The Honda CR-Z went on sale in Japan last week. It may not be the long-awaited reincarnation of the CR-X, but the accompanying commercial gives us glimpses of past greats like the Super Cub, T360, S600s both roadster and coupe, and Civic. There’s even a shot of the original bullet train, the 0 Series Shinkansen. The Impossible Dream it’s not, but the sequel is rarely as good as the original.
Honda CR-Z Ad Glimpses Soichiro's Genius
Shinkansen 500-series takes a final bow
The dramatic-looking Shinkansen 500-series was the very first train in the world to break 300km/h on its regular route (between Tokyo and Osaka), and after 13yrs blasting flat-out across the Japanese countryside, it was retired from ultra-high speed service on the weekend. As reported on the Muza-Chan blog, lots of fans gathered in Tokyo and Osaka to bid farewell to the mighty train. The Tokyo-Osaka run will continue to be serviced by the less elegant, duck-billed 700 series Shinkansen (which is equally fast).
The 500-series will remain in service, but on a slower line which won’t require it to stretch its 320km/h legs. Have a rest, big fella.
Posted in Japan Stuff
9 Comments
Toyotafest 2010 Registration Open
Mark your calendars, Toyotaku — Toyotafest 2010 is open for registration. Come gather at the Queen Mary in Long Beach, California for the biggest Toyota show in the US! Meet your fellow Toyota enthusiasts! You will not see a bigger collection of Toyota’s history anywhere else in this hemisphere. It all starts on Saturday, May 8 at 9am!
For a taste of Toyotafests past, here’s coverage of the 2009, 2008, 2007 shows
Posted in events, toyota
Tagged celica, corolla, cressida, crown, land cruiser, toyota, toyotafest, toyotafest 2010
3 Comments
Is Your JNC Sticker Real?
Look what we spotted on our Facebook page – someone tagged JNC in a pic of a car sporting a fake series 1 JNC sticker! The picture hails from Indonesia, so we don’t have any solid info on the counterfeit piece but the most popular theory here at JNC is that an underground Indonesian crime syndicate is making millions by printing and selling these phony stickers to unsuspecting nostalgic enthusiasts in dark alleys and abandoned garages.
If you think a friend or family member might have fallen victim to Fake Sticker Syndrome (FSS), send a picture of the suspected sticker to feedback(at)japanesenostalgiccar(dot)com and our team of experts will pour over every detail, and notify you of the diagnosis. If the worst case scenario turns out to be true, seek help immediately. With proper treatment (available here) even the most severe cases are curable.
Event Horizon: The Show Must Go On Edition
This week’s Event Horizon is a little late due to our site hiccup earlier in the week, but there are a number of different events available to lucky Aussies and Southern Californians. The picture above is from the 2008 All Japan Day show.
If you know of or would like to publicize an event, send us a tip at feedback(at)japanesenostalgiccar(dot)com
This week:
- Saturday, February 27 / San Diego, CA: San Diego Scramble
- Sunday, February 28 / Glenelg, Australia: All Japan Day
- Sunday, February 28 / Queensland, Australia: All Classic Japanese Day 2010
Friday Video: Pontiac's The Bug and the Beetle
The Bug and the Beetle was a 1972 propaganda film by GM meant to whip workers into shape by stoking fear of foreign competition. How can you take a day off work when Germans and Japanese are pouring their cars onto our docks by the boatload? Franz and Hiro aren’t resting. If we don’t sell these Pontiacs, we’ll have to fire you, which means you’ll have no money with which to buy Pontiacs!
Of course, within a decade Japanese automakers would begin construction on US factories staffed with American workers. Times sure have changed, particularly at 5:50 when the company man voiceover says, “We cannot hope for the government to save us.” But if this film has taught us one thing, it’s that those minty fresh 1200s and 240Zs look mighty tempting. Then again, so do those Venturas. And those awesome Sony alarm clocks with the flip tiles!
The thrilling conclusion after the jump. Continue reading
JNC Site Running on All Cylinders Again, Hopefully
So as you probably have noticed, the JNC site experienced some technical difficulties this week. Our webhosting service claims it was a software issue with the blog. We think it was a spam attack, as virtually nothing of importance changed between our normal operation and the sudden spike in server CPU usage that caused the freakout. In any case, we’re re-opening the blog and letting the hounds loose with fingers crossed.
But since we’re at the mercy of the Webhosting Gods, we’ve taken some of the precautions they’ve recommended. You’ll notice that you need to enter a captcha confirmation before commenting. This should be a one-time thing unless you switch computers or browsers. Let us know if this isn’t working for you, or if you see any other odd behavior/broken links/UFOs. Sorry for the inconvenience!
Posted in jnc
20 Comments
Volk TE37V on Impulse AE86 Corolla Levin
The Volk TE37V is an exciting development because it shows that companies like Rays Wheels are keen on making new products for the nostalgic scene. However, the JNC staff is still torn between whether these are proper wheels for old school rides. Continue reading
RIP David Brown, Datsun Cherry 100A Pilot
Sorry to start the week with a bit of sad news. The South Canterbury Car Club of Timaru, New Zealand lost a valued and beloved member last week. David “Brownie” Brown was the driver of a 1976 Datsun Cherry 100A, an ex-Trans-Am 1600 from imported from the US. In fact, Brown was driving his “pride and joy” in a vintage race at the Timaru International Motor Raceway when he left the track and struck a tire wall, causing his death. Club members and family remembered him as a generous man eager to help fellow enthusiasts with their cars and “an unofficial ambassador for Datsun, choosing that brand ahead of all others.” His family plans to restored the damaged Cherry and donate it to a museum.
