Viva Libre! VTO Performance Retro 4

Posted on June 22, 2010 by Ben Hsu


There’s a new retro wheel on the horizon. The VTO Performance Retro 4 replicates the look of the original American Racing Libre made famous by the BRE Datsuns. Right now the only two sizes available are 13×5.5 and 14×5.5, but they say more are coming. You can order them at FutoFab. UPDATE: FutoFab says, “When the 13×7, 15×7 and/or 16×7 sizes are available we will be looking seriously into having stock on hand.” So it looks like deep dish Libres are coming!

This comes on the heels of the Volk TE37 Vintage, and we have it on good authority that there are more old school barrels being resurrected, though we are sworn to secrecy at the moment. Old school lives!

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Green with Envy: Midori Melon the Rarest Datsun 280ZX?

Posted on June 20, 2010 by Ben Hsu

Forget the Black Gold, Black & Red, or even the Activision Pace Car, this must be the rarest of all the 280ZXs. We’ve been talking about the S130 chassis a lot lately, but if you can indulge us here’s one more mention. In 1983, Midori Melon Liqueur sponsored a contest in which the grand prize was a Midori Green Datsun 280ZX. The tie-in makes sense because although the melon liqueur hails from Mexico, it’s actually a product of Suntory, the Japanese brewery (“midori” is the Japanese word for “green”). However, this isn’t the only rare, green S130.  Continue reading →

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Friday Video: Hamanako to Haneda Airport with the Nippon Datsun Club of 1961

Posted on June 18, 2010 by Ben Hsu

Rather than showing you clips of Nissans cold catapulting over construction sites and Sgt. Daimon blasting fools in the face this week, here’s some footage of real life Nissans and Datsuns just doing what they were built to do.

Recorded on the ancient technology of 8mm film, this video shows the NDC (Nippon Datsun Club) of 1961 driving from Hamanako to Haneda Airport. This 180-mile (290km) trip is more difficult than it sounds. In 1961, Japan had no expressways to speak of, so the journey was taken along Japan National Route 1, which runs along the southern coast of Honshu before snaking through the Hakone Mountains, the birthplace of drifting. Continue reading →

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The New and Improved(?) Elderly Driver's Mark

Posted on June 17, 2010 by Ben Hsu

As we reported last October, the Japanese government is changing the time-honored Koreisha Mark. Problem was, senior citizens deemed the current design — a teardrop shaped leaf in fall colors (center) — rather insulting and complained to the National Police Agency, who oversees driving symbols.

Apparently, the elderly did not like to be reminded of their impending mortality. However, even when the autumn leaf is replaced, the Wakaba Mark for beginning drivers will still remain a green and yellow spring leaf.

The four Koreisha Mark finalists are, starting from the top left:

  • A four-leaf clover with a stylized “S” for senior
  • Circles of various colors, symbolizing the many years lived by our elders
  • A bird, heart, and hand combined into one symbol
  • Palms symbolizing a harvest of rice

What does this mean for the JNC logo? Nothing, except that it’ll be even cooler to say that the leaf was the old school (well, 1997 old) elderly driver’s mark. Which design do you like the best?

[Asahi Shimbun] Hat tip to Satoshi,

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Shakotan Sedans: Toyota MX32 Cressida and MS65 Crown

Posted on June 16, 2010 by Ben Hsu


JNCer toji004 posted this photo of his butame Cressida and theShaz’s kujira Crown with nothing but the caption “sexy pic.” Not only is it sexy, but sinister too. If these shakotan sleds don’t make all the neighborhood kids run and hide, we don’t know what will.

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Event Horizon for the Weekend of Jun 18, 2010

Posted on June 15, 2010 by Dan Hsu

If you know of or would like to publicize an event, send us a tip at the feedback address at the bottom of this page.

This week:

Continue reading →

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Mazda Familia 1200 Van, Ozzie Style

Posted on June 15, 2010 by Ben Hsu


The Australians’ love for old Mazdas is exceeded only by their love for Venetian blinds and windscreen visors. Perhaps in the Outback it’s the only protection one has from becoming a steam-cooked dingo snack. Continue reading →

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Datsun Dealership from the 1970s

Posted on June 14, 2010 by Ben Hsu


From the age of film cameras comes these photos of Chilliwack Datsun in British Columbia.  Continue reading →

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Why Daimon Is a Total Badass

Posted on June 11, 2010 by Ben Hsu


A bad guy guns down his partners in crime in cold blood. There’s nothing standing between him and freedom except Sgt. Daimon, his gullwinged S130 Z, and his shotgun. Video below the fold, with bonus senseless Fairlady Z destruction! Continue reading →

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Crimson S130 Tide

Posted on June 10, 2010 by Ben Hsu

Let’s pause for a moment to appreciate the S130 Z. We know the typical litany: it’s heavier, not as good-looking, and rides softer than the S30 Z, but is the second-generation Fairlady Z getting a bum rap? Continue reading →

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Event Horizon for the Weekend of Jun 11, 2010

Posted on June 9, 2010 by Dan Hsu

If you know of or would like to publicize an event, send us a tip at the feedback address at the bottom of this page.

