Japanese Nostalgic Car

QotW: JNC prices are on the rise. Good or bad?

Posted on August 11, 2014 by Ben Hsu

We are headed to the Monterey Historics this week. Among the festivities are the Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance in which million-dollar cars you’ve never heard of compete to see who has the bone-stockiest restoration, the Motorsports Reunion in which priceless pieces of racing history are driven around Laguna Seca, and a myriad of auctions among which a Ferrari owned by Steve McQueen is expected to sell for over $60 million.

In the middle of all that madness are several important milestones involving Japanese nostalgic cars, including the auctioning of a pair of Toyota 2000GTs, a Mazda Cosmo Sport, and for the first time ever at Monterey, a genuine S20-powered hakosuka Skyline GT-R. It appears that Japanese cars are finally getting the recognition they deserve, but you know what that means.

JNC prices are on the rise. Good or bad?

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 the last QotW, “What’s the greatest Z-Car?” Continue reading →

Posted in Question of the Week | Tagged QotW, Question of the Week | 33 Comments

EVENTS: 2014 SpoCom

Posted on August 8, 2014 by Ben Hsu

Google “SpoCom” and you’ll find more photos of bikinied booth babes than actual cars, but occasionally this “automotive lifestyle” show for the dubstep crowd does turn up some JNC gems. To show you, we dodged legions of rehearsing dance crews, suffered loud electronic distortion masquerading as music, and endured a convention hall packed with candy colored Scions and stanced Audis. Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged 240sx, 240z, a20, a70, accord, c10, cb7, celica, civic, corona, datsun, eg, Hakosuka, honda, nissan, previa, s13, s30, scion fr-s, silvia, skyline, spocom, supra, t40, toyota | 6 Comments

Happy 8/6 Day from JNC

Posted on August 6, 2014 by Ben Hsu

It’s that time of year again, August 6 or 8/6, the day on which we celebrate the hachiroku. It’s the drift king, the touge master, the car both Keiichi Tsuchiya and Takumi Fujiwara cut their teeth on, or to paraphrase Mad Max — last of the rear-drive Corollas.

To commemorate this day, take a gander at the original Japanese brochure and its Bubble Era naming excesses. It’s not just a 4A-GE, it’s a Lasre α. And did you know, that as you sling your AE86 around your canyon roads, you’re riding on a Pegasus? No, not the winged horse, Toyota’s Precision Engineered Geometrically Advanced SUSpension!

There’s even a female-oriented SOHC version with floral upholstery called the Corolla Levin Lime. With all the focus on the top-spec twin-cams, are there even any Levin Limes left in the world? Ponder these eternal questions and many more on this day, our day of 86es. Happy 8/6 Day! Continue reading →

Posted in jnc | Tagged ae86, corolla, hachiroku, levin, Levin Lime, toyota | 18 Comments

KIDNEY, ANYONE? 125-mile 1985 Honda Civic

Posted on August 5, 2014 by Dan Hsu

These may be the worst photos ever taken by someone trying to sell what is claimed to be a historic vehicle. Despite the potato-cam, however, the seller of this 1985 Honda Civic hatchback claims that it was a special car commemorating the 500,000th Civic ever built. As such, it has been driven only 200km (124 miles) in its lifetime. UPDATE below. Continue reading →

Posted in for sale | Tagged civic, EA Civic, honda, kidney anyone | 11 Comments

QotW: What’s the greatest Z-Car?

Posted on August 4, 2014 by Ben Hsu

As we prepare for the 2014 ZCon this week, we can’t help but reflect on how influential the Z-Car has been to the JNC scene. We don’t usually devote a QotW to a single model but the Z has earned it over six generations and 45 years.

What’s the greatest Z-Car?

In 1971 the No.11 Datsun 240Z finished a five-day, 3,977-mile trek across the punishing landscape of East Africa and won the 1971 Safari Rally. That very car is still kept in Nissan’s Zama warehouse, battle scars and all, as a reminder of that fantastic feat. Incidentally, the designers of the 240Z, 300ZX TT and 370Z will all be in San Diego this week. at ZCon.

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 the last QotW, “What’s the coolest JNC stereo deck?” Continue reading →

Posted in Question of the Week | Tagged datsun, fairlady z, nissan, QotW | 12 Comments

ART CORNER: Fujimi’s Touge Series Box Illustrations

Posted on August 1, 2014 by Dave Yuan

Long after earning driver’s licenses and pinkslips to our rides, some of us still find ourselves mired in plastic model cars. Perhaps it reflects the constraint suffered by many of us on budget, space, or sanity (of ourselves and/or family members), limiting the number and kind of cars we can own. Or maybe there is something innately attractive about miniature replicas of objects of our interest. Fortunately, there have been no shortage of plastic models of JNCs. One line of particular relevance to JNCers is Fujimi’s Touge series of 1/24 scale model kits. Let’s take a look at them, especially the awesome box arts that graces its packaging. Continue reading →

Posted in Art Corner | Tagged 2000gt, a60, a70, ae86, chaser, civic, corolla, cr-x, cresta, ef, fairlady z, fc3s, Fujimi, honda, integra, levin, mark II, mazda, mitsubishi, mr2, r31, r32, rx-7, s13, s14, silvia, skyline, soarer, sprinter, starion, supra, sw20, te27, touge, toyota, trueno, x70, z10, z20, z31 | 4 Comments

NEWS: Mazda gets naming rights to Hakone Turnpike

Posted on July 31, 2014 by Ben Hsu

Mazda sure knows how to pick ’em. In the US, Mazda PR reps never let us forget that the full name for the famous corkscrew-having NorCal circuit is Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. On August 1 in Japan, they’ll be the official sponsors of the Hakone Turnpike, a road leading to one of the birthplaces of drifting. Continue reading →

Posted in News | Tagged drifting, Hakone Turnpike, mazda | 6 Comments

VIDEO: A Tale of Two Corollas

Posted on July 30, 2014 by Ben Hsu

For your Hump Day viewing pleasure, we present two videos about 1970s Toyota Corollas. One’s stock, one’s anything but, though both are equally entertaining. Continue reading →

Posted in Video | Tagged corolla, e30, te27, toyota | 6 Comments

ART CORNER: Rocket Craft’s stuffed cars are the cutest thing ever

Posted on July 29, 2014 by Dan Hsu

The problem with cars is that they’re made of metal. That means rust, skinned knuckles, and, most importantly, an inability to be cuddly. A shop called Rocket Craft has solved that last one for us by creating a series of stuffed cars, which are totally adorbs. Continue reading →

Posted in Art Corner | Tagged 2000gt, Art Corner, bellett, d21, D60, estima, fairlady z, fd3s, hilux, honda, isuzu, kawasaki, legacy, mazda, motorcycles, nissan, pickup, prince skyline, r35, Rocket Craft, rx-7, s30, subaru, toyota | 14 Comments

QotW: What’s the coolest JNC stereo deck?

Posted on July 28, 2014 by Ben Hsu

The rise of Japanese stereo component systems parallels the popularity of Japanese cars. Since it’s already been determined that retro electronica bands love the styling of 80s Japanese cars, what about the devices used to play them?

What’s the coolest JNC stereo deck?

This is the OEM stereo in the JNC Cressida wagon. It’s a massive double-DIN unit, has a 9-frequency equalizer, and the tape deck boasts something called “logic control,” which sounds like a world domination device Dr Mindbender would invent. In night driving, it lights up like the bridge of the Starship Enterprise. Sure, it sounds like the music’s being played through a pillow compared to modern systems, but it looks so damn cool we can’t bear to part with it.

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 the last QotW, “What’s the best shade of JNC blue?” Continue reading →

Posted in Question of the Week | Tagged QotW | 19 Comments

Reminder: ZCon 2014, August 5-9

Posted on July 26, 2014 by Ben Hsu

ZCon 2014 is coming up soon, and this year the organizers have a lot of great thing planned. First and foremost, you should know that this is not a Z-only gathering. While Zs from 240 to 370 are definitely a large part of the festivities, the organizers have plans to include Nissans and Datsuns of all stripes. Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged datsun, fairlady z, infiniti, nissan, s130, s30, z31, z32, zcon | 3 Comments

TUNE UP: AW11 Toyota MR2, the official car of 80s revival electronica

Posted on July 24, 2014 by Ben Hsu

Electronica, it’s what all the kids are into these days. It’s like the 1980s all over again, especially in car choice, and the AW11 Toyota MR2 is apparently the go-to machine for music videos of 1980s electronica revival bands. Continue reading →