More photos of Mr. Brown’s car after the jump. Continue reading
Haikyo: Exploring JDM Ruins
Moody pictures of abandoned towns and factories make for interesting eye candy. Rarely do you find any content that’s in Japan, but here’s some from Michael John Grist. His latest photographic explorations are of abandoned Japanese mining towns. Eerie. His blog takes up the story: “Grist also explores and photographs the ruins of Japan, known as ‘haikyo’, including abandoned theme parks, military installations, and ghost towns. Over a period of 6 years he has visited over 60 ruins locations throughout Japan”. You can find more of his cool stuff here.
Posted in Japan Stuff
11 Comments
Friday Video: Police vs. Armored War Wagon
You know the drill. Bad guys with a militia’s worth of weapons, explosives lobbed from a truck, hapless black and whites led to the slaughter. It could only be another episode of Seibu Keisatsu. This time, a small twist. Instead of the customary Nissan Cedrics it’s mostly yonmeri Skylines that make up the patrol car fodder, and Detective Tatsu rather than Sergeant Daimon saves the day.
Hat tip to cesariojpn.
Posted in datsun, nissan, Video Games
Tagged 280zx, c110, cedric, datsun, fairlady z, japanese car chase, japanese cop show, kenmeri, nissan, r30, s130, seibu keisatsu, skyline, yonmeri
2 Comments
ABC Hobby's R/C Nostalgics
We know many JNC readers are already aware of ABC Hobby‘s awesome Genetic R/C lineup. But for those that aren’t, these are extremely high quality radio control car chassis from Japan, and the best part is they have a wide selection of nostalgic car bodies! There are a few examples after the jump, but they also have old school faves like the AE86, hakosuka and kenmeri Skyline, FC RX-7, along with some new school ones you’d never think of like the Toyota Estima! Check out the ABC Hobby website for details. Continue reading
Posted in datsun, honda, mazda, minicars, nissan, R/C, toyota
Tagged 240z, 510, abc hobby, ae86, b110, bluebird, c10, c110, cedric, cedric 430, celica, corolla, cr-x, datsun, datsun 1200, dr30, fairlady z, genetic, Hakosuka, honda, kenmeri, levin, mazda, nissan, r30, rx-3, s30, s30 z, savanna, skyline, sprinter, sunny, te27, toyota, trueno
5 Comments
Wednesday Wall: JDM Old School Wheels II
The last time JNC reader Slappy put together a wallpaper with the coolest vintage JDM barrels it became a viral sensation on the intarwebs. Now he’s done it again with Rare Old School JDM Wheels Part Two. Click on the image above to get the wallpaper.
Here’s a link to Slappy’s blog.
Posted in Wednesday Wall, wheels
Tagged advan, enkei, hayashi, jdm wheels, sakura, speed star racing, ssr, techno, yayoi
6 Comments
Police Pursuit Mitsubishi Cordia Turbo
If Lord Humungus had been motoring through New South Wales in the mid 1980s, he would have encountered the Australian Federal Police in one of these babies — a Mitsubishi Cordia Turbo! We already know it makes great sci-fi artwork, but these front-wheel-drive hot hatches were apparently mean enough for the Main Force Patrol too! Continue reading
Posted in mitsubishi
Tagged australia, cordia, highway patrol, mitsubishi, nsw police, police car, police pursuit
13 Comments
JNC Sticker Version 3 Now Available
Here it is, the long awaited next evolution of the iconic JNC sticker. Show your support for the fast-growing old school movement with these striking decals. Perfect for your ride, toolbox, garage, luggage, skateboard or anywhere else! It’s unmistakable proof that you know your roots.
Dimensions: 3 inches x 3 inches. Sticker will last 5 years outdoors.
Order yours HERE!
Friday Video: Nissan Cedrics vs Truck O' Weapons
Another week, another Seibu Keisatsu clip. This time the squad takes down a truckload of illegal arms at the expense of a whole lot of 130, 230 and 330 Nissan Cedrics. This appears to take place early in the series, before Sgt Daimon gets his gullwing S130 or R30 Skylines. But perps be warned: Z or not, he wil intercept you at the roadblock and shoot you in the face.
Hat tip to cesariojpn.
Posted in datsun, nissan, Video Games
Tagged car chase, cedric, cedric 130, cedric 230, cedric 330, datsun, japanese car chase, japanese cop show, nissan, seibu keisatsu
5 Comments
Wagon Master: Nissan Skyline VBC110
Nissan 370Z Meets Datsun 240Z
Oh look, Nissan just released some press photos of a 40th Anniversary 370Z having a father-son moment with a Datsun 240Z. Took them long enough.
Continue reading
Event Horizon for the Weekend of Feb 12, 2010
It’s not often that we get rained on here in LA so you know we were surprised when last week’s South Bay Monthly Meet was rained out. Fortunately, this being SoCal, the rain rarely sticks around (the last couple weeks were the exception) so event organizers have decided to try again this Friday. Same bat-time, same bat-channel.
If you know of or would like to publicize an event, send us a tip at feedback(at)japanesenostalgiccar(dot)com
This week:
- Friday, Friday February 12 / Torrance, California: South Bay Monthly Meet
- Sunday, February 14 / Sydney, Australia: Sigma-Galant Cruise: Sydney to Wollongong
- Sunday, February 14 / Melbourne, Australia: Picnic at Hanging Rock
The Art of Mazda RX-3 Covers and Catalogs
The Mazda RX-3 Savanna is a good looking machine by any measure. But the alluring depictions of it that graced catalogs and magazine covers back in the day are nothing short of pure art. This Japanese website has collected a wealth of these “paper treasures.” Mazdafarians, be warned. Your productivity might be seriously hampered. Our favorites are below. Continue reading
