Japanese Nostalgic Car

EVENTS: Classic Japan 2012, Part 04: Never Seen in the USA

Posted on January 8, 2013 by Guest Writer

Part 04 of Adam Laws’ Classic Japan 2012 coverage from Melbourne, Australia covers a whole bunch of J-tin that is rarely spotted in the USA. —Dan

In Australia the Mazda range in the 70s included both the RX-3 and its pedestrian little brother, the 4-cylinder 808 (called the Grand Familia in Japan I believe). Sold in sedan, wagon and coupe versions, many of them gave up their life as to become an RX-3 clone, and being no expert, I can’t tell if this is the genuine article – an RX-3 sedan – or an 808 that has been converted with all the good bits. Continue reading →

Posted in datsun, events, isuzu, mazda, nissan, prince, Prince, toyota | Tagged 808, australia, b10, b110, b120, beams, bellett, classic japan 2012, compagno, compagno spider, corolla, crown, daihatsu, datsun 1000, familia, gloria, isuzu, isuzu 117, ke15, KE55, luce, markII, mazda, mazda 1300, mazda 1500, MS85, MX41, prince, rx-3, RX3, s50, s54, s80, savanna, skyline, sprinter, sunny, toyota, wagon | 16 Comments

QotW: What’s your New Year’s resolution?

Posted on January 7, 2013 by Ben Hsu

It’s a new year, and you know what that means. Finally, for the love of all that is good and holy, it’s time to open up that good book gathering dust on your nightstand, get that oxidized heap in your backyard moving under its own power, or wipe the drool from your keyboard and buy that nostalgic car you’ve been dreaming of. That’s why our first question of the year is:

What’s your New Year’s resolution?

We’ve got some great stuff ahead for JNC fans, but we can’t spill all the beans just yet. You’ll just have to stay tuned to this bat-channel.

What say you, dear reader? As always, the most entertaining or inspiring comment by next Monday will receive a random toy. Click through to see the winner from last week’s question, “QotW: What do you want from Japanese Santa Claus?” Continue reading →

Posted in honda, Question of the Week | Tagged f1, formula 1, honda, QotW, Question of the Week, ra272 | 21 Comments

EVENTS: Classic Japan 2012, Part 03: Modified Classics

Posted on January 4, 2013 by Guest Writer

In Part 03, Adam Laws takes a look at the modified nostalgic cars from the 2012 Classic Japan show of Melbourne, Australia. —Dan

Part 03 of our Classic Japan 2012 coverage features a whole range of modified classics, those special beasts whose owners have put their own spin on what their J-tin should look and go like. Sometimes this modification requires quite a lot of commitment, as our government and police are not great fans of modified cars and will happily put an old car off the road if they think it’s modified beyond their deemed limits of appropriateness. Continue reading →

Posted in datsun, events, mazda, nissan, toyota | Tagged 200B, 240z, 260C, 260z, 280z, 810, a20, b110, cedric, celica, corolla, corona, crown, datsun, datsun 1200, fairlady z, fj45, gloria, ke25, ke30, ke35, ke70, kujira, land cruiser, mazda, ms75, nissan, president, r100, RA23, rt40, RX3, rx7, s30, savanna, sunny, te37, te71, toyota, wagon | 15 Comments

MINICARS: Hot Wheels Boulevard hakosuka Nissan Skyline & 510 released

Posted on January 4, 2013 by Ricky Silverio

We’re less than a week into 2013 and already it’s turning in to a great year for Hot Wheels collectors. First we had news of the Treasure Hunt Toyota 2000GT that’s coming out March-ish, but before that even hits the pegs Mattel has unleashed the Nissan Skyline H/T 2000GT-X and Datsun 510 wagon. Continue reading →

Posted in minicars, nissan | Tagged boulevard, brat, c10, crx, Hakosuka, honda, hot wheels, kgc10, kpgc10, nissan, skyline, subaru | 10 Comments

EVENTS: Classic Japan 2012, Part 02: Totally Awesome 80s

Posted on January 3, 2013 by Guest Writer

In Part 02, Adam Laws continues his coverage of Classic Japan 2012 from Melbourne, Down Under. —Dan

Our second installment of Classic Japan coverage from Australia is focused on some quintessential 80’s classics. Bring on the boxes!

