Japanese Nostalgic Car

Happy Valentine’s Day from JNC

Posted on February 14, 2014 by Ben Hsu

Valentine’s Day. Unavoidable and yet oh-so-little to do with cars. That is, unless you’re lucky enough to receive one of these kyuusha-shaped Tomica chocolates. For 2014, they’ve added an adorable cocoa Subaru 360 to the set.

How cute is that? I mean, if there was ever a classic Japanese car that should be made into a candy it’s the Subie 360.

The five nostalgics from last year — a Honda S800, Toyota TE72 Corolla Levin, hakosuka Skyline, Nissan S30 Fairlady Z, and a Toyota 2000GT — have also returned. Is this going to be a yearly thing? We hope so.

Alas, you can only order them in Japan but according to Amazon they have a 210-day shelf life, so theoretically you’d have until JCCS to enjoy them. Happy Valentine’s Day!

Posted in minicars | Tagged 2000gt, c10, chocolate, fairlady z, Hakosuka, honda, nissan, S-Series, s30, s800, skyline, subaru, subaru 360, tomica, toyota | 3 Comments

MINICARS: Hot Wheels Cool Classics 1987 Toyota Pickup

Posted on February 13, 2014 by Ricky Silverio

Toyota isn’t the only company getting nostalgic for the 80s with its latest batch of TRD trucks. Hot Wheels‘ latest line of premium collectibles is the Cool Classics series, and with 25 of the 30 cars released it was looking like your typical parade of Detroit iron. Then suddenly, a 1987 Toyota Pickup! Continue reading →

Posted in minicars | Tagged cool classics, hot wheels, jun imai, pickup, toyota | 6 Comments

KIDNEY, ANYONE? Prototype Honda CB750 for $148,000

Posted on February 12, 2014 by Ben Hsu

The Honda CB750 was earth-shattering when it debuted in 1969 that a new word had to be coined to describe it. And lo, the superbike was born. Soichiro Honda rocked the world with his large-displacement, transverse-mounted SOHC four-cylinder, unheard of in a mainstream bike at the time. Called the “King of Motorcycles,” advanced features for its time, like front disc brakes and electric starter, revolutionized the motorcycle industry in much the way Honda’s NSX jolted the supercar establishment 20 years later. Early CB750s can trade for $40,000 to 50,000, but this particular bike recently sold for a whopping $148,000. Here’s why. Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments

EVENTS: 2014 All-Toyotafest

Posted on February 11, 2014 by Dan Hsu

Our friends at TORC have just released their 2014 All-Toyotafest flyer. Here’s everything you need to know about the 19th running of this fantastic yearly gathering of Toyota, Lexus and Scion enthusiasts.

When: May 3, 2014, 9am – 3pm

Where: Queen Mary Park, Long Beach, California

Admission: Free for spectators

Registration: Begins March 1, with very limited spacing. Register here.

Mark your calendars! There’s a larger version below. Please help spread the word to make this the biggest and best Toyoafest yet. Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged lexus, toyota, toyotafest | 1 Comment

NEWS: Mazda Celebrates 25 Years of the MX-5

Posted on February 10, 2014 by Ben Hsu

Mazda knew when they unveiled the Miata at the 1989 Chicago Auto Show that they had built a true driver’s car, one whose stated purpose was to create joy. That was 25 years ago today. What they couldn’t have known was that it would become the best selling sports car of all time. Soon the likes of Toyota, Nissan, Honda, BMW, Mercedes and Audi all tried to emulate the formula, but it was only Mazda that sold 1 million drop top smile generators to loving owners all over the globe. Today it officially becomes nostalgic. Continue reading →

Posted in News | Tagged mazda, miata, mx-5, roadster | 12 Comments

QotW: What’s the worst example of badge engineering?

Posted on February 10, 2014 by Kevin San

Badge engineering. It’s one of the dirty little schemes of the auto industry that continuously surprises us, not by the Mitsubishi parts when you thought you were buying a Dodge, but because it continues to fool the average consumer.

What’s the worst example of badge engineering?

One of 2014’s greatest tragedies will surely be the fact that the Toyota Cavalier is less than 25 years old and thus ineligible. We also considered the Dodge Challenger-badged Mitsu and Chevy Nova-badged Corolla, but we think the 1988-91 Nissan Ute takes the cake here. It was actually a XF Ford Falcon, a real 1970s old school sedan. Up front sat a 4.0L, 110hp straight six with a 4,500 rpm redline while a live axle and leaf springs supported the rear bed. It was a total sales flop, since no self respecting redneck is gonna drive a Japanese truck. Smart people realised that the three year Nissan warranty was better than the one year Ford warranty. Wiser bogans were buying Nissan Utes, then going to Ford to buy a $25 blue oval badge to stick on the grille. Imagine if, in the 1980s, Nissan USA slapped Nissan badges on a Ford F-150 and tried to sell it to rednecks.

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 the greatest JNC rivalry?” Continue reading →

Posted in Question of the Week | Tagged motorsport, QotW, Question of the Week | 50 Comments

NEWS: Toyota Supra and sub-Scion FR-S sports car confirmed

Posted on February 8, 2014 by Ben Hsu

It’s back, baby! Reports out of Australia say that the show-stopping Toyota FT-1 concept unveiled last month at the Detroit Auto Show has been confirmed for production as the next Supra. Even better, it’ll be in the first of an entire lineup of sports cars set to hit the streets starting in 2016, nearly two decades after the last Supra left US shores. Continue reading →

Posted in News | Tagged ft-1, supra, toyota | 38 Comments

JNC THEATER: Someday Into the Glare

Posted on February 7, 2014 by Ben Hsu

Though it came out in 1992, there’s still plenty of 80s car-nage in Kinji Fukusaku’s Someday Into the Glare (English title, The Triple Cross). Fukusaku’s ultra-violent crime stories were a staple of Japanese cinema in the 70s and 80s, but by 1992 a new crop of new filmmakers had rose to prominence. Fukusaku wanted to prove he still had what it took to compete with the young bloods after a few years dabbling in ancient samurai and horror flicks, so he returned to the subject he knew best — bank robbers, bullets and betrayal. Naturally, there are plenty of car chases. Continue reading →

Posted in JNC Theater | Tagged car chase, crown, nissan, pathfinder, Someday Into the Glare, terrano, toyota | 3 Comments

NEWS: Toyota celebrates 35 years of TRD, revives 1980s Super Off Road video game

Posted on February 6, 2014 by Ben Hsu

One a giant indoor dirt course at the Chicago Auto Show today Toyota Racing Development celebrated 35 years in the US by launching a new lineup of TRD Pro trucks. Though Toyota’s in-house tuning skunkworks has been responsible for everything from IMSA Celicas to NHRA top fuel dragsters, this was a celebration of their off-road racing heritage. Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 8 Comments

So despite earning $15 million last year for his Game of Thrones series, author George R.R. Martin drives an FB Mazda RX-7, which Yahoo cyberstalked and found parked outside his Santa Fe, New Mexico house. His personalized license plate has his initials, “GRRM.”

Posted on February 6, 2014 by Dan Hsu | 5 Comments

FUTURE NOSTALGIC: Toyota Alphard, king of VIP vans

Posted on February 6, 2014 by Kevin San

No, you haven’t traveled into the future. The Toyota Alphard isn’t nostalgic yet, but to ignore them would mean turning a blind eye to a huge part of Japan’s car culture. Custom minivans are serious business in Japan and the Toyota Alphard (along with its twin, the Vellfire) is the king daddy of them all. Continue reading →

Posted in Future Nostalgic | Tagged alphard, jdm, toyota, vans, vellfire | 13 Comments

NEWS: Street debut of the Nissan IDx Concepts

Posted on February 5, 2014 by Ben Hsu

Over the weekend Nissan did something very unusual. They took their priceless, one-of-a-kind concept cars all over SoCal to meet the public face to face. This would’ve been a ballsy move for any concept, but for the Nissan IDx siblings, the most talked-about show cars of the year? This was unheard of. Continue reading →

Posted in News | Tagged 510, datsun, IDx, nissan, peter brock | 69 Comments

NEWS: Initial D reboot to hit Japanese theaters August 23

Posted on February 4, 2014 by Ben Hsu

A new Initial D movie is in the works, and the release date has just been announced. It will hit movie theaters in Japan on August 23, 2014. According to Initial D World, the film will be the first of a trilogy. Initial D Legend 1: Awaken, will be a retelling of the 1998 anime’s first stage in which Takumi Fujiwara goes from bored tofu delivery driver to touge racer in his Toyota AE86. Continue reading →

Posted in News | Tagged ae86, corolla, Initial D, levin, sprinter, toyota, trueno | 8 Comments

QotW: What’s the greatest JNC rivalry?

Posted on February 3, 2014 by Ben Hsu

Now that the SuperBowl is over, it might be time to ask what was the greatest ever contest of wills involving at least one classic Japanese marque. There have been many throughout the ages. Datsun vs Alfa Romeo in SCCA Trans-Am 2.5. Subaru vs Mitsubishi in rallying. AE86 vs Silvia in drifting. Toyota vs Nissan in sales.

What’s the greatest JNC rivalry?

As usual, we’ll go for the easy pickings, that of the Mazda RX-3 and Nissan Skyline GT-R. In the early 70s the hakosuka GT-R was absolutely dominant in Japanese touring car racing and had a fan following that would make the Seattle Seahawks jealous. Nissan was so confident that it would win a 50th victory in December 1971 that it preemptively took out ads in Japan’s major newspapers telling race fans to watch them clinch the deal at the upcoming Fuji Tourist Trophy. Then along came Mazda with a fleet of RX-2s and the newly developed RX-3 and, after a nail-biting battle, denied Nissan their much hyped win. Of course, Nissan did go on to claim that 50th win and more, but it was a surprising upset for fans and a stark reminder not to count your chickens before they’re hatched.

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 the coolest factory decal package?” Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 9 Comments

25 YEAR CLUB: The Subaru Legacy is officially a Japanese nostalgic car, Part 02

Posted on February 1, 2014 by Dave Yuan

A quarter century ago today, the Subaru Legacy went on sale in Japan. In Part 01, we studied its origins, but despite its humble family sedan appearance, Fuji Heavy Industries intended for the Legacy to go racing right from inception. This is a fitting place to discuss the origins of Subaru Technica International (STi) and how it relates to the Legacy. Continue reading →

Posted in 25 Year Club | Tagged legacy, sti, subaru, wagon | 22 Comments

SHOP LIFE: Standards, Part 02

Posted on January 31, 2014 by David Lovett

In Part 01, we headed up to Gifu to visit a shop called Standards, which had a mind-blowing amount of Showa goodies hidden in every nook and cranny. After going into Showa overload, Yokoyama-san, the owner, asked if we wanted to see his backup lot. Yes, please! So we hopped in his car and set off. Continue reading →

Posted in Shop Life | Tagged carol, corona, daihatsu, honda, kei, mazda, midget, publica, Shop Life, Standards, subar, toyota | 16 Comments

JNC THEATER: Boso Panic – The Big Crash

Posted on January 30, 2014 by Ben Hsu

1976’s Boso Panic: The Big Crash was your typical action movie from the era. All the gritty ingredients were there: bank robber anti-heroes, a femme fatale, gunfights, and loads upon loads of car chases. What sets it apart is the fact that it was filmed in Japan, and thus the car-nage consisted of the exact cars JNCers know and love today.

200 cars were used in the filming. Of those, 20 were incinerated and an additional 30 were crashed. Likely filmed with sponsorship from Toyota (many Japanese films of the period got cooperation from a major automaker if cars were involved in any way), meaning the rides that met their bitter ends included a Hilux, Stout, a parade of S40 Crown police cruisers, and the hero car, a gold MS51 Crown Hardtop. Continue reading →

Posted in JNC Theater, Uncategorized | Tagged Boso Panic, crown, hilux, JNC Theater, toyota | 15 Comments

VIDEO: Original owner 1987 Honda CRX Si

Posted on January 29, 2014 by Dan Hsu

In the 27 years Chris Hoffman has owned his 1987 Honda CRX Si he’s seen his model of choice transform from econobox to tuner king to Japanese classic. Now his well-preserved car is also the subject of Petrolicious‘ latest video, titled “Original Fanboy.” As it happens, Chris is a friend of JNC and Honda owner in triplicate, who goes by “The Black CRX” around these parts. Watch his inspiring video below. Continue reading →

Posted in Video | Tagged crx, honda, Video | 5 Comments

VIDEO: Toyota 2000GT drift!

Posted on January 28, 2014 by Ben Hsu

So you have the most badass — and expensive — Japanese classic ever built. Why not take it to the track and mash on the pedals like they’ve got spiders pouring out of them? It’s exactly what one Japanese driver did with his then-not-quite-million-dollar Thunder Silver super-nostalgic, executing a couple of really nice slides in the process. This should slake the rabid cries from the “It’s meant to be driven!!!11!” crowd for about six minutes. Continue reading →

Posted in Video | Tagged 2000gt, motorsport, toyota, Video | 12 Comments

QotW: What’s the coolest factory decal package?

Posted on January 27, 2014 by Ben Hsu

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 →

Posted in Question of the Week | Tagged IDx, nissan, QotW, Question of the Week | 55 Comments