In Part 01, Mark “ScaleMaster” Jones showed us how to prep standard Hot Wheels cars for customization. In this installment he transforms diecast Datsun 510 and 240Z into highly detailed custom BRE racers. — Ricky
In Part 01 we disassembled stripped, cleaned, and primed a Hot Wheels Datsun 240Z and two 510s. Now we’ll paint those blank canvases to create 1:64 scale version of some the BRE 240Z and 510, as well as Peter Brock’s personal “Brockbuster” 510. Continue reading
If you haven’t gone to the Aoshima‘s English Facebook page yet, you’re missing out on some gorgeous gurachan wallpaper based on their box art. Where else can you decorate your desktop with a beautiful shakotan Skyline Japan in purple illustrated in purple?
And in case you missed it here are some other examples of their fine box art.
There’s been a lot of QotWs about Japanese nostalgic cars, so it’s high time we asked about their bed-equipped workhorse counterparts that were responsible for creating an entire vehicle segment:
What’s the coolest Japanese nostalgic truck?
Our pick is the Datsun 620, which is one of the most beautiful pickups ever forged. Plus, it almost single-handedly launched the mini-truckin’ segment. For the purposes of this QotW, we’re asking only about bed-equipped vehicles. SUVs like Land Cruisers and Monteros will be in a future QotW.
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, “Where’s your favorite place to drive your nostalgic car?” Continue reading
Exciting news! One of Aoshima‘s amazingly detailed 1:24 scale plastic model kits is now another prize in our Ken & Mary Art Contest!
As with all of Aoshima’s kits, it comes with multiple grilles and lights, and separate aero pieces, so you can build your kenmeri Skyline in bone stock or zokusha works form! Click here for rules.
While researching yesterday’s article on Aoshima model kits, we came across what must be the second most famous red-on-white sports car from a Japanese kids’ show with the word “Mach” in the name. Continue reading
Step inside any Japanese hobby store and you’re bound to be dazzled by both the beauty and abundance of Aoshima box art. Their highly detailed plastic model kits have been around for decades, and in many cases have done a better job at chronicling Japan’s automotive tuning trends than most photo collections you can find on the web. Continue reading
Members of the NorCal JNC team recently headed to the city of Brisbane (that’s California, not Australia) to attend a car show put on by the local Z Car club. The shindig took place beside the beautiful waters of the San Francisco Bay and welcomed all kinds of Datsun, Nissan and Infiniti cars. Continue reading
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