1986 saw the dawning of a new era in Australian motoring circles with the introduction of unleaded petrol, along with various new emissions targets for new cars. This meant manufacturers could no longer get away with selling carby-fed smog makers, and instead fuel injection quickly became the norm. This in turn meant that hot engines, like the venerable 4AGE, were finally a viable option. Continue reading →

Posted in events, honda, mazda, nissan, suzuki, toyota | Tagged 1uz, 200sx, 323, 323 gt-x, 4age, 929, ae86, aw11, city, city cabriolet, corolla, cressida, cresta, datsun, familia, fj60, fx-16, honda, ken watanabe, land cruiser, levin, luce, mark II, mazda, mighty boy, mr2, mx73, nissan, r31, rs watanabe, s12, silvia, skyline, sprinter, superlite, suzuki, toyota, trueno, x70 | 16 Comments

EVENTS: Classic Japan 2012, Part 01 — Rock Stock

Posted on January 2, 2013 by Guest Writer

Today’s coverage of the 2012 Classic Japan comes courtesy of Australian contributor Adam Laws. Enjoy! —Dan

November 25^th saw the second running of Classic Japan in Melbourne, Australia, a show celebrating 25-plus-year-old J-tin, run by the Toyota Car Club of Australia (VIC), in conjunction with the Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club. Continue reading →

Posted in events, honda, mazda, toyota | Tagged ae86, australia, civic, Classic Japan, corolla, corona, crown, e70, fb, hachiroku, honda, ke70, kujira, levin, mazda, ms41, ms55, ms65, r100, rx-3, rx-7, s40, s50, s60, sa22, sa22c, savanna, sb1, sprinter, t140, toyota, trueno, wagon | 14 Comments

Happy New Year from JNC!

Posted on December 31, 2012 by Dan Hsu

Happy new year from the JNC team! Download the wallpaper-sized nengajo below. Continue reading →

Posted in datsun, jnc | 2 Comments

MINICARS: 2013 Hot Wheels Toyota 2000GT Treasure Hunt

Posted on December 28, 2012 by Ben Hsu

Boom. Ever since we began reporting on Hot Wheels‘ Renaissance of classic Japanese cars, there’s been one that collectors clamored for more than any other — the Toyota 2000GT. Well, your offerings to the diecast gods have paid off.

We first saw a prototype of this model (in blue) over a year ago but were forced to take a blood oath of secrecy. As you might have guessed, it’s another Jun Imai creation, but it’s not just the latest in his great string of diecast Japanese classics. It’s Jun’s favorite real-world car as well. Continue reading →

Posted in minicars, toyota | Tagged 2000gt, hot wheels, jun imai, toyota | 18 Comments

California to enact vintage license plate program

Posted on December 27, 2012 by Ben Hsu

Great news for nostalgic car owners in California. The state has just announced today a new program that will allow classic car owners to get period correct license plates based on the year their cars were manufactured.

“Legacy” license plates can be issued in one of three styles corresponding to the model year of the car: black on yellow for cars built from 1963-62, yellow on black for 1963-68 cars, and yellow on blue for 1969-1981 cars. The application will cost $50 and the DMV is looking to receive 7,500 orders by January 1, 2015. If they can’t fulfill that quota, the program will be canceled and your half-Benjamin refunded. So go ahead and download the application form!

