From the Japanese TV series Detective Story comes this comical car chase involving Nissan Bluebird 610 and a Mazda Luce sedans. This is the same program that gave us the Mazda Cosmo AP vs Dump Trucks chase we posted a while back. The good stuff starts at 3:13.
The conclusion is after the jump. Continue reading
When even mainstream media sources like USA Today are talking about nostalgics, you know our beloved J-tin is finally getting some props. Here’s another barometer: diecast cars. Continue reading
Nissan will soon sponsor an exhibit called “Car Design History – NISSAN Passion and Beauty of Function” at the Hiratsuka Museum of Art. The exhibit will follow the history of automotive design in Japan. Original sketches and clay models from Nissan’s past will be displayed, along with an studies in the evolution of the Bluebird, Fairlady and Skyline.
Six Nissan cars representing the landmarks of Nissan design will be on display.
Shiro Nakamura, the chief of design who has led the company’s design team for that past decade and been responsible for everything from the 350Z to the GT-R, will speak on opening night, October 3. The exhibit will last 8 weeks until November 29.
Hours: 9:30 to 17:00
Admission: 800 yen
Website: http://www.city.hiratsuka.kanagawa.jp/art-muse/info6.htm
[Nissan]
If you know of or would like to publicize an event, send us a tip at feedback(at)japanesenostalgiccar.com
This weekend, September 19-20:
Yutaka “Mr. K” Katayama, president of Nissan USA during the heyday of the Datsun brand, turns 100 today! Mr. K was dispatched to the US in 1960 to handle the west coast operations of a little known startup marque from across the Pacific. By the time his tenure ended, he had put the Datsun 240Z and 510 into the history books and set them well on their way to being some of the most highly regarded Japanese cars of all time.
The Datsun Heritage Museum will observe his birthday this Saturday, September 19, with a car show from 10am to 3pm. For more information, download this PDF file or visit the DHM website.
[Image: Datsun Heritage Museum]
Last Friday USA Today picked their Top 10 Japanese cars that they think will become collectible in the future. The piece echoes what we’ve been preaching all along, that these cars capture the nostalgic feelings of twenty- and thirty-somethings and are often overlooked by collectors today. Continue reading
Oh, those wacky chipmunks…
[Jalopnik]
Heh heh, whoops! I guess the Monday holiday threw us off. Here’s your belated Friday Videos, a pair of behind the scenes looks at the making of Seibu Keisatsu. These videos have embedding disabled, so clicky click on the screenshots to watch them on YouTube.
Continue reading
Bring a Trailer is on a roll this week. This is the cleanest 610 build we’ve ever seen, swapped with a modern KA24DE from a 240SX and amenities like projector beam headlights. In truth, we wanted to profile Aaron’s car for a while now, but just haven’t had the resources to go to Oregon and make it happen. You can see more pics after the jump and details of the build on Aaron’s website. Continue reading
Remember that Shako Hako we posted a while back? Reader Zeb found the source of the pic, which revealed a whole gallery of bosozoku style machines from way back in the day. How far back? Before the age of digital cameras, that’s how!
Continue reading
If you know of or would like to publicize an event, send us a tip at feedback(at)japanesenostalgiccar.com
This weekend, September 12-13:
Is there anything that looks more UFO-ey than the rump end of a kujira Crown wagon? This goon and other nostalgics gathered yesterday, 9/9/09, for Japan Meet Norway. It comes hot on the heels of Swiss and Finnish J-tin congregations, and thanks to Markus Väisänen, we have photographic evidence!
A public service reminder to all you kyusha fans who are waiting till the last minute: registration for the 2009 Japanese Classic Car Show will be closing in one week, on Tuesday, September 15. Five years ago, the launch of JCCS was a watershed moment for the vintage J-tin hobby. The respect and recognition it has brought the cars we know and love have been incalculable, so come to come out and support the show!
This will be the JCCS’s 5th anniversary so the organizers have special commemorative items for all registrants, though we cannot disclose what they are. And if we didn’t haveto go early to set up our JNC booth, we’d join one of the JCCS Caravans that are coming from as far away as Atlanta, Georgia!
Here’s our coverage from the 2008, 2007 and 2006 shows. Register here. Do it now!
How many kidneys does a human body have, anyway? We’re car nuts, not doctors. Anyway, here’s a trio of interesting finds that crossed our paths over the long weekend.
Some Seibu Keistatsu to kick off your long weekend. Stay safe and try not to get blown up like these cop cars!
Thanks to cesariojpn for the tip!
Nissan has just launched a Japanese minisite in celebration of the Fairlady Z’s 40th Anniversary, along with some photos of the 370Z Roadster. It’s all in Japanese but you can click here to take a look.
Teruyoshi Iwai campaigns one of the coolest D1GP cars around, a KP61 Toyota Starlet stuffed with a 4AG with TRD and Silk Road suspension components. Apparently Iwai made his triumphant return to D1 in Round 5 at Ebisu Circuit, but was easily eliminated by the newer, more powerful competition. Clearly, though, Iwai is the champ when it comes to style points.
UPDATE: Video after the jump. Continue reading
Remember the exploits of the Kusahiro Exploration Corps? Well here’s Dara Dara Seikatsu’s blog to further document the oxidizing nostalgics of Japan and ruin your day.
Thanks to reader Charlie C. for the tip!
On September 1, 1989 sales of the Lexus LS400 began. It’s hard to believe but it’s been 20 years since the first luxury branded Toyota was offered to the American public.
Thirty years after Toyota first arrived stateside, the idea of a premium Japanese luxury car was still inconceivable to most Americans. The car was certainly worth $40,000, but no one in America was willing to shell out that kind of coin for a lowly Toyota. So the Big T conjured up a separate brand altogether and Lexus was born.
Two decades later, the idea of a Japanese luxury car doesn’t seem so odd to us any more. Toyota has consistently proven it can build flagship sedans as good as any European automaker’s. But there’s still one last hurdle to jump: the notion of a Japanese classic. If a ’59 Chevy Impala can be considered a classic, then why not a ’79 Toyota Cressida? Hopefully we won’t have to wait until 2029.
According to the United States Department of Labor, the first Monday in September is a “yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.” Although our country is going through a rough time right now, it’s important to acknowledge all the hard-working individuals out there trying to make ends meet like the rest of us. So get out there and enjoy the three-day weekend!
