Official 2016 JNC Touge California poster

Posted on March 29, 2016 by Ben Hsu

Print

For 2016, the official poster for the JNC Touge California features two landmark cars that will run the 200-mile vintage car rally this weekend.

To honor title sponsor Mazda, we are highlighting a rare 1974 Mazda RX-4 Hardtop Coupé. A similar car will be driven this Saturday by Armando Licon and navigator Chris Green. Also depicted on the poster is a yellow 1972 Datsun 240Z with a G-nose. This is similar to the very car once owned by Yutaka “Mr K” Katayama, which will also drive this weekend with Kenny Ueda and navigator Jose Dominguez at the helm.

Participants will receive this 18 x 24-inch poster in the gift bag. After the event, posters will be available in the JNC Shop.

Posted in Touge California | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

VIDEO: Toyota Corolla 50th Anniversary

Posted on March 29, 2016 by Ben Hsu

Toyota Corolla 50th Anniversary video

Last week Toyota threw a party in New York celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Corolla. This is a copy of the video that was playing on loop on TVs during the event. KE10, TE37, TE51, AL10, AE86, and a bunch of FF sedans are all represented, though it’s missing a good number of generations as well. Continue reading →

Posted in Video | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

KIDNEY, ANYONE? 24k-mile Z31 Turbo

Posted on March 28, 2016 by Ben Hsu

02_1985 Nissan 300ZX Turbo 24k miles

The charms of this 1985 Nissan 300ZX are many. It appears to have every box on the options menu checked. It’s got the proper transmission. It’s a turbo and not a 2+2. It seems to have been very well preserved. And it has just 24,443 miles.  Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

QotW: What’s your most brutal tale of JNC price inflation?

Posted on March 28, 2016 by Ben Hsu

Toyota 2000GT classified ad
If there’s one thing new JNCers hate, it’s when old JNCers tell stories of how, back in the day, [insert rare model name here] could be had all day long for $500. Or how [insert rare part here] were so plentiful people would send them to the junkyard by the crateful. Those stories are cause nothing but pain. But guess what? Now we’re going to ask you for them.

What’s your most brutal tale of JNC price inflation?

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, “If you could only drive one car for the rest of your life, what would it be?”  Continue reading →

Posted in Question of the Week, Uncategorized | Tagged | 19 Comments

GRAND TOURING: Driving across Japan in a JNC, Day 05

Posted on March 27, 2016 by David Lovett

2253_Carousel parking

Day 05 in Nagasaki marked an unusual one, as it was the only day of our entire journey in which no driving was planned at all. Nagasaki is one of Japan’s major port cities and a historic one, and worth a tour if you find yourself there. Because all major Japanese cities have a ultra-efficient public transportation systems, we buttoned up the Isuzu 117 in a carousel parking garage and proceeded on foot.  Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Akio drives his favorite Toyota Corolla

Posted on March 25, 2016 by Ben Hsu

Akio Toyoda E30 Toyota Corolla

In honor of the Corolla’s 50th anniversary, Toyota has posted a photo of their CEO in a TE71. “My used 4th generation Corolla 1600 GT was like a best friend to me. I shared my youth with it! That car showed me the joy of driving. It represented freedom, fun and first forays in the business world,” Toyoda said. “Not only did my Corolla influence me and my own path, but this vehicle — supported by fans and customers —helped transform Toyota as a company around the world.” This is a twin-cam 2T-G powered sedan that was never sold in the US. He is also apparently partial to TE27s. Akio Toyoda is the man.

Posted in toyota | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

NY Auto Show: Acura made a RWD non-hybrid NSX

Posted on March 25, 2016 by Ben Hsu

138-8757_AcuraNSX-GT3

Like the title says, Acura unveiled an NSX powered purely by the back wheels and which threw out the electric motors, batteries, and other hybrid gear. The bad news is, if you buy one, the only place you can drive it is in an FIA GT3 race.  Continue reading →

Posted in News | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

NY Auto Show: Hope for humanity confirmed as Mazda Miata wins World Car of the Year

Posted on March 24, 2016 by Ben Hsu

010a_MazdaMX5MiataRF

The world may be rushing headlong towards domination by blundering crossovers and autonomous hybrids, but there’s still hope for a light, impractical, rear-wheel-drive sports car. Proof of that came today when the ND Mazda Miata won two of the five World Car of the Year awards.  Continue reading →

Posted in News | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

NY Auto Show: Honda’s bringing hatches back

Posted on March 24, 2016 by Ben Hsu

132-8715_HondaCivicHatchbackPrototype

Though once its defining form, the Honda Civic has abandoned hatchbacks for at least a decade now. At the NY Auto Show today, Honda announced it was bringing hatches back. Oh, and manual transmissions too.  Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 11 Comments

NY Auto Show: Toyota kicks off 50th anniversary of Corolla

Posted on March 24, 2016 by Ben Hsu

109-IMG_8816_ToyotaCorolla50thAnniversary-KE10

In November 1966 the Toyota Corolla went on sale in Japan. That makes 2016 the 50th anniversary of the humble little runabout that’s been everything from a family hauler to a balls-out drifter to a rally racer. To kick off a year-long celebration, Toyota threw a party at the New York Auto Show and invited a few classics along. Continue reading →

