Friday Video: Toyota Corona vs Nissan Cedric


Finally, an inter-marque rivalry between the two titans of Japanese auto manufacturing! As with last week, we are unsure which movie this chase comes from, but who cares? We’ve got a daring escape by a bank robber in a jacked RT102 Toyota Corona taxi and cops in Nissan Cedrics pulling reverse 180s. Which industrial giant builds the better chase chariot? Video below the fold. Continue reading

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Event Horizon for the Weekend of October 1, 2010


This weekend:

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Where to Get Tomica Toys in the US

We reported that Tomica was returning to the US market and debuting at the JCCS. Here are the details on where to buy them. Continue reading

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Datsun 240Z Breaks Bonneville Record with 172.9 MPH Run


This salt-caked 1972 Datsun 240Z hit 172.9 miles per hour on September 17. In doing so, it broke the the F/GT class (GT = Grand Touring gas-only class, F = the engine size, which has been upgraded to 3.0L) record previously held by a Ferrari that managed 168.7. Congratulations are in order for Douglas “Burton” Brown and the crew from Victory Motorsports in Fremont, Wisconsin. And it wasn’t even a G-nose!

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Yonmeri


Sometimes four doors are better than two. Check out this GC110 and more in JNC reader dalla’s mega gallery of the Historix Japan event at Suzuka.

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Kidney, Anyone? 12,000-Mile 1983 Datsun 280ZX Turbo


As we have shown, the S130 chassis has potential, but if you were lucky enough to win this 1983 Datsun 280ZX for $17,200 you won’t flaring it like some bosozoku sled. That’s because its Tron-like 80s dashboard reads only 12,245 on the odometer! Resplendent in decidedly sleek Jade Gray paint job, its silver and black leather interior that resembles a finely crafted vintage hi-fi system.

True, it’s hobbled by a slushbox, but it makes up for that with original paperwork, tool kit, and T-top bags. The 280ZX was the car to have in the 80s — Knight Rider was even going to star one — and with that kind of rep, we would have listed it at one of the Arizona auctions rather than eBay. More photos below the fold. Continue reading

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Friday Video: Rare Toyota Destruction!


We’re not sure what this movie is, but it features terrible tons of totalled Toyotas. Corona Mark IIs and Crowns with bad/no brakes get slaughtered in some of the most spectacular patrol car pileups since The Blues Brothers. It’s enough to make a grown Toyotaku cry. Celicas, X30 Mark II/Cressida and Mitsubishi Colt Galants also make cameos as decoys. Video below the fold. Continue reading

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Event Horizon for the Weekend of September 24, 2010


This weekend:

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Kidney, Anyone? Datsun 610 Bluebird Van


After seeing all the sexy Datsun 610s at this year’s JCCS, Matt went shopping on YJA and found this 1975 Nissan Bluebird 610 Van. These babies are rare, even in Japan, and the odo indicates it’s hauled just 62,000km (or 38,525 miles). Continue reading

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EVENTS: SevenStock 13, Part 02


Welcome to the second and final part of our SevenStock coverage. Even though the yearly powwow in Irvine is the largest collection of early RX cars on the continent, the number of SA22/FB RX-7s dwarfs all the R100s and RX 2 through 5 combined. Continue reading

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EVENTS: SevenStock 13, Part 01


It’s late September so that means Mazdafarians everywhere are making a pilgrimage to Irvine, California, home of Mazda North America and SevenStock! Compared to Toyotas and Datsuns, old rotaries are rarer than UFO sightings (this ain’t Oz), but somehow new ones keep showing up. Continue reading

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Maisto Fifty-5s Datsuns and Toyotas Now On Sale

Back in January John discovered that Maisto was coming out with a new lineup of diecast cars honoring some of our favorite old school rides. Now they’re out in independent retail and online stores. Most reports have indicated they are available in Mitsuwa and other Japanese goods stores. They aren’t the easiest to find, but they are a very cool addition to the ol’JNC office.

Our favorite is this BRE-themed Datsun 620, but the lineup includes a Datsun 510, Nissan 370Z, Toyota Pickup, Scion xB, and Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X. As the name implies, they are 1:55 in scale and we think it’s pretty darned nifty that they chose to memorialize these classics! See the full lineup below the fold. Continue reading

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EVENTS: Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 05

We have so much coverage from JCCS that we’ve skipped the Friday Video this week and spilling the final installment into the weekend. So like a fleet of ported rotaries roaring down the 710, let’s tear right in! Continue reading

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EVENTS: Japanese Classic Car Show 2010, Part 04


We know Honda heads have often felt left out of the nostalgic car movement, but this year’s JCCS had more Hondas than ever. Luckily, the N600s and Z600s didn’t take up much space! It wasn’t just the kei-sized creations of Soichiro Honda that made a splash, though. Continue reading

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Event Horizon for the Weekend of September 17, 2010


This weekend:

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EVENTS: Japanese Classic Car Show 2010, Part 03


Mazda is one of two major automakers that sponsors JCCS, and there’s always a nice display of rotaries thanks to the legions of SoCal Mazdafarians. Here is a study in contrasts, the sleek and sexy SA22C RX-7 and its pistonless partner, the utilitarian REPU. By the way, a bone-stock Seven is a beautiful thing. Continue reading

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EVENTS: Japanese Classic Car Show 2010, Part 02


This year’s JCCS was so big, so popular, so insane, attendees had to wait at least one hour just to get through the gates. Some gave up and went home (their loss). Word has it that the line stretched all the way to the Queen Mary, the big boat you always see in the background. It was simply huge, and proof that kyuusha kulture is growing! Continue reading

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EVENTS: Japanese Classic Car Show 2010, Part 01


This is the first installment of many from JCCS 2010. Toyota USA is a major sponsor and they pulled no  punches with several of the race cars in their collection. More on this later! Continue reading

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Japanese Classic Car Show 2010 Preview


We’ve just returned from an exhausting but incredible day at JCCS 2010. Here’s a taste for now, but we’ll have more coverage as we sort through the photos and the week goes on.

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Friday Video: Toyota Carina Wagon vs Suzuki Crotchrocket


Finally, a video that can count a Toyota wagon among its participants! In this episode of Abunai Deka, Hiroshi Tachi (who played Tatsu in Seibu Keisatsu), pursues a Toyota Carina wagon through the streets of old Yokohama on a Suzuki bike of some sort. Watch the video below the fold. Continue reading

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