Japanese Nostalgic Car

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

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Ben Hsu

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 →

Posted in Question of the Week | 36 Comments

JNC GEAR: Made in the 80s

Posted on May 2, 2013 by Ben Hsu

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 →

Posted in nostalgic gear, nostalgic wear, toyota | Tagged jnc gear, toyota, van | 28 Comments

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

Posted on May 1, 2013 by Ben Hsu

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.

Posted in for sale, toyota | Tagged 2000gt, kidney anyone, toyota | 24 Comments

ART CORNER: Toyota 4A-GE made of Legos

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Ben Hsu

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 →

Posted in Art Corner, toyota | Tagged 4a-ge, ae86, aw11, corolla, hachiroku, lego, levin, mr2, sprinter, toyota, trueno | 6 Comments

QotW: What’s the greatest Japanese Nostalgic Motorcycle?

Posted on April 29, 2013 by Ben Hsu

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 →

Posted in honda, Question of the Week | Tagged civic, cvcc, honda, QotW, Question of the Week, sb1 | 23 Comments

KIDNEY, ANYONE? 1965 Nissan President

Posted on April 26, 2013 by Kevin San

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 →

Posted in for sale, nissan, vip | Tagged h250, kidney anyone, nissan, president, vip | 7 Comments

Documentary: Sayonara Speed Tribes!

Posted on April 25, 2013 by Kevin San

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!

Posted in bosozoku, Video Games | Tagged bosozoku, Sayonara Speed Tribes | 13 Comments

QotW: What’s the most environmentally friendly JNC?

Posted on April 22, 2013 by Ben Hsu

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 →

Posted in honda, Question of the Week | Tagged crx, fj40, honda, land cruiser, QotW, Question of the Week, toyota | 18 Comments

MOTORSPORT: Mazda is the official car of the SCCA

Posted on April 19, 2013 by Ben Hsu

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 →

Posted in mazda, motorsport | Tagged 787, demio, fb, fd, grand-am, imsa, mazda, mazda 2, mazda 6, miata, motorsport, mx-5, mx-6, rx-7, sa22, scca, yojiro terada | 13 Comments

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

Posted on April 18, 2013 by Dan Hsu

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 →

Posted in nissan, Video | Tagged 240z, 260z, 280z, 370z, datsun, fairlady z, nissan, s30, z34 | 8 Comments

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

Posted on April 17, 2013 by Ben Hsu

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 Nights. Continue reading →

Posted in events, toyota | Tagged 240z, 260z, 280z, 510, ae86, celica, corolla, cressida, datsun, e70, hachiroku, levin, mx73, nissan, te72, toyota, trueno | 12 Comments

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

Posted on April 16, 2013 by Jason

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-S. Continue reading →

Posted in events, motorsports, subaru, toyota | Tagged 510, ae86, bluebird, brz, corolla, dai yoshihara, datsun, e70, formula D, fr-s, gt 86, hachiroku, ken gushi, levin, nissan, ryan tuerck, scion, subaru, taka aono, te72, tony angelo, toshiki yoshihara, toyota, toyota 86, trueno | 5 Comments

QotW: What’s the best Japanese nostalgic SUV?

Posted on April 15, 2013 by Ben Hsu

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 →

Posted in Question of the Week | Tagged fj40, land cruiser, QotW, Question of the Week, toyota | 13 Comments

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

Posted on April 12, 2013 by Skorj

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 →

Posted in Grand Touring, honda, kei, mitsubishi, subaru, toyota | Tagged barikan, corona, cr-v, Grand Touring, honda, jeep, kei, life, mitsubishi, rt40, subaru, subaru 360, subaru r-2, t40, toyota | 12 Comments

VIDEO: Hakosuka spotted in Adventure Time

Posted on April 11, 2013 by Dan Hsu

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 →

Posted in nissan, Video, Video Games | Tagged Adventure Time, Hakosuka, kcg10, kpgc10, nissan, skyline | 16 Comments

KIDNEY, ANYONE? Belatrix Yellow 1967 Toyota 2000GT

Posted on April 10, 2013 by John Roper

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 →

Posted in for sale, toyota | Tagged 2000gt, kidney anyone, toyota | 23 Comments

VIDEO: JNCs make the cut in Ron Howard’s Rush

Posted on April 9, 2013 by Ben Hsu

The hottest video circulating automotive sites today is the trailer for Rush. Last year we reported that some classic Nihon cars were spotted on set, specifically, two daruma Celicas and a kujira Crown Hardtop. Moreover, the screen shot above, which appears at 0:57 in the trailer, appears to be the exact scene being filmed in last year’s photo. Continue reading →

Posted in toyota, Video Games | Tagged celica, crown, daruma, formula 1, kujira, ms75, ron howard, rush, s60, ta22, toyota | 12 Comments

QotW: What’s the worst thing about loving JNCs?

Posted on April 8, 2013 by Ben Hsu

Aside from the occasional hater, most of you are here because you love Japanese nostalgic cars. But as we all know, what you love most can also hurt you the most.

What’s the worst thing about loving JNCs?

Being passionate about cars most people don’t think are classics yet can lead one down strange paths. Some seethe at owners who don’t take good care of their cars while others try to save them all. The Z31 collectors Skorj spotted in Tohoku appears to cover both sides of the coin. Most of us are just constantly patching up mechanisms that were never meant to last 30 years while our garages become piles of spare parts and our children grow up without us.

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 way to introduce someone to the world of JNCs?” Continue reading →

Posted in Question of the Week | Tagged 240z, 260z, 280z, datsun, fairlady z, nissan, QotW, Question of the Week, s30 | 38 Comments

GARAGE LIFE: A visit with Isuzu Sports Eagle

Posted on April 5, 2013 by Guest Writer

We first met Koji Okane, owner of Isuzu Sports Eagle, in 2009 at the inaugural Nos2Days show. A gracious guy, he invited us to his shop but our time in Japan was too short. We could think of no one better than today’s Guest Writer, Bart “IsuzuGeek” Wilkus, to make the trek instead and report his findings. Enjoy. —Ben

Isuzu Sports Eagle is a specialty shop dedicated to restoring and selling vintage Isuzu cars, and I would imagine it is probably the only place in the world like it. With Isuzu Motors itself largely out of the passenger vehicle market, the Isuzu marque is quickly vanishing into obscurity. But that has not stopped shop owner Koji Okane from doing what he loves. Continue reading →

Posted in isuzu, Shop Life | Tagged 117, bellett, Garage Life, gemini, impulse, isuzu, Koji Okane, piazza | 26 Comments

VIDEO: MotorFix’s V8-powered Corolla by XCar

Posted on April 4, 2013 by Ben Hsu

If you’ve ever seen a ratty E70 Corolla mid-drift, chances are MotorFix was involved. The Gifu Prefecture shop is well known for its thoroughly modified but completely rat rodded fourth-gen Corollas. Remember, these are supsensionally identical to the AE86, and the only thing that prevented them from achieving worldwide drift glory was the lack of a 4A-GE motor. That’s where MotorFix comes in.

The latest video by Luke Huxham of XCar examines another Lexus 1UZ-powered nostalgic. This time it’s less blasphemous but the result is no less amazing. MotorFix has mated the eight-ITB V8 to Toyota‘s ubiquitous W58 5-speed and an S130 Crown rear end. Continue reading →

Posted in toyota, Video | Tagged corolla, e70, MotorFix, toyota, Video | 4 Comments