In the aftermath of the magnitude 9.0 Tohoku earthquake of March 11, the Japan’s great automakers are mostly at a standstill. Supply chains, transport and shipping facilities have all been affected by the quake and subsequent tsunami. There’s also rolling blackouts in some areas due to an energy shortage resulting from damage to nuclear plants. How are the automakers responding to the worst quake in Japanese history? Continue reading
How the Earthquake is Affecting Japan’s Automakers
Posted in honda, japan, mazda, mitsubishi, nissan, toyota
Tagged akio toyoda, earthquake, honda, japan, mazda, mitsubishi, nissan, sendai, tohoku earthquake, toyota
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The Spirit of Sendai: JNC’s Tribute to the Hi-Land Drags
The news out of Japan keeps getting worse. Nearly 1,600 are dead, the Nikkei stock market plunged 6%, and a second explosion has occurred at the Fukushima nuclear plant. Sendai, one of the hardest hit areas with some reports of the tsunami reaching 8km inland, is also known for Sendai Hi-Land Raceway, a road course and one of the most famous drag strips in Japan. So while areas of the nation are on rolling blackouts due to the power shortage, here are some clips of old school Japanese cars with no dearth of power whatsoever. This is our little JNC tribute to the spirit of Sendai!
As always, keep the Japanese people in your thoughts and please consider a donation. Continue reading
Magnitude 8.9 Earthquake Strikes Japan
Our hearts, thoughts and prayers go out to all our Japanese friends today. A magnitude 8.9 earthquake occurred off the coast of Sendai a few hours ago, shaking buildings as far away as Tokyo. Even worse, the quake triggered a tsunami that has washed, by some accounts, 1.5 kilometers inland in coastal cities across northeast Japan, flooding homes and sweeping cars away like they were toys. Phone lines were downed/jammed for hours, and train and expressway operation have been suspended. Thankfully JNC‘s friends and occasional contributors are okay, but say it’s the worst they’ve ever experienced in their lifetimes. Sources are now saying it is the worst quake since the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923. That was the one which famously demonstrated a need for automobiles while Japan’s railways were downed by the disaster. We wish all the people of Japan Godspeed. UPDATE: DONATE TO THE RED CROSS TO HELP JAPAN HERE. Continue reading
Friday Video: Cedric 330 Wagon Full of Carnival Freaks
In what was probably one of the more bizarre episodes of Seibu Keisatsu, our favorite band of police heroes goes undercover at an amusement park. The goal is t catch some nefarious characters, one of which wears some sort of kaiju monster mask. Of course a car chase ensues, with the bad guys fleeing in a Ceddy 330 wagon decorated in Woody Woodpecker carnival gear and a swarm of 430 Cedrics in pursuit. Watch the video below the fold. Continue reading
Posted in nissan, Video Games
Tagged 280zx, 330, 430, car chase, cedric, datsun, fairlady z, gloria, japanese cop show, nissan, s130, seibu keisatsu, wagon
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Old Ad: Kenmeri Nissan Skyline for Techno Project TR-V
Was the Nissan Fairlady Z432 ad just a bit too stock for you? Maybe a vintage rim ad for the Techno TR-V is more your style. This kenmeri shows how things were done back in the day — shakotan stance, hippari stretched Sumitomo Dunlops, rabbit ear antennas and no less than two tones in your paint job. And check out the sizes. 14x10s in front and nearly square 14x13s in the rear!
VIP S120 Toyota Crown Royal Saloon
Mid-80s Toyotas are rather unappreciated, but subtle expression is the key to customizing an S120 Crown. And you thought the Cressida was boxy…
[Image: ezbbs.net]
World’s First Nissan Fairlady Z Newspaper Ad
Ready to go back in time? This is the first newspaper ad in history to fully reveal the Nissan Fairlady Z. It was published on October 20, 1969, four days before the 16th Tokyo Motor Show, where the S30 was shown to the public for the first time. The catch copy of the ad is “Your Dream Comes True,” and seeing as how it prominently features the Z432 and its S20 engine from the Skyline GT-R, we’d say that’s pretty spot-on. The headline for the day says the Yomiuri Giants win again! See the second and third ads below the fold. Continue reading
Design Study: Nissan Silvia CSP311 and S13
Looking at images of the Silvia recently, I was surprised that I had never noticed how many styling cues the 1988 S13 takes from the first Silvia, the 1965 CSP311. Part of it probably has to do with the fact that Americans think Nissan 240SX when they hear S13, and the 240SX encompassed both coupe and fastback body styles, all with flip-up headlights. But in Japan, the Silvia’s only form is a coupe with fixed headlights. From there you can see the hood’s taper, roofline, and C-pillar treatment. Even the S13’s wheels look like an updated alloy of the CSP311’s wheel covers. Continue reading
Friday Video: C130 Laurel vs. Kenmeri Skyline
Today’s video appears to star Tachi Hiroshi, but the cars are too old for Abunai Deka and it lacks the trademark pursuit music of Seibu Keisatsu. We don’t know from whence this car chase came, all we know is that it kicks major ketsu.
