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

toyotacelica_toyotasports800
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

Japan Sighting: Denso Corona Wagons

Posted on March 9, 2009 by Ben Hsu

toyota_corolla_ke70_wagon_denso2
Random Japan sighting: Isn’t it nice to know the Corona wagons employed by Denso are still in service? I thought these were KE70 Corollas originally but apparently they are Coronas!

Closeup after the jump Continue reading →

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

Seibu Keisatsu's Skyline vs. Mercury Cougar

Posted on March 6, 2009 by Ben Hsu

Ready for some Detroit vs. Japan action? A C210 Skyline chasing down a 1970 Mercury Cougar, perhaps? In fact, it’s the episode of Seibu Keisatsu in which the chief adds a new car to the fleet, the Super Machine-X Skyline 2000GT-Turbo! It’s the latest in crime-fighting technology, back when a camera and a couple of computers took up the entire cabin!

And wouldn’t you know it, on its very first day in the motor pool the crew has to go after some muscle car driving bad guys. Time to break it in! The pursuit that follows takes us through a long stretch of Japanese expressway, crawling with awesome nostalgic steel.

As Kev posted before, the introduction of the Skyline on this show boosted sales so much, Nissan made a point to donate their latest models for future episodes as soon as they were released.

Parts 2 and 3 after the jump. Continue reading →

Posted in datsun, nissan, seibu keisatsu, Video Games | Tagged , , , | 12 Comments

Japanese Elevator Car Park

Posted on March 5, 2009 by Ben Hsu

car_elevator_parkingSurely you’ve all heard of the car park elevators in Japan. You drive your car into a cradle and it goes up like a Ferris wheel.

Unlike most, this one is not covered by walls to look like an actual building, giving us a clear view of the mechanism in all its glory. Bewilderingly, it’s only about three stories tall and holds just six cars. It seems kind of pointless to go through the trouble of erecting this thing when the lot probably could have held three cars to begin with.

Also, it must really suck for the residents of the apartment behind it, to have the view from your window obstructed by a giant metal car carousel. But such are the concessions one has to make when space is at a premium.

Posted in japan | 4 Comments

J-Tin on the New Price is Right

Posted on March 4, 2009 by Matt De Mangos

America’s longest-running T.V. game show “The New Price is Right” got its start in 1972 and is still on the air today. Many of the old episodes are available for viewing free of charge on the interwebs. What interests us especially are some of the J-tin prize offerings on the show. Here are a couple video stills:

First item up for bid is a Honda Civic, which looks to be ’73:
hondacivic_priceisright
Incidentally, the model has apparently lost control of the car at this point.

Continue reading →

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

Ice Coffee & Hakosuka Skyline

Posted on March 4, 2009 by Ben Hsu

wondacoffee_hakosuka-1
Not much to report from Japanland today. I’m drinking plenty of coffee, not only because I’m busy writing articles and making appointments, but also for the awesome toys that you get free with the canned java. In this case, it’s a Choro-Q KPGC10 Skyline. I promise I will go out and take more photos as soon as time allows.

Posted in datsun, japan, minicars, nissan | 10 Comments

EVENTS: Mooneyes Cruise Night in Yokohama

Posted on March 3, 2009 by Ben Hsu

mooneyescruisenight019_mitsubishidebonair

So despite popping awake at 4am due to ungodly jetlag and traipsing all over the Nos2Days show, I went to check out Mooneyes’ cruise night on Saturday, where I nearly passed out from a mixture of gasoline fumes and exhaustion. Here’s a Mitsubishi Debonair stealing away into the night.
Continue reading →

Posted in datsun, honda, japan, jnc, mazda, mitsubishi, nissan, suzuki | 20 Comments

EVENTS: Nos2Days

Posted on March 2, 2009 by Ben Hsu

nos2days2009190_361_nissanlaurelc130_mazdarx-3_nissanskylinec10sedan
The full event report is up. Enjoy!

Posted in events | Tagged , , | 11 Comments

Nos2Days Day 1 Sneak Peek

Posted on February 28, 2009 by Ben Hsu

nos2days_kenmeri_skyline
So this is why I’m in Japan and posting Friday videos on Thursday – the first ever Nos2Days show in Yokohama. As you might have guessed it lasts two days and is sponsored by the best selling Japanese classic car magazine, Nostalgic Hero! You know you’ve drooled over the pictures (but probably not understood the words if you’re like us), but this was a chance to see the magazine’s cars in person. Ok, enough chit-chat. Onto the pics!

Continue reading →

Posted in events, mitsubishi, nissan, subaru, suzuki, toyota | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Your Weekend Dose of Seibu Keisatsu

Posted on February 26, 2009 by Ben Hsu

Here is your Friday video. But it’s Thursday, you say? Yes, there will be no Friday post this week because I’ll be on a plane to Japan! Hopefully the forthcoming pictures will make up for it.

This clip is once again from Seibu Keisatsu, the Japanese cop show that has destroyed more Nissans than Formula D. The story arc of this chase is a bit unclear, but you basically have the West Tokyo Police Force mobilizing against bad guys in a pair of car carriers. As the gullwing 280ZX, R30 Skyline and a random unmarked Cedric give chase, the trucks – hauling a Fairlady Z and kenmeri Skyline, I might add – cause all sorts of havoc for Bluebird and Cedric drivers unfortunate enough to be in their path.

And oh look, the cops can flip a switch to turn any traffic signal green! Despite a computer that looks about as advanced as a Texas Instruments graphing calculator, they manage to divert the perps into a roadblock. But the real question is never answered. What happened to the hostage cars on the carriers!?

See you on the flipside!

