Toyota Celica Speedster at Woodward Dream Cruise

Posted on August 17, 2009 by Ben Hsu

celica-convertible speedster
Since 1995, the Woodward Dream Cruise has taken over the streets of Detroit each August and is one of the biggest gatherings of muscle cars and hot rods on the planet. J-tin is a pretty rare sight at the WDC, but we’re not sure if that’s because photographers focus on the domestics or because there really isn’t any.

Motor Trend‘s article on this year’s cruise showed this Toyota Celica speedster, a custom job that lopped the roof off a first gen coupe – a scalped daruma, if you will. There’s also a droptop Datsun 260z in their gallery. They’re not exactly our cup of cha, but we’re glad that people are paying attention to them and that nostalgics are welcome at the WDC.

Posted in toyota | Tagged , , , | 14 Comments

Friday Video: Tokusou Saizensen Intros

Posted on August 14, 2009 by Ben Hsu

This week’s video shows the collected opening sequences for Tokusou Saizensen, which translates (we think) to “Special Investigation Frontline”. The long running Japanese police drama aired from 1977 to 1987, but the intro had to be re-shot each time Nissan redesigned the Cedric, Gloria or Skyline.

That’s because the cars are featured prominently driving in formation through the sprawling concrete jungle that is Tokyo, and the Nissan sponsorship juggernaut dominated cop shows of the era. As a result, you can see not only Nissan’s bread and butter sedans, but the capital city itself, evolve over the better part of a decade.

Thanks to cesariojpn!

Posted in datsun, nissan, Video Games | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Shako Hako

Posted on August 13, 2009 by Ben Hsu

nissan skyline hakosuka kgc10Shakotan means simply “low-down” in Japanese, but this shako hako is a superlative example. There is such a thing as going too far though. Suffice it to say, you won’t be seeing this on the JNC project car.

[via KaZato Racing]

Posted in datsun, nissan | Tagged , , , , | 11 Comments

Mitsubishi Lancers Rallying in Rio

Posted on August 12, 2009 by Ben Hsu


We are seriously behind in showing Mitsubishi love so here’s a double dose of commercials for you.

Japan is such a small country that it was often fashionable for automakers to ship their cars overseas and drive them across exotic continents, starting with Toyota and Nissan sending cars to compete in Australia’s Mobilgas Rally in the 50s.

Mitsubishi had tremendous success rallying their Lancers in Africa in the 70s, but curiously, this 1978 ad makes no mention of it at all. Instead, they show the cars on a South American expedition that ends up in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. The signs on the cars seem to indicate this was a promotional tour to demonstrate the car’s mettle and not an actual race, though precious little information can be found about this trip.

The second commercial in the video is for the Mitsubishi-sponsored Mirage Bowl, which was an annual US college football game held at the Tokyo Dome from 1977 to 1986.

Posted in cm, mitsubishi | Tagged , , | 10 Comments

Kidney, Anyone? Datsun 280ZX 10th Anniversary Edition, Number 1 of 3000

Posted on August 11, 2009 by Ben Hsu

datsun 280zx black gold 10th anniversary 1of3000 01

Automakers often release limited edition cars, but it’s not necessarily enthusiasts or collectors who buy them. More often than not, they’re simply snatched up by buyers who need a new set of wheels. Which begs the question: what happens to, say, number 1 of 3000 thirty years later? Does it get totaled in a crash, end up as scrap, or is it languishing in a backyard somewhere?
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Posted in datsun, for sale, nissan | Tagged , , , , | 16 Comments

Japanese Classic Car Show 2009

Posted on August 10, 2009 by Ben Hsu

JCCS_2009 There’s less than a month left to register your car for the 2009 Japanese Classic Car Show. This is going to be a special one, as it is the 5th anniversary of the show that finally brought kyusha fans a venue to share, show and enjoy their cars with the rest of the community and country. Limited numbers of anniversary items will be available to registrants, so hurry!

The organizers have also informed us that one of the issues at the Hidden Valley Park location, the dust from the dirt trail near the entrance, has been solved. They have reconfigured the show for a new entrance and a water truck will be standing by.

Also, be sure to check out the JCCS newsletter for deals on hotels and a photo gallery from one of Japan’s most prolific auto photographers, Akio Hirano.

The 2009 JCCS will be held on October 3 from 9am to 3pm at Hidden Valley Park in Irvine, California. See you there!

