The Little SUV That Could: Suzuki SJ10

Posted on April 2, 2009 by Kevin San

Up until the mid 80s, Suzuki made little 4×4 jeep-like things which were more military than civilian. They had a fierce reputation for being unstoppable go-anywhere beasts, due to their lightweight contruction, generous ground clearance and tiny size. Check out this mid 70s SJ10* do its thing. And if you’re wondering about the powerplant, yes it’s a 540cc 2-stroke, pumping out all of 33hp and 38 foot pounds of torque!

Will it get all the way up the hill? Place your bets!

*which may, or may not…have been designed by Albrecht Goertz

Posted in suzuki | 17 Comments

Correction Regarding Albrecht Goertz

Posted on April 1, 2009 by Ben Hsu

monterey2007026In recent months we’ve been fighting a battle to debunk the commonly circulated “myths” that Count Albrecht Goertz designed some of Japan’s most famous sports cars, like the Toyota 2000GT and Nissan Fairlady Z/Datsun 240Z. Our own JNCers have spoken out against other Goertz claims like the CSP311 Silvia. We’ve gotten some flack for our stance, and our recent trip to Japan offered us a rare opportunity to do some research on the ground.

Well, it’s time to issue a correction. We are humbled and embarrased to report that we were wrong. Goertz did indeed design all three cars. Not only that, he also held the pen for numerous other famous nostalgics of the era. During his contract with Nissan, he also designed what would become the 1968 Nissan “hakosuka” Skyline. Toyota was so impressed with his work on the 2000GT that they asked him to style the 1968 KE10 Corolla and 1967’s flagship Century. Mazda, which wasn’t going to sit by while Nissan and Toyota stole all the glory, then commissioned the design of the 1967 Cosmo Sports from Goertz.

We pride ourselves on accuracy, and apologize sincerely that our previous writings misinformed so thoroughly. You will never hear the names Nozaki or Matsuo ever with respect to the 2000GT and S30 Z on JNC again. Continue reading →

Posted in jnc | 20 Comments

Automaker Headquarter Hopping

Posted on March 31, 2009 by Ben Hsu

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We’ve mentioned this before, but if you go to Tokyo you can visit the headquarter buildings of at least three Japanese automakers. Here’s the Nissan home base in the upscale Ginza district. Naturally, the hot new car was the Fairlady Z/370Z and there were no less than five of them on display out front. Continue reading →

Posted in Galleries | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

A Visit to S&A Auto Create

Posted on March 30, 2009 by Ben Hsu


We’re still not finished with coverage from Japan. During our visit we had the privilege of visiting Kanagawa Prefecture’s S&A Auto Create. The owner has been doing modern engine swaps in older cars and fabricating the parts needed for almost two decades. As usual, there were several works in progress scattered around the premises. Continue reading →

Posted in datsun, kei, mitsubishi, nissan, toyota | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Back When Men Were Men… etc.

Posted on March 29, 2009 by Kevin San


Yesterday’s post about the Lancer 1600GSR rallycar go to thinking about Japanese rally successes in the 70s. Here’s a clip of the 1979 World Rally Championship, which was contested by a rich variety of cars. On the one hand you had exotica like the Lancia Stratos and Porsche 911, and then you had stove-hot rally versions of boxy family cars like the Fiat 131, Ford Escort and Vauxhall Chevette. You also has some luxury cars in the form of the Mercedes Benz 450SLC and Saab 99 Turbo.

Japan was well represented by Ove Andersson getting on the podium once in the RA40 Celica and the Datsun Violet 160J nabbing three podiums and one outright win for Shekhar Mehta in the Safari Rally. Am I the only one thinking that rallying seemed a lot more interesting back then? Bring back rwd and carbs! Oh and by the way, check out the tandem drifting at 1’38.

Posted in motorsports, rally | 4 Comments

Rally Lancer Mk1 on Gravel?

Posted on March 27, 2009 by Matt De Mangos

At least I think that’s what he’s riding on … !

Yet another obscure old school Mitsi video for you closet Mitsi fans!

Posted in mitsubishi, motorsports, rally | 4 Comments

Isuzu Trucks Can Do Wheelies (Results May Vary)

Posted on March 27, 2009 by Kevin San

Back in the day, Isuzu wasn’t shy about doing outlandishly extreme commercials for its sometimes mundane products.  This reaches a zenith with these commercials for the mid 80s Forward truck.  More after the jump.

Continue reading →

Posted in isuzu, trucks | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

Friday Video: Detective Story's Mazda Cosmo AP

Posted on March 27, 2009 by Ben Hsu

This week’s video is a clip from 1979’s Detective Story. The 27-episode series was a comedy-drama about down-on-his-luck private detective Shunsaku Kudo. You see, Kudo was once a good cop in San Francisco that somehow felt responsible for the death of his friend. Now he’s back in his native Japan and working as a private detective, afraid to get too close to anyone, including the trouble-prone fashion model that conveniently lives in his apartment building.