Posted in datsun, nissan | 3 Comments

Japanese License Plate Cell Strap

Posted on February 25, 2009 by Ben Hsu

japanese_license_plate_keychain
Surely you have noticed the Japanese cell phone strap craze. Why you’d want a bouquet of plastic cartoon characters dangling from your mobile, we do not know. But if you’re looking for a cell deco with an automotive theme, peep these Japanese license plates.

They’re available in six styles, including gold for “VIP.” You can select the issuing city and four numbers, which is all the space a Japanese license plate has. Vanity plates in Japan typically consist of the car’s chassis code, so if you cruise around town in a TE27, the plate would read “. . 27”.

[Strapya]

Posted in nostalgic gear | 5 Comments

2009 Toyotafest Registration Now Open

Posted on February 24, 2009 by Ben Hsu

Toyotafest2009
Calling all Toyotaku! Registration for the 2009 All Toyotafesti is now open! Come celebrate the joy of ‘Yotas ownership with your fellow enthusiast. This year the show is back at the Queen Mary in Long Beach due to popular demand. We wouldn’t miss this for the world and will be there with the JNC wagon, meeting folks and taking pictures. Remember, May 9, 2009. Mark your calendars (And if you don’t have any, you can order one here). You won’t want to miss it!

Click on over for coverage of the 2008 and 2007 Toyotafests.

Posted in events, toyota | Leave a comment

Goertz Myth Watch, Part III

Posted on February 24, 2009 by Ben Hsu

nissan_fairlady_zg
We opened up a can of worms last month when we questioned the conventionally held belief that Albrecht Goertz designed, among others, the Toyota 2000GT and Datsun 240Z. If you want to see yet another misinformed article about this piece, or are simply looking for an excuse to bash your head against your desk, by all means read on. Continue reading →

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

Dogs Love Vintage Hondas

Posted on February 23, 2009 by Ben Hsu


If you like dogs and nostalgics, this Honda Dog wallpaper gallery has everything you need. Full gallery after the jump.

Continue reading →

Posted in honda | 11 Comments

Billet Aluminium Hakosuka Skyline

Posted on February 23, 2009 by Kevin San

434_kgc10banner
For those of you who are looking to upgrade from Choro-Qs…here’s your chance!

It’s a billet alloy KPGC10 Skyline.  And if you have to ask, no you can’t afford it.  Details after the jump.

Continue reading →

Posted in datsun, minicar, nissan, Toys | Tagged , , | 14 Comments

OSCA Winner: Kiwi Series One Mazda RX-7

Posted on February 22, 2009 by Ben Hsu

mazda_rx7_osca
I’ve been on a SA22/FB RX-7 kick recently. I think it’s because the styling was so radical for its time, and the rotary engine suited that theme perfectly. It was practically born to race, and began taking checkered flags as soon as it was unleashed at events like the 24 Hours of Daytona, Spa 24 Hours, and various touring car championships in Australia, Great Britain and the US.

That’s why this 1978 RX-7 found on NZ Performance Car caught my eye. It has a 13B turbo running 20 pounds of boost and a list of mods almost as long as Chile. That translates to a terrifying 514 wheel hp and it looks absolutely evil. Actually, I think it’s exactly what a Series 1 RX-7 endurance car would look like if Mazda still made SA22s new.

Mark Burgess built it for New Zealand’s OSCA, or Open Saloon Car Association, series and began winning races with it as soon as he stepped onto the track, just like RX-7 drivers of yore. Remind me, why don’t Americans watch touring cars again?

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

1978 Plymouth Sapporo Crash Test

Posted on February 20, 2009 by Matt De Mangos

Due to the scarcity of old school Mitsubishi videos out there, we must content ourselves with whatever we can get:

Should this fail to get your pulse racing, feel free to review the previous blog entry for a more explosive pyrotechnic display.

Posted in mitsubishi | Tagged | 12 Comments

Some Seibu Keisatsu for Your Weekend

Posted on February 20, 2009 by Ben Hsu

Whew, it’s 2:30 AM and we just got back from a ridiculously long but productive day writing articles, scoring a free desk on craigslist for the JNC office, and attending important meetings about ad sales. Just one more day until the weekend, during which we will write more articles. Time to unwind with your Friday video!

It’s a scene from Seibu Keisatsu, the ass-kickingest Japanese cop show ever. If you thought last week’s Toyota Crown wagon jumping over an exploding police car was improbable, how about an entire box van? Did we mention it was full of bad guys lobbing grenades at hapless Nissan Cedric police cruisers? There’s some glimpses of C210 and R30 Skylines too, and of course our hero Daimon arrives in a gullwing 280ZX to save the day.

If you want more Seibu Keisatsu, and we think you do, check here, here, here and here.

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

Pitroad, Sunny Tuning House

Posted on February 19, 2009 by Ben Hsu

pitroad_b310_nissan_sunny

Cheater_5, the JNC reader who introduced us to Auckland’s Tama Autos, has a another great post about Pitroad, the Chiba-based Sunny tuning house responsible for the pulse-quickening B310 TS Cup car pictured above. They make everything from suspension parts to bottom end internals, and can even ship you a built A-series engine if you’re serious about it.

You gotta love those squared off fender flares. Not every car can pull it off, but the B310 took Sunny styling in a boxier direction and they suit it perfectly. Even if you aren’t into the Sunny per se, there’s a large gallery of lovely TS Cup race photos on the Pitroad website. We’ve put a selection of our favorites after the jump, and also check out cheater_5’s take on the subject as someone who lives and breathes Sunnys, in other words A B110 Perspective. Continue reading →

Posted in datsun, nissan, tuning shop | 3 Comments