Japanese Nostalgic Car

When considering what new cars will be future classics, JNC‘s Law of Transmission Selection for Future Collectability states: if it’s sold with a stick, you must buy it in stick. Yes, fancy new gearboxes can shift faster than a human being, many supercars aren’t even offered in MT, and the law is often in direct conflict with our Law of Engine Selection for Future Collectability: you must buy it with the most powerful engine option offered.

But in the old days, every car was offered with a manual, from the lowliest Subaru 360 to the grandest Toyota Crown. Plus, those old slushboxes were power-leeching whirlpools that needed at least one — more likely two — extra speeds to make you feel comfortable about highway driving.

When is it okay to buy an automatic transmission?

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 greatest JNC barn find story?”  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 →