Think back a little…or a lot, what were you doing in high school? Going to band camp? Studying for the SAT? Slacking off? Or maybe restoring a Mazda Cosmo Sport? …wait what?! Turns out, if you were one of the eight lucky students at Hiroshima Technical High School, that’s exactly what you did this summer. Continue reading
Honda is back with another incredible commercial showcasing the breadth and history of their products. This time, the painstakingly crafted spot uses nothing but sheets of paper and hours of stop-motion animation to create a moving timeline. Continue reading
As a die-hard car nut, you may not remember how many kids your boss has, your first kiss, or even your birthday, but you can sure as hell remember every vivid detail about the millisecond you laid eyes on a mind-blowingly awesome JNC. I, for example, will have that time in 2003 when I saw a black S30 Z just cold chillin’ with a VIP Cima in a Tokyo parking lot seared into my brain for the rest of my life. We witnessed that very moment in the wide-eyed faces of so many JCCS spectators this weekend — and on innocent bystanders during a post-show photo shoot in Long Beach with a couple of very cool Skylines. As we process hundreds of photos from this weekend’s festivities, we ask you:
Which JNC sighting will you remember forever?
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, “How can Nissan save the Z?” Continue reading
You’ve asked for it. You’ve demanded it. You’ve even threatened to pick up pitchforks for it. Well, here it is! We are very, very excited to give you the first sneak peek at the next Hot Wheels to wear the JNC inkan, the Mazda RX-3! Continue reading
One last JCCS preview before the big show. Here’s a sneak peek at the next big Hot Wheels JNC. What is it? You’ll have to come by the JNC booth tomorrow at the Japanese Classic Car Show. If you can’t make it, check back here at 9:00am Pacific Time on Saturday, September 19. Any guesses?
We are proud to debut our first poster collaboration with Japanese artist San Mamiya at this Saturday’s Japanese Classic Car Show. Titled Fuji Speedway, it is an easter egg-filled tribute to the golden era of Japanese motorsports, Showa Era pop culture, and, yes, even the iconic JNC inkan’ed Hot Wheels. Continue reading
Before 2015 is over, we’re going to have one last blast with the Hot Wheels Datsun 510 Wagon. Once again, it is predicted to be a highly sought-after model, especially since it will be a KDay exclusive. However, we just received our samples from the factory so here are the details. Continue reading
Man, those guys at Nissan really know how to cut it close. Here are two cars they shipped over from the Zama warehouse in Japan for this Saturday’s JCCS, and they just arrived today. Continue reading
With winter fast approaching for the majority of the country and the fall onslaught of video game releases on its way, we felt that it is high time that we feature some of the best in home console games to feature JNCs. With the popularity of classic Japanese cars fast growing in the meatworld car community, it is now being reflected more than ever in the game market. Continue reading
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
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
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
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
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!
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!
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
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
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
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
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
