Mazda’s lineup for this Saturday’s Japanese Classic Car Show promises to be a terrific gathering of zoom-zoomy machines. Here’s a sneak peek at what’s to come, in chronological order. Continue reading
JCCS Preview: Mazda’s lawn lineup at the Queen Mary
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged 323 GTX, cosmo sport, CX-3, fd3s, japanese classic car show, JCCS 2015, mazda, mx-5, MX-5 NA, MX-5 ND, rx-2, rx-7, spirit r
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NEWS: Honda’s RA272-inspired “Project 2&4” revealed
Honda has created a mutant offspring of motorcycle and street legal Formula One car from the 1960s. The Honda Project 2&4 has been revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Continue reading
JCCS Preview: Nissan is now an official JCCS sponsor
For the first time since the Japanese Classic Car Show’s inception, Nissan is finally an official sponsor. This Saturday will mark the 11th annual JCCS, and in the decade we at JNC have been setting up our little red canopy, we’ve heard one consistent complaint: “Toyota, Mazda and Honda are sponsors, where’s Nissan?” Well, they’re here now, and even bringing some cars from the Zama warehouse in Japan. Here’s a preview of what they’re showing. Continue reading
Posted in JCCS Preview
Tagged 2015 JCCS, 411, 510, 610, bluebird, datsun, datsun 220, japanese classic car show, maxima, nissan, R390 GT1, Titan, VG223
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VIDEO: Jay Leno drives a 1971 Toyota Celica
In the latest episode of Jay Leno’s Garage, the noted talk show host and car collector takes a ride in a 1971 Toyota Celica. The Celica was a game-changing car for not just Toyota, but the sport coupe segment that it spawned. Leno is especially fond of its copious standard features, sharp styling and impressive engine. There are a few factual errors (it was not Toyota’s first sports car or a joint European-Japanese styling effort) but overall a great overview of what makes the first-gen Celica a classic and an excellent basis for a “hot rod.” Watch the video below. Continue reading
JCCS Preview: Get Jun Imai’s autograph on this very limited edition hakosuka Skyline illustration
Hot Wheels designer Jun Imai will be at the JNC booth this Saturday at the Japanese Classic Car Show in Long Beach, California. Jun will participate an autograph session from 10:30 to 11:00 am. Feel free to bring your cars, parts, posters or whatever for him to sign. In addition, Jun has created an exclusive illustration of the Hot Wheels hakosuka Skyline that he designed. This print will be limited to 30 units only and will not be available anywhere else. Limit one per person. See you Saturday!
JCCS Preview: 2015 Japanese Classic Car Show this Saturday
The 2015 Japanese Classic Car Show will be held this Saturday, September 19, at the Queen Mary in Long Beach, California. The premiere show for vintage autos from Japan is back, and this year it promises to be bigger and better than ever.
For one, Nissan is coming aboard as an official sponsor this year, in addition to Toyota, Mazda and Honda. Next, there will be a special display honoring the 50th Anniversary of the Toyota Sports 800, Toyota’s first sports car. Enkei will be raffling off a set of Apache IIs for charity. There will be the usual display of Japanese classic motorcycles as well, and most importantly, there will tons of nostalgic Nihon steel! We will have more previews of the festivities as the week goes on, so stay tuned.
For those who have registered a car, please note there is a new entrance this year. The JCCS opens from 9am to 3pm. Admission is $12.00. See you there!
NEWS: Nissan’s Z-inspired crossover — “They’re not idiots”
Nissan has unveiled the Gripz, the Safari Rally Z-inspired crossover at Frankfurt. Last week, Z enthusiasts reached for their pitchforks after media-fueled assumptions that it would replace the Z. But like we said on Friday, let’s take a deep breath. This is not the replacement for the next Z. Continue reading
MINICARS: Hot Wheels X JNC Nissan Fairlady Z
Last week we showed you a leaked photo of an upcoming 2016 Hot Wheels release for a Nissan Fairlady Z. Now we have some official images, courtesy of the car’s designer himself, Jun Imai! Additionally, Jun has provided us with some insights about what inspired this design. Continue reading
25 YEAR CLUB: Acura NSX
Today at JNC we welcomes another inductee into the 25 Year Club, one that launched exactly 25 years ago, on September 14, 1990. Yes, it’s a car, it’s Japanese, and it’s beloved. But we’re going to go one step further and call it the Best Car Ever Made. Consider this proof: The 1990s produced the best cars of any decade in automotive history; the Honda NSX was the best car of the 90s. Ergo, the NSX was the Best Car Ever Made, QED.
Someday, centuries from now, when humanity has either destroyed itself, achieved the singularity or abandoned our home for the stars, archaeologists from a new species will emerge to examine all that we have achieved. The Pyramids. Culture. Democracy. The art of moving ourselves across land at great speed. Continue reading
A Brief History of Mitsubishi’s Colt Galant GTO
In the third of a series, JNC is teaming up with our friends at Petrolicious to launch simultaneously a video and an article about historically significant Japanese cars. Today’s is special because the featured car belongs to JNC contributor and admin Matt De Mangos. Be sure to check out the excellent Petrolicious and their beautiful short films about vintage cars.
