Tamiya‘s tradition of fine plastic model craftsmanship extended to R/C Cars in 1976, starting with a Porsche 934 RSR Turbo. This poster was created a few years ago to mark their 30th anniversary. We would commit great crimes to get our paws on a mint condition Group 5 Toyota Celica Liftback.
30 Years of Tamiya R/C Cars
Event Horizon for the Weekend of Jan 8, 2010
If you know of or would like to publicize an event, send us a tip at feedback(at)japanesenostalgiccar.com
This week:
- Friday, January 8 / Torrance, California: South Bay Monthly Meet
- Sunday, January 10 / Murrieta, California: DHM Swap Meet/Car Show
Mazda RX-3 Savanna, In Action!
Proof that a Mazda RX-3 does not need tremendous fender flares to look dead sexy.
From The Legend of Historic Car series.
Top Gear Lexus LFA Test
In typical Top Gear fashion, they give the Lexus LFA a resounding review and then forcibly use some ridiculous yardstick by which to measure its worth. Minds are not budged when the LFA yields the fastest wet lap on the leader board. In fact, for those who are keeping score, subtract Top Gear‘s regulation four seconds from the lap time for dampness and the LFA actually beats every Ferrari, Lamborghini and Porsche in the show’s history. Continue reading
Posted in toyota
Tagged gt-r, lexus, lfa, nissan, richard hammond, skyline, top gear, toyota
35 Comments
Ken Takakura Wants to Put YOU in a Mitsubishi
Most of us only know actor Ken Takakura from Ridley Scott’s 1989 film Black Rain. He played a cop, but in Japan Takakura is as synonymous with yakuza movies as DeNiro is with Italian mob flicks. Therefore, it’s only fitting that Takakura’s tough-guy persona was conscripted by the automotive arm of the Mitsubishi zaibatsu to move some Galant Sigmas. We can totally see him behind the wheel of Mitsu’s big sedan, on the way to shake down some pachinko parlor managers. Continue reading
RX-7 Redux? Rumors of Rotary Sports Return
If the Toyota FT-86 and Nissan Silvia are returning, why not make it triple? In a great end-of-year present, the grapevine has brought us news that the Mazda RX-7 will return in 2011 or 2012 (sources differ). Power will remain rotary-based, coming from the next-gen Renesis 16X shown in the Taiki concept at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show.
The best part is, Edmunds Inside Line reports that “sources close to Mazda now suggest that the company will take a simpler approach and create a car whose character evokes the original RX-7 (sold in the U.S. from 1979-1985).” Though the 16X is capable of 350 horsepower, the new RX-7 will have 200 to 250 and ring up at around $25,000. If these rumors prove true, a retro car Renaissance from Japan is the perfect news with which to end the year. Happy 2010!
JNC Reader Visits "Vintage" Vintage Car Dealership
Wednesday Wall: JNC Project Hako KGC10 Skyline
Tired of the last Wednesday Wall yet? We don’t know how you could possibly be, but this might be the only car capable of out-cooling the Lexus LFA and Toyota 2000GT: JNC Project Hako.
Kev’s ’71 Nissan Skyline KGC10 terrorizes the tunnels of Sydney, but could be right at home circling the Shuto according to this shot. This wall comes courtesy of Mark Pakula, as our usual lensmen Dan and John refuse to set foot in Australia until Bartertown is freed.
Also, a bonus rear view as well. Continue reading
Classic CM: Mitsubishi Galant Lambda & Sigma Eterna
We’re always looking for Mitsubishi-related posts for the all-important job of keeping both Matt and the triple diamond mafia happy. To be honest, there isn’t much to this late-70s commercial for the Galant Sigma Eterna and Galant Lambda Eterna. But the rousing disco score and parking garage hoonage somehow make us feel nostalgic for RWD Mitsus and cop shows, so we can dig it!
Bonus points for ID-ing the background cars at 0:07.
TOM'S Racing Motorsports History
Here’s a cool video showing the history of TOM’S Racing. The Toyota-authorized tuning house was founded in 1974 by Nobuhide Tachi and Kiyoshi Oiwa (TOM’S stands for Tachi & Oiwa Motor Sports). There’s some excellent footage of their Chaser and JGTC Supras, along with some vintage clips of their TE27 and TE71.
Merry Christmas from Japanese Nostalgic Car
May Santa fill your stockings full of old school parts and rare accessories. Or, if you’ve been especially good, perhaps a new ride in your driveway with a big red bow on it. Merry Christmas, everyone! From all of us at Japanese Nostalgic Car.
Image: myco10jp.
