Continuing on the theme of youthful, frolicking couples in nostalgic automotive ads, here’s a 1960s Honda print ad featuring products for “Guys & Girls” — a Honda N360 and E300 portable generator for camping families, and a Monkey Z50M on which you can ride creepily through the wood stalking said family.
The Story of Diane Krey, the “Mary” behind the Kenmeri Skyline
The C10 hakosuka GT-R made “Skyline” a legend among Japanese gearheads, but the C110 kenmeri made it a household name. Its popularity was due in no small part to the now re-famous Ken & Mary television commercials that gave the fourth-gen Skyline its nickname and perfectly captured Japan’s optimism and romance for the open road in the early 70s.
Although there were multiple Kens and Marys over the years, the original stars were a soap actor, Jimmy Zinnai, and the daughter of an American pilot living in Japan at the time, Diane Krey. Our friend and scribe Jeff Koch last year tracked down the real Mary, now a high school teacher near Sacramento. His interview reveals the backstory of the Ni-Ten ad agency shoots, and what it was like for an American girl to be one of the most recognizable faces in Japan at the time. Continue reading
Posted in cm, nissan
Tagged c110, datsun, diane krey, jimmy zinnai, kenmeri, kgc110, kpgc110, nissan, skyline
34 Comments
Friday Video: Mitsubishi Colt Targa in Armor of God
Twenty-five years ago the film Armour of God broke the following things: Hong Kong’s box office records, a tree in Yugoslavia, and, in a stunt gone awry, Jackie Chan‘s skull. Chan was rushed to the hospital to remove a fragment of said skull from his brain. Fortunately, he survived to bring us this thrilling chase involving a built-for-the-movie Mitsubishi Colt that looks like the mutant love child between a Dome Zero and an AW11 MR2. The film also breaks many Pajeros and any semblance of reality once the Colt’s “Twin Turbo” button is invoked, all leading up to a surprise Batmobile-like finale. Where can we get that option? Also note that the letters spelling “MITSUBISHI” across the spoiler gap are actually molded.
Posted in mitsubishi, Video Games
Tagged armour of god, colt, jackie chan, mirage, mitsubishi, montero, pajero, shogun, starion
10 Comments
Animated Hondas from new “Blue Skies for our Children” ad campaign
Honda’s new ad campaign features some animated classics and a Watchmen-like generational mirror. The only question that remains is why, when the son gets to the EG, doesn’t slam it while riding around in baseball hat cocked at a 45 degree angle. It’s cute, but still not as operatic as the Impossible Dream. Keep trying, Honda. Continue reading
JNC Project Hako and Kev’s Sexy Aussie Accent
Listen to those sonorous vowels flow from the maw of JNC Aussie editor Kevin San as he talks to Hoon TV about his world-famous Project Hako.
Posted in Friday Video, nissan, project hako
Tagged c10, datsun, Hakosuka, kevin san, kgc10, kpgc10, nissan, project hako, skyline
13 Comments
Scion FR-S Drifter and First 86 Program
Toyota made two announcements today regarding the US-badged neo-hachiroku. Firstly, ToMoCo expects sales to be so piping hot that they built a website just to give the enthusiasts a chance to be one of the initial (no pun intended) 86 Scion FR-S owners. Hmm, 86… that sounds familiar. Since this is a heritage car, maybe Toyota should do like Ferrari with the Enzo and offer it to Toyotaku who already own an AE86 or 2000GT or Sports 800. The registration begins January 12 at 9am PST and will last for 8 hours, 6 minutes. Continue reading
Kidney, Anyone? Frame-off Restored 1981 Toyota Hilux Trekker
A die-hard Toyota truck nut (not to be confused with the plural) in Southern Pines, North Carolina has conducted a frame-off restoration of a 1981 Toyota Hilux Trekker. These ur-4Runners started out as a half-built Hilux pickups, which were then shipped to RV-maker Winnebago for the addition of rear seats and a fiberglass bed topper. Both 4×2 and 4×4 versions existed, but like many early Japanese collabs a record of numbers built (or even a VIN range) was never kept. It’s estimated that anywhere from 1,200 to 1,500 were made, but most were used and abused by outdoorsmen, campers, and the occasional serial killer. Continue reading
Friday Video: Liberty Walk’s Boso Roots
We first caught up with JDM tuning house Liberty Walk a couple of years ago at SEMA when we saw their catalog for the mini-hako. Sadly, it wasn’t on hand because LB was there to promote their main business of modding imports, which in Japan means Chryslers and Lamborghinis. Continue reading
Posted in Friday Video, nissan
Tagged 240z, 260z, 280z, bosozoku, c10, c110, c210, datsun, fairlady z, garuchan, Hakosuka, kenmeri, kgc10, kgc110, kpgc10, kpgc110, liberty walk, motorcycles, nissan, police, skyline, wataru kato, yonmeri
7 Comments
Kidney, Anyone? Toyota Celica TA64 Group 4 Rally Car
Even if you were a mere fetus in the mid-80s, you must know by know of the legendary Group B rally cars — machines like the Audi Quattro, Ford RS200 and Peugeot 205 Turbo — that kicked off the AWD era. But Toyota had a dog in the race too, and despite it being RWD, the mighty TA64 Toyota Celica TCT dominated the Ivory Coast and Safari rallies, winning the latter three years in a row. But the ace of the African deserts was actually introduced in Group 4 a year before Group B rules went into effect. Now there’s one of those for sale in Italy. Continue reading
Aoshima Gurachan Collection Nissan Fairlady 240ZG
Yesterday we showed you some Aoshima 1/6 models of vintage Japanese racing barrels. On the opposite end of the scale scale Aoshima offers these bosozoku sleds from the 1/64 Gurachan Collection. The series has been out for a while, but we just picked this one up at Japantown Collectibles in San Francisco. This kandy orange Nissan Fairlady 240ZG is a zoku’s wet dream, with bubble flares, S130 hood vents, integrated fiberglass spoiler, and C210 Skyline taillights. Even the wheels are Watanabes wrapped in real rubber. Continue reading
Aoshima’s “The Wheel” 1/6-Scale Vintage Barrel Model Kit
Welcome to 2012! As we await our Mayan apocalypse let’s enjoy what time we have by enjoying some holiday goodies received at the JNC office. Reason #3,811 of why Japan is great is because you can not only buy a model kit of your favorite Japanese car, but your favorite Japanese racing wheel as well. Continue reading
Posted in minicars
Tagged advan, aoshima, bomber, formula mesh, hayashi, minicars, r104, riverside, speed star racing, ssr, wheels, work, work equip 03, yokohama
13 Comments
JNC’s Top Stories of 2011
As the year draws to a close, we’d like to wish all JNCers a happy new year. May all your roads be smooth, and your all schools be old. For this year’s nengajou, we chose this photo of the real-life version of our “Best of the Best” shirt, featuring the most glorious Japanese GT cars of the late Sixties.
