QotW: For which post-1980 JNC is zenki better than kouki?

Posted on February 12, 2024 by Ben Hsu

Conventional wisdom states that newer is better but we all know that’s not true, especially when it comes to cars. There are some in which the pre-facelift (zenki) is preferred over the post-facelift (kouki). We’re limiting this question to 1980 and newer Japanese automobiles, because it would be all too easy to pick the thin-bumpered versions of earlier cars. Also, 1980 was the year when carmakers began to establish a rhythm of 4-year redesign cycles with a mid-model change at year two.

For which post-1980 JNC is zenki better than kouki?

The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What JNC should be made into a Lego set?“. Continue reading →

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Happy Year of the Dragon from JNC

Posted on February 10, 2024 by Ben Hsu

Today, February 10, is the Lunar New Year, and that means it’s officially the Year of the Dragon. The A20 Toyota Celica is the car that represents this mythical beast. For a creature that is so prominent in Asian culture, it’s surprising there aren’t more dragon references in the automotive realm, but the Celica might just be the perfect car for this logo. Continue reading →

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The Mazda MX-5 Miata turns 35 today

Posted on February 9, 2024 by Ben Hsu

On February 9, 1989 one of the most influential cars of the 20th Century was unveiled: The Mazda MX-5 Miata. It was shown to the world at the Chicago Auto Show and kicked off a roadster renaissance, inspiring BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi,  Honda, and Nissan to create 2-seater convertibles of their own. Even after 35 years, the Miata is still the most affordable and accessible gateway to get into driving as pleasure. Continue reading →

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Kawasaki Ninja’s 40th anniversary colors are awesomely retro

Posted on February 8, 2024 by Dan Hsu

Real ninja, the silent assassins of feudal Japan, date back to the 15th century. The iconic Kawasaki Ninja, however, turns 40 years old this year. The moniker debuted in 1984 as a rebranding of the GPZ900R, a groundbreaking sportbike that held the record for the fastest production motorcycle for four years (until 1988). To celebrate four decades of the Ninja, Kawasaki is releasing its newest Ninjas in super rad retro livery. Continue reading →

Posted in Motorcycles | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Toyotafest 2024 date and location announced

Posted on February 7, 2024 by Dan Hsu

Public Service Announcement: Toyotafest 2024 will be held at the Marina Green in Long Beach, Calif. on Saturday, June 8, 2024. This will mark the 28th annual All-Toyotafest, which welcomes Toyota, Lexus, Scion, and Toyopet vehicles. Vendor registration is already open, and registration for show cars will open in the spring. It’s a good a time as any to mark your calendars.

Posted in events | 4 Comments

Happy TE27 Day from JNC

Posted on February 7, 2024 by Dan Hsu

The great-grandfather to the AE86, the Toyota TE27 still isn’t that well known among car collector circles. We spotted this one in with glorious glass-smooth paint in the parking lot outside the Tokyo Nostalgic Car Show in 2010. A VW Bus towers over the lowered Corolla Levin. However, this year Hot Wheels is coming out with a diecast version of it, something we’ve been advocating since the Jun Imai days. But nowadays Hot Wheels is an incredibly influential brand, with collectors that aren’t even traditional real car enthusiasts. It’s likely that after this year, TE27s will be much more on collectors’ radar. Happy TE27 Day from JNC.

Posted in Holidays | 3 Comments

Volk Racing TE37V celebrates 10th anniversary with exclusive finishes

Posted on February 6, 2024 by Ben Hsu

It’s hard to believe, but the Volk Racing TE37V is at least a decade old. The wheel was developed by Rays to merge the iconic TE37 6-spoke with fitments for old school cars with smaller diameters and low offsets. To honor 10 years of the TE37V, Rays is offering the appropriately named Volk Racing TE37V 10th Anniversary Edition, featuring new finishes and colors. Continue reading →

Posted in wheels | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

QotW: What JNC should be made into a Lego set?

