JCCS Preview: 2015 Japanese Classic Car Show this Saturday

Posted on September 15, 2015 by Ben Hsu

JCCS 2015

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!

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NEWS: Nissan’s Z-inspired crossover — “They’re not idiots”

Posted on September 15, 2015 by Ben Hsu

Nissan Gripz Datsun 240Z rally inspired concept RG11

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 →

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MINICARS: Hot Wheels X JNC Nissan Fairlady Z

Posted on September 15, 2015 by Ricky Silverio

2016 Hot Wheels Nissan Fairlady Z - blue 01

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 →

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25 YEAR CLUB: Acura NSX

Posted on September 14, 2015 by Ben Hsu

1993 Acura NSX - Grand Prix White 14

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 →

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A Brief History of Mitsubishi’s Colt Galant GTO

Posted on September 14, 2015 by Ben Hsu

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 →

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QotW: How can Nissan save the Z?

Posted on September 14, 2015 by Ben Hsu

214-DL0594_Datsun 240Z Safari Rally

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 →

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NEWS: Will the next Z really be a crossover?

Posted on September 11, 2015 by Ben Hsu

Nissan Gripz concept 01

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 →

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EVENTS: Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion 2015

Posted on September 11, 2015 by Ben Hsu

136_Datsun 240Z IMSA GTU & Toyota Celica T165 IMSA GTO

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 →

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ART CORNER: Khyzyl Saleem’s bosozoku future

Posted on September 10, 2015 by Ben Hsu

Khyzyl Saleem Toyota Celica Phantom

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 →

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MOTORSPORT: Dome recreates Honda S-based Macransa and Karasu to celebrate 50th anniversary

Posted on September 9, 2015 by Ricky Silverio

Dome Zero, Karasu

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 →

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The nine generations of Honda Accord

Posted on September 8, 2015 by Dan Hsu

A photo posted by Honda (@honda) on

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.

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MINICARS: 2016 Hot Wheels Nissan Fairlady Z, Datsun 620 in white

Posted on September 8, 2015 by Ricky Silverio

2016 Hot Wheels Nissan Fairlady Z

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 →

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QotW: What’s the next blue chip JNC?

Posted on September 8, 2015 by Ben Hsu

28-Sk597s_Nissan SilviaCSP311

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 →

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GRAND TOURING: The Onsens of Yamagata Prefecture

Posted on September 4, 2015 by Skorj

Yamagata Onsen 54 Toyota AE86 Corolla Levin

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 →

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MINICARS: New Hot Wheels Fairlady Z, recolored Kenmeri and RX-7 coming

Posted on September 3, 2015 by Ben Hsu

2016 Hot Wheels Nissan Fairlady Z

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 →

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Kidney, Anyone? 1980 Toyota Celica Sunchaser

Posted on September 3, 2015 by Ryan Senensky

01

Go grab your Gerry Rafferty cassette and your turtle neck because this week’s Kidney Car is the closest thing to a yacht rock poster car Toyota ever made: the 1980 Toyota Celica Sunchaser. From 1979 to 1981 Toyota commissioned the Griffith Company to create 500 convertible Celicas for the American market. Griffith took it one step further creating a car that was both a full convertible and a targa top.  Continue reading →

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PRODUCT GUIDE: RS Watanabe Toyota Works replicas

Posted on September 2, 2015 by Ricky Silverio

RS Watanabe Toyota Works TOM's Igeta 05

RS Watanabe has revealed their latest wheel design, and it’s a gorgeous revival of the famed Toyota Works racing wheels of the 1960s and 1970s. The classic four-spoke crosshairs pattern is back, and is now available in a 15-inch size.  Continue reading →

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NIHON LIFE: Bidding Sayonara to the Hotel Okura

Posted on September 1, 2015 by Ben Hsu

Hotel Okura 01 Prince Skyline GT-B

It has no engine, no wheels, and never won any races, but the Hotel Okura is an icon of the Showa Era. Since opening its doors in May 1962, it has hosted every US president since Richard Nixon. In 1976, JVC unveiled the world’s first VHS videocassette there. Royalty, rock stars, and even a particular fictional spy arriving in a Toyota 2000GT convertible can be counted among its guests. And as of yesterday, its lights were turned off for the last time.  Continue reading →

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QotW: What’s the greatest nostalgic Nissan?

Posted on August 31, 2015 by Ben Hsu

209-DL0587_Nissan Bluebird 510 Safari Rally

Last week we learned that an R35 GT-R is not the only Nissan that knows how to steal a supercar’s thunder. It’s hard to believe, but we haven’t yet asked what the greatest nostalgic Nissan is. We’ve inquired about the greatest Toyota, Honda, Subaru, Mitsubishi, and even Suzuki (your winning answers here, here, here, here and here), so let’s rectify that right now.

What’s the greatest nostalgic Nissan?

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 car of the Nineties will be the next sought-after classic?”  Continue reading →

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NIHON LIFE: Summer Evening on the Wangan

Posted on August 28, 2015 by Skorj

GR1-863s_Honda NSX & S800

The O-Bon is an annual festival that honors the souls of one’s ancestors. Many Tokyoites head to their hometowns to visit the graves of their forebearers, leaving the city strangely free of its dreaded logjam traffic. In other words, it’s the perfect time to go for a drive. With the start of O-bon, I took a recent Thursday off with the intention of squeezing in a few errands and a little bit of kyuusha time.  Continue reading →

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