Japanese Nostalgic Car

QotW: Which JNC will get you the most dates?

Posted on February 24, 2014 by Ben Hsu

For most of their existence Japanese cars have been seen as economical, practical and reliable. Those may be great qualities, but they won’t necessarily improve your love life.

Which JNC will get you the most dates?

The Toyota 2000GT may be the obvious choice, though not necessarily for the obvious reasons. Sure it costs a million bucks so it’s right up there in Ferrari territory when it comes to symbolizing your net worth, but it’s not the price that does it. It’s the Toyota emblem. In fact, the non-car nut you’re wooing will probably assume that it is a Ferrari of some sort. Then they’ll see that Aichi badge and suddenly it becomes interesting, a conversation starter, and an indicator that you’re not just a Richie Rich who thoughtlessly plunked down a million bucks for a status symbol. Also, it’s beautiful as hell.

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 had the greatest interior?” Continue reading →

Posted in Question of the Week | Tagged QotW, Question of the Week | 41 Comments

GALLERIES: Nissan Yokohama Headquarters Showroom

Posted on February 21, 2014 by Ben Hsu

In the 80 years Nissan’s been around, its flagship showrooms have moved several times. The first truly glamorous location was at the 4-chome intersection in the heart of Ginza, sharing real estate during the booming 1960s with some of Japan’s oldest and most expensive department stores. Nissan eventually got tired of switching out display vehicles into the distinctive curved glass building by crane and relocated a few blocks away, to the lobby of Nissan’s massive Tokyo headquarters. Then in 2009, to the surprise of many, Nissan left its long-time home in Japan’s capital for brand new digs in Yokohama. Continue reading →

Posted in Galleries | Tagged Galleries, nissan | 12 Comments

BUBBLE ERA EXCESS: 1984 Nissan Gloria Turbo Brougham VIP Super Selection Ⅱ

Posted on February 20, 2014 by Matt De Mangos

Since we’re talking about the greatest interiors this week here’s a rarely mentioned cabin that gives Mitsubishi’s plaid and Subaru’s bizarro asymmetry a run for their money. Behold the Bubble Era excess of the 1984 Nissan Gloria Turbo Brougham VIP Super Selection Ⅱ. See? Japan’s economy was booming so hard in the 1980s that Nissan could afford to spend triple what they do now just on badging for a comically long name. But that’s nothing compared to the interior. Continue reading →

Posted in Bubble Era | Tagged Bubble Era, cedric, gloria, nissan, vip, y30 | 16 Comments

MOTORSPORT: Perhaps the greatest Mazda collectibles of all time

Posted on February 19, 2014 by Ben Hsu

There are rare collectibles and there are rare collectibles. What you see here are perhaps the greatest pieces of memorabilia a Mazdafarian could ever want. You know the story of the Mazda 787B. Winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans was a momentous occasion, both for Mazda and for Japan, and they knew the history-making car would take a very special place in the company’s museum in Hiroshima.

But before it was whisked away, the oil that ran through the arteries of its relentless, 700hp, four-rotor heart was drained and bottled in little glass vials. There are only four such vessels in the entire world and this is number 1 of 4. Continue reading →

Posted in motorsport | Tagged 787b, le mans, mazda, motorsport, rotary | 6 Comments

NEWS: Toyota applies for Supra trademark

Posted on February 18, 2014 by Ben Hsu

Toyota has applied to the US Patent And Trademark Office to secure the name Supra, according to our friends at The Motor Report. With this, plus the recent reports seemingly confirming that the FT-1 concept concept will be developed into the next Toyota flagship, evidence is mounting for a return of the hallowed model with a name born because of porn. Continue reading →

Posted in News | Tagged ft-1, supra, toyota | 14 Comments

CLASSIC CM: Everything about the 610 Bluebird-U is just sex, sex, sex

Posted on February 18, 2014 by Matt De Mangos

What a difference two generations make. 1966 commercials for Nissan’s Bluebird, then of the 410 generation, capitalized on the car’s motorsports prowess at the Safari Rally. The 510‘s adverts were pretty tame as well, just a rundown of its design and features. Then we get to 1971 and the 610 Bluebird-U and any sense of decorum goes flying out the window. Continue reading →

Posted in cm | Tagged 610, bluebird, cm, datsun, nissan | 11 Comments

QotW: Which JNC had the greatest interior?

Posted on February 17, 2014 by Ben Hsu

Interiors. They just don’t make ’em like they used to. Do you want to sit in the infinite blackness of an East German coal mine or the tan aftermath of a khaki explosion at the Dockers factory? Back in the day, you had choices: crushed velour, body-matched colors, even intricate embroidering on the headrests. Designers took the time to craft a sumptuous cabin. Therefore we ask:

Which JNC had the greatest interior?

Check out the plaid wonderland that is the insides of the 1978 Dodge Challenger, a rebadged Mitsubishi Galant Λ. Not only is it matched to the two-tone blue-on-white exterior, but in case its opulence gets you in the mood for some in-car amorousness there are built-in grab handles on the seats. There is a downside though. Good luck finding any trim pieces damaged or lost to time.

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 worst example of badge engineering?” Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 28 Comments

MINICARS: How to get your blue Hot Wheels X JNC Datsun 620 this Saturday

Posted on February 14, 2014 by Ricky Silverio

Just a friendly reminder that the beautiful blue Hot Wheels X JNC Datsun 620 will be available this Saturday, February 15, at participating Kmart stores across the US. In fact, it will only be available at Kmart this weekend, and when they’re gone, they’re gone. Continue reading →

Posted in minicars | Tagged 620, datsun, hot wheels, minicars | 34 Comments

Happy Valentine’s Day from JNC

Posted on February 14, 2014 by Ben Hsu

Valentine’s Day. Unavoidable and yet oh-so-little to do with cars. That is, unless you’re lucky enough to receive one of these kyuusha-shaped Tomica chocolates. For 2014, they’ve added an adorable cocoa Subaru 360 to the set.

How cute is that? I mean, if there was ever a classic Japanese car that should be made into a candy it’s the Subie 360.

The five nostalgics from last year — a Honda S800, Toyota TE72 Corolla Levin, hakosuka Skyline, Nissan S30 Fairlady Z, and a Toyota 2000GT — have also returned. Is this going to be a yearly thing? We hope so.

Alas, you can only order them in Japan but according to Amazon they have a 210-day shelf life, so theoretically you’d have until JCCS to enjoy them. Happy Valentine’s Day!

Posted in minicars | Tagged 2000gt, c10, chocolate, fairlady z, Hakosuka, honda, nissan, S-Series, s30, s800, skyline, subaru, subaru 360, tomica, toyota | 3 Comments

MINICARS: Hot Wheels Cool Classics 1987 Toyota Pickup

Posted on February 13, 2014 by Ricky Silverio

Toyota isn’t the only company getting nostalgic for the 80s with its latest batch of TRD trucks. Hot Wheels‘ latest line of premium collectibles is the Cool Classics series, and with 25 of the 30 cars released it was looking like your typical parade of Detroit iron. Then suddenly, a 1987 Toyota Pickup! Continue reading →

Posted in minicars | Tagged cool classics, hot wheels, jun imai, pickup, toyota | 6 Comments

KIDNEY, ANYONE? Prototype Honda CB750 for $148,000

Posted on February 12, 2014 by Ben Hsu

The Honda CB750 was earth-shattering when it debuted in 1969 that a new word had to be coined to describe it. And lo, the superbike was born. Soichiro Honda rocked the world with his large-displacement, transverse-mounted SOHC four-cylinder, unheard of in a mainstream bike at the time. Called the “King of Motorcycles,” advanced features for its time, like front disc brakes and electric starter, revolutionized the motorcycle industry in much the way Honda’s NSX jolted the supercar establishment 20 years later. Early CB750s can trade for $40,000 to 50,000, but this particular bike recently sold for a whopping $148,000. Here’s why. Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments

EVENTS: 2014 All-Toyotafest

Posted on February 11, 2014 by Dan Hsu

Our friends at TORC have just released their 2014 All-Toyotafest flyer. Here’s everything you need to know about the 19th running of this fantastic yearly gathering of Toyota, Lexus and Scion enthusiasts.

When: May 3, 2014, 9am – 3pm

Where: Queen Mary Park, Long Beach, California

Admission: Free for spectators

Registration: Begins March 1, with very limited spacing. Register here.

Mark your calendars! There’s a larger version below. Please help spread the word to make this the biggest and best Toyoafest yet. Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged lexus, toyota, toyotafest | 1 Comment

NEWS: Mazda Celebrates 25 Years of the MX-5

Posted on February 10, 2014 by Ben Hsu

Mazda knew when they unveiled the Miata at the 1989 Chicago Auto Show that they had built a true driver’s car, one whose stated purpose was to create joy. That was 25 years ago today. What they couldn’t have known was that it would become the best selling sports car of all time. Soon the likes of Toyota, Nissan, Honda, BMW, Mercedes and Audi all tried to emulate the formula, but it was only Mazda that sold 1 million drop top smile generators to loving owners all over the globe. Today it officially becomes nostalgic. Continue reading →

Posted in News | Tagged mazda, miata, mx-5, roadster | 12 Comments

QotW: What’s the worst example of badge engineering?

Posted on February 10, 2014 by Kevin San

Badge engineering. It’s one of the dirty little schemes of the auto industry that continuously surprises us, not by the Mitsubishi parts when you thought you were buying a Dodge, but because it continues to fool the average consumer.

What’s the worst example of badge engineering?

One of 2014’s greatest tragedies will surely be the fact that the Toyota Cavalier is less than 25 years old and thus ineligible. We also considered the Dodge Challenger-badged Mitsu and Chevy Nova-badged Corolla, but we think the 1988-91 Nissan Ute takes the cake here. It was actually a XF Ford Falcon, a real 1970s old school sedan. Up front sat a 4.0L, 110hp straight six with a 4,500 rpm redline while a live axle and leaf springs supported the rear bed. It was a total sales flop, since no self respecting redneck is gonna drive a Japanese truck. Smart people realised that the three year Nissan warranty was better than the one year Ford warranty. Wiser bogans were buying Nissan Utes, then going to Ford to buy a $25 blue oval badge to stick on the grille. Imagine if, in the 1980s, Nissan USA slapped Nissan badges on a Ford F-150 and tried to sell it to rednecks.

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 JNC rivalry?” Continue reading →

Posted in Question of the Week | Tagged motorsport, QotW, Question of the Week | 50 Comments

NEWS: Toyota Supra and sub-Scion FR-S sports car confirmed

Posted on February 8, 2014 by Ben Hsu

It’s back, baby! Reports out of Australia say that the show-stopping Toyota FT-1 concept unveiled last month at the Detroit Auto Show has been confirmed for production as the next Supra. Even better, it’ll be in the first of an entire lineup of sports cars set to hit the streets starting in 2016, nearly two decades after the last Supra left US shores. Continue reading →

Posted in News | Tagged ft-1, supra, toyota | 38 Comments

JNC THEATER: Someday Into the Glare

Posted on February 7, 2014 by Ben Hsu

Though it came out in 1992, there’s still plenty of 80s car-nage in Kinji Fukusaku’s Someday Into the Glare (English title, The Triple Cross). Fukusaku’s ultra-violent crime stories were a staple of Japanese cinema in the 70s and 80s, but by 1992 a new crop of new filmmakers had rose to prominence. Fukusaku wanted to prove he still had what it took to compete with the young bloods after a few years dabbling in ancient samurai and horror flicks, so he returned to the subject he knew best — bank robbers, bullets and betrayal. Naturally, there are plenty of car chases. Continue reading →

Posted in JNC Theater | Tagged car chase, crown, nissan, pathfinder, Someday Into the Glare, terrano, toyota | 3 Comments

NEWS: Toyota celebrates 35 years of TRD, revives 1980s Super Off Road video game

Posted on February 6, 2014 by Ben Hsu

One a giant indoor dirt course at the Chicago Auto Show today Toyota Racing Development celebrated 35 years in the US by launching a new lineup of TRD Pro trucks. Though Toyota’s in-house tuning skunkworks has been responsible for everything from IMSA Celicas to NHRA top fuel dragsters, this was a celebration of their off-road racing heritage. Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 8 Comments

So despite earning $15 million last year for his Game of Thrones series, author George R.R. Martin drives an FB Mazda RX-7, which Yahoo cyberstalked and found parked outside his Santa Fe, New Mexico house. His personalized license plate has his initials, “GRRM.”

Posted on February 6, 2014 by Dan Hsu | 5 Comments

FUTURE NOSTALGIC: Toyota Alphard, king of VIP vans

Posted on February 6, 2014 by Kevin San

No, you haven’t traveled into the future. The Toyota Alphard isn’t nostalgic yet, but to ignore them would mean turning a blind eye to a huge part of Japan’s car culture. Custom minivans are serious business in Japan and the Toyota Alphard (along with its twin, the Vellfire) is the king daddy of them all. Continue reading →

Posted in Future Nostalgic | Tagged alphard, jdm, toyota, vans, vellfire | 13 Comments

NEWS: Street debut of the Nissan IDx Concepts

Posted on February 5, 2014 by Ben Hsu

Over the weekend Nissan did something very unusual. They took their priceless, one-of-a-kind concept cars all over SoCal to meet the public face to face. This would’ve been a ballsy move for any concept, but for the Nissan IDx siblings, the most talked-about show cars of the year? This was unheard of. Continue reading →

Posted in News | Tagged 510, datsun, IDx, nissan, peter brock | 69 Comments