As is internet custom, it’s time to go over the most popular stories here at JNC.com for 2011. These aren’t the most important news stories of the year, but they were the ones most clicked by you. Continue reading
Posted in jnc
7 Comments
Fuji-go and Sakura-go Ride Again
53 years ago, Nissan sent a pair of Datsun 210 sedans to compete in what was known as the “World’s Cruelest Rally.” The 1958 Around-Australia Mobilgas Trial was a tortuous, 19-day circumnavigation around the continent, over mostly unpaved roads. Named Fuji-go and Sakura-go, and painted with murals of Mt. Fuji and sakura (cherry blossoms), these were the first Nissans to ever compete in international motorsports. Continue reading
Posted in motorsports, nissan
Tagged 210, bluebird, datsun, fuji-go, mobilgas trial, motorsports, mr k, nissan, rally, sakura-go, yutaka katayama
5 Comments
Toyota 86 and Sports 800 reunited for the holidays
It may be AE86 Jr., but when the holidays come the Toyota 86 prefers to spend time with its great grandpa, the Sports 800. A picture perfect family reunion, or is this Toyota telling us, “Hey, we made a front-engined, rear-wheel-drive, boxer-powered sports car 50 years ago!”? Watch the video below. Continue reading
Subaru’s 1986 XT Turbo Restoration
Strolling the halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center at last month’s SEMA show, we were blown away by Subaru of America‘s impeccable 1986 XT Turbo. It’s not every day that you see a fully restored 1980s tech wedge, so we contacted our friends at Subaru to get the back story of how this blue beauty came to be. Continue reading
Haunted by the Ghosts of Nostalgics Past
For someone who loves driving, I am notoriously bad at recognizing landmarks. It’s embarrassing, really. Ex-girlfriends have raised many an eyebrow, astonished at how I could fail to notice — even though “we’ve passed by a thousand times” — that a new upscale condo complex has sprouted up where the old Cafe Luna had once been. That’s because I’m looking at cars, and they are have this tendency to not stay in one place. Continue reading
Merry Christmas from JNC
We at JNC would like to wish you a Merry Christmas. May your travels in an old, airbag-less car be safe and your stockings filled with rare NOS parts. And if you are absolutely sick of hearing “Silent Night” over every shopping mall PA system everywhere, ad infinitum, enjoy this music video for Kishidan’s Christmas-themed “Secret Love Story”. Continue reading
2011 Hot Wheels Holiday Hot Rods Datsun 240Z
There’s one more Hot Wheels car we have to mention, and that’s the 2011 Holiday Hot Rods Datsun 240Z. Each year Hot Wheels selects a few castings to don Christmas themed apparel, and this year the Datsun 240Z made the cut.
It’s finished in red, green and white livery with gold wheels, and the #25 is obviously a nod to the Christ-man’s birthday. Best of all, this is one you don’t have to wait til 2012 to get. It’s available right now at a Wal-Mart near you.
Happy hunting!
2012 Hot Wheels “Hot Ones” will include 80s Japanese Honda CRX, Subaru BRAT, A60 Supra and more
As the holidays descend upon us visions of toy cars are dancing in our heads. In addition to the Mazda RX-7 appearing in the 2012 Hot Wheels main lineup, there’s even more excitement for fans of old school Japanese cars in store.
The 2012 Hot Ones series will feature even more nostalgics from the 1980s. The list thus far includes new castings such as the 1985 Honda CR-X, Subaru BRAT, Plymouth Arrow (Mitsubishi Lancer Celeste) Funny Car, ’87 Toyota (which is likely a pickup), ’85 Yamaha V-Max, and a retool of the original A60 ’82 Supra.
Back in the 80s, the Hot Ones were cars fitted with special gold wheels, thinner axles and flexing “suspension” that made them faster down an orange track. These features eventually spread across the entire Hot Wheels line. In 2011, the Hot Ones made a comeback as a collector series that featured special packaging and detailing, bringing back many of the 80s castings fans like us grew up with. However, some of the cars were new castings that didn’t exist in the 80s, and it looks like we’re about to get a face full of Reagan-era Japanese awesomeness.
2012 Hot Wheels X JNC Mazda RX-7
2011 was a banner year for Japanese nostalgics in the Hot Wheels lineup with the release of both the hakosuka and kenmeri Nissan Skylines, as well as the BRE Datsun 510 in the Vintage Racing line. We at JNC were proud to have teamed up with Mattel for the hako, and we are very excited to announce that in 2012 this partnership will continue with the Mazda RX-7! Continue reading
