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
Kidney, Anyone? Datsun 610 Bluebird Van
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
Posted in events, mazda
Tagged 13b, 510, advan, baby grand, bluebird, capella, car & driver, datsun, fb, fc, fc3s, hayashi, imsa, luce, mazda, nissan, pat bedard, r100, racing beat, repu, rotary, rx-2, rx-3, rx-4, rx-7, sa22, savanna, sevenstock, sevenstock 13, sevenstock 2010, ssr, wagon, wankel
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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
Posted in events, mazda
Tagged 510, 521, ae86, b2000, bluebird, corolla, cosmo 110s, cosmo sports, datsun, familia, fc, fc3s, luce, masato miura, mazda, mazdaspeed, nissan, pickup, r100, repu, rotary, rx-2, rx-3, rx-4, rx-7, rx-8, savanna, sevenstock, sevenstock 13, sevenstock 2010, speedsource, swap, toyota, wankel
11 Comments
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
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
Posted in datsun, events, honda, mazda, nissan, toyota
Tagged 13b, 2000gt, 240z, 280zx, 310, 510, 521, ae82, bluebird, celica, city, civic, corolla, cr-x, cressida, crown, cvcc, datsun, datsun 310, fairlady z, fairladyr, fx-16, gsl-se, gt-s, hilux, honda, levin, luce, mazda, MkII, MkIII, monster tajima, mugen, mx73, n10, nissan, panasport, pickup, PL312, pro, pulsar, r360, ra29, roadster, rs45, rx-2, rx-4, rx-7, s130, s30, s50, sb1, spl311, spl312, sprinter, sr20det, ssr, te27, te71, toyota, trueno, wagon, watanbe
14 Comments
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
Posted in datsun, honda, mazda, mitsubishi, nissan, subaru, toyota
Tagged 240z, 300zx, 320, 410, 411, 510, 620, 720, accord, bluebird, civic, colt, corolla, cvcc, datsun, dodge, fairlady, fairlady z, galant, honda, ke15, L320, lancer, levin, luce, mitsubishi, n600, nissan, roadster, rx-4, s30, sambar, sb1, sienna, spl311, sprinter, sr20dett, stout, subaru, te27, trueno, tundra, van, wagon, z31, z600
7 Comments
Event Horizon for the Weekend of September 17, 2010
- Saturday, September 18 / Irvine, CA: Sevenstock XIII
- Sunday, September 19 / Bridgeport, CT: OSTC Classic Import Auto Show
- Sunday, September 19 / San Diego, CA: IMG Old School Meet
- Sunday, September 19 / Fontana, CA: SW Datsun Pickups BBQ
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
Posted in datsun, events, honda, mazda, mitsubishi, nissan, suzuki, toyota
Tagged 200sx, 240z, c10, carina, celica, century, colt, corolla, corona, cressida, crown, datsun, dodge, fairlady, fairlady z, Hakosuka, honda, japanese classic car show, japanese classic car show 2010, jccs, jccs 2010, jimny, kgc10, kpgc10, lancer, levin, lj20, mark II, mazda, mitsubishi, ms65, mx32, nissan, patrol, ra21, repu, roadster, rt135, rx-7, s12, s800, sa22, sa22c, silvia, skyline, spl311, sports 800, sprinter, suzuki, ta12, ta22, te27, toyota, trueno, z600
10 Comments
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
Posted in datsun, events, honda, nissan, toyota, wheels
Tagged 240z, 410, 411, 510, 610, a3a, advan, bluebird, c10, celica, civic, corona, datsun, enkei, fairlady z, fj20, Hakosuka, honda, j-speed, japanese classic car show, japanese classic car show 2010, jccs, jccs 2010, kgc10, kpgc10, mark II, mx23, nissan, s30, sakura, sakuras, skyline, sports 800, te37v, toyota, volk, wagon, yayoi
15 Comments
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
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.
Posted in events
Tagged 310, 610, b210, datsun, japanese classic car show, japanese classic car show 2010, jccs, jccs 2010, nissan
15 Comments
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
Posted in toyota, Video Games
Tagged abunai deka, carina, hiroshi tachi, japanese cop show, seibu keisatsu, toyota, yokohama
3 Comments
Event Horizon for the Weekend of September 10, 2010
If you know of or would like to tell us about an event, send us a tip at the feedback address at the bottom of this page or leave a comment below.
This week:
- Friday, September 10 – September 12 / Northamptonshire, UK: Japanese Auto Extravaganza
- Saturday, September 11 / Anaheim, CA: S-Chassis Car Show
- Sunday, September 12 / Long Beach, CA: 6th Annual Japanese Classic Car Show
Tomica Returns to US Market, Featured at JCCS
JNC readers of a certain age will remember pegs at Toys R Us filled with Tomy Pocket Cars, highly detailed diecast models blister packed against a denim background. They were the US brand name for Tomica, Japan’s most popular line of toy cars.