Kudo was played by Yusaku Matsuda, and perhaps his last name had something to do with the way he keeps finding himself behind the wheel of a Mazda. In this case, Kudo soon trades his Vespa scooter in for a classy Cosmo AP, aka RX-5. When Kudo and the dame snoop around a bit too much at a construction site, the bad guys give chase in two large dump trucks and a helicopter. Watch till the end to learn the proper etiquette after wrecking a woman’s car during a high speed pursuit.

Also, watch the opening credits to Detective Story, which has one of the best theme songs ever.

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

Asics Onitsuka Tiger Shoe with Toyota 2000GT

Posted on March 26, 2009 by Ben Hsu

Here’s an interesting item found in one of the many small shops in the Ameyoko district near Ueno Station. It’s a glow-in-the-dark shoe featuring a Toyota 2000GT. We’re not sneaker freaks, but we tend to gravitate towards anything vintage and Japanese, and in recent years Japanese sneaker company Asics has been bringing back some of its very cool old school designs under the Onitsuka Tiger label.

A little research revealed that the 2000GT shoe was a limited edition created as part the Electric Tiger Land campaign (the video in the link clearly shoes a 3-D 2000GT being rendered). It’s kind of cool that when they decided to come up with a stereotypically Japanese theme that includes skyscrapers, Super Sentai and subways, they chose the original Toyota supercar to represent the automotive side of things. This campaign ended last year though, replaced in 2009 by a new campaign celebrating the company’s 60th anniversary (this video has a glimpse of a first-gen Honda Civic). But if you want the 2000GT shoe, it’s probably still there at the shop where this photo was taken.

Closeup of the largest of five 2000GTs after the jump. It’s headlights glow in the dark. Continue reading →

Posted in honda, nostalgic wear, toyota | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

The Road to Narita

Posted on March 25, 2009 by Ben Hsu

img_9552JNC is back home in the States, but there’s still much leftover material from Japan to write about. Here’s a look at the typical Japanese scenery one encounters during a drive to Narita Airport. This was my coach, my friend Satoshi’s S130 Crown Wagon. Continue reading →

Posted in japan, toyota, wagons | 10 Comments

GRAND TOURING: Fuji Speedway in a Toyota Crown

Posted on March 23, 2009 by Ben Hsu

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So sad… our last day in Japan, but at least it ended with a bang. Here’s a behind the scenes look at some upcoming material. My friend Goshu and I went to the Time Machine Festival at Fuji Speedway. Why does it always rain at this event? The cars were so unbelievably cool though, we kneeled in the water to get some detail shots anyway. By the end of the first hour, we were drenched. Continue reading →

Posted in events, japan, toyota | Tagged , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Friday Video: Mitsubishi Kei Car vs. Mustang II

Posted on March 20, 2009 by Ben Hsu

Perhaps the Skyline vs. Cougar video from two weeks ago was a bit too much excitement for your delicate sensibilities. If so, this week’s video is another Japan vs. Detroit matchup that flexes considerably less muscle. In 1985’s My Lucky Stars, a Mitsubishi Minica kei car chases down, of all things, a Ford Mustang II!

That’s right, the red-headed stepchild of the Mustang family tree was actually a hit in Japan, where the Mustang I was just too wide for its narrow streets. As a side note, if anyone is yearning for Mustang II models, focus your search on Japanese model kits and old Tomicas.

Back to the chase. Okay, so the star cars themselves aren’t that exciting, but as they cat-and-mouse it through an unnamed Japanese town (which for some reason has white picket fences), there are plenty of Toyota Corollas, Carinas, and Nissan Violets used as chase fodder. The bad guys – well, we assume they’re bad because one of them is wearing an eye patch and they’re being pursued by Jackie Chan – even ram a Mazda Familia and a Mitsubishi Galant. What background J-tin you can spot?

Posted in datsun, mazda, mitsubishi, nissan, Video Games | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

NIHON LIFE: Tressa Yokohama, Toyota’s Mega-Mall

Posted on March 19, 2009 by Ben Hsu

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I finally got some free time to go check out Tressa Yokohama, a giant Toyota-owned mega-mall in Kohoku, Yokohama. In addition to your typical shopping mall features like a McDonald’s counter and escalators pointing every which way, showrooms representing all six of Toyota’s sales channels – Toyota, Toyopet, Corolla and Netz, plus subsidiaries Daihatsu and Yamaha – inhabit the consumerist wonderland.

From the outside, it resembles the main drag of a typical Japanese suburb. But the land on which Tressa Yokohama was built actually has a rich automotive history. Shige-san of Mooneyes informed me that back in the 60s, this was the site of not only a huge Toyota plant, but one encircled by a high-speed oval test course. The spot was home to Toyota’s young motorsports R&D department, known simply as “Division 7” and the group responsible for development of the awesome Toyota 7 race car. The die-hard Toyota nut in me got a chill just knowing I had stood on such hallowed soil.

Continue reading →

Posted in Nihon Life | Tagged , , , , | 11 Comments

CA Seeks to Smog Check 15 Year Old Cars, Again

Posted on March 18, 2009 by Ben Hsu

Last August California assemblyman Dave Jones put forth a bill that sought to apply the state’s strict emissions inspections to cars 15 years or older. The bill was defeated, but now Jones is at it again. This time funds from the inspections would be put into a fund that encourages the scrapping of older cars.

We already posted the reasons why these laws would do very little for the environment and yet do a lot to hurt classic car owners, and we’re sure that many readers (of JNC and other classic car magazines) already wrote in to voice their disagreement, but Jones seems to have a one track mind.

Here are the main points against Jones’ bill:

  1. Old cars make up only a tiny fraction of the total number of cars and trucks on the roads today.
  2. The majority of collectors do not use their vintage cars as daily drivers.
  3. And most of all, encouraging the disposal of an old car so that a new one can take its place does not account for the manufacturing costs of the new vehicle.

We urge you to write into Dave Jones and the other members of the California state legislature. You can copy and paste this terrific letter written by JNCer RayRay.

Thanks to all the readers who emailed us about the bill. You can read the full SEMA press release after the jump. Continue reading →

Posted in laws | 9 Comments

More from Odaiba Car Show

Posted on March 17, 2009 by Ben Hsu

Here’s another photo from the weekend’s Odaiba car show sent to us by Mooneyes. There seems to be something car-related going on all the time there. This Celica may seem as painful as the itasha cars to some, but it’s inspired by the silhouette racers of the late 70s and early 80s.

More pics after the jump. Continue reading →

Posted in Spotlight, toyota | 6 Comments

Itasha Car Show at Odaiba

Posted on March 16, 2009 by Ben Hsu

itasha

Yesterday at Odaiba there was a car show that featured the odd combination of American muscle cars and itasha. Itasha is the latest Japanese fad, in which fans of anime and manga plaster their cars with large images of their favorite characters.

The term “itasha” means literally “painful car,” painful for both the wallet and the ego because the itasha know full well that real car guys look upon their rides with disdain. It can also be a pun for “Italian car” although itasha fans often use BMWs or otherwise desireable 180SXs, Soarers and Evos as a canvas.

I didn’t go to the show, but got the above photo from Mooneyes, which says (thankfully) there were many empty spaces and the show was kind of a dud.

Posted in japan | Tagged | 4 Comments

Book Garage: Japanese Car Brochure Heaven

Posted on March 13, 2009 by Ben Hsu

bookgarage1
No trip to Tokyo would be complete without a stop to Book Garage. It specializes in old Japanese car brochures, and has shelves filled with them. Want a catalog for a 1971 Nissan Cedric? How about a 1965 Toyota Toyoace commercial truck? They even have some reproduction brochures for really popular models. Everything from the obscure to the new is covered, and if you go, be prepared to spend yen. Book Garage is about a 10 minute walk from Nakano Station, out the North Exit and past the Nakano Broadway mall.

Continue reading →

Posted in catalogs, japan | 20 Comments

JNC on Attack of the Show!

Posted on March 11, 2009 by Dan Hsu

So I was putting the finishing touches on Issue 3 tonight and I get a call from my friend who says “TURN ON G4!!” Unfortunately, being a start up magazine doesn’t afford us luxuries like cable TV, but I was able to find the embedded clip on the show’s website. Thanks for the tip Anand!

PS – Olivia Munn is welcome to come interview us anytime =)

Posted in jnc | 20 Comments

Daikoku by Day

Posted on March 11, 2009 by Ben Hsu

daikoku_soarers2
You’ve all heard of the stories of Daikoku Parking Area. On weekends, it serves as the gathering area for a multitude of Japan’s outrageous car cultures, from hashiriya street racers to bosozoku bikers to crazy vanners with more fiberglass than metal content on their rides.

Nowadays, the police have harshed the buzz and closed off Daikoku’s nuttiness on weekend nights. You can catch some action on Friday, but it’s still the main rest stop between Tokyo and Yokohama so you never know what you’ll see at any given time. Last Sunday I happened to be passing by and stopped for some photos. Not much in the way of classics, but if you’re from the states here’s some rare JDM machinery nonetheless.

More pics after the jump. Continue reading →

Posted in mazda, mitsubishi, nissan, subaru, toyota | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Japanese Backyard Collection of J-tin

Posted on March 10, 2009 by Ben Hsu

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This backyard stash of J-tin was just sitting about on a quiet suburban side street. The owner of this trove may not want to be revealed so I won’t mention any names, but he did say that the majority of these cars will, one day, be restored. A few are too far gone, like the black S30 Crown and the blue Sports 800, but the rest should keep him busy for a while. Amazingly, he said that the neighbors don’t complain at all. Instead, they think it’s cool to see the old cars. Nobody tell them about HOAs.

More pics after the jump. Continue reading →

Posted in datsun, honda, japan, kei, nissan, subaru, suzuki, toyota, vans, wagons | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments