Found in Belgium by Larry Chen of Speedhunters. Owner wishes to remain anonymous. Smart man.

Posted on by Ben Hsu | 5 Comments

Friday Video: Happy 86 Day!


Alright, fine. Here’s a Toyota with a Toyota engine. A hachiroku, to be specific, sailing through a gymkhana course in this oldie but goodie. Ken Block, eat your heart out. Happy 86 Day!

Another run below the jump. Continue reading

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Team HDO SR20-Powered RA28 Toyota Celica Drift Machine


Yesterday we posted a period-correct vintage Toyota race car. Today we’re going with a thoroughly modern one. Wildly stickered nostalgics usually induce mild indigestion around the JNC office but I suppose we can make an exception when it’s a D1 Grand Prix drift machine. This RA28 Toyota Celica Liftback is the newly liveried 2011 D1GP race horse of Team HDO, a Japanese shop that sells dorifto parts and — for the brave — used drift cars.  Continue reading

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Kidney, Anyone? 1968 Toyota 1600GT Race Car


This is no ordinary kidney car. Though it may appear to be a gussied-up barikan Corona coupe, it’s actually a 1968 Toyota 1600GT GT5. And if that has a familiar ring to it, that’s because it’s sibling to the legendary Toyota 2000GT. Only 2,222 were built, and the eBay seller claims a fortune was spent modifying this particular example for historic racing in Japan. Continue reading

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Depth of Speed Talks Hakosuka with Fatlace Founder Mark Arcenal

We’ve been big fans of Josh Clason‘s Depth of Speed videos, and the latest does not disappoint. It’s an interview with Mark Arcenal, founder of the Fatlace, who is fortunate enough to own a KGC10 Nissan Skyline, S14 drift machine, and a VW Bus. Watch the video below. Continue reading

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Kidney, Anyone? 38,000-Mile 1985 Toyota 4Runner


Is the first-gen 4Runner becoming the next hot collectible? After all, it was one of the most capable SUVs of its time. It hails from an era of Aichi greats like the AE86 Corolla, AW11 MR2, and MX73 Cressida. Hell, there’s even a Matchbox version.

On eBay a minty fresh original 1985 Toyota 4Runner SR5 is going for over $24,000 at the time of this writing. The odo reads only 38,000 miles and you could eat off any surface, even the spare tire. Or nuzzle up to the SR5-laden upholstery and the cargo area’s immaculate carpeting. It is well documented, wears the entire fall catalog’s lineup of NOS parts, and the seller claims a garaged life. A rare beast indeed. More photos below the fold. Continue reading

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Friday Video: Nissan Skyline Japan, Subaru Leone, and a Helicopter


The 1979 cop show Detective Story was hugely popular, and responsible for launching the career of Yusaku Matsuda. This clip appears to be a parody of the original, as it contains no Matsuda and adds a laugh track instead. Nevertheless, it follows two bumbling thieves and gang of well-armed men after their steel briefcase — like a Japanese prequel to Ronin.

C210 Nissan Skylines are driven hard and destroyed. One is chased down by two Cedrics. Another faces a helicopter and is shot by a magic rocket launcher that turns into a Subaru Leone. Hilarity ensues. Continue reading

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Kidney, Anyone? 1978 Datsun 200SX

With some already speculating the hakosuka GT-R as a million dollar car, this 1978 Datsun 200SX for $4100 is a helluva a steal. For one, it’s one of the rarest Dattos out there. And while that’s because it was widely considered the ugliest car on the market when it was new, all of that blame can be laid squarely on the US 5mph safety bumpers.

In Japan, it sported sleek chrome that blended seamlessly with its body lines and was called the “New Silvia.” That’s new, as in “not the ’65 CSP311,” which means it was the first Nissan to bear the all-new “S” chassis code. Yes, drifters, meet the great-great-grandpa of your precious sliding machines. Continue reading

Posted in for sale, nissan | Tagged , , , , , | 25 Comments

Nostalgic Concept: 1977 Toyota CAL-1

One of the concept cars we really wanted to see during our visit to Calty Desing Research was the 1977 Toyota CAL-1. Sadly, it wasn’t available for viewing. But come on, who wouldn’t be intrigued by the intersection of a ute’d A40 Celica Supra and antique speedboat? Continue reading

Posted in concepts, toyota | 8 Comments

Grand Touring: 2011 Scion tC & Calty Design Research

Recently, we found ourselves behind the wheel of a jet black 2011 Scion tC. Why are we telling you this? Because the tC is the latest vehicle to emerge from Calty Design Research in Newport Beach, California, the first US design center ever set up by Japanese automaker. Toyota had invited us on a tour of the birthplace of many of its most famous models, from the original Celica Supra to the all-new tC. Continue reading

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More Nostalgic Toyotas from Cyprus UN Buffer Zone

Last week we mentioned that the UN was documenting the Green Line, a demilitarized Buffer Zone set up on the island of Cyprus in 1974. One photo showed a couple of lonely but brand new E20 Toyota Corollas, one with only 38km on its odometer, abandoned when residents were forced to flee the conflict-riddled region. Turns out, we were just scratching the surface. Continue reading

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Friday Video: A Brief History of Subaru


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

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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

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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

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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

Posted in minicars, nissan, wagons | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

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 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 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 girlContinue reading

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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

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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

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