Search Results for: jun+imai

SEMA 2017: Datsun is the new “it” marque

Despite brief surges in sport compacts, drifting, VIP, and other trends from the land of the rising sun, SEMA is still mostly an American car show. If we had to put a number on the resto modded muscle cars pushing 1,000 horsepower, lifted … Continue reading

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EVENTS: 2017 Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 04 — Shakotan Sleds

We’ve shown you the JDM rarities, competition machines and museum pieces of JCCS, but we know what you really came here for — Nihon sleds slammed on some vintage barrels. It’s the quintessential Japanese modified car look, and there was plenty of it on … Continue reading

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EVENTS: 2017 Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 01 — JDM Goodness

We say this every year, but it’s true: the quality and selection of cars at the Japanese Classic Car Show keeps getting better with age. This year, the representation from Japan was increased substantially, with nameplates both beloved and obscure. Here are … Continue reading

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MINICARS: A Hot Wheels Nissan Laurel is coming [UPDATE: Another pic]

When we posted about the new Hot Wheels Fairlady Z casting we said there was more news we were excited to share when the time was right. That time is now. Two reveals in as many days, Hot Wheels has … Continue reading

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MINICARS: A metal base Hot Wheels Fairlady Z

Hot Wheels has revealed an updated Nissan Fairlady Z which has a new, metal base. The front air dam is much more pronounced, as metal-chassis cars are typically for collectors and not orange tracks, where such a chin spoiler might … Continue reading

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MINICARS: Hot Wheels Honda City and DR30 Skyline revealed at Tokyo Toy Show

Our friend Jun Imai is in Japan for the Tokyo Toy Show right now, and brought along some new goodies to reveal at the event. Both are turbocharged JDM cars from the 80s that were never sold in the States. The first … Continue reading

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MINICARS: Prepare yourselves for the Hot Wheels Hakosuka Skyline Wagon

The Datsun 510 Wagon has proven to be one of the hottest Hot Wheels of the modern age. Is it the fact that it was a Datsun, a wagon, or designer Jun Imai’s real car? Perhaps all of the above. If this … Continue reading

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MINICARS: Hot Wheels previews C130 Nissan Laurel

We are stoked to show you the latest Hot Wheels prototype, the C130 Nissan Laurel. Revealed by the design team in its metal and plastic form, it is a perfectly proportioned Butaketsu in true shakotan style. 

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MINICARS: Hot Wheels X JNC Nissan Fairlady Z Super Treasure Hunt

Every so often, a Hot Wheels comes along that melts the Internet. Collectors’ heads explode like they’ve just looked into the Ark of the Covenant. The next Nissan Fairlady Z is just such a car. Look, we’re not bragging just because … Continue reading

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MINICARS: Hot Wheels X JNC Datsun 510 Bluebird Wagon “JNC Surf Patrol”

We at JNC recently received a very special surprise from our friends at Hot Wheels — a JNC surf patrol wagon! These photos, taken from one of the conference rooms at the Mattel design center in El Segundo, California, show the 2017 mainline … Continue reading

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MINICARS: The Wild Cards Hakosuka Skyline is now a Hot Wheels

The next Japanese nostalgic Hot Wheels for 2017 is going to be a very special one, as it is the first classic J-sled to be modeled after someone’s personal car. That person would be our friend Roy De Guzman of the … Continue reading

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MINICARS: A brief update on upcoming Hot Wheels

Yesterday we stopped by El Segundo to catch up with our friends at the Hot Wheels Design Center. We can’t report on everything that happened — though JNCers will have to hold on to their butts in 2018 — but here are a … Continue reading

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MINICARS: Hot Wheels designer Ryu Asada talks about his cars, career, and his love for Hondas

“Honda for Life” is the motto of Ryu Asada, star designer at Hot Wheels. Born in Osaka, Japan and a lover of cars since infancy, he’s the man responsible for the Hot Wheels CRX, S2000, EF Civic, 1990 NSX, Integra and … Continue reading

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MINICARS: A proper Japanese vintage barrel for Hot Wheels

Hot Wheels designer Jun Imai posted a photo of two newer Z castings recently, and hidden in the image was a surprise that bodes well for fans of proper Japanese barrels. If you look closely, you’ll notice that it’s a small size … Continue reading

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MINICARS: Hot Wheels Mazda RX-7 FD3S prototype

Unveiled at the JNC booth last Sunday was a one-two punch of miniature Mazda magnificence. First came the cult classic Rotary Engine Pick-Up, but this next casting needs no introduction. The unmistakable profile belongs to none other than the FD3S Mazda RX-7. 

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MINICARS: Hot Wheels Mazda REPU prototype

Those who stopped by our booth last Sunday may have noticed a few sneak peeks from our friends at Hot Wheels, hand-delivered in a nondescript plastic bag by designer Jun Imai himself. The first of them is a brand new casting for … Continue reading

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MINICARS: Hot Wheels x JNC Datsun Fairlady 2000 in green

Hot Wheels designer Jun Imai has revealed the next recolor of the Datsun Fairlady 2000 on Instagram. We love the industrial green color chosen for this release (with black JNC inkan on the front fender) but what will get collectors and customizers excited … Continue reading

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EVENTS: 2016 Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 05 — FiveTens

Perhaps drawn by the 510 gods that brought John Morton’s BRE racer all the way from Nashville, this year’s JCCS had a surprisingly plentiful turnout of Nissan’s OG sports sedan. While Nissan’s racer was one of the biggest hits of the show, parked there alongside its modern counterparts … Continue reading

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JCCS Preview: Hot Wheels X JNC giveaway

Are you ready for JCCS this Saturday? We at JNC are having a Fairlady Roadster-themed day to coincide with the debut of Hot Wheels’s newest JNC casting, the Datsun Fairlady 2000. As such, we will be giving away several cars at the show, including … Continue reading

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MINICARS: 2017 Hot Wheels X JNC Nissan Fairlady 2000

We at JNC are once again extremely proud to share with you the latest Hot Wheels car to wear the JNC inkan. The Nissan Fairlady 2000 will be showing up in stores soon as a 2017 release, part of the “Legends of Speed” … Continue reading

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