Japanese Nostalgic Car

Today, May 12, is National Odometer Day. The modern odometer is credited to William Clayton, a Mormon pioneer who attached a mileage counting device to his horse-drawn wagon in 1847. The device tracked wagon wheel’s number of revolutions as his party trekked west from Omaha to Salt Lake City. Today the odometer is an integral part of automotive life. We’ve gone from analog rollers to digital tickers, and whether on a garage queen or a hoopty, they provide a window into the life the car has lived.

What’s the craziest odometer reading you’ve ever seen?

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

It’s hard to believe that in all the years we’ve done QotW we’ve never asked the most basic question about why we’re all here in the first place. If we like cars it should stand to reason that we like driving them. Today, May 5, is Fun Driving Day in Japan, as established by the Tokyo Metropolitain Expressway Company, which runs the Shuto. As they say, “Driving in a car allows you to go to places you can’t easily get to, see scenery you normally can’t see, and meet people you normally wouldn’t meet. Enjoying a drive is like taking a step into a new world.”

Why do you like driving?

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 care product?” Continue reading →

Today, April 28, is Car Wash Day in Japan. The date comes from a play on words for 4 (yo), 2 (itsu), and 8 (ya), or yoitsya, which means “a good gloss” in Japanese. Washing your car can be a chore or a labor of love. But with the right tools and materials, it can be enjoyable. That’s closer to the intent of Car Wash Day’s creators, the Auto Parts & Accessories Retail Association, who say it’s “a day to increase your attachment to your car by washing it.”

What’s your favorite car care product?

The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What movie or TV wreck always makes you cringe?“. Continue reading →

Carspotting in movies and TV shows is a great pastime, especially when watching older forms of visual arts. Unfortunately, we all know that whenever a car appears on screen there’s always the chance that it’ll meet a grisly end. Even if the car wasn’t anything particularly rare when the scene was filmed, like the A20 Toyota Celica in the opening sequence of 1978’s The Incredible Hulk, sometimes it can still be difficult to watch.

What movie or TV wreck always makes you cringe?

The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What car has been absolutely ruined by pop culture?“. Continue reading →