We’ll let Patrick Ng‘s gorgeous TE27 kick off the fourth and final installment of our 17th Annual All-Toyotafest coverage. This tasty mango began life as a 1973 SR-5, an ultra-rare US-spec version of the Corolla Levin, with metal flares and all straight from the factory but minus the twin-cam 2T-G. Patrick’s ground-up resto-mod addressed that particular issue and added a whole lot of period correct TRD goodies to boot. It was the perfect car to have at the JNC booth. Continue reading
Five Axis Design developing Retro Series Scion FR-S
Five Axis Design is well known for creating stunning aero kits and drool-inducing concept cars for Scion, Toyota and Lexus vehicles. But in the midst of all the SEMA-style glam, if you looked closely there were always clues that an old school heart was beating beneath. So when the production neo-hachiroku hit the streets we knew they’d have something special in store and they proved us right. Today Five Axis Design announced the development of a Retro Series Scion FR-S. Continue reading
Question of the Week: What Japanese car was the biggest manga star?
You knew it was coming. After last week’s QotW about the best Nihon car movie star, we now grill you about the Japanese art form known manga and its in-motion equivalent.
What Japanese car is the biggest manga/anime star?
Being the hachi-head that I am my personal (and the most obvious) choice would have been Initial D‘s Tofu Delivery Special, as it probably hooked more Americans on drifting, and by extension old RWD Japanese cars in general, than anything else. But I was outvoted by Kev and John, who formed their own zoku and crowned the Z10 Soarer from Shakotan Boogie as king.
Michiharu Kusunoki‘s coming-of-age tale about cars, girls, and getting into trouble with both of them predates his seminal 1999 work Wangan Midnight by 13 years. Protagonists Hajime and Koji’s misadventures in a white-and-blue first-gen Toyota Soarer drove the story, delving into the world of the low-level bosozoku. The manga was so popular that many cars from it have been replicated in real life, and not just for the subsequent live-action movie.
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 best comment from last week’s question, “Which Japanese car was the biggest movie star?” Continue reading
EVENTS: 2012 All-Toyotafest, Part 02
Part 02 of our 2012 All-Toyotafest coverage starts off with a pair of our favorite neoclassic Celicas. Moises Rivera (white) and Jesse Ortiz‘s (blue 1JZ-swapped) wedge-shaped A60s are the very definition of 1980s knife’s edge styling, and the US-spec GT-S flares allow for uber-deep barrels. Continue reading
EVENTS: 2012 All-Toyotafest, Part 01
The 2012 All-Toyotafest was abuzz with the excitement generated by the neo-hachiroku. After a decade and a half of supposedly sporty front-wheel-drive offerings, the lightweight FR Toyota is back with a vengeance. For throngs of Toyotaku in attendance it was cause for celebration. Continue reading
MINICARS: Hot Wheels’ mid-engined Honda CR-X
In 1981 Hot Wheels debuted the Hot Ones, a line of diecast cars with an articulating suspension and thin axles for a smooth, frictionless ride across your tabletop. Mattel has been busy re-launching many of the iconic cars from this series, as well as adding new models that weren’t included in the original collection but probably should have been. Case in point: the Honda CR-X, an 1980s icon of sport compacts.
EVENTS: Motorsport Auto’s 2012 Z-car West Coast Nationals
This year Motorsport Auto brought back the Z-car West Coast Nationals with a full scale show at their headquarters. The theme was “Back to the Streets,” the street being a closed-off stretch of Collins Avenue in Orange, California, just like in days of old. Continue reading
Question of the Week: What Japanese car was the biggest movie star?
Not counting the Fast and Furious franchise, cars of Japanese origin don’t usually feature too prominently in Hollywood productions. But that makes their rare appearances all the more special, which brings us to this week’s question:
What Japanese car was the biggest movie star?
