The 1977-79 Datsun 200SX was widely derided as one of the ugliest cars ever to hit the American market. That was because we never saw it the way it was intended by Nissan — as the S10 Silvia with flush JDM bumpers. Luckily our friend, Datsun 210 owner and mega-talented artist Scott Fischer has illustrated his own version of the 200SX, minus the park-bench US-spec bumpers while adding a healthy does of bolt-on flares and Longchamps. He calls it the SX Appeal, and it’s easy to see why.
The Vintage Japanese “OK” Hand Logo Explained
Few things in life are cooler than vintage racing liveries. The colors, the typefaces, and the long-extinct corporate logos (of often just-as-extinct corporations) capture a moment in time that can never be replicated again. Add to that the rawness of the machines they decorated and the sheer amount of guts it took to hurl a metal box with zero modern safety furnishings around a track, just to satisfy the ridiculously primal need to beat the other guy, and, well, it’s stirring.
And if you look back at photos of Japanese racers from the glory days of Fuji and Suzuka, you’ll notice a stylized, pinkish-red hand, forefinger and thumb making a perfect circle — the internationally recognizable “OK” gesture. But what does it mean? Continue reading
“Black Gold” JNC Inkan now available
Have you been scouring the pegs of your local mega box retailer? We’ve gotten reports that Mattel’s 1:64 Mazda RX-7 is out! So in honor of our collab with Hot Wheels, we’ve created a special “Black Gold” edition of our iconic JNC Inkan decal to match the miniature one on the RX-7’s B-pillar. Continue reading
EVENTS: 2012 Tokyo Auto Salon
Every year more and more vintage Japanese steel forges its way into the Tokyo Auto Salon. But as Japan’s equivalent of the SEMA show, the theme favors “custom” over “classic”. Continue reading
Posted in events, honda, mazda, nissan, subaru, toyota
Tagged 1uz, 2000gt, 240z, 260z, 280z, a70, ae86, c10, chaser, corolla, cressida, cresta, datsun, fairlady z, g-works, gx71, Hakosuka, jza70, kgc10, kpgc10, levin, lexus, mark II, mx73, nissan, option, rb26, rocky auto, s30, skyline, sprinter, subaru 360, supra, toyota, trueno, v8, x70
11 Comments
Friday Video: Dekotora Chase!
The 1996 film Super-Woman was not in fact about an ultra-strong female hero, but a cashier who uncovers shady dealings at a rival supermarket chain. The Japanese love of abbreviation strikes again! The movie would be altogether unremarkable except for a climactic third act showcasing what might be the world’s only dekotora chase! Several Toyota sedans get thrown into the mix as well when our heroine finds herself trapped in the back of a freezer truck. Doesn’t the portly baddie know? You simply do not F with a guy driving a 10,000-watt Shinjuku on wheels. Oh well, at least he rocks some sweet Advan kicks. Continue reading
Kidney, Anyone? Carroll Shelby’s Toyota 2000GT #00001 for $1.7 million
Let’s face it. The Japanese offerings at the recent Barrett-Jackson auction were pretty middling. Z-cars and FJ40s restored to new reaches for the definition of “stock” aren’t going to wow anyone who’s been hanging out at JCCS. Well, what do you expect from a gaggle of octogenarians willing to shell out a cool $160,000 for a hideous candy-blinged “widebody” Mustang?
Today’s kidney bait is a Toyota 2000GT, an already organ-relinquishing car if there ever was one. But this isn’t just any 2000GT — it happens to be MF10-100001, the first production Japanese supercar ever built. It’s been in the private collection of Bob Tkacik and Peter Star of Maine Line Exotics for several decades now, periodically making appearances at the Goodwood Festival of Speed and the Monterey Historics. Now they’re willing to let it go for the low, low price of $1.7 million, shipping not included. Continue reading
Custer could have made his last stand in comfort with the Plymouth Arrow “Tepee”
Despite their notable absence from JCCS, on the streets, and in the collective memory of the American public, the Plymouth Arrow was actually quite a popular car. And you could have easily been the big man on campsite with this funky “Teepee” option. With it, your re-badged Mitsubishi Lancer Celeste‘s sloping fastback could be transformed into a soaring nylon cathedral! Continue reading
Your gallery of Superdeformed Nostalgics is here
In case you were wondering where you could get your favorite nostalgic drawn in superdeformed anime style, your prayers have been answered. This unnamed master of Choro-Q style illustrations is a master of the form. Peep the gallery and video below. Continue reading
Posted in honda, isuzu, mazda, mitsubishi, nissan, prince, subaru, suzuki, toyota
Tagged 110s, 2000gt, 240z, 240zg, 260z, 280z, 430, a20, anime, axio, b10, b210, barikan, c210, cedric, celica, concept, contessa, corolla, corona, cosmo, cosmo sport, coupe 9, crown, datsun, debonair, dome zero, eunos, ex-7, excellent, fairlady z, fronte, galant gto, gemini, hino, honda, isuzu, kujira, laurel, mazda, mitsubishi, ms65, nissan, nsx, pf50, prince, progres, r30, rt40, rx-3, s30, s60, savanna, skyline, skyline sport, subaru, subaru 360, sunny, suzuki, t40, ta22, toyota
11 Comments
Early Japanese classics among top emerging collectibles says Hagerty
With all the automotive madness whipped up by the Arizona auctions week, let’s take a look at how it affects the nostalgic car scene. First, collector car insurance company Hagerty issued a press release identifying three “segments represent[ing] a group of collector vehicles that are quickly gaining in popularity amongst enthusiasts” — classic pickups, early Japanese cars, and vintage motorcycles. Continue reading
Cedric-Corolla switcheroo pulls off 300 million yen heist
The biggest robbery in Japanese history took place on December 10, 1968. On that day, duralumin cases with the year-end bonuses for an entire Tokyo Shibaura Electric (now Toshiba) factory was to be delivered by the Kokobunji branch of the bank known today as Mitsubishi UFJ Shintaku Gingko. Normally, such cargo would be escorted by two guards in a bank-owned Nissan Cedric, but this time security was upped to four men. Continue reading
The Story of Ronald Reagan’s Subaru BRAT
Here’s proof that Subies aren’t all driven by tree-hugging bleeding hearts. At least one was driven by a tax-slashing, commie-hating Reagan-style capitalist — Ronald Reagan himself. We mentioned the Gipper’s Subaru BRAT a couple of years ago, but now Benjamin Preston of Petersen’s 4Wheel & Offroad has revealed the full background of Subaru One. Continue reading
Hondas for Guys & Girls
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
