QotW: What’s the coolest factory decal package?

Posted on January 27, 2014 by Ben Hsu

0418-0104Dan_MazdaSavannaRX3-SP

Throughout 70s and 80s decal packages were a fact of life. Some were awesome, some were awesomely bad, but they were emblematic of the era.

What’s the coolest factory decal package?

We don’t know if it’s the greatest, but Mazda‘s 1977 RX-3 SP stripe kit was added to give the aging sport coupe a bit of zing before it was to be replaced by the game-changing RX-7. The decals and concomitant spoilers added nothing to the bottom line performance of the rotary housed within, but it is a sought after edition today and something unique to the North American market.

What say you, dear reader? As always, the most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a toy. Click through to see the winner of the last QotW, “What would you do with a Nissan IDx?”  Continue reading →

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SHOP LIFE: Standards, Part 01

Posted on January 24, 2014 by David Lovett

482_Toyota Corona Mark II

Standards is a little known shop hiding up in Gifu Prefecture. We would have never been aware of had it not been for some internet digging by a friend in a desperate bid to find some rare Mazda Carol 360 parts. Not only did the shop have the elusive bits in stock, but physically going there to pick them up was an experience we wouldn’t soon forget.  Continue reading →

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VIDEO: Kaz — Pushing the Virtual Divide delves into the mind of Gran Turismo

Posted on January 23, 2014 by Dan Hsu

Kaz - Pushing the Virtual Divide

The Gran Turismo series transformed the way an entire generation was introduced to cars. Among its game-changing achievements — ultra realism, actual manufacturer unveilings, developing world-class race drivers —  is one very special triumph for JNCers. It was not only the first mainstream game to give Westerners a taste of the Japanese classics, it was the best.  Continue reading →

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25 YEAR CLUB: Subaru Legacy, Part 01

Posted on January 23, 2014 by Dave Yuan

Subaru Legacy Wagon jump

Twenty-five years ago today, Subaru announced a new model, the Legacy. It was a late entry in the mid-size sedan field, a class often marked by mundaneness in purpose and form. Nevertheless, Japanese carmakers occasionally injected into these cars doses of performance and techno-gadgetry. Examples include the Mitsubishi Galant VR-4, Mazda 626 GT, Nissan Bluebird SSS-R, and Honda Accord SiR.

However, such variants tended to be sporadic fits of passion, homologation specials, or technological showcases. By contrast, the subject of this article was plunged into a serious racing campaign at birth, got worked over by one of the most revered factory racing development organizations, and saw continuous high-performance development throughout its lifespan rarely enjoyed by its competitors. That car is the original Subaru Legacy.  Continue reading →

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KIDNEY, ANYONE? 1968 Paris Auto Salon Mazda 110S

Posted on January 22, 2014 by Ben Hsu

Mazda Cosmo 110S 02

Mazda Cosmo Sports are rare already, but this particular specimen has the added provenance of being a show car. According to the seller, it was displayed at the Mazda booth at the 1968 Paris Auto Salon. Additionally, this is an export model and is badged a Mazda 110S rather than a Cosmo Sport.  Continue reading →

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KIDNEY, ANYONE? FJ40 Land Cruiser sells for $101,750

Posted on January 21, 2014 by Ben Hsu

1977 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40 05

It’s auction season in Arizona, which means another round of stratospheric values for old cars. Last year FJ40 Toyota Land Cruiser prices reached new heights, going as high as $88,000 for a blueprinted 1981 at Barrett-Jackson. Now a 1977 model as pushed that price past the six-figure mark with a sell price of $101,750.  Continue reading →

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QotW: What would you do with a Nissan IDx?

Posted on January 20, 2014 by Ben Hsu

Nissan IDx Safari 2

Now that a highly anticipated lightweight FR Nissan has been confirmed for production, the only question is:

What would you do with a Nissan IDx?

