I can’t even remember the last time we posted a Subaru topic. So here’s one for all you Fuji Heavies, a corporate video showing the history of the company. Continue reading
Kidney, Anyone? 38-Mile Toyota Corolla Untouched for 37 Years
Want a brand-new E20 Toyota Corolla that has sat untouched since 1974? It’s there for the taking. All you have to do is sneak it out of the demilitarized zone on the island nation of Cyprus. Continue reading
More Toyota FT-86 Details Emerge
Moto, founder of Club4AG, has spilled a few beans regarding the new Toyobaru FT-86 (or as we Yanks will call it, the Scion FR-S). From his report, everything has been engineered with the enthusiast in mind. Case in point: the dash is recessed into the front window base so one can install a roll cage without butchering it. Continue reading
Tomica Limited Vintage Neo Nissan Skyline C110 Wagon
American toymakers are doing their part to enrich the lives of diecast collectors. What about Japan? Anyone’s who been to the seizure-inducing overstimulation of a Japanese toy store is familiar with Tomica toy cars, but did you know the had a upscale collector range dedicated to nostalgic cars? Continue reading
Nostalgics at the 2011 Historic Acropolis Rally
Watch a parade of Corolla, Celica, Starlet, Gemini, and Mazda RX-7 rally cars rip through the dusty roads of Athens alongside Lancias and Porsches in the 2011 Historic Acropolis Rally. Continue reading
Posted in isuzu, mazda, motorsports, rally, toyota
Tagged a40, acropolis rally, celica, corolla, fb, gemini, historic, isuzu, kp61, mazda, motorsports, opel, rally, rx-7 savanna, sa22c, starlet, te37, toyota
5 Comments
2011 Japanese Classic Car Show Registration Now Open
Kyuusha fans, it’s that time again. Registration has opened for the 2011 Japanese Classic Car Show! It’s the biggest, coolest, most diverse gathering of vintage Japanese cars on the continent.
In addition to all the vintage Datsuns, Toyotas, Mazdas, Hondas and more, this year, the organizers have opened a vintage motorcycle class as well.
You can save 10% by registering before August 01, and it’s first come first serve, so be sure to get your ride in early.
The rest of you, mark your calendars for September 10, 2011 and see you at Long Beach. You won’t want to miss this one!
Posted in events
9 Comments
Friday Video: 39 Years of Honda Civic
With 19 million units sold and 39 years under its belt, the Honda Civic is an icon of motoring. With the recent introduction of the 9th generation, Honda’s marketing team has put together a video called “Heritage” that explores its evolution to the music of Dirty Vegas. We love to see automakers salute their histories, and in any case it’s more entertaining than the one with zombie, luchadore and Sasquatch girl. Continue reading
1981 Toyota Celica Supra at Survivor Car Show
A car show that only allows survivors? Awesome concept. If a car has been modified or restored, it is not eligible for the Survivor Car Show in St. Charles, Illinois. In other words, it’s for either OCD obsessives or incredibly fortunate barn raiders. For us enthusiasts, it’s a rare opportunity to study the classics exactly as they were when they left the showroom lo those many years ago. In a recent Detroit News piece about the event, the focus was on Mike Metrick’s 1981 Toyota Celica Supra. Continue reading
EVENTS: Eagle Rock Swap Meet
Aaah, SoCal. We know the rest of the country hates it when we gloat. But sorry, it’s just damn nice to be able to take a leisurely Sunday morning cruise to an old school Japanese car bazaar. The Eagle Rock Swap Meet started out as a trading post for Datsun 510 supplies but nowadays deals in all manner of nostalgic Nissan, Mazda and Toyota goods. Whether you’re buying or selling, it’s a great place to find an old part, diecast car, or a set of wheels.
Yesterday we shared the 1:64 nostalgics that we found there. Here are some 1:1 scale cars Continue reading
Hot Wheels Kenmeri Nissan Skyline 2000GT-R & Vintage Racing BRE Datsun 510 Bluebird
Hot Wheels is on a tear these days, adding Japanese classics to their lineup as quickly as the diecast cars will speed down an orange track. We were thrilled to be part of the hakosuka Nissan Skyline 2000GT-X (which is showing up in stores now!) but that’s not all. You’ll also find a kenmeri Nissan Skyline GT-R and BRE Datsun 510 Bluebird on the pegs later this year. Once again the folks at Mattel have generously allowed us to share the first ever published photos of these cars with JNC readers. Continue reading
Posted in minicars, nissan
Tagged 2000gt-r, 2011, 510, bluebird, bre, c110, datsun, first editions, gt-r, hot wheels, john morton, kenmeri, kgc110, kpgc110, mattel, nissan, peter brock, skyline, vintage racing
25 Comments
850hp Toyota Celica Is Fastest Hill Climber at 2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed
Like Pikes Peak, the Goodwood Festival of Speed is one of motordom’s greatest hill climbs, a spectacular celebration of racing machinery from across the spectrum. Unlike Pikes Peak, the ascent is only 1.16 miles, and takes you up someone’s driveway. Nevertheless, this year’s fastest time to the Earl of March’s front door was 48:07 seconds, clocked by British rally champ Jonny Milner in his “Extreme” ST205 Toyota Celica GT-Four.
Milner’s Celica takes an 850-horsepower Toyota WRC four-cylinder and adds a Garrett turbocharger, belt-driven Rotrex supercharger and a shot of nitrous oxide in a car weighing 1050kg (2315 pounds). Milner painted it the same shade of orange as the limited Nürburgring Edition Lexus LFA in honor of the Celica’s 40th anniversary.
[Toyota, Jonny Milner Motorsport, Goodwood Festival of Speed]
Posted in motorsports, toyota
Tagged all-trac, celica, festival of speed, goodwood, gt-four, st205, toyota, wrc
8 Comments
Friday Video: The Depth of Speed
Remember the video of JDM Legends that we posted a while back? The filmmaker, Josh Clason, has returned with another beautiful video featuring the inner workings of the SLC-based tuning house. Along for the ride are their Celica, Starlet, and hakosuka. Feast your eyes below the fold. Continue reading
Posted in nissan, toyota, tuning shop
Tagged a20, c10, celica, datsun, depth of speed, Hakosuka, jdm legends, kgc10, kp61, kpgc10, nissan, ra21, skyline, starlet, ta21, ta22, watanabe, work equip
13 Comments
JDM Old School Style Hits Russia
Can you identify this awesome Japanese-style sled? No? Well, don’t beat yourself up too bad — it was a trick question. That’s because the car is a Russian VAZ 2106 steeped in vintage JDM style. With Hoshinos, bolt-on flares, shakotan stance and a JDM license plate (not to mention a giant banzai flag) this low-life Lada has got the look down pat. That’s it, folks, kyuusha kulture has gone worldwide. Continue reading
Posted in Nuts and Bolts
Tagged 2106, autovaz, hoshino, impul, jdm, kyuusha kulture, lada, only dropped picnic, russia, russian, vaz
22 Comments
Adrien Brody Drives a StarQuest
Although he has been seen in a black Ferrari California, actor Adrien Brody recently pulled up to the terminal at JFK airport in a Chrysler Conquest. He was spotted by TMZ, who called it a “crappy car” and titled the video “undercover clunker.” Au contraire, douchey cameraman — thank you for proving the point that any dingbat who doesn’t know a camshaft from a cupholder thinks “Oooh, shiny!” whenever they see a prancing horse logo, but only a true aficionado appreciates the brilliance of this turbocharged 80’s GT. Talk about arriving in style.
[TMZ]
Posted in mitsubishi
Tagged adrien brody, chrysler, conquest, mitsubishi, starion, starquest
14 Comments
Rumor: Nissan May Bring Datsun Back
Rumors are circulating that Nissan will be bringing back the Datsun brand. Unfortunately, it would be for low-cost models in emerging markets that are expected to ring in at $5000 or less. The news is being reported by the Nikkei but remains unconfirmed as of now. It wouldn’t be the first time a move like this has been rumored.
[via TTAC]
Enjoy Your JNC at Upcoming Summer Meets and Events
As temperatures increase, so do the number of events in SoCal where you can take your nostalgic car. We are highlighting some of these because these venues have not traditionally been a home for vintage Japanese steel. But their requests are proof that the old school movement is making headway into several different types of automotive gatherings. So dust off that sled and take it out of the garage. That’s what SoCal summers are all about! Continue reading
Posted in events
2 Comments
Friday Video: Gachapin and Mukku Teach Kids about Gymkhana on Hirake! Ponkikki
The Japanese show Hirake! Ponkikki is a morning kids show akin to Sesame Street. The main characters are a green, adrenaline-junkie dinosaur named Gachapin and a red yeti named Mukku. In this episode, they visit Honda’s Twin Ring Motegi Circuit in Tochigi Prefecture. Then they proceed to teach impressionable children terms like gymkhana, slalom and spin turn as they burn off the tires of a Honda S2000. Afterwards the Mazda Porter Cab-looking muppet take a turn on the banked high-speed ring in an Integra Type R. You ain’t gonna see that kind of action in Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood. Continue reading
Posted in honda, Video Games
Tagged acura, gachapin, hirake ponkikki, honda, integra, mukku, s2000, twin ring motegi, type r
11 Comments
Introducing JNC’s Nostalgic Motorcycle Forum
The JNC Forum has a new section for classic motorcycles and scooters. As per the usual JNC guidelines, it’s for two-wheeled delights 25 years and older. There seems to be no good home for these bikes on the web, at least not US-based, and Japanese scooters are really the red-headed stepchild of the market. If the first day of traffic is any indication, this is a need waiting to be met. Go forth and post! We can’t wait to see the build threads that come out of it!
Sam Witwicky’s Datsun 510 in Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon
Last year a Datsun 510 sedan with twin black racing stripes and a “Bee-yotch” air freshener was spotted filming in Milwaukee for Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon. Immediately, speculation began that one of the star robots, Bumblebee, had disguised himself as a Bluebird. We just got out of an advance screening of the movie and we have answers. Warning: spoilers ahead. Continue reading
Kidney, Anyone? 24,000-Mile 1977 Toyota Celica for $19,000
A 910-horsepower Suzuki isn’t the only interesting thing coming out of Colorado. Recently, a 24,000-mile 1977 Toyota Celica Liftback was offered up in the little town of Berthoud (about an hour north of Denver). It was purchased in Fort Collins, Colorado (another 30 minutes north) and has apparently spent its existence secreted in the mountains like a mummified Ice Age caveman.
Continue reading
Posted in for sale, toyota
Tagged a20, celica, kidney anyone, liftback, ra28, ra29, toyota
17 Comments