This week:

Continue reading →

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Wednesday Wall(s): More Classic Hondas

Posted on June 9, 2010 by Ben Hsu

A gallery of historic Hondas for your desk-topping pleasure.

[HondaFan]

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Morimoto Celica

Posted on June 8, 2010 by Ben Hsu


We see a lot of cars, but the Morimoto Celica still gives us funny feelings every time we look at it.  Continue reading →

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These Boots Are Made for Motoring: Nancy Sinatra's Datsun 1600 Roadster

Posted on June 7, 2010 by Ben Hsu


Did you know Nancy Sinatra drove a Datsun? A 1966 1600 Sports roadster, to be exact. It was a gift from her guitarist Lee Hazlewood when their song “These Boots Are Made for Walkin'” hit #1 on the pop charts in 1966.   Continue reading →

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Friday Video: Guerilla Group 8 Mitsubishi Sigma Clown Car

Posted on June 4, 2010 by Ben Hsu


As we’ve mentioned before, Guerilla Group 8 was Mitsubishi‘s attempt at throwing vehicle sponsorship behind an action cop show to spice up their image (a la Nissan and Seibu Keistasu, Abunai Deka, and many others).

Since Mitsubishi was footing the bill, we learn that: a). a convertible Galant Sigma makes a great clown car; b.) the staring Pajero, Debonair V 3000 Royal AMG, and gullwing Starion must remain unscathed but it is perfectly okay to blow an E70 Toyota Corolla to high heaven; and c.) Daimon is even more awesome than usual when he brings down bad guys at point-blank range because d.) we still hate clowns, including Japanese ones. Video below the fold. Continue reading →

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Skylines at the Gates

Posted on June 3, 2010 by Ben Hsu


Outside of Japan, any one of these nostalgic Nissans would make heads explode. There, it’s par for the course. Just a little inspiration for Skorj.

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Nostalgic Car Shopping in Yokohama

Posted on June 2, 2010 by Skorj

The first real hot day of summer. I’m looking at a few options in buying a nostalgic car, so we took a quick drive on the Shuto to a reasonably well stocked shop near Yokohama. While I’m interested in one of their hakosuka Skylines, I was also taken by a few of the other options available. All relatively sound, in nice honest condition. Continue reading →

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EVENTS: 2010 Mooneyes Street Car Nationals, Part II

Posted on June 1, 2010 by Ben Hsu


Welcome to Part Two of our coverage of the Mooneyes Street Car Nationals. As we mentioned in Part One, this show often blends American and Japanese customization styles, as evidenced by this army-themed van.

If you think a US military motif, complete with kill markings indicating bombs dropped, is a bit incendiary for a Japanese car, count the number of Rising Sun flags at your next Datsun meet. Vans are the biggest thing in Japan right now, and there’s no reason why old schoolers should be left out. Continue reading →

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Friday Video: Abunai Deka's F31 Nissan Leopard vs. Boat

Posted on May 28, 2010 by Ben Hsu


Put on your shades and slick back your hair because it’s the 80s, and the dangerous cops of Abunai Deka simply will not tolerate your lousy escape attempt to escape by boat. Perhaps Infiniti would have sold more M30s if Crockett and Tubbs drove an F31 Leopard instead. Full video below the fold. Continue reading →

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EVENTS: 2010 Mooneyes Street Car Nationals, Part I

Posted on May 27, 2010 by Ben Hsu


You can tell by its name that the Mooneyes Street Car Nationals is an event heavily influenced by American hot rod culture. You won’t find much, if any, of the typical stuff we crave from JDM shows. Sorry, no negative offset 14×9 barrels, ground-scraping shakotan sleds, or sky-high takeyari pipes here.

Instead, as automotive trends ping-pong across the Pacific, mods range from the clean and subtle — as in the movement of mirrors from fender to door on the Crowns above — to the, shall we say, darker side of USDM car culture. Here are some photos from our intrepid operative Satoshi. Continue reading →

Posted in datsun, honda, mazda, nissan, toyota | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments