plug cars that Seinfeld would point at saying, “Here’s the plug car,” before swiftly moving on. The season’s guests are Judd Apatow, Margaret Cho, Jim Gaffigan, Lorne Michaels, John Oliver, and J. B. Smoove. Can anyone guess who gets the ride in the Cosmo Sport? Continue reading
Even before he stepped into his current position as head of global design of Subaru, Mamoru Ishii was already working on revamping the design language of his firm’s cars. The next evolution of Subaru styling will soon ripple across the lineup. Continue reading
Half sports car, half luxury sedan, the grand tourer is built for carrying driver and one passenger in utmost comfort, kids and third wheels be damned. Though just as large, or sometimes even bigger, than their 4-door counterparts, fewer doors and less seating capacity is an absolute requirement. Grand tourers are more expensive too, giving them an extra-special IDGAF-ness.
What’s the greatest JNGT?
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 most American JNC?” Continue reading
A short time ago, we were invited to attend the monthly Okutama-ko Sunday kyusha meeting. Loosely organized by the well-known Isuzu shop Eagle Sports, it always attracts a wide range of cars. This weekend was special though, as GT-B driving friends said they would be using the Okutama-ko parking area as their meeting place for a touge run into the mountains of the area. Continue reading
On Thursday Ben and I were in Torrance at the American Honda Collection working on an upcoming story. Before we left, though, we experimented with the newfangled Facebook Live feature and did a walkthrough of the private museum. Here’s the video, with apologies in advance for our unrefined filming/presenting skills. Continue reading
This year the Datsun 610 turns 45 years old. To celebrate, here are a couple of our favorite 610 stories from over the years. Continue reading
If you read our interview with Yoshikazu Sunako and found yourself itching for more of Japan’s racing heroes slinging Skylines around racetracks, you’re in luck. Back in 2001 Best Motoring produced a Skyline special reuniting three drivers with their respective cars, among the most famous racing Skylines in Japan’s motorsport history. Continue reading