Posted in News | Tagged , , , , , | 13 Comments

NY Auto Show: First in-person look at the 2017 Toyota 86

Posted on March 24, 2016 by Ben Hsu

88-8696_Toyota86

We got our first glimpse of the 2017 Toyota 86 at the New York Auto Show today, and we were wrong. When Toyota first released images of the facelifted neo-hachiroku, we implied that the “86” badges, once displayed prominently on the fender inserts, was gone. In fact, there are more than ever. Continue reading →

Posted in News | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

NY Auto Show: 2017 Nissan GT-R brings all generations together at last

Posted on March 23, 2016 by Ben Hsu

085h-8794_NissanSkylineGTR-R35-generations

“It is the dream of Nissan,” says Hiroshi Tamura, product chief of Nissan’s sports cars and NISMO head honcho, about his GT-R. The automaker is in New York to debut an update of the halo car of not just the company itself, but all of Japan. That’s why the storied company has brought together all generations of their homeland’s most beloved car. Continue reading →

Posted in News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 26 Comments

NY Auto Show: 2017 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF shows off a power folding targa top

Posted on March 22, 2016 by Dave Yuan

01-8593_MazdaMX5MiataRF

We’re live at the New York Auto Show, where Mazda just unveiled the 2017 MX-5 Miata RF. The “RF” stands for retractable fastback, and it’s pretty much the next best thing to a bona fide Miata coupe. The top has a targa setting, but the back window can be retracted as well. See for yourself in the video after jump. More details to come! Continue reading →

Posted in News | Tagged , , , , , | 20 Comments

NY Auto Show: All generations of GT-R, a preview

Posted on March 22, 2016 by Ben Hsu

11-IMG_8549_NissanSkylineGTR-KPGC110kenmeri

In about an an hour, Nissan will unveil the 2017 GT-R at the New York Auto Show. Here’s an exclusive preview from the setup day yesterday. Some of these cars came from Nissan’s Zama collection, and are the first time they have been shown in the US.  Continue reading →

Posted in News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

From C10 to R35, the mutual rise of the GT-R legend

Posted on March 22, 2016 by Ben Hsu

06_NissanGTR-R35_SkylineC10Hakosuka

As the CEOs of Japan’s car companies each try to top the next by promising to return to their glory days of automaking, Nissan is left without a champion. Enthusiasts cry out for the lack of an affordable Miata, 86 or S660 fighter, claiming the once storied firm has lost its way, and go back to drooling over Datsuns. What everyone seems to forget, however, is that Nissan has an utterly dominant, supercar-killing heritage model that sets both the world and the loins of fanboys on fire every time its three-letter name is uttered: GT-R.  Continue reading →

Posted in Next Version | Tagged , , , , , | 10 Comments

VIDEO: Why Honda people love the Civic

Posted on March 21, 2016 by Ryan Senensky

Honda CIvic EF Motorweek

The Honda Civic is adored by Honda lovers of all ages, especially the 1988-2000 EF, EG and EK generations. They’re loved not in the way Toyota guys idolize the AE86, but rather in the way that Mini guys adore the original Austin Mini Cooper, almost as if that was the only offering from Honda.  Continue reading →

Posted in Video | Tagged , , , | 15 Comments

QotW: If you could only drive one car for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Posted on March 21, 2016 by Ben Hsu

151-SM1750115_Toyota Master Ace Surf

So here’s the situation. You can pick one car, any car, but it’s the only car you can drive for the rest of your life. Money is no object, but you can’t choose a 2000GT so you can sell it and use the money for 50 other cars. You can never sell this car. And you can never buy another one. If you’re going to live the rest of your life in bachelorhood, then go ahead and get that 2000GT! Otherwise, if you have a family you might have to compromise and go with a MasterAce.

If you could only drive one car for the rest of your life, what would it 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 your most heartwarming JNC story?”  Continue reading →

Posted in Question of the Week | Tagged | 33 Comments

GRAND TOURING: Driving across Japan in a JNC, Day 04

Posted on March 19, 2016 by David Lovett

2177_Car Story Kyushu

By the end of Day 03 we’d arrived at Shimonoseki, the southernmost point of Honshu, Japan’s main landmass. As the island on which most of the nation’s major cities — Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Hiroshima — are located, Honshu contains about 60 percent of Japan’s land and 80 percent of its population. Our goal today was to make it to the city of Nagasaki on the western edge of Kyushu Japan’s third largest island.  Continue reading →

Posted in Grand Touring | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

VIDEO: Why you should buy a Datsun 510

Posted on March 18, 2016 by Ben Hsu

Shannons Club TV Datsun 510

“Experts across the world concluded it had to be a copy of the BMW. It wasn’t… As long as it could be dismissed as a copy, the global car industry didn’t have to face the real threat the Datsun 1600 represented,” declares presenter Joe Kenwright in his latest Shannons Club TV intro. The latest look into Australia’s classic car market turns its attention to the giant-killing Datsun 1600 (or Datsun 510 as we Yanks know it).  Continue reading →

Posted in Video | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments

KIDNEY, ANYONE? Unmolested 1985 Toyota Cressida

Posted on March 17, 2016 by Ben Hsu

15_1985 Toyota Cressida 75k

Years ago, unmolested Cressidas could be found on the List of Craig all day long, at “just a used car” prices barely cracking the three-digit mark. These days, nearly every Cressida for sale has been cut, slammed, or converted into either a drift missile or a halfhearted zokusha. Before the proto-Lexus goes completely extinct, though, you can get this cherry 75k-mile example if you act fast.  Continue reading →

Posted in for sale | Tagged , , , | 11 Comments