A C130 Nissan Laurel goes head to head with a C110 kenmeri Skyline down narrow Japanese streets like some unholy Asian combination of Ronin and The Italian Job. And the background cars are all Nihon steel! Best part is, unlike many stunts from the era, the chase seems to unfold at real time speed. Watch the video below the fold. Continue reading
Posted in nissan, Video Games
Tagged c110, c130, car chase, datsun, gc110, japanese cop show, kenmeri, laurel, nissan, skyline
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Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, 1992-2013
Like the giant panda, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution may be an evolutionary dead end. Assuming Mitsubishi global product director Gayu Eusegi wasn’t suffering from altitude sickness at the Geneva Motor Show when talking to Autocar, the Lancer Evo X will be the last of its kind. Continue reading
Toyota FT-86 Concept II Unveiled at Geneva
While America slept the Toyota FT-86 Concept II was revealed at the Geneva Motor Show. According to Toyota, this is the best indication yet of what the production version of the RWD reborn AE86/Toyobaru/FT-86 will look like, and during the press conference they didn’t hesitate to refer copiously to Toyota’s sports car heritage, starting with the Sports 800.
Repeated mentions of the AE86 Corolla Levin were peppered throughout the speech. To really bring it home, Toyota quoted a personal story from current president and avid racing enthusiast Akio Toyoda’s past: Continue reading
John Morton’s BRE Datsun 510 to Appear in Hot Wheels Vintage Racing Line
Hot Wheels has a new lineup called Vintage Racing for 2011, which will feature highly detailed race machines from the 60s and 70s with authentic livery. Nostalgic car fans will be pleased to know that the BRE Datsun 510 driven by John Morton will be offered, the only import amongst a field of Camaro Z/28s and Boss Mustangs. The word is that they will be on the pegs mid-to-late summer. The wave of nostalgic Japanese minicars continues!
Posted in minicars, nissan
Tagged 510, bluebird, bre, datsun, diecast, hot wheels, john morton, minicars, peter brock
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Today on YJA: Mitsubishi Galant GTO MR Gasket Set for $1000
Rebuilding the 4G32 on your Mitsubishi Galant GTO MR? This is the gasket and seal set you’ll need. Slight issue: the going price is ¥91,000, or about $1114. Be very, very careful not to tear it.
Friday Video: Hwang Jang Lee Drives a Datsun 280ZX
What would a 1970s Korean taekwondo master, capable of beating up a whole gang of poorly synchronized bad guys using only his two feet and a groovy chicka-bow-wow soundtrack, drive? A Datsun 280ZX, of course. Watch the video on YouTube and learn to kick like Hwang Jang Lee.
Posted in nissan, Video Games
Tagged 280zx, datsun, fairlady z, hwang jang lee, nissan, s130
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Kidney, Anyone? 1967½ Datsun 2000 Fairlady Roadster
If you’re parting with a major organ, it’d better be an ultra rare machine or something that’s been immaculately restored to exacting standards. Today’s kidney bait is the latter. The 1967½ Datsun 2000 Sports is a the most desirable of the Fairlady Roadsters as it sprang from the brief span in which the older, low-windshield design had a momentary overlap with the introduction of the larger, 2.0-liter U20 motor. Add to that a full frame-off restoration and loads of hard-to-find original parts, and you have a SRL311 that fails to meet reserve despite bids approaching $37,000. Continue reading
Posted in for sale, nissan
Tagged american racing, datsun, fairlady, kidney anyone, libre, nissan, roadster, toshiba
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NOSTALGIC WEAR: Enkei 92 T-Shirts
We love representing old school wheels but the problem is you eventually have to park your car. Now you can show off your love for vintage meshies anywhere except your shower with T-shirts celebrating the re-issue of the Enkei 92 in the Enkei Classic Series. They come in S through XXL sizes in black with gray or tan printing for $22 shipped and you can order them here.
Rare Form: 1974 Toyota Publica Van Deluxe KP36V
Scouring YJA often brings one across truly rare examples of Japanese steel. Case in point: a 1974 Toyota Publica Van Deluxe, chassis code KP36V. When you see “KP” you think Starlet, but die-hard Toyotaku know that the Starlet was a spinoff of the Publica line, as Supra is to Celica. This one’s been modified a little — the original 1000cc 2K has been swapped out with a 1.3-liter 4K and it has a 5-speed from a KP61 — but the body is original in all its two-door wagon glory. Not something you see every day. Continue reading
Kidney, Anyone? 38,000-Mile Datsun 720 King Cab Pickup
It’s not often that you see an old Datsun pickup that isn’t trundling down the slow lane, sagging under the weight of a landscaping crew’s livelihood. These trucks were workhorses, and affordable ones at that, so it’s pretty darn amazing to see an original 1982 Datsun 720 King Cab 4WD pickup with only 38,000 miles on the clock.
We’re sad that it’s not a snazzier retro color instead of silver, but this thing is still cherry. The 620 was one of the best looking pickups ever made but the 720 charged into the next decade with contemporary styling — ie, boxy, boxy boxy! “Well yeah,” your saying, “It’s a pickup,” but we’ll chalk it up to the 80s. Continue reading
ANNOUNCEMENT: Toyotafest 2011
The folks at TORC have announced the date for the 16th annual All-Toyotafest! It’s the biggest Toyota family reunion of the year and it will take place Saturday, May 14, 2011 at the Queen Mary in Long Beach, California. Registration will open March 1.
Friday Video: Pentax Commercial Starring Honda N360 and Japan’s 1960s GT Legends
Check out this commercial for Pentax Cameras, which has many things making it awesome. Let’s see:
- chick is cute
- drives a mod looking rally-modified Honda N360
- Toyota 2000GT
- Mazda Cosmo Sports
- Nissan Fairlady Z
- Toyota S40 Crown police car
- vintage footage of 1960s Japan
…WIN all around. Watch the advert on youtube.
Screenshots after the jump. Continue reading
