Kidney, Anyone? 6900-Mile Honda CR-X HF

Posted on July 23, 2009 by Ben Hsu

honda_cr-x_01The debate about 1984’s most significant debut may not be resolved yet but no one can deny the impact of the first-gen Honda CR-X.

Launched in ’84, it was a nimble two-door based on the Civic platform. Its versatility would be exemplified in 1985 with the sport-minded Si (godfather to a whole new tuning culture) and the HF (for “High Fuel efficiency”). This is the latter, a mint 1986 Honda CR-X HF on eBay from Minnesota that has only 6950 miles on the clock! It’s an alleged Old Lady Car from Minnesota but according to the auction it’s “never seen snow.”

Still, the temperature changes seem to have taken their toll on the horn, hatch struts and exhaust. Those are minor problems, however. Overall, it looks darned cherry and, let’s see… at 50mpg city / 67 highway and an approximately 8-gallon tank, it’s seen only 14 gas stations in its whole life!

More pics after the jump. Continue reading →

Posted in for sale, honda | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

JNC Tip: Never Pull on Heater Core Hoses

Posted on July 23, 2009 by Ben Hsu

heater_core_hose2Last month we found ourselves at the boneyard because of a stupid mistake I declined to mention. I guess it’s about time I swallow my pride. See that pipe above? It was once part of the heater core but in a moment of colossal idiocy I shucked it like an oyster, clean off.

Continue reading →

Posted in how to, jnc | Tagged , | 13 Comments

Slappy’s Wall of Wheels Wallpaper Goes Viral

Posted on July 22, 2009 by Ben Hsu

You may have seen this Wall of Wheels Wallpaper circulating around teh intarwebs recently, often uncredited. Actually, it was none other than JNCer Slappy, he of Slide Asylum and scary clown avatar, who put it together with nothing more than the simple caption “I was bored” in the Not-So-Ultimate Classic JDM Wheel Thread back in April. Congrats on your new-found fame, Slappy!

P.S. Whoever can name all those wheels gets a Datsun.

Posted in wheels | Tagged , | 14 Comments

Event Horizon

Posted on July 22, 2009 by Dan Hsu

zcars

Summer’s 1/3 over, but the shows are just beginning.  If you happen to make it to one of this weekend’s events, send over some pics!

As always, if you know of or would like to publicize an event, send us a tip at feedback(at)japanesenostalgiccar.com

Continue reading →

Posted in events, Reminder | Tagged | Leave a comment

J-Tin Rotting Away in Japan, Plus a Cherry Cherry

Posted on July 22, 2009 by Ben Hsu

nissan_cherry_x1r
The Kusahiro Exploration Corps Blog is probably the saddest site you’ll see this week, if not ever. It’s basically a gallery of nostalgics rusting into oblivion on the grasslands of Japan, full of cars like this Nissan Cherry Coupe 1200X-1 awaiting a return to nature somewhere in snowy Nagano Prefecture.
Continue reading →

Posted in datsun, junkyards, nissan | Tagged , , , , | 12 Comments

First Ever SEMA Car Show

Posted on July 21, 2009 by Ben Hsu

SEMASEMA is hosting its first ever car show on Saturday, August 1. If you live near  Pasadena, California we highly encourage you to participate. The Specialty Equipment Market Association welcomes all cars but has traditionally been the domain of hot rods, muscle cars and tuned imports/drift cars. Missing from the mix, glaringly, are vintage imports.

The organization is dedicated to speaking up on behalf of all car enthusiasts in this country (as in their lobbying efforts against the recent Cash for Clunkers bill), and has tremendous sway over the direction of the aftermarket industry. This is right up the alley for J-tin fans, but unfortunately nostalgics have been missing from the equation for far too long. So if you want your car to represent the old school scene, please consider entering your car.

The show also supports the Childhelp and Victory Junction Gang Camp children’s charities and will be held at the Pasadena Convention Center.

Posted in events | 14 Comments

You Might Own a Nostalgic If…

Posted on July 19, 2009 by Ben Hsu

datsun_240zWith apologies to Jeff Forxworthy here is a list of twelve things that just might make you the owner of an old car. It was compiled by Yee Chan, a graphic designer whose artistic touches will be seen in the next issue of JNC. We can’t reveal everything just yet but it’s going to look amazing.