Posted in Tune Up | Tagged aw11, mr2, music videos, toyota | 17 Comments

KIDNEY, ANYONE? 57-mile MA71 Toyota Supra Turbo

Posted on July 24, 2014 by Ben Hsu

Yes, you read that right. 57 miles. 92 kilometers. That’s the odometer reading of this Canadian MA71 Toyota Supra Turbo, likely a dealership showpiece for nearly 25 years. Now it’s being offered by County Hills Toyota-Scion in Calgary after a lifetime of being wrapped in the original plastic. Continue reading →

Posted in for sale | Tagged a70, kidney anyone, supra, toyota | 22 Comments

EVENTS: 2014 Mitsubishi Owners Day

Posted on July 23, 2014 by Ben Hsu

Every summer at the Mitsubishi Motors North America’s headquarters in Cypress, California there’a massive gathering of the triple diamond clan. The company might be in dire financial straits, but they’re still the only Japanese automaker to invite all their fans over for a house party. This is the west coast Mitsubishi Owners Day. Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged galant, mitsubishi, starion | 22 Comments

MINICARS: Hot Wheels X JNC Datsun 510 Wagon Super Treasure Hunt

Posted on July 22, 2014 by Ricky Silverio

We are proud to show you the latest Hot Wheels to wear the JNC inkan, the long-awaited second color of the immensely popular Datsun Bluebird 510 Wagon. However, this is also the third color, because this model is being released as a Super Treasure Hunt, a special variation that will sure to be incredibly difficult to find in stores. Continue reading →

Posted in minicars | Tagged 510, bluebird, datsun, hot wheels, minicars, nissan, wagons | 7 Comments

ART CORNER: Coop’s “Nag Fink” Kenmeri

Posted on July 22, 2014 by Ben Hsu

The artist known Coop has made a career illustrating hot rods, X-rated devil girls and rock ‘n’ roll album covers. His latest creation takes the style of Ed Roth (check out his sweet Honda N600) and gives it a Japanese twist. Nag Fink, a tribute to Roth’s Rat Fink, rocks a blown kenmeri Skyline and a samurai sword. You can preorder it here for $75.

Posted in Art Corner | 6 Comments

QotW: What’s the best shade of JNC blue?

Posted on July 21, 2014 by Ben Hsu

Happy Marine Day! Also known as Ocean Day, the third Monday of every July is a Japanese national holiday that celebrates the seas and the bounty they provide for the island nation. On St. Patrick’s Day we asked for the best green. It’s only fitting that we now ask:

What’s the best shade of JNC blue?

Nissan has recognized that the Skyline GT-R’s Bayside Blue is worthy of recreating on the 2015 Juke. Alas, the R34 is too new. Allow us to posit Orion Turquoise Metallic of the A20 Celica. Not only is it an iconic color for the original Toyota sports coupe, it was offered in only the first year of the Celica’s US sales, 1970.

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 the last QotW, “What’s the most unlikely JNC?“ Continue reading →

Posted in Question of the Week | Tagged accord, camry, honda, QotW, toyota | 18 Comments

RIP James Garner, 1928-2014

Posted on July 20, 2014 by Ricky Silverio

James Garner, actor, car enthusiast, and Mazda spokesman has passed away at the age of 86. He will be missed. Continue reading →

Posted in cm | Tagged 626, 929, b-series, capella, f1, fc3s, Grand Prix, honda, James Garner, luce, mazda, rx-7 | 9 Comments

MINICARS: Hot Wheels BRE Datsun 240Z

Posted on July 18, 2014 by Ricky Silverio

Hot Wheels will be releasing a BRE Datsun 240Z later this year as part of a limited edition, online-only offering from the Red Line Club. It looks to be a sought-after follow-up to last fall, when a similar BRE Datsun 510 sold out in two hours. Continue reading →

Posted in minicars | Tagged 510, bluebird, bre, datsun, hot wheels, nissan | 9 Comments

NEWS: Get your Juke in Nissan heritage colors

Posted on July 17, 2014 by Ben Hsu

Nissan recently revealed the 2015 Juke to media in Nashville, Tennessee. This garishly colored example, which reps jokingly called the “USC edition,” is part of a new program that allows buyers to pimp their Jukes with custom coloring. We think this will lead to a spate of pretty bizarre looking specimens of the already-funky Juke on US streets, but for JNCers in Japan, you can choose from a palette of heritage colors that have appeared on historic Skylines and Fairlady Zs. Continue reading →

Posted in News | Tagged fairlady z, juke, nissan, r34, s30, skyline | 25 Comments