Japanese Nostalgic Car

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

VIDEO: Nissan restores the 1947 Tama electric car

Posted on April 3, 2013 by Ben Hsu

The Nissan Leaf might be making waves as the automaker’s all-electric car of the moment, but it wasn’t its first. Way back in 1947 the Tama E4S-47-1 was produced to serve a gasoline-starved post-war Japan. In a new video, Nissan restoration team member (now there’s a fantastic job!) Masahiko Isobe describes the painstaking restoration of this important piece of automotive history. Continue reading →

Posted in nissan, Prince, Video | Tagged electric car, nissan, prince, tama | 5 Comments

QotW: What’s the best way to introduce someone to the world of JNCs?

Posted on April 2, 2013 by Ben Hsu

There’s a certain segment of self-proclaimed car nuts convinced that latest equals greatest. Of course, JNCers know that they’re wrong. Dubs aren’t better than a set of 14-inch vintage barrels. A powerful AWD machine isn’t better than a lightweight RWD . Computers aren’t better than carbs. The problem is opening the eyes of noobs to these truths.

What’s the best way to introduce someone to the world of JNCs?

There are many ways, but one that’s worked well for us is showing people that their beloved models go back farther than just a generation or two. The original Skyline GT-R isn’t the 1989 R32, but the 1969 PGC10. The first Corolla Levin isn’t the AE86 but the TE27. And the Silvia name can be traced way back to 1965 with the CSP311.

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 impressive JNC restoration job you’ve seen?” Continue reading →

Posted in Question of the Week | Tagged QotW, Question of the Week | 23 Comments

Honda/Acura to Completely Revert to 1991 Lineup

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Ben Hsu

Honda Motor Corp. has shocked the automotive world with the announcement that it will be completely reverting to its 1991 lineup. Safety and emissions equipment will be updated and prices adjusted for inflation, but everything else — including its former ergonomically intuitive cabins, double-wishbone suspensions and even styling — will be brought back unchanged. Continue reading →

Posted in honda, News | Tagged acura, april fools, civic, crx, honda, integra, nsx, prelude | 33 Comments

GRAND TOURING: Mobara Twin Circuit

Posted on March 29, 2013 by Skorj

As some of you might know, I own a dark gray Honda S800M Coupe, and it has landed me right in the middle of Tokyo’s S-car scene. When some friends went out for a day of circuit racing, I decided to tag along and test a new film with a few lenses on my Bessa. Continue reading →

Posted in Grand Touring, honda, motorsport, nissan, suzuki, toyota | Tagged corolla, csp311, fronte, Grand Touring, honda, levin, Mobara Twin Circuit, nissan, s500, s600, s800, silvia, sprinter, suzuki, te27, toyota, trueno | 11 Comments

MOTORSPORT: The Reincarnation of Lady Blue

Posted on March 28, 2013 by Matt De Mangos

Anyone who grew up drooling over the Datsun Motorsports catalog knows the original Lady Blue. Going along with the topic of resurrection this week, it appears that she’s been reincarnated and the azure 1973 Datsun 610 spotted last Sunday. Continue reading →

Posted in motorsport, nissan | Tagged 610, B-Sedan, Balboa Datsun, Blue Lady, bluebird, Laguna Seca, nissan | 23 Comments

WEDNESDAY WALL: High-res Hakos

Posted on March 27, 2013 by John Roper

Do you like GT-Rs? Of course you do. Here are some high-res versions by Rob Shaw from the Skyline Festival at Fuji Speedway. Continue reading →

Posted in nissan, Wednesday Wall | Tagged c10, Hakosuka, kgc10, kpgc10, nissan, skyline | 2 Comments

KIDNEY, ANYONE? One-Owner 1973 Mazda RX-3 in Puerto Rico

Posted on March 26, 2013 by Matt De Mangos

If you’ve got a spare $45,000 lying around, there’s a 1973 Mazda RX-3 with your name on it. According to the seller, this is a fully documented one-owner coupe from a museum, though that “museum” appears to be part of a Puerto Rican shopping mall containing at least one Zara clothing store. Continue reading →

Posted in for sale, mazda | Tagged kidney anyone, mazda, puerto rico, rx-3, savanna | 11 Comments

QotW: What’s the most impressive JNC restoration job you’ve seen?

Posted on March 25, 2013 by Ben Hsu

Since it’s Easter this weekend, let’s talk about resurrection. It wasn’t too long ago that Japanese cars were considered disposable and unworthy of restoration. In our opinion, that only makes you crazy JNCers even more heroic when you put your blood, sweat, tears and hard-earned money into a restoration knowing full well that mainstream auto enthusiasts will assign it less value than a ’69 Camaro.

What’s the most impressive JNC restoration job you’ve seen?

The photo on the above left was Patrick Ng’s TE27 when he first acquired it from Antonio Alvendia of MotorMavens fame. It’s now a SEMA show car and JCCS Best of Show winner. We know there are similarly jaw dropping builds out there.

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, “If you could have one JNC as your only car, what would it be?” Continue reading →

Posted in Question of the Week | Tagged fb, mazda, QotW, Question of the Week, rx-7, sa22, savanna | 16 Comments

GRAND TOURING: Kanto

Posted on March 22, 2013 by Skorj

Since the opening of the Yamate Tunnel, provided traffic is light of course, traversing Tokyo to join the out-going expressways has become a lot easier. In ten or fifteen minutes, you can join the Joban for a quick run out to Ibaraki and further. Continue reading →

Posted in Grand Touring, honda, isuzu, nissan, Prince, toyota | Tagged a60, c210, cedric, celica, compagno, compagno berlina spider, coupe 7, coupe 9, daihatsu, Grand Touring, hillman, honda, honda 1300, Kanto, life, midget, minx, nissan, s500, s600, s800, skyline, skyline japan, sunny cab, tn360, toyota | 20 Comments