His daily driver and only car is the black Datsun 240Z shown above at the 2008 Motorsport Auto Z-Car Nationals (and him hanging out in shades behind it). Funny, we knew his car before we knew him. Anyway, without further ado, you just might own a nostalgic if…

  1. You park far away from everyone to avoid door dings.
  2. You always give the car a backwards glance as you walk away from parking it.
  3. You feel uncomfortable parking it out in the open, where birds can crap on it.
  4. You do not let any valet drive your car.
  5. You sit in the garage, just looking at her.
  6. You love every angle and crease on your car.
  7. You know every nut and bolt has been torqued down or secured with Lock-tite by you alone.
  8. You don’t care about unburned hydrocarbons in the cabin.
  9. A new Corolla is like a luxury limo to you.
  10. You want to drive the car as much as possible (optional).
  11. You are too broke to get another car.
  12. You stopped seeing a girl, because she said something bad about your car.

Yee came up with this list because he’s done them all himself, even the last one, which is pretty hard core. Got any more to add? Let us know in the comments!

Posted in jnc | 23 Comments

Friday Video: Hairpin Circus

Posted on July 17, 2009 by Ben Hsu

The Friday Video series has touched upon many great Japanese movies and TV programs celebrating the automobile. But while they made their cars brutish and macho and excellent for ramming criminals into submission, they never made cars sexy. Well, turn down the lights and pour yourself a masu of warm sake before hitting “play”.

1972’s Hairpin Circus was the seminal Japanese motoring film. The age of the personal RWD sports coupe was in full swing and Japan was still blissfully unaware of the oil crisis to come. The giants, especially Toyota, Mazda and Nissan, believed that they had earned their place on the world stage with world-class cars. So why not a world-class film dripping with passion and petrol? Continue reading →

Posted in mazda, toyota, Video Games | Tagged , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Rotorstock & Retro Show at Santa Pod

Posted on July 16, 2009 by Ben Hsu

datsun_710_nissan_violet JNCer from across the pond, colink, sent us some photos of the recent Rotorstock and Retro show at Santa Pod Raceway in Bedfordshire, England. This beautiful blue Nissan Violet/1600 (aka Datsun 710) really caught my eye.

Continue reading →

Posted in datsun, events, mazda, mazda rx-7, nissan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Kidney, Anyone? 1971 Dodge Colt

Posted on July 16, 2009 by Ben Hsu

1971_dodge_colt_mitsubishi_galant3Just look at this pristine interior! It looks like you could lick it and still get the taste of brand new vinyl on your tongue. It belongs to a cream puff 1971 Dodge Colt, aka Mitsubishi Colt Galant, found in an ad on Bring A Trailer. It’s a California blue plate special and was found during a San Diego estate liquidation. There are only 39,722 original miles and the asking price is a kidney-saving $3500. According to the ad, the owner wants to take it to Concours d’Lemons, but we think it’d make a much better entrant at the JCCS!

More pics after the jump. Continue reading →

Posted in for sale, mitsubishi | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

Event Horizon: Fun For Everyone

Posted on July 15, 2009 by Dan Hsu

eventsGood news if you live on one of the coasts! This weekend, there’s a number of different events to choose from, provided you happen to live near an ocean.

Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged | 3 Comments

Happy Nissan Day

Posted on July 15, 2009 by Ben Hsu

1981_datsun_by_nissan_badge_210According to the internets, on July 16, 1981 Nissan execs officially changed their brand in the US market from Datsun to Nissan. The campaign to notify the public began in earnest that fall and for three years badges like the “By Nissan” one on this 1981 Datsun 210 (actually a B310 Sunny) appeared on the rumps of various cars.

Even back then, the rebranding effor cost the company over $500 million dollars, says Dan Banks of the Z-Car Club or America (read this for a detailed history). With a sticker price of just under $4000, that could have bought 125,000 Datsun 210s!

[Image: Jalopnik]

Posted in datsun, nissan | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

The New York Times Talks Hondas

Posted on July 15, 2009 by Ben Hsu

honda_civic_cvccThe New York Times came out with their take on Honda’s 50 years in America recently. We disagree with the conclusion that they won’t be classics (the same thing was said about every Chevy, Ford and Dodge to come out of Detroit) but it’s a great read on the raw genius and unabashed ambition of Soichiro Honda and his motor company.

Accompanying the article are slideshows covering 50 years of American Honda and potentially collectible Hondas. Oddly, an S600 appears in the former even though it was never sold in the US and despite what the caption says, the T360 pickup was actually the first four-wheeled Honda product. Unfortunately, the Times also calls the cars “primitive” despite their advanced, high-revving engines and unique drivetrains.

Thanks to Brian Baker, who tipped us off to the article and actually owns the white S600 shown in the slideshow. Brian also informs us that the red S600 has an S800 motor and was purchased by ex-Honda F1 driver Jenson Button for a ridiculous price at Bonham’s auction.

Posted in honda | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

JNC Issue 4 Sneak Peek

Posted on July 13, 2009 by Dan Hsu

skyline
John Oshima’s absolutely sinister 1977 Nissan Skyline.  See more of this car in Japanese Nostalgic Car: Issue 4!  Subscribe now to ensure you don’t miss out on the next issue!

Posted in jnc mag, nissan | Tagged , , , | 14 Comments

Toyota Soarer Soars Through Your Computer

Posted on July 12, 2009 by Ben Hsu

Good lord, this 1983 Toyota Soarer ad looks like a deleted scene from Tron. It’s almost as insanely 80s as this MkII Toyota Celica Supra commercial we found a while back. Just thought you’d like to see what a Toyota driving through cyberspace looked like.

Posted in cm, toyota | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Friday Video: Abunai Deka Cedric 430 Chase

Posted on July 10, 2009 by Ben Hsu

In this clip from 80s Japanese cop show Abunai Deka, a Nissan Cedric 430 unmarked patrol car gives chase to a Gloria Van of the same generation. As you can see, this series doesn’t take itself as seriously as, say, Seibu Keisatsu, which would have ended the pursuit with Daimon arriving just in time to cut the baddies off at the pass and blow the crap out of their driver with a blast from his shotgun. Instead, Abunai lets its heroes play the fools, and even though we can’t understand what’s being said in this clip it still made us lawl.

Posted in JNC Theater | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Retro Roundup: Mazda RX-7, Toyobaru 086a, Honda Prez

Posted on July 9, 2009 by Ben Hsu

new_mazda_rx-7_renderingDespite a flagging global economy that’s hit Japan particularly hard and reports of the world’s auto manufacturers bailing on this year’s Tokyo Motor Show left and right this year, there are now some surprising rumors surfacing. If true, the 41st Tokyo Motor Show may be a retro revival of sorts.

Continue reading →

Posted in honda, mazda, mazda rx-7, subaru, toyota | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Sold! 1972 Datsun 240Z for $2000

Posted on July 9, 2009 by Ben Hsu

datsun_240z_barn_find
Yes, you read that right. $2000. Tipster John O. recently wrote that a friend of his bought this 1972 Datsun 240Z from the original owner, an old lady who always babied the car. She only let Datsun/Nissan dealerships perform work on it and kept all the service records and documentation in its 37-year history. As the story goes, she got tired of sinking money into it and put it up on craigslist. She interviewed all the buyers one by one and chose one lucky new owner at the end. And sold it to him for $2000 American. Up Next: Bigfoot caught!

Posted in datsun, for sale, nissan | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

Event Horizon: Heatwave Edition

Posted on July 9, 2009 by Ben Hsu

cruiseAs summer heats up there’s just more and more events coming down the pipeline!

Continue reading →

Posted in events | 7 Comments

JNC Book Club: In Search of the Holden Piazza

Posted on July 8, 2009 by Ben Hsu

in_search_of_the_holden_isuzu_piazza_impulseIn case you’ve missed the epic debate in the JNC Forums regarding the Isuzu Piazza (called the Impulse in the US market), here’s your chance to read all about what could be either one of the greatest (or one of the worst) Japanese cars ever built.

In 2006 two friends named Joe Kremzer and Chris Warr took off on a trip around the Australian continent to meet as many owners of the Piazza (badged as a Holden down under) as they could. Their faithful steed was a heavily worn example of the very car they were searching for, which they christened Alyce. With admittedly little experience wrenching on cars they set off on their journey in search of answers to questions like, “What prompted anyone to buy what they call ‘the dodgiest car ever imported’ and how many had survived?”

Along the way they became minor celebrities on a local radio show and documented the entire escapade tongue-in-cheek in a book called In Search of the Holden Piazza. From the parts we’ve perused at Google Books it seems like a terrifically entertaining read. We don’t know if the conclusions they draw about the Giugiaro designed coupe are ultimately flattering or not, but we’ve all probably felt some kind of bond to a car that is largely unloved. And by that measure the fondness for machine Piazza evokes makes both the car and the book a winner.

Posted in isuzu | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments