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
History is littered with legendary nameplates that have ended in the scrapyard. We saw many of them at JCCS this weekend (coverage coming shortly), and it made us nostalgic for times when names like Silvia, Cressida and Prelude still existed.
Which JNC model name should be revived?
US automakers love recycling old names. Sometimes a re-born name is a hit (2008 Dodge Challenger). Sometimes it’s not (1978 Dodge Challenger). Toyota has a habit of using old chassis codes as new model names (FJ Cruiser, 86), Honda waited 30 years to bring back the S-Series, and Nissan revived the entire Datsun brand. However, we think the name Celica is a shoe-in for revival. It sounds good, has substantial recognition amongst the public, and would be perfect for a small, compact coupe.
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 rarest common car?“ Continue reading
For our last JCCS preview before the big show, here’s a new-for-2015 Hot Wheels Datsun 240Z. Once again we are proud to have the JNC inkan featured on the livery, right under the script “Datsun” logo on the fenders. Continue reading
The 2014 Japanese Classic Car Show is just around the corner. this Saturday, September 27. It will be a very special occasion as the JCCS celebrates its 10th anniversary. As promised, there are some surprises in store, and here are a few.
The Monterey Historics car week is one of the world’s great automotive events, and 2014 was a milestone year for Japanese classics. After all, seminal Nihon steel made strong showings at auctions, iconic Japanese cars raced at Laguna Seca, and Japanese automakers even held news-making unveilings there. All of that, however was merely a blink-and-you-missed-it blip on the larger radar of the traditional classic world.
Though there’s a lot of non-Japanese content in this article, we think it’s important to show some of our younger readers the larger scope of what goes on at an event like the Monterey Historics and how the J-tin figures into the big picture. Continue reading
There are some JNCs that you just don’t see, and it’s a mystery as to why. We’re not talking about kenmeri GT-Rs or Black Limited AE86s and the like. Those were never produced in large numbers or were special editions to begin with, so it’s no surprise you don’t see them that often. In fact, you’re more likely to see a Toyota 2000GT because it was rare to begin with. Some cars, no one ever thought to preserve.
What’s the rarest common car?
We remember a time when Datsun B210s were everywhere. The alphanumeric jumble of a name is so ingrained in American culture many non-JNCers default to, “Is that a B210?” when they see any Datsun that’s not a 240Z. Trucks, built to be workhorses or tackle harsh terrain, were often used up and discarded when they’d outlived their usefulness. Then there’s cars like Toyota’s post-barikan Corona, which ToMoCo positioned to be the Camry of its day. Now you rarely ever see them, even at shows like Toyotafest or JCCS.
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 commands the most respect?” Continue reading
