Kidney, Anyone? 1972 Toyota Corona Mark II

Posted on September 21, 2009 by Ben Hsu

1972 toyota corona mark II rt73l 01This baby blue beaut of a Toyota Corona Mark II is the mintiest we’ve ever spotted. The odometer reads 16,041 miles and the condition seems to corroborate that story. The door jambs could be licked. The trunk mat is as flat as Kansas. According to the seller, everything works, every square millimeter of paint is original, and it has never seen snow or salt.

The Corona Mark II was a more luxurious, slightly stretched version of the more common RT40 barikan Corona. It’s still powered by a four-cylinder 18R-C, but it eventually became its own model a few generations later, when the “Corona” was dropped and it simply became the “Mark II.” It’s the Cressida’s great-granddaddy.

Interestingly, the auction description says it’s part of a Youngstown, Ohio collection being trimmed, which begs the question: what’s in the rest of the collection?

More delicious photos after the jump. Continue reading →

Posted in for sale, toyota | Tagged , , | 25 Comments

Friday Video: Nissan Bluebird 610 vs Mazda Luce

Posted on September 18, 2009 by Ben Hsu

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 →

Posted in datsun, mazda, nissan, Video Games | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Nostalgics in 1/64 Scale

Posted on September 17, 2009 by Ben Hsu

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 →

Posted in minicars, nissan, toyota | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

"Nissan: Passion and Beauty of Function" Exhibit at Hiratsuka Museum of Art

Posted on September 16, 2009 by Ben Hsu

nissan_passion_and_beauty_of_function 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.

  • 1955 Datsun 113
  • 1966 Sunny B10
  • 1968 Skyline C10
  • 1969 Fairlady Z S30
  • PIVO Concept
  • PIVO2 Concept

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]

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Event Horizon

Posted on September 16, 2009 by Dan Hsu

DHMToyDrive

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:

Continue reading →

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Happy 100th Birthday to Mr. K!

Posted on September 15, 2009 by Ben Hsu

KatayamaBrock9Sep09

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]

Posted in datsun, events, museum, nissan | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

USA Today Picks Top 10 Japanese Collector Cars

Posted on September 14, 2009 by Ben Hsu

mazda_savanna_rx-3Last 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 →

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Datsun 240Z Spews Rodent Dog Food Stash

Posted on September 11, 2009 by Ben Hsu

Oh, those wacky chipmunks…

[Jalopnik]

Posted in datsun, nissan | 11 Comments

Friday Video: Seibu Keisatsu, Behind the Scenes

Posted on September 11, 2009 by Ben Hsu

seibu_keisatsu_making_of
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 →

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Kidney, Anyone? 1974 Datsun 610 with KA Power

Posted on September 11, 2009 by Ben Hsu

datsun_610_ka24de
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 →

Posted in datsun, for sale | Tagged , , | 12 Comments

Bosozoku Style Fo' Lyfe

Posted on September 11, 2009 by Ben Hsu

nissan_skyline_c210
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 →

Posted in bosozoku, datsun, nissan, toyota | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Event Horizon

Posted on September 10, 2009 by Dan Hsu

DHMToyDrive

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:

Continue reading →

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Nostalgics Galore at Japan Meet Norway

Posted on September 10, 2009 by Ben Hsu

toyota_kujira_crown_wagonIs 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!

Continue reading →

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JCCS Registration to Close in One Week

Posted on September 9, 2009 by Ben Hsu

jccs2008=007
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!

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Kidney, Anyone? 7700-Mile Toyota Celica, Kenmeri Skyline, and Gurachan Mazda RX-7

Posted on September 8, 2009 by Ben Hsu

1977_Nissan_Skyline_2000_GT_X_C110__US_Legal_GT_R_Style_For_Sale_Track_1

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.

Continue reading →

Posted in datsun, for sale, mazda, mazda rx-7, nissan, toyota | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Friday Video: Seibu Keistatsu For All

Posted on September 4, 2009 by Ben Hsu

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!

Posted in nissan, seibu keisatsu, Video Games | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Nissan's Fairlady Z 40th Anniversary Minisite

Posted on September 3, 2009 by Ben Hsu

nissan_fairlady_z_40th_annivesary
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.

Posted in datsun, nissan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

KP61 Toyota Starlet Drift Machine

Posted on September 3, 2009 by Ben Hsu

toyota_starlet_kp61_drift_iwai
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 →

Posted in toyota | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

Another Blog Chock Full of Rotting J-Tin

Posted on September 2, 2009 by Ben Hsu

subaru_1000Remember 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!

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Lexus Celebrates 20th Anniversary

Posted on September 1, 2009 by Ben Hsu

lexus_ls400 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.

Posted in toyota | Tagged , , | 7 Comments