Japanese Nostalgic Car

It’s here. 1989, one of the greatest single years Japanese automotive history. With the 25-year-or older rule rolling over one more year, any car built at the peak of the Bubble Economy is now officially a classic.

Which “Class of 1989” car is the greatest “new” JNC?

Throughout the 70s and 80s Japan was building fantastic cars, but 1989 was the year our beloved marques finally broke from the chains of their economy car past and became world beaters. The Mazda Miata single-handedly reignited the roadster revolution. Icons like the DA Integra kicked off a boom in FF tuning. 1989 also saw the introduction of the Lexus LS 400 and Infiniti Q45, luxury sedans that would challenge nearly a century of dominance from German brands. Toyota unveiled the SW20 MR2 and Subaru began the Legacy legacy with a turbo sedan. Nissan unleashed a one-two punch with the Z32 Fairlady Z twin turbo and Godzilla himself, the R32 Skyline GT-R. And even though it wouldn’t go into production until a year later, 1989 also saw the announcement of the Acura NSX supercar at the 1989 Detroit Motor Show. With so many to choose from, this should be a spirited debate.

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 best winter JNC?” Continue reading →

Massive loads of snow have been falling on our planet, even in regions like Texas (though still sunny in LA, in case you’re wondering). And while it’d be stark raving insanity to drive a classic car through the slush and salt, what if reasons of circumstance, finances, or general good taste prevented you from driving a new car?

What’s the best winter JNC?

One of the best snow cars we’ve ever owned was an FF 5-speed Honda. It whisked us through the blizzard of 2003, past armies of suburbanites unintentionally drifting their SUVs with no problem whatsoever, with nothing but a set of all-season Yokohamas. We put up this tracked Civic Wagon simply because it’s totally rad bitchin’ awesome, but AWD isn’t a necessity.

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 completely inconspicuous car will be a JNC of the future?”  Continue reading →

There was a time when a ’57 Chevy Bel Air was just a plain ol’ car that wasn’t even as spectacular as a Buick. Now it’s a emblematic of its era and a bona-fide classic.

Which completely inconspicuous car will be a JNC of the future?

One could make a compelling argument that the CB7 Honda Accord was the pinnacle of the model. It looked good, handled well, and had an interior that far surpassed its competition. It was also everywhere, one of the best selling cars in America. Now, if you take away the beaters with one Pep Boys Altezza light and sagging suspension, how many examples are left? One day people will be nostalgic for these bread and butter specimens from Honda’s heyday, and they’ll be gone.

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 cutest JNC you ever did see?” Continue reading →

Japan obsession with cuteness even trickles down to their cars. Look, for example, at the Suzuki Twin we spotted the other day in Yokohama, leading us to wonder:

What’s the cutest JNC you ever did see?

The Twin got its name from the fact that it was a two-seater and that, as the first hybrid kei, it had two propulsion methods. Though it looks like it could hail from the early 90s it’s not nostalgic at all, with production starting in 2003. It was so bad that Suzuki killed it after two years and moving a little over 10,000 units. But it sure is cute!

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 one thing a JNCer must do in Japan?”  Continue reading →