Blame it on being too successful a race car, but it’s hard to find an unmolested Datsun 510 these days. Most owners seem intent on turning them into rat rods, BRE replicas or flat-out hoonmobiles with smog-exempt SR20s. To paraphrase Seinfeld, not that there’s anything wrong with that, but we hope this 1971 Datsun 510 goes to a collector. Continue reading
NEWS: So apparently Felix Wankel was a big fat Nazi
Today, August 13, is Felix Wankel‘s birthday. Mazdafarians might know him as the father of the rotary engine.
Until now, much of his history had been either unexplored or glossed over. On the official Mazda website, they describe him only as an inventor who conducted research with the German Aviation Ministry during World War II to “serve the national interest.”
But an article published today on Jalopnik contends that Herr Wankel was kicked out of the Nazi party twice for being “too radical” and was a member of Germany’s most anti-Semitic group. The piece references those who believe Wankel worked for the Nazis simply because they happened to be the biggest funder of his research at the time, but that argument is quickly dismissed.
There is no denying the rotary engine’s brilliance as a piece of technology. Even if Wankel’s politics were abhorrent, it only puts him in the company of other automotive luminaries of the time such as Henry Ford. Perhaps it is best to divorce the man from the machine.
VIDEO: Subaru Vintage Garage explores Fuji Rabbit, 360
Subaru has been making a concerted effort to promote its history as of late. Timed perfectly with our visit to the Subaru History Collection is the debut of a video series called Subaru Vintage Garage. Watch these bite-size history lessons about Fuji Heavy Industries earliest vehicular efforts. They will be released in chronological order, with the first two covering the Fuji Rabbit scooter and the Subaru 360 kei car. Continue reading
QotW: What’s the greatest Japanese nostalgic van?
We just finished a 1,500 mile road trip with a Toyota Sienna SE (more on this later), which we are ready to crown as the greatest minivan ever made. The only problem: it’ll be 2036 before it’s officially nostalgic. Not to fear, Japan has plenty of incredible bento boxes to choose from.
What’s the greatest Japanese nostalgic van?
The Honda Life Step Van is one candidate. Built from 1972-74, it pioneered the FF, low-floor minivan layout over a decade before the Chrysler Town & Country. Others include the Mitsubishi Delica, rugged camper in 4×4 and and Aussie hoonmobile in FR. Or perhaps the stalwart Toyota Van, that staple of the 80s.
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 fondest hachiroku memory?”
Continue reading
NOSTALGIC LIFE: Towing anything, anywhere, anytime.
Oh, the machinery we would put in the JNC dream garage. You cannot even imagine. The rarest twin-cam Toyotas, ex-works Nissan racers, immaculate rotaries, obscure kei cars. It would be downright pornographic, I tell you.
No matter what though, our fantasy fleet always has a BHT. A big, honkin’ truck that can drag the rustiest barn find back to HQ, haul a motor or three without flinching, and handle any terrain a recovery mission might throw at us. It would have enough driving lights to outshine the grid from Close Encounters, a bed crane, and say “JNC Search & Rescue” on the side. And for one week, we lived the dream. Continue reading
SHOP LIFE: A visit to Rocky Auto, Nissan resto-modder extraordinare
Today’s guest writer is David Lovett of Classic Car Nagoya, who recently went on a little field trip to Rocky Auto. The famous tuning shop’s founder, Yoshiya Watanabe, will make a rare American appearance at Vintage Auto Salon this weekend so come by and meet him. —Ben
Rocky Auto is one of Japan’s most famous, not to mention most outrageous, Nissan tuners, known for swapping completely modern Nissan RBs and Lexus V8s into Japan’s iconic nostalgic cars. Some might call the creations blasphemous, others might say they’re wickedly cool. No one can deny, however, that founder Yoshiya Watanabe has made a huge impact in the nostalgic car scene in Japan. Recently, I had the opportunity to visit the shop in person. Continue reading
GRAND TOURING: Journey to Subaru of America’s History Collection, Part 01
You’d never guess as you drove by, but in a nondescript warehouse just across the Delaware river from Philadelphia lies the most eclectic stash of boxer motored, all-wheel-drive vehicles in the US. Earlier this year, we at JNC had the rare opportunity to visit Subaru of America‘s incredible historic car collection.
Subaru describes the collection as more of an “attic,” where significant concepts, classics and race cars are stored for posterity. With cars stacked on lifts and crammed doorhandle to doorhandle, it’s certainly not a museum, and it’s not open to the public. However, it’s still amazing, and something that we are very glad exists. Continue reading
Posted in Grand Touring, museums, subaru
Tagged 22B, brat, ff-1, impreza, Justy, legacy, leone, subaru, subaru 360, Subaru Attic, Subaru Collection, X-100, XV Crosstrek
21 Comments
MINICARS: 2014 Hot Wheels Toyota AE86 Corolla leaked
Just in time for 86 Day festivities, the Lamley Group has leaked that the Toyota Corolla AE86 Hot Wheels casting will be making a return to the pegs in 2014. This time around, the car will be silver with 80s-vintage graphics. Happily for hachi-heads, it has an appropriate red interior! Expect it to hit the pegs sometime this fall.
NEWS: Happy 86 Day from JNC
2013 is a momentous year for the compact, lively and influential car we know as the hachiroku. With Initial D perhaps getting its final curtain, along with the fact that the first AE86 rolled off the production line in Aichi exactly three decades ago, we at JNC would like to wish you a happy 86 Day!
In celebration of this August 6th, let’s rewind the clock back 30 years. Below is a Toyota exhibition video that features a duo of early GT-APEX Levins flown in from Japan (notice they are not Corolla GTs) and driven to their limits by rally drivers Per Eklund and Klaus Fritzinger. Continue reading
Posted in News, toyota
Tagged 86 Day, ae86, corolla, Klaus Frtizinger, levin, nurburgring, Per Eklund, spa francorchamps, sprinter, toyota, trueno, zandvoort
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QotW: What’s your fondest hachiroku memory?
Tomorrow, August 6, is 86 Day and cities on both sides of the Pacific are gearing up for a celebration of the last FR Corolla. It’s perhaps a special one this year, as the Initial D story has come to a close. Maybe you’re not a fanboy, but there’s no denying the cultural ripples the O.G. drift machine has created.
What’s your fondest hachiroku memory?
There are many among the JNC staff. John remembers it as being the coolest car you could have in high school. Kev tracked one in Oz, long before Project Hako and even the US drifting boom. I crossed the country twice to get the AE86 of my dreams.
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 JNC should be revived for modern times?” Continue reading
Posted in Question of the Week
Tagged ae86, corolla, levin, QotW, Question of the Week, sprinter, toyota, trueno
21 Comments
MINICARS: 2014 Hot Wheels X JNC Datsun 620
We’ve been sitting on this news for months, but now that it’s been leaked, we are stoked to share with you, our dear readers, the latest Hot Wheels wearing the JNC inkan — the Datsun 620! Continue reading
VIDEO: Wheeler Dealers goes to Japan
In Discovery Channel UK’s Wheeler Dealers: Trading Up, campy car trader Mike Brewer journeys across various continents to buy and sell cars for profit. In the fourth episode, he finds himself in Japan and gets a quick lesson in its used car culture. After failing multiple times at bidding on cars during a very fast paced auction, he winds up with a Daihatsu Tanto, which he’s able to sell for a profit after a quick detailing. He then spends his earnings on a white daruma Celica. A good investment, it appears. Continue reading
JNC GARAGE: Ben’s 1980 Toyota Celica Supra
On Monday Toyota UK posted a history of the Supra. This led at least one major media outlet to wonder aloud whether it had anything to do with rumors of the nameplate’s revival. Sadly, that same major media outlet led off with a photo of a Celica (-_-). Well, this seems a good a time as any to explain the intricacies of the Mark I Supra. Continue reading
NEWS: After 18 years of touge battles, this is how Initial D ends
The final chapter of the long running manga Initial D was released yesterday in Japan. After 18 years of publication the hugely influential story that introduced touge battles and the glory of RWD Japanese cars to a whole generation of enthusiasts has come to a close. Here’s how it ends (Warning: Spoilers ahead). Continue reading
QotW: Which JNC should be revived for modern times?
The revival of the Datsun brand didn’t go in the direction many Bluebird and Sunny enthusiasts wanted. We know an exact nuts-and-bolts resurrection of a 510 or B110 would not be practical, but cars with the spirit of those JNCs certainly could.
Which JNC should be revived for modern times?
How ’bout a modern day Mark II to battle Audi? A reborn Celica would, ironically, compete with the downsized, world market-friendly 2014 Mustang. Sure there are the obvious cars — RX-7, Silvia, etc. — but imagine a revived TC Cup consisting of lightweight, RWD equivalents of a revived Sunny, Savanna RX-3, and the Toyota GT86.
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 open top JNC?” Continue reading
NEWS: Final chapter of Initial D to be published Monday
Eighteen years after a tofu delivery Toyota AE86 drifted onto the scene, author Shuichi Shigeno has announced that the hugely popular Initial D manga will come to an end on July 29, 2013.
Since 1995, the tale of a teenager with a gift for slinging his dad’s old hachiroku on the touge has sold over 48 million copies and made a hero car out of Toyota’s last RWD Corolla. Continue reading
Posted in toyota, Video Games
Tagged ae86, corolla, Initial D, levin, Shuichi Shigeno, sprinter, toyota, trueno
14 Comments
EVENTS: Mooneyes Open House, Mitsubishi Owners’ Day, SpoCom 2013 — Attend All the Shows!
Life is soooo hard in SoCal. Gorgeous women dress too scantily, it’s hard to decide between beautiful roads in the mountains and beautiful roads by the coast, and it barely ever rains. And then we have the horrible inconvenience of too many car shows.
That was our dilemma one warm Saturday when we found ourselves confronted with the Mooneyes Open House, Mitsubishi Owners’ Day, and SpoCom. Right. Fire up the Cressy. Continue reading
MINICARS: Kyosho X DMC Limited Edition “Panda” Toyota 86
A while back our friends at DaBox Model Cars decided to make a limited edition car based on Japan’s car of the moment, the Toyota 86. They were looking for a tribute to the original AE86 on which it was based, so we at JNC lent a hand to the design process. Continue reading
KIDNEY, ANYONE? Deep Yayoi “Sakura” Barrels
The Yayoi “sakura” wheel has long been considered the holy grail of vintage Japanese barrels. Now, a never-used ultra-deep set can be yours for the low, low price of — pinky to mouth — one million yen ($10,000 USD). Continue reading
VIDEO: The ultimate Mazda fan’s marriage proposal
What’s the most romantic spot for a marriage proposal? This video, which has been making the car blog rounds, proves there was no place better than the cockpit of a Lola Mazda ALMS race car.
Ian Browning and Sarah Bunting are two die-hard Mazdafarians who own a pair of FC RX-7s. At this year’s ALMS race at Mosport Park Ian popped the question while Sarah was in the driver’s seat of the #16 Dyson Racing race car. Spoiler alert: she says yes. It must have something to do with the cool JNC Daytona shirt he’s wearing. Watch the video below. Continue reading
