Though sleds of chrome and Nihon steel will always be at the heart of JCCS, in 2011 organizers began accepting vintage Japanese motorcycles as well. It’s fitting, anyway, as two-wheeled vehicles are still hugely popular in Japan, and is how much of the Japanese motoring industry got its start. Continue reading
We have no idea what’s going on in this manga. All we were told is that it’s from a very short run, most likely a self-published doujinshi. In it, Honda Z600 travels through the cosmos and a Toyota 2000GT is rendered as a wheel-less space fish. If anyone knows more about it, let us know in the comments. Continue reading
As we near the end of our 2014 Japanese Classic Car Show coverage, we delve into the crux of what it means to have a classic car show. Here are some of the rarest and best preserved Japanese nostalgic cars you’ll see all year. Continue reading
On March 14, 1972 the Vanlene freighter was engulfed by fog and ran into the so-called Graveyard of the Pacific, a treacherous area off the west coast of Vancouver Island. On board were 300 Dodge Colts, built by Mitsubishi, bound for North America. Continue reading
Italy had a Beetle; It was called the Fiat 500. So did Britain, the Mini. The VW Beetle was Germany’s Beetle, obviously, but it was America’s too. What all these cars had in common is that they started out as affordable, economical People’s cars and ended up as icons. What’s more, they’ve all been reborn in modern times as fashion statements capitalizing on nostalgia, European cool, and design.
Which People’s JNC is due for a remake?
The best example to come out of Japan is likely the Honda N-One. The modern kei car was inspired by the 1967 Honda N360. Since they’re already halfway there, we’d jump for joy if Honda did a similar take on the N’s sportier sibling, the Z360. Honda Z-One, anybody?
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 is not worth preserving?” Continue reading
The latest installment of our massive 2014 Japanese Classic Car Show coverage takes a look at the haulers of the J-tin world, whether they be carrying cargo, kids, or chicken tax exemptions. It’s the trucks, vans and wagons of JCCS.
Continue reading
It’s hard to get much more 80s Japanese than the Mitsubishi Starion, but it’s often overlooked in favor of AE86s, Z31s and FC RX-7s. There were only three at JCCS this year, and those who do follow the cult of Starion tend to mod the crap out of them. The remaining supply is usually left languishing on driveways, waiting for a restoration that will never come. That’s why this 58,334-mile example is so stunning. Continue reading
Auto displays are like a magical time travel device. Not only do you get to see cars of the era, but also its prevailing fashion, colors and architecture. Like the old Tokyo street scenes we showed you a few months ago, here are some JNCs in their natural environment. Continue reading
While chrome-bumpered machines from the 60s and 70s are still the Japanese Classic Car Show’s core, urethane capped 80s cars are making their presence known in a big way. In this installment we look at iconic cars from the Reagan decade. Continue reading
Recently the JNC wagon, our daily driven 1986 Cressida, was backed into, smashing the headlight, front bumper and fender. That’s the danger with driving your beloved classic around. Add years of rock chips and other indignities suffered during LA driving and it’s enough to make us consider getting a guilt-free daily driver.
What car is not worth preserving?
With the exception of blue chip classics like the Toyota 2000GT or Nissan Skyline GT-R, JNCs tend to be cars that were once thought of as disposable but which are now becoming collectible. Is there a car, from any year or continent but easily available in the US today, that you can drive into the ground without the slightest pang of remorse?
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 best shade of JNC orange?” Continue reading
This year the Japanese Classic Car Show began screening entrants. A JNC editorial on the development generated heated debate, with many assuming that the Queen Mary lawn would be filled with identical, bone stock examples that all looked the same. Turns out, that concern was completely unfounded, because you couldn’t swing a cat-less exhaust without hitting a modified machine at the show. Continue reading
Subaru has always thought outside the box. Pistons pointing sideways, spare tires under the hood for traction in winter, plaid seating, seats in the bed of a pickup truck, 4WD as an option on all models, a third headlight hidden behind the emblem on the grille. You would think there are arbitrary options throughout the company’s history but in fact they are all features available on one model, the Subaru BRAT. Sans the “cyclops” light, this also happens to be a list of features on a particular 1980 Subaru BRAT found on Craigslist Pittsburgh. Continue reading
The Sixties were a time of rapid growth and optimism for Japan. Automakers just built whatever they felt like with no cares given to what western markets would bear, and before the companies themselves settled into a comfortable pattern of four-year lifecycles. There is probably no better congregation of Post-War Miracle machinery available in the US than on the lawn at JCCS. Continue reading
As long-time readers know, the Japanese domestic market was stocked with stunning machinery that never made it to our shores. The Japanese Classic Car Show is likely the only place in the western hemisphere where you can see so many of these gems gathered in one place. Continue reading
With fall among us (well, not all of us, as it is a balmy 100 degrees in Los Angeles in October), the leaves are changing. Therefore, it’s time we ask:
What’s the best shade of JNC orange?
Japanese cars have always made great use of autumn hues, especially orange. For sports models ranging from the TE27 to the Z432, it was the hero color. Anecdotally, we’ve encountered more bone stock Datsun 240Zs finished in New Sight Orange than any other shade. Tragically, its a tone not seen on new cars any more.
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, “Which JNC model name should be revived?” Continue reading
UPDATE: These are now available in the JNC Shop. We at JNC like to come up with something new each year for JCCS, and this year we’re proud to introduce a new, interactive decal. The JNC “25 Year Club” decal honors cars that have passed that magical quarter-century mark to become official Japanese nostalgic cars. Continue reading
30 years ago in Japan, a Toyota Sports Car Meeting was held. As you can see from the Zapruder-quality footage, it was a pretty significant affair: 1600GTs, 2000GTs, and Sports 800s of every color imaginable. According to yumejizo, who apparently filmed the event in 8mm, cars from all over the country attended. Think about this: when this event was held, the AE86 had just come out. What a difference 30 years makes. Watch the video below. Continue reading
With the Japanese Classic Car Show now officially 10 years old, it has become an event where people will wait to debut a build they’ve been working on in secrecy for years. Here are some of the best examples of cars that have either never before been seen or have been significantly reworked for a JCCS debut. Continue reading
Don’t worry, you’re at the right place. As JNC fans, sometimes we find ourselves fascinated by various vintage Japanese machines and the Shinkansen, or bullet train, is perhaps the most historically and culturally significant. The image of sleek white arrow piercing the landscape with a snow-capped Mt. Fuji in the background is a veritable Japanese icon, and on this very day 50 years ago — October 1, 1964 — the famous train took its maiden voyage. Today, we take a look at the Shinkansen, especially the original “0 Series” model. It has more than four wheels and doesn’t fit in your garage, but it’s a true Japanese classic. Continue reading
If it weren’t for the way a split second unfolded on the morning of August 6, 1945, some of the world’s greatest cars, like the Cosmo Sport, RX-7 and Miata, may have never existed. That was the day Mazda Motor Corporation’s founder, Jujiro Matsuda, narrowly escaped being vaporized by an atomic bomb. Continue reading
