EVENTS: Announcing Melbourne’s Classic Japan 2012

Posted on August 28, 2012 by Dan Hsu


Today we have a guest post from Adam Laws of the Toyota Car Club of Australia (Victoria), organizer of a 200-plus car show in Melbourne. Check out his announcement and, below that, some photos of unique Aussie nostalgics from last year’s show, and check back for Adam’s coverage of the 2012 event as well.

Classic Japan 2012 is go!

The Toyota Car Club of Australia (Victoria) is excited to launch Classic Japan for 2012, to be held on November 25th in Melbourne Australia.

After an overwhelming response in 2011 to our first all Japanese classic car show, we have found a bigger and better venue for this year – Como Park, South Yarra. No more restrictions on numbers!

With the extra space, we are adding a new element to the show. With the able assistance of the Classic Japanese Motorcycle Club, we will also be inviting bike riders to show off their classic two wheeled machinery.   Continue reading →

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QotW: Where’s your favorite place to drive your nostalgic car?

Posted on August 27, 2012 by Ben Hsu


Japan is home to some of the best kept secrets in auto-dom. Their tolls are prohibitively expensive, have little to no English signage outside major metro areas, and are all floating on an island you can’t drive to. And yet its winding mountain touge and high-speed expressways are what bred the cars we love today, so this week we ask:

Where’s your favorite place to drive for your nostalgic car?

The road to the left is in Japan’s Nikko National Park. A popular tourist destination when the trees change color, during the rest of the year it’s a dazzling string of hairpins. One day when they build that bridge to Japan we’ll all be able to roam its switchbacks, but for now we’ll settle for SoCal’s equivalents at Glendora Mountain Road and Angeles Crest Highway.

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, “What diecast car should they make next?”  Continue reading →

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How to build custom Hot Wheels BRE Datsuns, Part 01

Posted on August 24, 2012 by Ricky Silverio

As part of a new series on JNC, guest writer Mark “ScaleMaster” Jones will show you how to make your own custom Hot Wheels. Enjoy his step-by-step guide to creating a set of diecast BRE Datsuns. — Ricky

When the Hot Wheels Datsun 510 and 240Z came out I knew there was one livery they each had to wear. Nothing to me is more iconic than the red, white and blue Pete Brock/John Morton BRE race cars of the early 1970s. In addition to those two famous machines, I’ll be making a street car inspired by Pete’s own BrockBuster 510.  Continue reading →

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Shaken preparation at Sports Car Service of Yokohama

Posted on August 23, 2012 by Ben Hsu

Nestled in the sleepy, semi-rural outskirts of Yokohama is Sports Car Service, specializing in the repair and maintenance of nostalgic cars. Recently a friend needed to get an old rotary prepped for shaken, Japan’s roadworthiness inspection, and we tagged along to gape.  Continue reading →

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EVENTS: Mooneyes Mania Cruise Bluebird-Corona Day, Part 03

Posted on August 22, 2012 by Ricky Silverio

We’re devoting the third and last installment of our Mooneyes Mania Cruise‘s Bluebird-Corona Day coverage to just one car. Why? Because the Toyota Corona teased in Part 01 is utterly steeped period correct modifications from the early 1970s.  Continue reading →

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John Morton tribute at the Riverside International Auto Museum

Posted on August 21, 2012 by Dan Hsu

The Riverside International Auto Museum recently threw a gala to honor the contributions of famed Datsun driver John Morton to the racing world. If you’re not familiar with the saga of the BRE team that Morton raced for, first go watch the Friday Video Against All Odds, a documentary about their exploits in the heyday of Trans-Am Racing. Back? Good, now on to the cars.  Continue reading →

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QotW: What diecast car should they make next?

Posted on August 20, 2012 by Ben Hsu

Last week it was announced that Tomica, after 42 years making diecast Japanese cars, is finally coming out with the pivotal Datsun Fairlady roadster. We learned too that the first A60 Celica to exist anywhere in 1:64 universe would soon debut, a mere 30 years after the real deal.

What diecast car should they make next?

Our wish to the mongers of small metal cars is for a Mazda Luce RX-4 HT. We never understood why Tomica made a Luce sedan and not the stunning the two-door coupe. However, the 40-year delay will be worthwhile if it means the hardtop can now be rendered with the incredible detail of the Tomica Limited Vintage line.

What say you, dear reader? As always, the most entertaining, well-written, or inspiring comment by next Monday will receive a random toy. Click through to see the winner from last week’s question, “What is the greatest Japanese engine?”  Continue reading →

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EVENTS: 2012 Nisei Showoff, Part 02

Posted on August 17, 2012 by Ben Hsu

As we mentioned in Part 01, early nisei contributions to car culture went largely unnoticed for decades. This was mainly because 1.) most of the culture revolved around illicit pink-slip showdowns and 2.) it was centered in SoCal. Los Angeles’ Nisei Week festivities was the site of many impromptu cruises, but it wasn’t until the import tuning craze went national that an event like Nisei Showoff garnered wide enough support for official inclusion. That’s why Part 02 of our coverage is all Honda. VTEC’s ’bout to kick in, yo! Continue reading →

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Tomica Limited Vintage Datsun Fairlady 1500 Roadster

Posted on August 16, 2012 by Dan Hsu

Following up on Ricky’s piece about the A60 Celicas, here’s another nostalgic that’s been absent from Tomica‘s lineup for far too long. But not to worry, the Datsun Fairlady Sports is about to become a 1:64 scale diecast in the Tomica Limited Vintage line this December.  Continue reading →

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EVENTS: 2012 Nisei Showoff, Part 01

Posted on August 15, 2012 by Dan Hsu

Held in the historic Little Tokyo district of Los Angeles, Nisei Week is an annual festival for Japanese Americans dating back to 1934. The Nisei Showoff custom car show, launched during the height of the import tuning craze, is now a big part of that tradition.  Continue reading →

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Tomica Limited Vintage A60 Toyota Celica 1600GT-R

Posted on August 14, 2012 by Ricky Silverio

A60 Toyota Celica coupes have been surging in popularity lately, and why not? It’s RWD, still affordable, and styled with that 80s angularity we love so dearly. They’re like the AE86‘s big brother, but a lot easier to find on craigslist in decent condition. In fact, they’ve been easier to find in real life than diecast.  Continue reading →

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QotW: What is the greatest Japanese engine?

Posted on August 13, 2012 by Dan Hsu

We’ve asked quite a lot of weekly questions about the greatest cars. What about the hearts that beat within? There have been incredible motors forged in Nihon, from 10,000rpm Honda mills to screaming Mazda rotaries. So we put the question to you.

What is the greatest Japanese engine?

The average Japanese fan would probably shout out the Prince/Nissan S20. Not only did it have 24-valves twin-cams and a note like a chorus of gods, it made the GT-R legend and instantly doubled the price of any car it was dropped into.

What say you, dear reader? As always, the most entertaining, well-written, or inspiring comment by next Monday will receive a random JDM toy. Click through to see the winner from last week’s question, “What is the most influential Japanese car?”  Continue reading →

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REMINDER: JCCS registration to close in two weeks

Posted on August 11, 2012 by Dan Hsu


Just a friendly reminder that the 2012 JCCS registration will close in two weeks. If you haven’t entered your vintage Japanese car or motorcycle yet, you must register by August 25.

This year there will be some special guests. Hot Wheels designer extraordinaire Jun Imai, the one responsible for all the old school Japanese castings, will be at our JNC booth signing toy cars. Diane Krey-Wesley, the actress who portrayed Mary in the kenmeri Skyline commercials will be autographing as well in honor of the 40th anniversary of the C110 Nissan Skyline. And last but not least, John Morton, legendary BRE driver of Datsun fame will be there as well to sign your memorabilia.

So come one, come all, and join the festivities at the original and largest vintage Japanese car show in the hemisphere! Register here.

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The origins of Nissan’s Ginza Gallery and Miss Fairlady

Posted on August 10, 2012 by Ben Hsu

No trip to Tokyo would be complete without a stop at the Nissan Gallery in the high-end shopping district of Ginza. The showroom doesn’t sell any cars, but serves as prime advertising for the automaker at of one of Japan’s most famous intersections. If you’ve ever stopped by to gaze at the latest NiMoCo product or buy a Nissan trinket from one of the super-poised Miss Fairlady saleswomen, you’re part of a tradition almost half a century old.  Continue reading →

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Initial D Fifth Stage to premiere November 9

Posted on August 9, 2012 by Ben Hsu

Hang on to your e-brakes because the hit anime Initial D returns November 9. What was originally lost in translation and reported as a reboot is actually a restart, continuing the series where it left off six years ago. Continue reading →

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New York man holds funeral service for 30-year-old Honda Civic

Posted on August 8, 2012 by Dan Hsu

Last Sunday the Inwood neighborhood of New York said goodbye to an old friend, Harry Etting’s 1982 Honda Civic. A Dixieland band performed, a New Orleans jazz funeral procession marched down Seaman Avenue, and a wake was held at a local bar as dozens of neighbors came out to bid the car farewell.  Continue reading →

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QotW: What is the most influential Japanese car?

Posted on August 7, 2012 by Ben Hsu

The western world has often overlooked the influence of Japan’s cars. So this week we put to you the question, one that is bound to stir up plenty of debate.

What is the most influential Japanese car?

There are so many good answers to this that we at JNC can’t even commit to one without coming to blows. So we’re just going to let the comments deal virtual blows and decide.

What say you, dear reader? As always, the most entertaining, well-written, or inspiring comment by next Monday will receive a random JDM toy. Click through to see the winner from last week’s question, “What’s the worst model name?”  Continue reading →

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All around the world, it’s a happy 8/6 Day

Posted on August 6, 2012 by Ben Hsu

It’s amazing how one affordable little car can bring the world together. Around the globe August 6th has become the de facto worldwide holy day for honoring the Toyota AE86. 2012’s 8/6 Day will forever be remembered because it’s the first one in a quarter century that there’s been a new 86 to celebrate.  Continue reading →

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The astoundingly detailed custom Hot Wheels of ScaleMaster

Posted on August 2, 2012 by Ricky Silverio

Please allow me to introduce our two newest JNC contributors — Ricky Silverio, an unquestionable nostalgic car guru who will be writing regularly about Japanese collectibles, and Mark Jones, the man behind these custom toy cars. Enjoy Ricky’s first article. – Ben

Hot Wheels is undergoing a veritable Renaissance of Japanese automotive legends these days but that wasn’t always the case. Back in the early 2000s Mattel was barely dabbling in tuned imports, and often they were more Fast and Furious than old school cool. What’s a die-hard JNCer to do? Make their own, that’s what. Continue reading →

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ART CORNER: Announcing the JNC Ken & Mary Art Contest

Posted on August 2, 2012 by Ben Hsu

In honor of the 40th anniversary of the 1972 Nissan Skyline JNC is proud to announce our first ever art contest. Simply submit an original work that captures the spirit of the Ken & Mary Skyline. The winner will be chosen by Mary herself, Diane Krey-Wesley!  Continue reading →

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