Happy 510 Day from JNC!

Boba Fett Datsun 510 Wagon

Apparently May 4, Star Wars Day, is a commonly known thing now. But we know the real party happens today. Happy 5/10 Day, everyone! How are you going to celebrate?

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PRODUCT GUIDE: Koyorad First-Gen Toyota Celica Radiator

Koyorad Toyota Celica radiator

If you swung by the JNC booth at Toyotafest this weekend you might have noticed this beautiful block of aluminum. It’s the the lastest design from Japanese radiator maker Koyorad and we’re happy to say that it’s another nostalgic car application. Hot on the heels of Koyorad’s Datsun 510 radiator comes a cooler for your first-gen Toyota Celica.

Specifically, it fits all first-gen Celicas with 1.6 or 2.0 liter engines. That means your stock 2T-C, 18R-C, or even twin-cam 2T-G or 18R-G can have now have stone cold antifreeze coursing through its veins. Typical of Koyorad units, it comes with a threaded 1/8-inch PT temperature sensor fitting and measures 48mm thick. Each radiator is TIG-welded and triple pressure tested. We’re extremely thrilled that aftermarket support for us old schoolers is constantly expanding, and that it’s not limited to just the ever-popular 240Z and AE86 (though Koyorad makes radiators for them too).

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MINICARS: Hot Wheels Flying Customs Kenmeri Nissan Skyline 2000GT-R

Flying Customs Nissan Skyline 2000GT-R kenmeri

We know, it’s madness, but there’s yet another nostalgic Hot Wheels coming down the pipe. This time, it’s the first color of the kenmeri Nissan Skyline 2000GT-R since that casting’s initial release in 2011Continue reading

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VIDEO: Crashing Classic Subarus

Subaru Crash Test

And now for your viewing pleasure, Subarus crashing into walls. When we started JNC in 2006, you couldn’t get a Japanese automaker to cough up some vintage footage if your threatened the CEO’s grandchildren at gunpoint. Nowadays, they’re more than happy to promote their histories, even if it’s a cringe-inducing montage of old cars getting destroyed for the greater good. It’s interesting to note that Fuji Heavy was conducting pedestrian safety tests as far back as the first-generation Leone. Continue reading

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QotW: What’s the greatest JNC of the 1980s?

KDR30 Nissan Skyline Super Silhouette

If the question was simply the greatest JNC, it would be hard not to choose something legendary like a 2000GT or KPGC10. But since we’re on an 80s kick with our Made in the 80s theme for Toyotafest, let’s limit the answers to hachimaru heroes.

What’s the greatest JNC of the 1980s?

From touge terrorizing AE86s to Wangan blasting MA71 Supras, Bubble Economy Japan was a nonstop onslaught of fantastic machinery. From insanely turbocharged kei cars to the first wave of VIP ultra-luxe sedans, the land of the rising sun had it all.

What say you, dear reader? As always, the most entertaining or inspiring comment by next Monday will receive a toy. Click through to see the winner from last week’s question, “What’s the greatest Japanese Nostalgic Motorcycle?”  Continue reading

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JNC GEAR: Made in the 80s

Toyota Van Made in the 80s, Loved by the Ladies

JNC‘s 25-years-or-older rule has put the nostalgic cutoff at 1988. It’s time we embraced the 80s. This year, our annual Toyotafest shirt debut will be a tribute to the boxy designs of the techno-funk decade, the Turbo Era, the Bubble Economy. We’ll also be debuting a decal to go along with it. Continue reading

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KIDNEY, ANYONE? Million Dollar Baby: 1967 Toyota 2000GT

1967 Toyota 2000GT belatrix yellow 02

A couple of weeks ago John wrote about a 1967 Toyota 2000GT that had come up for auction with an expected fetch of $650,000 to $850,000. We rarely do a followup on Kidney Cars but this one bears mentioning. This past weekend, RM Auctions put down the gavel on the Belatrix Yellow beauty for a whopping $1,155,000. The record breaking price for the Japanese supercar turned heads in traditional collectors’ circles, shining a new spotlight on Japanese classics. In other words, you thought $5,000 for a 510 was high? Prices are about to get a lot higher.

