Japanese Nostalgic Car

Let’s say a rich relative you never heard of died suddenly and left you a big chunk of cash. The only condition is that you use it to buy a Japan-market car in today’s rather favorable exchange rate climate. There are a few rules, however:

• It has to be at least 25 years old per America’s import laws.
• It shouldn’t be a car that was sold in the US unless it is significantly different (ie, engine, drivetrain, body style).
• It should be a lesser known model. Go-tos like Nissan Skyline GT-Rs and Toyota Centurys are cool, but you’d need really good justification.

What car(s) from Japan would you import right now?

The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What non-Japanese car would you modify in Japanese style?“. Continue reading →

The 1973 Lincoln Continental Mark IV we posted for Independence Day is a perfect example of how Japanese customization style can work on even non-Japanese cars. The Linc is a ridiculous car to begin with, and its nearly 20 feet of angular sheetmetal makes the perfect canvas for the jutting edges of the kaido racer style. From to dekotora to VIP, Japan has given us countless ways to modify cars.

What non-Japanese car would you modify in Japanese style?

The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “How do you navigate when driving your JNC?“. Continue reading →

A recently published Japanese novel tells the a sci-fi story of what would happen if Toyota chairman Akio Toyoda traveled back in time to meet his grandfather Kiichiro Toyoda, the man who founded Toyota Motor Co. If time travel were real — and while we’re at it, a Star Trek-style universal language translator too — there are so many inventors, executives, race car drivers, designers, etc. whose brains we’d love to pick or whose brilliance we’d love to witness. It’s hard to pick just one.

Which historic auto industry figure would you visit if you could time travel?

The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What was it like in the least powerful car you’ve ever been in?“. Continue reading →

True car enthusiasts know it’s more fun to drive a slow car fast. But what about a really slow car? Maybe just getting home without a catastrophic event makes an everyday drive a thrill ride. Anyway, we don’t care about experiences in the latest and greatest supercars. We want to hear about the harrowing adventures you’ve had in the slowest boxes you’ve ever had the pleasure of wheelin’.

What was it like in the least powerful car you’ve ever been in?

The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What’s your favorite car-themed T-shirt?“. Continue reading →