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
QotW: What’s your most heartbreaking tale of JNC loss?
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
MOTORSPORT: Toyota wins the 23 Hours, 55 Minutes of Le Mans
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
Posted in motorsport
Tagged 24 Hours of Le Mans, kamui kobayashi, Kazuki Nakajima, toyota, TS050
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25 YEAR CLUB: Celebrating the Le Mans-winning Mazda 787B, Part 03
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
Posted in 25 Year Club, motorsport
Tagged 24 Hours of Le Mans, 787b, le mans, mazda, mazdaspeed, R26B, racing history
6 Comments
25 YEAR CLUB: Celebrating The Le Mans-winning Mazda 787B, Part 02
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
Posted in 25 Year Club, motorsport
Tagged 13G, 13J, 24 Hours of Le Mans, 717C, 727C, 737C, 757, 767, 767b, Endurance Racing, Kenichi Yamamoto, le mans, mazda, Mazda Auto Tokyo, Mazda Sports Corner, mazdaspeed, Mooncraft, Nigel Stroud, R25B, racing history, rotary engine, Takashi Yorino, Takayoshi Ohashi, Takuya Yura, yojiro terada, Yoshimi Katayama
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25 YEAR CLUB: Celebrating the Le Mans-winning Mazda 787B, Part 01
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
Posted in 25 Year Club, motorsport
Tagged 787b, le mans, mazda, Mazda Auto Tokyo, Mazda Sports Corner, mazdaspeed, racing history, rotary engine
5 Comments
EVENTS: Sagamiko Forest Skyline & Kyusha Meeting, Part 01
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
VIDEO: More drives from the Honda Collection Hall
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
VIDEO: Jerry Seinfeld will drive the hubcap off a Mazda Cosmo Sport
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
DESIGN: Subaru’s global design chief owns a Toyota Sports 800
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
QotW What’s the greatest Japanese nostalgic grand tourer?
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
EVENTS: Okutama Sunday Meeting
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
Posted in events
Tagged 1600gt, 312, 510, a10, a20, a40, b210, bellett, bluebird, c10, c110, carina, celica, csp311, daruma, fairlady, FairladyZ, Hakosuka, honda, isuzu, kenmeri, mazda, nissan, piazza, prince, roadster, RX-7 SA22, s30 z, s54, s600, silvia, skyline, sports 800, sunny, toyoda aa, toyota, VehiCROSS, yonmeri
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VIDEO: Live tour of the American Honda Collection
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
Happy 610 Day from JNC
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
VIDEO: Legendary Skyline drivers drive legendary Skylines
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
Posted in Video
Tagged c10, dr30, group 5, group a, gt-r, Hakosuka, KDR30, keiichi tsuchiya, kpgc10, kunimitsu takahashi, masahiro hasemi, Motoharu Kurosawa, nissan, r30, r32, skyline, super silhouette
2 Comments
VIDEO: The original Back to the Future Toyota Pickup
We’ve seen many replicas of the iconic Toyota 4×4 from Back to the Future, most recently at Toyotafest, but also at shows like the JCCS. Hell, we’ve even seen Lego versions, and Toyota even made their own last year. However, there’s only one actual truck used in filming that is known to have survived, and it’s owned by Patrick Shea of Hubbardston, Massachusetts. Continue reading
EVENTS: AE86 Nights 9th Anniversary
What started as a small gathering of enthusiasts of the last RWD Corolla eight years ago has grown into a gathering that attracts hundreds of cars from all over southern California. It all started with the beloved Hachiroku, and the types of cars that AE86 Nights has attracted over the years has changed dramatically, but it’s still a very specific type of car. It’s a bit hard to explain, but you’ll see what we mean when you see the gallery of images. Continue reading
Posted in events
Tagged 280zx, 610, 810, a20, a40, a60, a70, ae86, aw11, celica, Chevy Nova, civic, corolla, corolla levin, cressida, datsun, e20, e70, e80, ef, fj cruiser, fj60, FRS, hilux, honda, impreza, land cruiser, maxima, mazda, miata, mr2, MX5, NA Miata, nissan, s130, sa22, scion, sprinter trueno, subaru, supra, sw20, ta22, te27, toyota, van, wagons, x60, x70
10 Comments
VIDEO: Man removes engine of first US-market Honda
“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