Marques like Nissan and Toyota get most of the attention thrown at Japanese classics these days, but let’s not forget about Mitsubishi. The automaker, known for turbocharged, rally-bred performance machines, has been building enthusiast-oriented sport coupes just as long as any of them, starting with the Colt Galant GTO. Continue reading
QotW: How can Nissan save the Z?
The news late last week that Nissan is releasing a crossover inspired by — not necessarily replacing, but inspired by — the Z caused “grab the pitchforks” style unrest among the enthusiasts. We know the automotive landscape does not favor sports cars now, and it is becoming increasingly difficult for automakers to justify them. Nissan already has the supercar killing GT-R, so making an even more expensive and powerful Z does not seem to be the solution.
How can Nissan save the Z?
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 next blue chip JNC?” Continue reading
NEWS: Will the next Z really be a crossover?
Next Tuesday Nissan will unveil a new concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Many are calling it the next Z. Nissan is calling it the Gripz, and a video released today shows that it was inspired by the Datsun 240Z rally cars. Here’s the kicker, though. The Gripz is, um — well, there’s no kind way to put it so I’ll just say it — a crossover. Continue reading
EVENTS: Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion 2015
The Rolex Motorsports Reunion is typically a high point of Monterey Historic Car Week, but this year a black cloud hung over the festivities. The volunteers that have run Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca since it opened in 1957 is being forced out by the county’s board of supervisors, who are facilitating a takeover by a NASCAR-owned company. Naturally, fans of the track are worried that political pressure and a profit mandate will ruin one of the world’s best road courses. So here, as a reminder to why vintage road racing is so great, is a gallery of the competition J-tin that was there. Continue reading
Posted in events
Tagged 240Z/260Z/280Z, 280zx, 787, acura, Benly 125, c10, celica, ct70, datsun, EZ90 Cub, fairlady roadster, fc3s, Hakosuka, honda, imsa, john morton, mazda, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, monterey historics, nissan, nsx, Porsche 935, Porsche 956, Porsche 962, rx-7, s130, s30, skyline, srl311, Tetsu Ikuzawa, toyota, Trust
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ART CORNER: Khyzyl Saleem’s bosozoku future
The cars Khyzyl Saleem draws seem to ask the question, “What if Mad Max took place in the dystopian future of Blade Runner?” Neon-lit cityscapes, heavily modified cars, and a substantial dose of Japan-influenced tuning styles combine to form an incredible imagined world. Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged 2000gt, 240Z/260Z/280Z, a20, ae86, celica, corolla levin, daruma, datsun, Khyzyl Saleem, nissan, r34, S15, s30, silvia, skyline, toyota
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MOTORSPORT: Dome recreates Honda S-based Macransa and Karasu to celebrate 50th anniversary
You might know Dome from its wild 1978 Zero concept car, but the firm dates back to 1965. Recently, Dome celebrated its 50th anniversary by recreating two of its very first cars. Based off of 1960s Honda S-Series roadsters, the Karasu and Macransa laid the groundwork for what would become one of Japan’s premier race car constructors. Continue reading
Posted in motorsport
Tagged dome, honda, Karasu, macransa, Minoru Hayashi, S500/S600/S800, tojiro ukiya, Zero
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The nine generations of Honda Accord
Honda has devised a clever new Instagram campaign highlighting nine generations of the Honda Accord. Simply click on the image and detailed shots of each part will appear. If these cars look familiar, you may be remembering them from our tour of the American Honda Collection. Not shown: how freakin’ enormous the Accord has gotten over the years. What used to be an econobox is now a luxobarge. How times have changed.
Posted in Uncategorized
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MINICARS: 2016 Hot Wheels Nissan Fairlady Z, Datsun 620 in white
Turns out that maroon and pink Hot Wheels Fairlady Z was a “factory custom” (a car purposefully painted incorrectly at the plant) after all. Here’s the actual 2016 Hot Wheels Nissan Fairlady Z in the correct blue that we approved on the e-sheet and patterned after designer Jun Imai’s real-life 260Z. Continue reading
Posted in minicars
Tagged 240Z/260Z/280Z, datsun, datsun 620, fairlady z, hot wheels, nissan, s30
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QotW: What’s the next blue chip JNC?
Cars like the hakosuka and kenmeri Skyline GT-Rs, the Fairlady Z432, Cosmo Sport and Toyota 2000GT have already hit prices that we bitter, long-time JNCers can no longer afford. What’s the next ship we should jump on before it leaves port?
What’s the next blue chip 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, “What’s the greatest nostalgic Nissan?”
Continue reading
GRAND TOURING: The Onsens of Yamagata Prefecture
Having toured Aomori and Iwate Prefectures previously and discovered many interesting sights along the way, we decided to again return to the northern coasts, this time to explore the Prefecture of Yamagata and the Sea of Japan Coast Road. Continue reading
MINICARS: New Hot Wheels Fairlady Z, recolored Kenmeri and RX-7 coming
An image of a new Hot Wheels S30 Z have surfaced, but there is a bit of mystery surrounding it. Since the JNC inkan appears on the door, we are privy to some extra information that was was leaked. First, it will show up as a 2016 basic model, and it is patterned after Hot Wheels designer Jun Imai‘s own 260Z, complete with massive flares and G-nose done up in true kaido racer fashion. However, like Jun’s real car, the model was supposed to be blue. Continue reading