Posted in News | Tagged california, legacy, license plates | 12 Comments

EVENTS: 2012 Nagoya Classic Car Meeting

Posted on December 27, 2012 by Guest Writer

The latest dispatch from guest writer David Lovett of Classic Car Nagoya covers the annual Nagoya Classic Car Meeting held by the shop. Here’s his first-hand account. —Ben

Every year in November Classic Car Nagoya rents out the Toyota Stadium parking lot for a day to hold a large event. This year was no different and I was there from before the sun came up until after it went down. We had over 100 cars entered into the show, over 1,100 cars moved through the parking lot, and over 5,000 people attended. Continue reading →

Posted in events, honda, mazda, mitsubishi, nissan, toyota | Tagged 110s, 230, 510, bluebird, c10, Classic Car Nagoya, compagno, compagno spider, cosmo sport, crown. publica, csp311, daihatsu, datsun, f20c, fairlady z, gc10, gloria, Hakosuka, honda, kgc10, kp61, kpgc10, mazda, midget, mitsubishi, n360, nissan, pajero mini, porter, publica, r30, s2000, s30, s800, seibu keisatsu, silvia, skyline, sports 800, starlet, toyopet, toyota | 9 Comments

Happy Boxing Day from JNC!

Posted on December 26, 2012 by Ben Hsu

Just a quick photo of Team Mizushima and their boxer-powered Subaru FF-1 tearing it up at the 1974 Alpine Rally. Happy Boxing Day, JNCers!

Posted in subaru | Tagged Alpine Rally, Boxing Day, ff-1, subaru, subaru 1000, Team Mizushima | 1 Comment

ART CORNER: Announcing the JNC Ken & Mary Art Contest winners

Posted on December 26, 2012 by Ben Hsu

This year we held our first ever JNC Art Contest. The theme, “Ken and Mary,” was inspired by the 40th anniversary of the C110 Skyline, and we asked our (extremely talented) readers to submit kenmeri related artwork.

Here are the results as chosen by Mary herself, Diane Krey-Wesley, who just returned home to California from a trip to Japan, her first after making those iconic television commercials nearly four decades ago. Says Diane:

Our trip to Japan was like a wonderful dream. [My husband] Joe had the time of his life. Everyone was so good to us. They fed us, took us everywhere and were the best hosts ever… We had a really hard time judging the art. All of the work is fantastic… It was an honor to be asked to judge. Thank you.

So without further ado here are the results. Drum roll, please! Continue reading →

Posted in Art Corner, nissan | Tagged Art Corner, c110, Ken & Mary Art Contest, kenmeri, kgc110, kpgc110, nissan, skyline | 13 Comments

Merry Christmas from JNC!

Posted on December 22, 2012 by Ben Hsu

And now for your holiday viewing pleasure, a GX71 Mark II driver performing a heartwarming rendition of Jingle Bells with nothing but his exhaust. Merry Christmas from all of us at JNC!

Posted in bosozoku, toyota, Video | Tagged bosozoku, chaser, christmas, cressida, cresta, gx71, Jingle Bells, mark II, x70 | 9 Comments

VIDEO: “Napa Valley Roadsters” by Petrolicious

Posted on December 20, 2012 by Ben Hsu

Hot on the heels of San Francisco Skyline, it’s It’s time for yet another beautifully shot video from Petrolicious. This time, the crew heads north into wine country for Napa Valley Roadsters, a look at two more Nissans, but this time a pair of Datsun Fairlady roadsters owned by Will Campbell and the impossibly named Dandridge Marsh. Could there be a more perfect car to drive through the region’s rolling hills and sunshine? (Answer: no, there could not.) Watch the video for yourself below and just be happy that such beauty has existed in case the world does indeed end tomorrow. Continue reading →

Posted in nissan, Video | Tagged 1600 sports, 2000 sports, datsun, fairlady, fairlady roadster, nissan, Petrolicious | 11 Comments

PROFILES: Jun Imai’s 1971 Datsun 510 Wagon

Posted on December 19, 2012 by Dan Hsu

We see a lot of cars here at JNC. A lot. Every so often, however, there’s that one singular car that comes along and truly blows our feeble minds. Jun Imai‘s 1971 Datsun 510 Wagon is exactly one of those cars, and after its official debut at the 2012 Japanese Classic Car Show this year it became one of the most circulated photo subjects on the web. Here’s why we love this shakotan sled. Continue reading →