Arriving in 1974, Tomy initially figured kids probably wouldn’t really care what kind of cars they were playing with so they simply offered what was available in Japan —Japanese cars. Turns out, kids cared a lot about which makes and models they were smashing up on the kitchen floor and sales lagged behind Hot Wheels and Matchbox. Keep in mind, this was years before the average American had heard the words Nissan, Mitsubishi or Subaru. Tomy eventually added Corvettes and Lamborghinis to the mix, but only lasted until 1987 in the US market.
Now, 23 years later, they are making a comeback! The Tomy USA website has only two items for now, but the company promises licensed cars from Toyota, Nissan, Mazda, Subaru and more. And if you are going to the Japanese Classic Car Show this Sunday, they will offer an exclusive look at their upcoming products.
For a trip down memory lane, visit Tomy Pocket Cars.
The Slow Car Movement
You’ve heard of the slow food movement. How about the slow car movement? This article in GQ by Jamie Lincoln Kitman describes perfectly why old school is most cool. New cars are so fast and packed with electronic gizmos that driver skill is seldom required or utilized on public roads. With nostalgics, you can push the car (and yourself) to the limit every time you get behind the wheel.
From the tuner crowd to the massing army of drifters who get their kicks sliding through corners in ’80s-era Nissans and Toyotas, from the motorists who get their jollies commuting in Honda Fits, low-end Subarus, and diesel-powered VWs to the old-car lovers like me, whose idea of bliss is a well-oiled 1960s sports machine—our nation’s relentless march to horsepower oblivion has finally got some real competition. The times demand we burn less fuel, yes. But we slow-car types are also demanding that we have more fun.
The full article is an excellent read and perhaps something you can show your spouse when she (or he) asks what that old heap is doing there.
Kidney, Anyone? TRD SCCA GT5 Toyota Starlet 1 of 8
According to the seller, In 1983 Toyota Racing Development in Torrance, California built eight Toyota Starlets to compete in the SCCA GT5 National Championship races. This one is apparently the only one with a plaque bearing the names of the TRD team that built it, including Motoi Kodaira, who would go on to become General Manager of Toyota Technocraft in Japan. It was campaigned in 1983-84 by TRD driver Tom Yoshida and is the “last remaining” one of the eight. It’s a full-on race car sporting a laundry list of racing mods, Weds Ultralights, and a $13,500 asking price. Interested? Contact Bring A Trailer.
Posted in motorsports, toyota
Tagged gt5, kp61, motoi kodaira, scca, starlet, technocraft, tom yoshida, toyota, trd, weds
3 Comments
Friday Video: Mazda Cosmo Sport in Neon Genesis Evangelion 2.0
While we’re on the topic of Mazda Cosmo Sports, we have no idea what Neon Genesis Evangelion 2.0 is about, but there is a decidedly old school Cosmo in an animated cityscape leading a bunch of gigantic, futuristic military vehicles. Video below the fold. Continue reading
Event Horizon for the Weekend of September 3, 2010
If you know of or would like to tell us about an event, send us a tip at the feedback address at the bottom of this page or leave a comment below.
This week:
- Friday, September 3 / Torrance, CA: SoCal Japanese Classic Car Meet
- Saturday, September 4 / Cumming, GA: OSJC Meet
- Saturday, September 4-6 / Middletown: 19th Annual S-Car Gathering
Future events:
- Saturday, September 11 / Anaheim, CA: S-Chassis Car Show
- Sunday, September 12 / Long Beach, CA: 6th Annual Japanese Classic Car Show
- Saturday, September 18 / Irvine, CA: Sevenstock XIII
- Sunday, September 19 / Fontana, CA: SW Datsun Pickups BBQ
- Saturday, November 6 / Winder, GA: OSJC Meet
- Saturday, November 13 / Riverside, CA: SoCalROC’s 3rd Annual Show-N-Shine Toy Drive
Mazda Cosmo Sport is a Chick/Dude Magnet
Oddly enough, one of Mazda‘s early successful export markets was Greece, where the three-wheeled Mazda T1500 was actually assembled locally. The above is a promotional photo for the Cosmo Sport from Mazda Greece, demonstrating clearly why nostalgics are cool.
Kidney, Anyone? Mitsubishi Canter Dekotora Tow Rig
Imagine rolling into JCCS with your nostalgic on the bed of this Mitsubishi Canter dekotora. It could be yours for ¥4,390,000 (or $52,000 American), shipping not included. More photos below the fold. Continue reading