Five J-Tin Winter Storage Tips
With a snowstorm of biblical proportions terrorizing the east coast, we thought it might be a good time for some winter storage tips. JNC reader Dustin (aka ohcanada_00 of Giga Pudding fame) works for the car care experts at Griot’s Garage and has offered to share some of his company’s knowledge with y’all! Continue reading
Fuji Speedway Frozen in Time, 1977-80
The action that took place at Fuji Speedway in the 70s is the stuff of legend. Back then it was known as FISCO (Fuji International Speedway Co., Ltd.) and was host to epic battles in Group 5, Touring Sedan, and of course the Fuji Grand Champion series. Here’s a typical scene in which Nissan Sunnys, Toyota Celicas and Mazda RX-3 Savannas duked it out. Continue reading
Posted in datsun, mazda, motorsports, nissan, toyota
Tagged 240z, 240zg, apache, b110, b310, celica, corolla, corolla levin, datsun, datsun 1200, enkei, fairlady z, familia, fisco, fuji speedway, gr5, grand champion, group 5, gurachan, le mans, mazda, mazda 251, mazda 252, nissan, r100, racing forg, rx-3, rx-7, sprinter, sprinter trueno, sunny, sunny excellent, te27, te47, tomei, toyota
8 Comments
Friday Video: Winners and Sinners and a Massive J-Tin Pileup
Here’s another one of those wacky Hong Kong movies involving ridiculously implausible car chases and copious amounts of J-tin genocide. Although main players in this car chase from 1983’s Winners and Sinners are a Triumph Spitfire versus, uh, Jackie Chan on roller skates, there’s plenty of nostalgics whizzing by in the background and sacrificed for a colossal pileup. We’re talkin’ Celicas, Corollas, Nissan Violets, a Mazda 808 wagon, Mitsubishi Lancer, Galant, and even a Honda 145 Coupe! A Honda 145 Coupe! A Honda 145 Coupe! We just hope that the Starlet rolling on what appears to be Hayashi Command 800s at 1:41 wasn’t involved.
Hat tip to banpei.
Posted in datsun, honda, mazda, mitsubishi, nissan, toyota
Tagged celica, corolla, datsun, galant, honda 145, jackie chan, lancer, mazda, mazda 808, mitsubishi, nissan, starlet, toyota, violet, winners and sinners
19 Comments
Vintage JDM Brochures Galore
We hope you have some time to kill because Kyuusha Maniacs is a Japanese blog with tons of JDM brochure scans going back to the 1950s. We stole this pic of from a 1971 Toyota Crown Sedan and Hardtop brochure, but there are plenty more with great artwork. Continue reading
Posted in catalogs
Tagged datsun, honda, isuzu, jdm brochures, jdm catalogs, mazda, mitsubishi, nissan, subaru, suzuki, toyota
15 Comments
Oldschool JDM Tuner Challenge
Here’s a nice vid from Best Motoring, way back in the early 90s. It’s a tuner-car challenge around Maze circuit in Niigata prefecture. Surprisingly there are quite a few older cars in the mix, including a few FB/SA22 RX7s and a surprisingly fast S30 Zed, which SOUNDS great, and acquits itself very well until….well…you’ll see.
Part 2 of the vid is after the jump.
Continue reading
Posted in Video
7 Comments
TE27 Levin & Trueno: A Pair of Ripe Mangos
Here’s a good shot illustrating the differences between the TE27 Toyota Corolla Levin (back) and Sprinter Trueno. You never see the two parked side by side here in the US. The mechanically identical cars have only superficial visual differences, most of them in the nose. Continue reading
Classic CM: Honda Prelude's Tach Within a Speedometer
The Honda Prelude made its debut in 1978 to compete with sport coupes like the Toyota Celica and Nissan Silvia. Honda would use the flagship model as a test bed for experimental concepts and innovative firsts. Take, for example, the concentric tach-within-a-speedometer dash in this Japanese commercial. It’s visually dazzling, which is probably why it didn’t catch on to later generations (or any other model, for that matter). The ad also makes hay of the sunroof. as the SN Prelude was also the first Japanese car to offer one that opened electronically.
Rumored 2011 Nissan Silvia Styled After Foria Concept
Nissan is not about to sit idly by and let the Toyota FT-86 and Honda CR-Z steal all the retro car resurrection glory. Rumor has it that Nissan will bring back the Nissan Silvia come 2011 or 2012. There’s been buzz about such a comeback for several years now, but perhaps Toyota/Subaru, Honda, and even Hyundai are lighting a fire under Nissan’s ass.
Edmunds says the next Silvia will be a 2+2 built on the current Nissan 370Z and Infiniti G37 platform, weighing in at 2800 pounds and powered by a 1.8-liter turbo four. But rather than go back to the 80s like Toyota and Honda, styling will be based on the Nissan Foria Concept from the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show (above left). To our eyes, that hearkens all the way back to the 1965 CSP311 Nissan Silvia Coupe. Keep your fingers crossed, folks, and we might just see an all out war for sports coupe supremacy once again.
Posted in nissan
Tagged 2011 nissan silvia, 2012 nissan silvia, 240sx, concept, csp311, datsun, foria, nissan, silvia, tokyo motor show, tokyo motor show 2005
21 Comments