How about a replica of the Safari Rally winning 1970 Datsun 510 SSS? Extend the roof and make a neo-510 wagon? Keep it bone stock for posterity? Build a VQ drift machine? The possibilities are endless, especially when you have Adobe Photoshop. Show Nissan what dreams you’d like to follow in the production IDx.

What say you, dear reader? As always, the most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a toy. Click through to see the winner of the last QotW, “What ‘Class of 1989’ car would you import?”  Continue reading →

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ART CORNER: Ryuji Tsugihara’s Yoroshiku Mechadoc

Posted on January 17, 2014 by Ben Hsu

Yoroshiku Mechadoc

There are countless manga devoted to the subject of cars, but rarely do they leap off their comic book pages into the world of anime. Any self-respecting JNCer knows a few, but before Initial D or Wangan Midnight, before even Shakotan Boogie, there was Yoroshiku Mechadoc.  Continue reading →

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NEWS: Nissan IDx production confirmed

Posted on January 15, 2014 by Ben Hsu

Nissan IDx FreeFlow Datsun 510 Concept 01

A top Nissan exec has confirmed that the Nissan IDx will see production. As of yet it’s unknown which one of the two concepts, the IDx Freeflow or IDx NISMO, will get the green light. Continue reading →

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KIDNEY, ANYONE? 38k-mile EF Honda Civic Si

Posted on January 15, 2014 by Ben Hsu

1990 Honda Civic Si 11

For the Honda purist, online searches are a form of self-flagellation. You’ll want to go all Oedipus on your eyeballs after witnessing what crimes the average shocker-rockin’ Civic owner perpetrates on Soichiro’s creations. But wade through enough garish paint jobs and pointless faux vents and you just might find a pristine, unmolested EF Si hatch.  Continue reading →

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NEWS: Nissan IDx gets a nose job for North American debut

Posted on January 14, 2014 by Ben Hsu

Nissan IDx NISMO Concepts

Remember how Nissan said the Sports Sedan Concept was going to redefine the marque’s future design language? They wasted no time and have already given the Nissan IDx, unveiled in Tokyo less than two months ago, a facelift for its North American debut.  Continue reading →

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NEWS: The 4DSC is back! Nissan Sports Sedan Concept

Posted on January 13, 2014 by Ben Hsu

Nissan Sport Sedan Concept

When the J30 Maxima debuted in 1989 Nissan employed a clever little bit of marketing by calling it the “4DSC,” or “four door sports car.” Now the automaker is invoking the spirit of Nissans past in it’s new Sport Sedan Concept, unveiled today at Detroit. Continue reading →

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NEWS: Supra, 2000GT-inspired Toyota FT-1 concept unveiled

Posted on January 13, 2014 by Ben Hsu

Toyota FT-1 concept reveal

Since the Supra’s departure from US shores in 1998, Toyotaku have been eagerly waiting for its return. Every year or so there’d be rumors about a new halo sports car for the Toyota brand, including the weeks leading up to this year’s Detroit Auto Show. The only difference was, this time the rumors were true. Behold, the Toyota FT-1 concept.  Continue reading →

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QotW: What “Class of 1989” car would you import?

Posted on January 13, 2014 by Ben Hsu

Nissan Pao

It may seem like we just asked this question, but just because a car is the greatest graduate from the Class of 1989 doesn’t mean you want to own it. The doors have opened onto a whole new era of once-forbidden Japanese machinery now that 1989 is no longer under America’s ban on foreign cars younger than 25 years.

What “Class of 1989” car would you import?

Before the PT Cruiser, the New Beetle, or the neo-Mustang/Camaro/Challenger, there was the Nissan Pao. Along with its siblings the Figaro, Be-1 and S-Cargo, it was retro before retro was a thing. Built off a K10 March platform, the Pao embodied the cars one would’ve seen on post-war Japanese roads. Nothing fancy, just the basics — exposed hinges, sliding rear windows, and painted interior surfaces. Yeah, sure, it’s front-wheel-drive and has only a 1.0-liter four-cylinder for power, but it’s so darn cute. Besides, not all of us want our own Godzillas.