Posted in nissan, profiles, wagons | Tagged 510, bluebird, datsun, hot wheels, jun imai, koyorad, MkII, nissan, ssr, suichuuka, tsurikawa, wagon | 32 Comments

GRAND TOURING: A SevenStock Pilgrimage in Japan’s Car of the Year

Posted on December 18, 2012 by Dan Hsu

We didn’t know it as we barreled up the Newhall Pass, but we were driving the best new Japanese car of 2012. What might that be, you ask? Well according to the panel of journalists that make up the Japan Car of the Year selection committee, it’s a bit of a surprise — the Mazda CX-5. Continue reading →

Posted in Grand Touring, mazda | Tagged cx-5, Grand Touring, mazda, MazFest, sevenstock, willow springs | 7 Comments

QotW: What do you want from Japanese Santa Claus?

Posted on December 16, 2012 by Ben Hsu

Well it’s that time of year again, when we gather with our loved ones, reflect on the last 12 months, perhaps drink some hot cocoa, and tear into colorfully wrapped boxes like feral dogs on a holiday ham. And if you were really good all year, one of those presents might just be courtesy of a jolly, red-suited sumo wrestler from the northernmost tip of Hokkaido.

What do you want from Japanese Santa Claus?

It could be anything, a real KPGC110, a set of 11-inch-wide zokusha barrels, or that super-rare NOS trim piece that’s been out of production for 40 years. Our wish might be an obvious choice, but with its rarity, beauty and prices climbing ever beyond our reach, our wish from ol’ St Naoki is a 1967 Toyota 2000GT, in Pegasus White plz.

What say you, dear reader? Since the next two Mondays will be holidays you have extra long to answer this one and the winner will be announced in 2013. Click through to see the winner from last week’s question, “What modern car provides the most JNC driving experience?” Continue reading →

Posted in mazda, Question of the Week, toyota | Tagged 2000gt, 323, demio, mazda, mazda 2, mf10, protege, QotW, Question of the Week, toyota | 45 Comments

POP QUIZ: What kind of car is this?

Posted on December 14, 2012 by Ben Hsu

Obviously this isn’t really a Nissan Fairlady Z. What is it? Put your best guess in the comments below and we’ll have to use the no-googling honor system here. Find out on Sunday! UPDATE: Continue reading →

Posted in nissan, suzuki | Tagged 240z, 260z, 280z, cappuccino, datsun, fairlady z, nissan, s30, suzuki | 44 Comments

MINICARS: 2013 Hot Wheels Mad Manga now in Blue, Yellow and Pink

Posted on December 13, 2012 by Dan Hsu

Hot Wheels just revealed a new color and paint scheme for everyone’s favorite bosozoku diecast, the Mad Manga. Continue reading →

Posted in bosozoku, minicars | Tagged bosozoku, c110, datsun, gurachan, hot wheels, kenmeri, mad manga, minicars, nissan, skyline, takeyari, zokusha | 25 Comments

VIDEO: The Birth of the Skyline Legend

Posted on December 12, 2012 by Ben Hsu

Yesterday we wrote about the watershed events that put Datsun on the motorsports map in the USA (and by extension, the western world). Here’s how it began in Japan. We’ve written about the Prince Skyline GT-B‘s historic battle against the race-bred Porsche 904 before, but here’s an official video from Nissan. Continue reading →

Posted in motorsports, nissan, Prince | Tagged 1964 Japan grand prix, datsun, japan grand prix, Kazuyoshi Hoshino, nissan, porsche 904, prince, s54, shinichiro sakurai, skyline, skyline gt-b, suzuka, Tetsu Ikuzawa, Yoshikazu Sunako | 14 Comments