Winston Wolf’s Acura NSX was an unexpected treat in Pulp Fiction. When Harvey Keitel’s mob cleaner was called upon to resolve a, uh, mind blowing accident, he promised to arrive on the scene in less than 10 minutes. He got there in nine and 37 seconds. Quentin Tarrantino’s script, heavily laden with details about the exact make, model and color of each car that appeared, originally called for a silver Porsche 911. But it had been written before Honda‘s magnum opus was unleashed on an unsuspecting public and became the most badass import on the block. In contrast, Bruce Willis’ totaling of a white 1980 Honda Civic in another scene is played for laughs. That only 10 years separates the two cars is truly mind blowing. What say you, dear reader? (Let’s keep it non-anime. That’ll be a future QotW.)
As always, the most entertaining, well-written, or inspiring comment by next Monday will receive a random JDM toy of some kind. Click through to see the winner of last week’s question, “Which nostalgic had the best nickname?” Continue reading
Kidney, Anyone? 22,000-mile 1974 Toyota Celica ST
In Ashland, Kentucky right now there sits a gorgeous 22,000-mile daruma waiting for a new owner. The 1974 Toyota Celica ST is as mint as mint can be and swathed in a period brownish-green. Everything is original except for the Cragar wheels, but it appears that the original steelies and hubcaps still reside in boxes stowed in the trunk. Perhaps the only downside is the fact that it’s equipped with a 3-speed slushbox, but luckily early Toyotas have a pre-punched hole in the firewall to pass a clutch master through. Just be sure to save the rubber plug for posterity’s sake. As of this writing, its reserve has been met and exceeded at $13,050. See more photos on eBay. Continue reading
JNC “RWD Toyota” shirts will debut at Toyotafest this weekend
Three letters — RWD. That says it all for the shirt we’re debuting at Toyotafest this Saturday, May 5. The lightweight rear-wheel-drive sport coupe is the magic formula that made us fall in love with old school Japanese cars in the first place, and after a decade-long absence it will return to the automotive world when the Scion FR-S arrives at dealers next week.
To celebrate, our new JNC RWD Toyota design features the Americanized Toyota 86 and the cars it drew on for inspiration — the Sports 800 for its FR boxer layout, the 2000GT for its Nozaki arc, the hachiroku for its namesake, and the TE27 for originating the affordable twin-cam Toyota.
The design works from a distance, where “RWD” in bold letters draws the eye. Those well-versed in automotive lingo will get it right away. Up close, the words “light,” “quick,” and agile describe what makes these cars the stuff of driving dreams. We used only rear 3/4 views to emphasize the driven wheels, and they’re charging straight into the owner’s heart. Continue reading
EVENTS: Datsun Roadster Classic of Solvang 2012
Dragging a non-car nut spouse to a car show is a hairy proposition, usually resulting in paying back a day spent gawking at old metal with some proper romance. That’s why we recommend killing two birds with one stone by dragging your spouse to the Datsun Roadster Classic in romantic Solvang, California. Continue reading
MINICARS: Hot Wheels bosozoku-style Mad Manga
Holy effing crap. If you had told us a year ago that one day Hot Wheels, the most red-blooded American toy there is, would have a takeyari-equipped bubble-flared shark-nosed zokusha in its lineup, we would have called you baka. And yet, here it is — the 2012 Mad Manga. Continue reading
JNC “Z Generations” shirt will debut at Motorsport Auto’s Z-car West Coast Nationals this weekend
It’s spring and SoCal’s car show season kicks off tomorrow with Motorsports Auto‘s Z-car West Coast Nationals. The weekend of Z madness begins Friday evening with a launch party at MSA headquarters in Orange, CA. Saturday will feature dyno runs, detailing sessions, and something you won’t want to miss if you own a Z of any generation — a garage sale. The main event, an all-Z car show, takes place on Sunday, and we will be there with Project Z and to debut our new JNC Z Generations shirt. Continue reading
Donate $100 for a chance to own Victor Laury’s 1970 Datsun Fairlady Roadster
Our friend and beloved member of California’s nostalgic car community Victor Laury is relinquishing is collection of beautiful Datsuns. Sadly, Vic suffered a stroke a while back and as a result he will no longer be able to drive his cherished cars. We recently told you about the sale of his Datsun 240Z and now the car Vic is most known for, his gorgeous 1970 Datsun Fairlady Roadster, must be passed on to a new owner as well. Continue reading