What say you, dear reader? As always, the most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a toy. Click through to see the winner of the last QotW, “What’s your 2014 automotive resolution?” Continue reading →

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EVENTS: Meiji Jingu Classic Car Festival & Parade, Part 02

Posted on January 10, 2014 by Ben Hsu

When Toyota holds a car show in the middle of Tokyo’s equivalent of Central Park, people notice. In Part 01 of our Meiji Jingu Classic Car Festival coverage we had the rare opportunity to see the best of Japan’s historic icons in their natural environment, wending their way through the bustling capital city. Once the route was completed, each car pulled into the heart of Meiji Jingu Park, attracting massive crowds of car fiends and weekend strollers alike. Continue reading →

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KIDNEY, ANYONE? 1 of 3 1986 IMSA GTO Toyota Celicas

Posted on January 9, 2014 by Ben Hsu

1986 IMSA GTO Toyota Celica Dan Gurney 01

For Celica fans 1986 is known as the year when the beloved sports coupe was transformed from rear- to a front-wheel-drive. Despite its softening, Toyota was still hell-bent on scoring sales with an aggressive racing program. At the time there was no bigger US race series than IMSA touring cars, so three GTO-class Celicas were created to challenge the likes of the Mazda RX-7, Porsche 911 and Chevy Corvette. They were rear-drive, turbocharged, and produced as much as 600hp. And now you can own one.  Continue reading →

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EVENTS: Meiji Jingu Classic Car Festival & Parade, Part 01

Posted on January 8, 2014 by Ben Hsu

20131130-008_MeijiJingu_Mazda Cosmo Sport 110S

We’re extremely lucky to attend as many J-tin filled shows as we do, so it might sound like a first world problem when we say there’s always one teensy issue: The cars are stationary. That’s why when the Toyota Automobile Museum decided to host a classic car festival and parade in the heart of Tokyo, we simply had to go.  Continue reading →

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MINICARS: Hot Wheels Toyota 2000GT, now in yellow

Posted on January 7, 2014 by Ricky Silverio

Hot Wheels Toyota 2000GT yellow 01

Last year Hot Wheels graced us with the Toyota 2000GT, a car JNC readers have been clamoring for ever since the first hints of Mattel venturing into the world of nostalgics. For 2014 two re-colors of the million dollar baby have been released, including a gorgeous yellow example.

The black car was released at the tail end of 2013 and can still be found in stores. The yellow example was just leaked by The Lamley Group — meaning a likely shelf date at the end the first quarter — and features heritage cues based on famous cars in the 2000GT’s history.  Continue reading →

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QotW: What’s your 2014 automotive resolution?

Posted on January 6, 2014 by Ben Hsu

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A new year is upon us, and if you haven’t already made a 2014 resolutions yet it’s not too late to start. Perhaps you have a heap of parts waiting to be re-merged into a car. Or 2014 could be when you finally make it out to one of the great car shows like JCCS. Or Maybe this is the year you add that special car to your garage.

What’s your 2014 automotive resolution?

We, for one, are going to make some improvements to this little corner of the internet we call home. The website is going to undergo some changes that’ll polish up navigation, presentation and just make the overall JNC experience more pleasurable. It’s going to be an exciting year ahead!

What say you, dear reader? As always, the most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a toy. Click through to see the winner of the last QotW, “Which “Class of 1989″ car is the greatest “new” JNC?”  Continue reading →

Posted in Question of the Week | 50 Comments

VIDEO: The Challenging Spirit of Honda

Posted on January 3, 2014 by Dan Hsu

Honda RA272 Mexican Grand Prix finish line

At the Tokyo Motor Show last November Honda released a short video called “The Challenging Spirit of Honda.” Chock full of 1960s racing footage from Honda’s first foray into Formula 1, it begins with Old Man Soichiro’s world-beating RC motorcycles and culminates with engine testing in preparation for its 2015 return to F1. Continue reading →

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