Oh Crap, Japan Adopts Cash for Clunkers

Posted on May 14, 2009 by Ben Hsu

celicagtv_junkedWell it was bound to happen. The Cash for Clunker program has hit the motherload, in the motherland of our favorite cars. Japan is now offering citizens ¥250,000 (about $2500) towards the purchase of a new car if they trade in any car 13 years or older.

When we first started following the Cash for Clunkers saga the program was a misguided attempt at ecology. But then the world economy turned to poo and any environmentally minded pretense was flushed down the toilet faster than a spider in a tissue. Continue reading →

Posted in japan, laws | Tagged , | 12 Comments

Lotsa (Mitsubishi) Lambdas

Posted on May 14, 2009 by Matt De Mangos

In my never ending effort to source old school Mitsu material for you guys, I came across these random images of Galant Lambdas ready to find new owners.

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Unless my mind is playing tricks on me, I believe I see a “Challenger” badge on the fender. If so, then these were meant for the States, or some other export country where the car was badged as such. Continue reading →

Posted in mitsubishi | 8 Comments

EVENTS: All-Toyotafest 2009

Posted on May 13, 2009 by Ben Hsu

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If you happened to see a blue Cressida wagon and blue AE86 pulled over on the 710 by the California Highway Patrol on the way to Toyotafest last Saturday, that was yours truly at JNC. We were running late and, shall we say, briskly, but an irate Officer Poncharello thought we were street racing. Somehow, we were able to convince him we weren’t and made it to the show to take the photos in this gallery. Unfortunately, each of us still got one of these: Continue reading →

Posted in events, toyota, trucks | 9 Comments

JNCer's Datsun 510 Rant Makes Us LOL

Posted on May 12, 2009 by Ben Hsu

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We get a lot of strange letters in our inbox here at JNC headquarters and most of them just leave us scratching our heads. But once in a while a shining gem rises above the chaff to make our bellies ache with laughter. Marcus H.’s rant was so well-written and funny that we cannot improve on it at all, so we’ll just print it in its entirety: Continue reading →

Posted in datsun, nissan | Tagged , | 11 Comments

Classic Motor Show in Lahti, Finland

Posted on May 12, 2009 by Matt De Mangos

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We wanted to share JNCer mikko1200’s photos of the Lahti Classic Motor Show with you despite the fact that it wasn’t just a show of J-tin. It was held in Finland, a country that appears to have a healthy amount of respect for nostalgics, enough so that they are displayed alongside European and American marques. Continue reading →

Posted in events | 6 Comments

Events for Sunday, May 17

Posted on May 11, 2009 by Matt De Mangos

Just a little heads up on some local events coming up this weekend, in SoCal and Pennsylvania.
Continue reading →

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EVENTS: Z Car West Coast Nationals

Posted on May 11, 2009 by Ben Hsu


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More Zs than a week’s worth of transcripts from a beehive.

Posted in datsun, events, nissan | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Happy 510 Day 2009!

Posted on May 10, 2009 by Ben Hsu

datsun510This Sunday we celebrate the one without which we would not exist, the one who brought us into the world… Continue reading →

Posted in datsun, nissan | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Bonus Vintage JNC Car Chase Video

Posted on May 8, 2009 by Matt De Mangos


While Seibu Keisatsu may be the quintessential JNC cop show, here’s another zany vintage car chase video floating around the internet. The following selection is from a movie but we’re not sure which title, so if you figure it out, be sure to reply.

With this one we get a little more graphic with a Crown HT in the role of a bank robbery getaway car. Watch for the for the bad guy taking off his sunglasses… it’s classic.

Posted in toyota, Video Games | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Friday Video: Mazda Luce Legato Smash!

Posted on May 8, 2009 by Ben Hsu

Who knew that Mazdas could slice open a Nissan like a knife through hot butter? We have absolutely no idea what movie or TV show this is from, nor what is going on here, but it sure is zany! However, the fun times implied by a bright yellow Mazda Luce Legato surgically bisecting a Cedric down the middle seems to take a darker detour when the final crash engulfs several cars – and presumably their occupants – in flames and a (um, spoiler alert?) child’s red cap falls from the sky. If you know from where this clip originated, let us know in the comments.

Posted in mazda, nissan, toyota, Video Games | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

All Japan Day, Adelaide Australia

Posted on May 7, 2009 by Ben Hsu

all-japandayThere were so many car shows going on last weekend. All-Japan Day, “Australia’s premier all-japanese classic and import show,” went down in Adelaide, South Australia. But since they’re in the southern hemisphere doesn’t that make them, like, the Wisconsin of Oz? And yet, so… much… J-tin! Is that sound reasoning? Who knows, we fail at geography. But what we don’t fail at is drooling over very awesome cars.

Some of you look at the Events, Meets & Gatherings section of the forum for event announcements, but where do you think the pictures go after the show’s over, hmmmm? Check out both pages of JNCer benny_blanco‘s snaps (page 2 here). All of us (well, minus Kev) once again proclaim our jealousy of the Ozzies! Hand over your J-tin and eucalyptus Ewok bears now!!

Posted in events | Tagged | 4 Comments

EVENTS: Solvang Datsun Roadster Classic

Posted on May 6, 2009 by Ben Hsu

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And now for your viewing pleasure, photos from the 2009 Solvang Datsun Roadster Classic.

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

Be There: 14th All-Toyotafest, Sat. May 9

Posted on May 5, 2009 by Ben Hsu

toyotafest2007 Sick of Datsuns? Come down to Long Beach, CA for the 14th Annual All-Toyotafest this Saturday, May 9. JNC will have a booth there along with our battle wagon, so stop by and say howdy. Doors open a 9AM and remember that this year, by popular demand, this show is back at the Queen Mary. See the Toyota Owners’ and Restorers’ Club for more details. If you love what Toyota does for you, you can’t miss this!

Here are links to coverage of the 2008 and 2007 shows.

Posted in events, toyota | Tagged , , | 10 Comments

Uh Oh: National Cash for Clunkers Bill Coming

Posted on May 5, 2009 by Ben Hsu

As we predicted over a year ago, the Cash for Clunkers program offered by states such as California and Texas is going national. Continue reading →

Posted in laws | 23 Comments

Prince Skyline Sport at Concorso D’Eleganza

Posted on May 5, 2009 by Ben Hsu

You can tell from the name itself that the Concorso D’Eleganza Villa D’Este is not your typical Denny’s parking lot car meet. It’s held at the end of every April held on the shores of Lake Como, Italy, one of the most gorgeous locations planet Earth has to offer. The show stems from the days just before the Great Depression (the, um, first one, in 1929) and lasted through WWII. So what’s a Skyline doing there? Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged , , , | 15 Comments

EVENTS: Time Machine Festival

Posted on May 4, 2009 by Ben Hsu

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We hope this event coverage is worth the wait. We gave you a sneak peek of the Time Machine Festival before, now here’s the real deal.

Posted in datsun, events, honda, isuzu, japan, jnc, mazda, mitsubishi, motorsports, nissan, toyota | Tagged | 5 Comments

Jay Leno's Honda SM600 on Speed TV

Posted on May 2, 2009 by Ben Hsu

We just got a hot tip from Brian Baker that tomorrow, Sunday May 3 at 10:00am Eastern Time, Speed Channel will be broadcasting an episode of My Classic Car called “Jay Leno’s Little Cars.” Of course, that would include one of his prized possessions, a 1965 Honda SM600 that we profiled before it found its way into Leno’s hands. Also, we are using any excuse available to link to this photo again.

The episode will be run again on May 4 at 3:00am and May 5 at 3:00pm. The website has a full schedule.

Posted in honda | 3 Comments

Friday Videos: More SA22C Love

Posted on April 30, 2009 by Kevin San

Since our post earlier this week was pretty popular, we thought we’d round out the week with some more old school SA22C RX-7 love. Here’s a couple of vids.

This first vid is from Japanese video car magazine Video Option. It starts out with Ama-san from Tokyo rotary tuner RE-Amemiya building up an SA22C (shame there’s not more of that buildup phase) and then we skip ahead to Tsukuba Circuit where it’s put through its paces by Shinichi Yamaji (who I believe raced GT300 for RE-Amemiya at the time), posting a very respectable 1:05, a good time for a mildly tuned FD. If this doesn’t make you want one, I don’t know what will!

More video after the jump.

Continue reading →

Posted in mazda | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

Austrian Collector Auctions Fleet of Japanese Cars

Posted on April 30, 2009 by Ben Hsu

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What surprises us more than an Austrian actor auctioning off his collection of Japanese cars, is the fact that there was an Austrian actor with a collection of Japanese cars to begin with.

We aren’t familiar with Roland Düringer but after seeing his car collection, we wish we were. Apparently he’s quite the comedic celebrity in his homeland, and a motorsport enthusiast as well. His stable includes an enviable herd of J-tin, including an S60 Crown, Corollas from ’75 and ’79, a Celica liftback, Mitsubishi Sapporo and a Honda S800 Coupe. He also has newer fare like a Toyota Will VI, Nissan Cube and Nissan Figaro.

So why is Düringer selling off his cars? Well, it’s for a good cause – to help a young man recently paralyzed in a moped accident so he can get his car modified to accommodate his handicap. Hats off to you, Mr. Düringer!

More pics of Düringer’s collection after the jump. Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 10 Comments

East Coast Events: Zero Garage at Road Atlanta

Posted on April 28, 2009 by Ben Hsu

zerogarage There are more events for you east coasters this weekend! Take the midnight train to Georgia and meet up with Zero Garage, our favorite band of Peach State bandits at Road Atlanta! They will be repping J-tin at the Mitty, so be sure to check it out. Go to Import Atlanta for details.

[Image: Puregroove.org]

Posted in events | 6 Comments