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ART CORNER: Toyota 4A-GE made of Legos

Toyota 4AGE lego

In retrospect it probably wouldn’t be too difficult to build an 80s Toyota out of Legos; they’re all pretty darn boxy. But an iconic 80s Toyota engine? Well, a Lego artiste by the name of Solde has created a plastic model of the legendary Toyota 4A-GE. What’s more, it actually moves. The starter has a moving plunger that meshes with the flywheel, there’s a complete valvetrain, pistons and crankshaft, and a throttle controls the speed at which the whole thing turns. In short, it’s amazing. Just watch the video for yourself.

Continue reading

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QotW: What’s the greatest Japanese Nostalgic Motorcycle?

Honda super cub c100

We talk a lot about cars here, but really, the most Japanese form of transportation is the motorcycle. From pimped scooters to crotch rockets the variety and performance spectrum of Nihon’s bikes is just as great as that of their cars. Therefore, we ask you:

What is the greatest Japanese nostalgic motorcycle?

With 55 years of continuous manufacture and over 60 million units sold, we agree with James May that the Honda Super Cub is perhaps the greatest machine ever built by human hands. And, as the primary mode of transport in third world countries across the globe, the Super Cub, it’s probably granted more humans the gift of mobility than any invention since the wheel itself.

What say you, dear reader? As always, the most entertaining or inspiring comment by next Monday will receive a toy. Click through to see the winner from last week’s question, “What’s the most environmentally friendly JNC?”  Continue reading

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KIDNEY, ANYONE? 1965 Nissan President

OPJFV

From 1965, if you wanted the very pimpest and plushest the Nissan empire had to offer, then you’d go to your friendly neighbourhood dealer and plunk down a not-trivial six million yen for a President. The Royal Family may have rolled in a Prince Royal, but the Prime Minister was wafted around in a Nissan President. Rather inexplicably, the H250 series President remained in production from 1972 until 1990, whereupon it was replaced by the first Infiniti Q45 (which was called Nissan President in Japan).    Continue reading

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Documentary: Sayonara Speed Tribes!

Ever since we started JNC, the sub-culture of the bosozoku biker gangs of Japan has always been a fascinating subject. The bosozoku were always a feeder-class as thugs for the mafia, but as we reported many moons ago, their outlaw traditions have been hammered into submission by constant police attention in recent years. But they’re also being left behind by an increasingly corporatized Yakuza.

Tokyo-based Figure 8 Productions has an hour-long documentary which has started screening in Tokyo this month, but you can buy the DVD  of the movie at their site. As the trailer says: Sayonara Speed Tribes chronicles Hazuki — an aging Japanese bike gangster and the crop of halfhearted youngsters he mentors.  As bike gang culture in Japan succumbs to police pressure he confronts his tough guy past and dwindling options for the future.”

Looks interesting!

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QotW: What’s the most environmentally friendly JNC?

Honda CRX HF

Today is Earth Day, and JNCs have always been at the forefront of environmentally friendly motoring. If it wasn’t for the Oil Crisis of 1973, JNCs may not have even entered the mainstream automotive world. From kei cars to hybrids there have been many economical cars from Japan.

What’s the most environmentally friendly JNC?

Our pick is an obvious one — the Honda CRX HF. In 1985 the HF, which stood for “High Fuel economy,” was highway rated at a whopping 57 miles per gallon. What’s more, it had all the handling prowess and fun-to-drive quotient of its more powerful brethren. Eat your hybrid heart out, Prius!

What say you, dear reader? As always, the most entertaining or inspiring comment by next Monday will receive a toy. Click through to see the winner from last week’s question, “What’s the best Japanese nostalgic SUV?Continue reading

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MOTORSPORT: Mazda is the official car of the SCCA

4911_Mazda RX-7 IMSA GTU

Mazda often boasts that on any given weekend, there are more Mazdas on racetracks than any other marque. As such, it was already the de facto car of the SCCA, but now it’s officially official. Mazda is the car of the Sports Car Club of America.  Continue reading

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VIDEO: One man’s RB-powered 240Z vs Nissan’s crowdsourced 370Z

Nissan 370Z vs 240z

What’s faster, a home-brew Datsun 240Z or a professionally built Nissan 370Z? Last year, Nissan Performance (ie, NISMO USA) reached out to the tuner community and asked them to modify a Z34 by voting for their favorite mods on Facebook. The result was the kind of money-no-object dream build most of us can only wish for, made from the best parts the aftermarket had to offer, from a GReddy turbo kit to Volk TE37-SL wheels to Yokohama Advan Neovas.

Gordon MacSwain, on the other hand, is someone we can all relate to. He built his S30 Z with his own hands in his Columbus, Ohio garage over a period of three and a half years. Along the way, Gordon updated all its mechanicals, including the engine, which is now an RB26DETT. Fans then chose to pit his baby against the crowdsourced Z. So, how does a sub-2300lb, 360hp nostalgic fare against a more powerful but heavier modern machine? Watch the video below.  Continue reading

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EVENTS: Formula D Round One / AE86 Nights, Part 02

IMG_6157

In Part 01 of our coverage from last weekend’s SoCal car scene we watched the opening round of the 2013 Formula D season. After the smoke settled in Long Beach everyone booked it across the southland to El Monte for some grassroots Toyota love at AE86 NightsContinue reading

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EVENTS: Formula D Round One / AE86 Nights, Part 01

4753_Scion FRS Greddy Ken Gushi

Toyotaku in southern California had plenty to keep them occupied this past weekend, with not one but two events showcasing the venerable AE86 and its successor, the Scion FR-SContinue reading

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QotW: What’s the best Japanese nostalgic SUV?

08skorj310_Nagano_ToyotaFJ40LandCruiser

We’ve asked you before what’s the coolest Japanese nostalgic truck, and the comments were as diverse as they were plentiful thanks to Nihon having pioneered the mini-truck segment altogether. However, Japan was also building SUVs before the term SUV even existed, back when they were still called four-wheel-drives. Nevertheless, we ask:

What’s the coolest Japanese nostalgic SUV?

From Suzuki Jimny rock crawlers to Mitsubishi Pajero Dakar dominators, there have been plenty of great off roaders. However, if there was one that has moved humanity to the farthest reaches of planet Earth, it would be the Toyota Land Cruiser. It comes in second only to the 2000GT in terms of collectible Toyotas, but it was the first Japanese car to have, like the Mustang or Camaro, its own retro-styled tribute.

What say you, dear reader? As always, the most entertaining or inspiring comment by next Monday will receive a toy. Click through to see the winner from last week’s question, “What’s the worst thing about loving JNCs?”  Continue reading

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GRAND TOURING: Shio no Michi, the Salt Road — Part 01

379s_Subaru R2_Honda Life_Toyota Corona T40

Having not been away in a few weeks, we decided to take a Monday off and spend three days exploring Nagano Prefecture and some of the less traveled valleys near the Northern Alps. Using our usual form of taking the main expressway as far as possible on the first day, dropping off, and taking a few days to traverse the slow roads home, we found ourselves near Nakano City off the Joshin-Etsu Expressway. Continue reading

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VIDEO: Hakosuka spotted in Adventure Time

Hakosuka Adventure Time

A number of readers excitedly informed us recently that Adventure Time had featured a hakosuka. We honestly have no clue what the animated show is about, but in this particular episode, titled “Simon and Marcy,” a wizard and a little vampire girl take refuge in an abandoned Nissan Skyline when they hear an ominous rustle in the woods. Continue reading

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KIDNEY, ANYONE? Belatrix Yellow 1967 Toyota 2000GT

1967 Toyota 2000GT belatrix yellow 01

This 1967 Toyota 2000GT is expected to fetch $650,000 to $850,000 when it crosses the auction block on April 27. If it does, it would be a new high for Japan’s first supercar.  Continue reading

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