Posted in events, jccs | 6 Comments

Bonus Vid: Wangan Midnight 2009 Movie Trailer

Posted on August 7, 2009 by Ben Hsu

Speak of the Devil Z! Here’s the trailer for Wangan Midnight, the manga, movie, video game and anime series that is now being rebooted with yet another remake on the big screen.

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Posted in datsun, nissan, Video Games | Tagged , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Friday Video: Seibu Keisatsu's Water Cannon Patrol

Posted on August 7, 2009 by Ben Hsu

Sgt. Daimon manning a Nissan Patrol-mounted water cannon leads to a flipped Datsun 620 pickup (on Enkei Bajas – SK was sponsored by Enkei) and senseless wagon destruction. Have a good weekend!

Posted in nissan, seibu keisatsu, trucks, Video Games, wagons | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Event Horizon: August Redemption Edition

Posted on August 6, 2009 by Dan Hsu

nym2009There were no events the first weekend of August, so to make up for it, the second weekend of August brings you three quality events to choose from.

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

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Posted in events | Tagged | 5 Comments

First Look Inside Nissan Gallery Yokohama

Posted on August 5, 2009 by Ben Hsu

Last week we mentioned that Nissan was opening a gallery at their recently relocated headquarters now in Yokohama. The grand opening was on Monday, and here are some photos of the new digs.

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Posted in datsun, japan, nissan | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Toyota Says Crush Your Cruiser for Cash

Posted on August 4, 2009 by Ben Hsu

This is an actual commercial from Toyota in which they encourage you to crush your classic Land Cruiser in exchange for a Cash for Clunkers voucher.

Obviously a two-door FJ60 is a nonexistent beast, so was Toyota USA just creating a generic SUV from one of their own models in order to avoid using another automaker’s product? Or is the marketing department so far removed from Toyota’s heritage that they think nothing of slapping the Toyota faithful across the face with this suggestion?

This clip was put up under Toyota USA’s own YouTube account, so you can click on the video above and let them know what you think.

As a side note, if any real FJ60 owners are considering this, it’d be a pretty stupid idea since all but the most rusted out hulks can fetch more than the $4500 C4C rebate.

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Posted in cm, laws, toyota | Tagged , , , | 11 Comments

Giga Pudding FAQ

Posted on August 4, 2009 by Kevin San

433_Gigapudding1It is a little-known fact that JNC Magazine correspondents are, in fact paid in ramen and Giga Pudding. But outside of the JNC editorial team, there has been very little said about this mysterious dessert, except for what can be learned from its rather irritatingly catchy commercial.

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Posted in Tokyo Daze | 28 Comments

Toyota Corona RT20, Stunt Machine

Posted on August 4, 2009 by Ben Hsu

toyota_corona_rt20
Here’s a car that’s definitely no clunker. In the 60s Toyota put out a series of commercials in which their cars performed zany stunts to demonstrate their resilience. Take this RT20 Corona, for example. Sold as the Tiara in the US with a 1900cc engine, it jumps, smashes through walls of drums and even gets rolled off a cliff long before Top Gear tried to kill a Toyota. These videos are not embeddable, so click on the images to go to the actual commercial.

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Posted in cm, toyota | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Cash for Clunkers: Fail or Win?

Posted on August 3, 2009 by Ben Hsu

mitsubishi_galant_sigmaSo last week was the first for the dreaded Cash for Clunkers program and it’s been either wildly successful or a dismally mismanaged failure depending on how you look at it.

First, the government thought it might run out of money too quickly. Overnight, a bunch of cars that once fell within the 18mpg or under threshold to qualify were magically boosted to 19mpg according on the EPA website. Sucks for the owners, but the fewer cars that qualify on the lower end of the fuel efficiency scale the better for us JNCers.

Then rumors began to fly that the almost $1 billion automaker stimulus money set aside for C4C had been burned through in four days and the program would be suspended.

But no, it was actually going stronger than ever, and the the House approved another $2 billion for the program.

Continue reading →

Posted in laws | Tagged | 16 Comments

Bonus Vid: Toyota Corona Mark II & Clipper Ships

Posted on July 31, 2009 by Ben Hsu


A heavenly Toyota Corona Mark II in the music video for the song “Clone” by Japanese band Straightener.

Thanks to gtxtom!

Posted in toyota, Video Games | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Friday Video: Seibu Keisatsu Nissan Carnage

Posted on July 31, 2009 by Ben Hsu

We went with high art and how-to for the last two Friday Videos but this week is a return to the roots – more Seibu Keisatsu madness.

The video appears to be clips from two episodes spliced together. In the first one, our heroes’ R30 Skylines and S130 Fairlady Z give chase to a C230 Laurel. Look out for the rare Toyota sighting in the Nissan-sponsored series.

In the second vid, the crew pursues a 330 Cedric/Gloria through Nissan Sunny Miyagi, an actual dealership. Car carriers full of brand new Nissans become embroiled in the melee. A perfectly good B210 hatch gets its door shorn off, and the finale results in some serious cringe-inducing carnage.

Posted in nissan, seibu keisatsu, Video Games | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Mazda MX-5/Miata/Roadster 20th Anniversary Edition

Posted on July 30, 2009 by Ben Hsu

mazda_mx-5_miata_roadster_20th_anniversaryAvailable starting today at all Japanese Mazda and Mazda Anfini dealerships is a new Roadster (called MX-5 or formerly Miata elsewhere on planet Earth) celebrating the model’s 20th anniversary.

Mazda offers it in either soft top or retractable hard top versions, 6-speed manuals or automatics. There’s no performance upgrades but 20th Anniversary editions can be visually identified by their exclusive Crystal White Pearl Mica exteriors matched to red leather and black alcantara (very Honda S600-esque, no?) Recaros, 17-inch wheels, clear fog lamps and obligatory badging.

Posted in mazda | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Adam Carolla’s Bob Sharp Datsun 610 Racer

Posted on July 30, 2009 by Matt De Mangos

Many of you know that squawky-voiced celebrity Adam Carolla has a penchant for Datsuns, owning a 510 BRE street replica as well as a Fairlady Roadster race car. You’d think that it qualifies him to be the celebrity spokesman for Datsuns, to defend and extol them to the unwashed masses.

On a recent video, Carolla presents a genuine Bob Sharp Datsun 610 race car to his audience. At first, Carolla seems to be enthusiastic about the car, teaching the co-host a thing or two about Datsuns. Unfortunately, Carolla soon takes on a snide tone and says some not-so-nice things about this venerable rig at the 3:49 mark.

See the vid after the jump. Watch it all the way through and decide for yourself if Carolla is being uplifting or derogatory:

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Posted in datsun, nissan | Tagged , , , , | 19 Comments

Original Mazda RX-3 Accessories

Posted on July 30, 2009 by Matt De Mangos

rx3eDid you ride a Chopper bike when all the other kids rode Schwinns or Huffys? If so, then these official Mazda accessories would’ve suited you when you bought your first RX-3.

So the “side skirt mold” and “speed wiper arm and blade” seem pretty decent. Even the “safety scope” (sun visor) seems useful. But look closely and you’ll see an unlabeled bug shield in the middle of the hood! Also, note the bulge on the hood for a possible gauge.

Not your style? Next we have a a race car “Sports Kit”:

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Posted in mazda | Tagged , , | 11 Comments

The Ninja's Arsenal: 1968 Toyota Corolla KE10

Posted on July 29, 2009 by Ben Hsu

toyota_corolla_ke10_ninja_commercial
Sai. Nunchucks. Shuriken. These are the ancient weapons of the ninja, lurker of shadows, trained in the arts of illusion, stealth and assassination. But did you know there was another closely guarded secret weapon in the ninja’s arsenal that has evaded scholars and historians for ages?

Why, it’s the 1968 Toyota Corolla 1100! See, once a hero (you can tell he’s a good guy cause he’s dressed in white) has swooped in and rescued his damsel from a gang of heavily armed baddies, there’s the small problem of actually escaping. Well the obvious answer is to produce a pokeball and shout, “KE10, I choose you!” The best part is, once you throw it at the ground and the getaway vehicle magically appears, the ninja’s teleportation abilities ensure that he will already be in the driver’s seat. And then it’s sayonara, suckas!

Unfortunately, the ninjas have also disabled youtube embedding for this commercial but you can see it in full on YouTube. And in case you were wondering what William Tell’s favorite car was, your answer is after the jump.

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Posted in cm, toyota | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments