VIDEO: Jay Kho’s Wild Card DR30 Skyline

Posted on April 19, 2016 by Ben Hsu

Jay Kho DR30 Nissan Skyline.jpg

A DR30 Skyline in signature red and black colors should be either a.) fighting crime on the mean streets of urban Japan or b.) in Hasemi livery tearing down the Fuji straight. So what’s it doing gliding down The Strip with the lights of old school Vegas bouncing off its angular body lines? The star of Petrolicious‘s latest video is friend of JNC and Sin City resident Jay Kho. With his Newman Skyline, Jay is a member of the Wild Cards, and you may have even gotten a close-up look at his car at our JCCS booth last year. If you missed it though, now you can watch it in motion.  Continue reading →

Posted in Video | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

VIDEO: Excellent clips from the Shakotan Boogie anime

Posted on April 18, 2016 by Kevin San

Shakotan Boogie anime

Here are some clips from the anime adaptation of Shakotan Boogie, which came out in the early 90s. Animation-wise, it falls somewhere between Speed Racer and the original Initial D, but I think that we can all agree, that this is the pinnacle of all that humanity has achieved in art and culture as we know it. Continue reading →

Posted in Video | 12 Comments

QotW: What’s your most heroic repair story?

Posted on April 18, 2016 by Ben Hsu

GR1-824s_Honda S800 Tenken-kun

The theme of this week at JNC was Things Breaking Down. Our webhosting company has installed some new software that will hopefully make things more stable from here on out but it just goes to show, not everything can be as clockwork reliable as a Toyota Camry. In fact, some of your cars have probably needed a repair or two, despite not being British. Tell us about the time you saved your family from becoming vulture food by MacGuyvering a busted timing chain with nothing but a pair of vice grips, roll of duct tape and a McDonald’s ketchup packet. We know you’re dying to tell someone.

What’s your most heroic repair story?

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 nostalgic-new body kit will be next?”  Continue reading →

Posted in Question of the Week | Tagged | 7 Comments

GRAND TOURING: Driving across Japan in a JNC, Day 08

Posted on April 17, 2016 by David Lovett

2724_Isuzu117_SecondBeat

In the previous installment of our cross-Japan trip, we began the northeasterly journey back home, but on a different route that would hug the southern coast of Japan. As such, we’d voyage from Kyushu to Shikoku, two of the four islands that comprise Japan’s main landmass. Distancewise, the goal was modest compared to previous days’ legs, meaning we’d have plenty of time to take it easy and give our 1978 Isuzu 117 Coupé a rest from the breakneck paces we’d be putting it through.  Continue reading →

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EVENTS: Subaru holds first official Fan Meeting in Japan

Posted on April 16, 2016 by Dave Yuan

SubaruFan2016_1

Subaru recently held its inaugural Fan Meeting at the Subaru Kenkyu Center in Tochigi. SKC fort short, the Research & Testing Center is the proving ground where many of Subaru’s signature high performance cars, such as the Alcyone SVX and WRX STi, developed. For Subaru aficionados, there is no better place to celebrate their favorite machines than this hallowed ground that’s usually off limits to civilians. Continue reading →

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JNC PROJECT HAKO: look, Ma… I’m on TV!

Posted on April 14, 2016 by Kevin San

EDGE_Nurlon_ScottLowe_2854

There are lots of TV commercials which try to appeal to true enthusiasts, but if you were given the keys to a TV production company, what sort of commercial would you make? If you answered that you’d gather a whole bunch of cool cars at a racetrack, unlock the pit lane gates and then turn on the cameras, well that is in fact what the Aussie motor oil brand Nulon recently did. And we were invited. Continue reading →

Posted in cm, project hako, project hakosuka | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

VIDEO: It’s still fun to drive a stock R32 Skyline GT-R

Posted on April 14, 2016 by Ricky Silverio

Matt Farah Nissan Skyline GT-R R32

Matt Farah is a guy who drives highly tuned cars on a regular basis, but one of his favorites is a car that is very nearly bone stock and over 25 years old. In fact, he liked it so much he bought one for himself.  Continue reading →

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NEWS: Mazda finishes exquisite restoration of Cosmo Sport

Posted on April 13, 2016 by Dave Yuan

Cosmo1

We recently updated you on the progress of Mazda’s amazing restoration of a 1967 L10A Cosmo Sport with the help of some Hiroshima high school students. Here’s the latest: it’s finished! Continue reading →

Posted in News | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

VIDEO: Gems from the Honda Collection Hall in action

Posted on April 13, 2016 by Dan Hsu

Honda Collection Hall 1300 Coupe 9

Do you have several hours to waste? If not, don’t click any further. Since the beginning of the year, Honda has been uploading videos of cars from the Honda Collection Hall at Twin Ring Motegi and taking them for spirited spins in the museum’s backyard. The videos aren’t long, but there’s a lot of them. There’s no voiceovers or music either, just the sweet, sweet sound of Soichiro’s spirit every time the docent turns the key.  Continue reading →

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NEWS: Owner of Toyota 2000GT crushed by tree files lawsuit

Posted on April 12, 2016 by Ben Hsu

Toyota 2000GT crushed

Remember that story of the Toyota 2000GT that was ruthlessly crushed by a tree and an uncaring universe? Well, it’s back in the Japanese news again, as the owner prepares to file a lawsuit against the province in which the accident occurred.  Continue reading →

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NEWS: Toyota’s new concept was designed to be passed down from one generation to the next

Posted on April 12, 2016 by Ben Hsu

Toyota Setsuna Concept 11

Toyota has created a car that lasts 100 years so it can be passed down within the family from one generation to the next. “But they already make the Camry!” you might say. That is true, but the Toyota Setsuna concept isn’t just an insanely reliable machine that defies even the most careless teenager’s attempts to kill it with neglect. It’s designed specifically to fade as time goes by, absorbing a household’s memories as it changes.  Continue reading →

Posted in News, toyota | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Happy 4/11 Day from JNC

Posted on April 11, 2016 by Ben Hsu

Nissan Heritage Collection Datsun 411 02

In honor of today, here’s a photo from the time we drove a Datsun 411 through a sea of supercars during Monterey Historic Car Week. Happy 4/11!

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QotW: What nostalgic-new body kit will be next?

Posted on April 11, 2016 by Ben Hsu

Nissan Skyline C10 Hakotora & Silvia S14 Rocket Bunny Boss 01

The new Rocket Bunny Boss kit that turns unsuspecting FDs into some kind of Mazda centaur with an RX-3 head on an RX-7 body was, um, polarizing. It’s not the first new cars have been faceswapped with older fronts — as you can see from the above pair from last year’s SEMA show — and it probably won’t be the last. What’s next, an AE86 nose for your Toyota 86? A Civic CVCC mask for your NSX? A Debonair clip for your Evo? The possibilities are endless.

What nostalgic-new body kit will be next?

Bonus points if you Photoshop it! 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 interesting JNC throwback design cue?”  Continue reading →

Posted in Question of the Week | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

A note about last weekend’s outage

Posted on April 11, 2016 by Ben Hsu

 
The JNC server experienced a disk failure Friday night. It took almost the entire weekend for our webhost to diagnose and rectify the problem. We had to restore to the most recent backup, which was taken at 9:00am Friday. The weekend articles have been subsequently reposted but some comments were lost. Sorry for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience.

Posted in Uncategorized | 18 Comments

GRAND TOURING: Driving across Japan in a JNC, Day 07

Posted on April 10, 2016 by David Lovett

2586_Sakurajima Eruption

In the last installment of our cross-Japan trip, a life-long personal goal was achieved. I had driven from the northern Hokkaido on one end of Japan to southern Kyushu on the other. However, the journey was far from over. We and our trusty 1978 Isuzu 117 Coupé had to make it back home to Nagoya. Aside from a couple of kilometers on the only bridge onto Kyushu, we had kept to back roads, avoiding Japan’s efficient but expensive expressways. We weren’t about to start now.  Continue reading →

Posted in Grand Touring | Tagged , , , , | 12 Comments

RIP Yoshimi Katayama, 1940 — 2016

Posted on April 9, 2016 by Dave Yuan

Yoshimi Katayama Mazda 787

It was announced in Japanese media yesterday that Yoshimi Katayama (片山義美) — the legendary race car driver often associated with Mazda — had passed away on March 26. He was 75. His prolific career was marked by some of Japan’s most iconic race cars, including the Mazda Savanna RX-3, RX-7, and many of Mazda’s Le Mans prototype racers such as the 717C, Lola T616, 767B, and 787.  Continue reading →

Posted in motorsport | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

KIDNEY, ANYONE? Custom Toyota Hilux Dually with fifth wheel and camper

Posted on April 8, 2016 by Ben Hsu

1981 Toyota Hilux Dually camper 02

Okay, time to pack it up. It’s done, people. This is the last car you’ll ever need to buy. Sell your house, quit your job, and leave the grid in the comfort of this custom Toyota Hilux and its matching camper. Continue reading →

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TRA Kyoto’s new Boss kit turns FDs into RX-3s

Posted on April 7, 2016 by Ricky Silverio

TRA Kyoto Boss Mazda FD3S RX3 kit

One of the most photographed things at last year’s SEMA Show was the TRA Kyoto Boss kit that grafted a Datsun Sunny-esque nose onto an S14 Silvia. Now, its makers have applied the same principle to a Mazda, namely, melding a stylized Savanna RX-3 nose onto the body of an FD3S RX-7. The Mazda Boss kit is just a rendering for now, but given the company’s prolific ability to create outrageous kits, you know the real deal is coming any day now. What do JNC readers think, is it rotary radness or time to hide your FDs?

Posted in Product Guide | 7 Comments

How the Toyota Corolla Changed American Motoring

Posted on April 7, 2016 by Ryan Senensky

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Fifty years is a very long time. If you think about America 50 years ago, the synthesizer had just begun to find its way into mainstream music, a ’32 T-Bucket was as commonly street raced as a EF/EG/EK Civic in the 90s, and Japanese cars were about as popular in America as a Chinese-made car is today. A car enthusiast in 1968 would have to defend their choice of a Japanese car much like how a car enthusiast today has to defend not having a Japanese car. 50 years ago this year the Toyota Corolla was also introduced to the world. Although it would not reach US shores for another two years, we are going to look at how it revolutionized the American motoring experience.  Continue reading →

Posted in toyota | Tagged , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

MOTORSPORT: When NHRA opened the doors to Japanese funny cars

Posted on April 6, 2016 by Chris Nicholson

Datsun 280ZX NHRA Funny Car Jeff Dykes

When I was a kid in the 70s, a Japanese manufacturer being represented in the pro ranks of NHRA drag racing was a laughable idea. Sure, Datsuns were competitive in road racing with production-based cars, but sanctioning bodies such as the National Hot Rod Association were strictly all-American for their top classes. But now, Toyota Camry bodies are seemingly everywhere. So how did that change?  Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments