Almost two years ago to the day we reported on a 24,000-mile 1977 Celica GT Liftback for sale in Berthoud, Colorado. Asking price? $19,000. Some balked at the sum, despite the fact that the car was showroom fresh with an undercarriage you could eat off of. Turns out it was a bargain, because that exact same car is for sale again, and for significantly more dough. Continue reading
Time to dig out your Zodiac shoes, Guess jeans and bolo tie, because Martin Scorcese is producing yet another period film about the ethnic gangs of New York City. This time, the period is the 1980s and the setting is Chinatown. Revenge of the Green Dragons being filmed right now and footage taken at the set reveals period correct automobiles including a Honda Accord and a very 80s RA64 Toyota Celica on what appear to be black-painted stock wheels. Continue reading
Last week we asked what was the hardest JNC to find. Well, what happens when you actually find one? You can still discover JNC deals for a steal, but that era is quickly coming to an end as people realize that their old Japanese cars are actually worthy classics. It’s about time we asked:
What’s the greatest JNC barn find story?
We’ve reported on several barn find stories here at JNC, including this massive haul of old Celicas from the UK, this 297-car discovery in Australia, and a treasure trove of NOS Toyotas from the UN buffer zone in Cyprus. Still, we’re partial to this Mazda Luce Coupe frozen in time somewhere in Japan.
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 of the last QotW, “What’s the hardest JNC to find?” Continue reading
In Part 01 we looked at the broad spectrum of US and Japanese customization styles present at Motorsport Auto‘s 2013 Z-Car West Coast Nationals. In the past, the S30 generation (encompassing 240Z, 260Z and 280Zs) were the beloved stars of the show, vastly outnumbering and out-classing S130s and Z31s. This year, those second- and third-generation Z cars caught up and finally began to hold their own. Continue reading
Okay, so there’s nothing nostalgic about a Suzuki Carry. However, we fully approve of modifying your company kei truck with a Suzuki Every turbo, a Cappuccino rear end, and a Silvia(!) coilover setup for the express purposes of drifting said company truck. It’s undiluted sunshine glee.
But! Is it as much fun as one-box endos? Thankfully D1 driver Ken Nomura and Drift Tengoku editor-in-chief Ryusuke Kawasaki are here to answer those pressing questions in a hilariously titled segment called “Unusual Drift!” It’s probably a good thing that kei trucks are illegal here. Continue reading
In the age-old battle of USDM vs JDM, there is one car both camps can agree on — the Z. In late 1969 Nissan created one of the all-time great canvases on which enthusiasts could paint their automotive dreams. In those pre-internet days, Americans modified them in the only way they knew how, while our compatriots in Japan had an entirely different take. Continue reading
This week’s QotW was about the hardest JNCs to find. Here’s another one. We are proud to announce our latest collab with Hot Wheels, the 2013 Treasure Hunt Mazda RX-7!! You read that right. JNC has entered the rarefied ranks of the TH series. Continue reading
Let’s talk rarity. Cars like the Toyota 2000GT and kenmeri GT-R were rare when new, with only low triple-digit production numbers each. But owners knew they’d be valuable, so most were well preserved and are not exactly hard to see in present day. Just ask any museum in Japan. Therefore we ask:
What’s the hardest JNC to find?
Intended as Nissan’s competitor to the popular Toyota Celica, the S10 Silvia is sure difficult to come by. We’ve seen Datsun 200SXs here and there, but you would think that the kick-off to such a beloved nameplate would garner at least a few examples at shows, museums, or whatnot. Truth is, you’re far more likely to see the lower-production CSP311 Silvia or multiple 2000GTs at any given Japanese car show. S10s just can’t get no love.
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 of the last QotW, “What’s the most annoying stereotype about old Japanese cars?” Continue reading
Our friend LUXE37 has returned with another jaw-dropping stop-motion minicar chase comprised of high-end Tomicas. This time, A pair of bosozoku baddies wreak havoc on the means streets of a 1970s Japanese town. When his partner in crime’s RX-3 is taken down, a purple butaketsu Laurel tears through busy avenues and innocent bystanders alike, leaving the diecast police and fate to bring him to justice. Can you dig it? Continue reading
Solar Red at the Green Hell. It’s not often you get to see the legendary Toyota 2000GT in motion at all, so it’s even better when it’s at the equally legendary Nürburgring. In this promo video from Toyota Switzerland, we first see Aichi’s finest driving through Germany’s most famous circuit.
Then an inexplicably hot woman is made even hotter by donning a track suit and slipping behind the wheel of a GT86. We’re not sure what’s going on here but we like it. Any German readers care to translate? Watch the video below. Continue reading
For our final installment of Shokuji J-Tin coverage, we turn to some of the best builds, survivors and restorations from the Bay Area. There will be no rattle-canned hoods or stanced out cries for attention here — just pure, undiluted nostalgics that elevate these cars from passing fad to true classics. Continue reading
The sixth(!) installment of the Fast & Furious movies has set a new record as the biggest opening weekend ka-ching in the history of both Memorial Day and Universal Studios. 1969 Mustangs, Jensen Interceptors and MkI Escorts were destroyed in glorious fashion, but luckily Japanese nostalgics were spared because, even luckily-er, they were not part of the movie at all. The franchise that spawned a million neon-colored Civics is all about muscle and Euro now, but that hasn’t stopped people who don’t get it equating any modified Japanese car with the series of action spectacles.
What’s the most annoying stereotype about old Japanese cars?
Fortunately nostalgics have largely escaped the tasteless tuner trend, but once in a while the stereotype is still unleashed, even when the car is legitimately righteous.
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 of the last QotW, “What’s the coolest OEM wheel?” Continue reading
In Part 01 of our trek down Shio no Michi, Japan’s famed Salt Road, we stumbled upon a collection of kei jidosha, the ruins of Iiyama Castle, and traced the path of salt dealers from the era of shogun and samurai. When we left off, we had just happened upon a Nissan dealership on National Route 147 outside Shinomachi. Continue reading
In Part 02 of our Shokuji J-Tin coverage we turn our attention to some of the excellent builds that hail from the hills of NorCal. For purists this may be a painful segment, but not every nostalgic can be a garage queen. Continue reading
Last year a fantastic new show called the Bayline Gathering emerged on the NorCal scene. It brought out some of the best cars the region had to offer and filled a void that desperately needed filling. Last month, the organizers were back with another event called Shokuji J-Tin. Continue reading
There’s an exciting new car show coming to SoCal this summer. The Nissan Jam is the brain child of the folks who are responsible for the world famous Japanese Classic Car Show, and we at JNC are proud to be on board for the inaugural event.
The goal of Nissan Jam is to do for SoCal’s extensive Nissan/Datsun community what Toyotafest has done for Toyota/Lexus/Scion owners. There are already a slew of vendors and sponsors lined up, with awesome raffle prizes. Registration is open, and you can find the full details at Nissan Jam.com.
Seeing various AE86s, Celicas Cressidas at Toyotafest got our brain gears turning. We’ve asked you before about the coolest vintage barrel because Japanese racing alloys are an indelible part of the JNC culture. But not everyone can afford or find a set of wheels that can rival the cost of the car itself. So what about stock?
What’s the coolest OEM wheel?
Toyotaku have already discovered Toyota 14×7 Supra iron crosses and have been slapping them on every RWD Aichi sled known to man. It’s simple — the 4×114.3 bolt pattern is universal among old FR Yotas and they’re relatively easy to find. Plus, they’ve got that sharp, ninja star look straight from the factory. Just be careful to score them from the P-Types and not the lesser L-Types or JDM Soarers, which look the same but are only six inches wide.
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 the last QotW, “What’s the greatest JNC of the 1980s?” Continue reading
At Toyotafest, our Made in the 80s shirts and decals sold out faster than dime bags of Colombian snow on Sunset Boulevard circa 1983. If you missed them and are itchin’ for a fix of 80s love, they are now available in the JNC Shop.
Once you get them, put on your acid-wash Bugle Boys, tweak your EQ, and post a pic in the JNC Forum. Best photos will receive a surprise prize!
Though just the size of California, by the 1980s Japan had become the world’s premier industrial giant. With unprecedented growth and technology advancements, Nihon’s cars of this Bubble Economy, especially Toyotas, established a unique design philosophy that was on full display at the 18th Annual All-Toyotafest. Continue reading
We take a break from all the Toyotafest coverage to bring you… more Toyota news. Earlier this year Toyotakus had their wildest dreams fulfilled when the 1970 Toyota Celica finally appeared, after years of begging, in the Hot Wheels line. Here’s the first recolor of that gorgeous model. Continue reading