Posted on February 5, 2024 by Steve Chang

Lego are insanely popular right now, but there isn’t much in the way of JNCs. They have licenses from Nissan, Toyota, Yamaha, Kawasaki, and maybe Honda, but they barely do anything with them. There’s a lot of potential in those catalogs. We’re pretty certain a nice Datsun 240Z or Toyota FJ40 made of plastic bricks would sell quite well, and be a welcome alternative to yet another supercar. We’ve explored what creative fans can make, and Lego does sometimes adopt individual-built works into actual kits.

What JNC should be made into a Lego set?

The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “If you could magically merge the body of one car with the hardware of another, what would you choose?“. Continue reading →

Posted in Question of the Week | 12 Comments

Lego McLaren-Honda MP4/4 Formula One race car debuts this spring

Posted on February 2, 2024 by Ben Hsu

Lego has announced a new large-scale kit paying homage to the legendary McLaren-Honda MP4/4. One of the winningest race cars in Formula One history, the car kicked off the McLaren-Honda team’s storied 4-year F1 Constructor’s Championship winning streak, which lasted from 1988 to 1991. Soon, it will be possible to recreate this historic machine out of 693 tiny plastic bricks. Continue reading →

Posted in Model Kits | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Mazda CX-70: When less should be more, but isn’t

Posted on January 31, 2024 by Ben Hsu

We have a wad of money, ready to fork over to Mazda, yet they seem dead set on refusing it. The Mazda CX-70 was supposed to be our next family car, but after seeing it in person we aren’t so sure. It left us bewildered at the the decisions being made in Hiroshima. Everyone expected the CX-70 to be a smaller, lighter, CX-90. It’s not. Instead, it’s essentially a CX-90 with the third row taken out. That’s it. Continue reading →

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O.G. Nissan Skyline GT-Rs go for a relaxing afternoon drive

Posted on January 31, 2024 by Steve Chang

There isn’t much to this video, just a couple of O.G. Skyline GT-Rs at the track. Nissan calls the video a relaxing afternoon drive and the pace certainly appears leisurely. But pristine specimens of S20s on steelies snaking through bends in golden hour sun is a feast for the eyes. Continue reading →

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Watch a Toyota 85C Le Mans racer take on a touge road

Posted on January 30, 2024 by Ben Hsu

The Toyota 85C was built for flying down the Mulsanne straight at 180 mph, not for slinging around winding roads in the Japanese mountains. The wild, 500-horsepower prototype is a rolling aero wedge. But there’s something exhilarating in watching a professional drifter pilot Toyota’s first Le Mans finisher up a tree-lined touge in Japan. Continue reading →

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QotW: If you could magically merge the body of one car with the hardware of another, what would you choose?

Posted on January 29, 2024 by Steve Chang

One of the coolest things about the FJ40/J70 Franken-Cruiser from the Tokyo Auto Salon was how it looked. It was indistinguishable from a classic FJ40 to all but the most dedicated Land Cruiser enthusiasts. Yet it rode on a modern (well, as modern as a J70 can be) chassis and drivetrain. What other cars can you combine to create your ultimate dream machine? In the real world you’d have wheelbase and packaging issues, but let’s pretend those can be solved by magic. Your Nissan Figaro will look exactly the same as its factory counterpart but will drive like a GT-R.

If you could magically merge the body of one car with the hardware of another, what would you choose?

The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What JNC is perfect for any occasion?“. Continue reading →

Posted in Question of the Week | Tagged | 18 Comments

Mazda Familia Van with rotary engine swap shines at Tokyo Auto Salon

Posted on January 26, 2024 by Ben Hsu

The RE Amemiya booth at the Tokyo Auto Salon always gathers a special display of rotary-powered cars. The legendary Mazda tuner typically has a fleet of heavily modified RX-7s and RX-8s to display with one old school Hiroshima sled thrown in. This year that came in the form of a 1979 Mazda Familia Van, known in the US as a GLC Wagon, with a rotary engine swap. Continue reading →

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Why Toyota had a used Suzuki Jimny at its Tokyo Auto Salon booth

Posted on January 25, 2024 by Ben Hsu

The main stage at Toyota’s 2024 Tokyo Auto Salon booth is a strange place to find a Suzuki. Or a Yamaha. But this year Toyota surprised attendees with a showcase of seemingly unrelated cars. In lieu of a formal press conference, Toyota instead chose to offer New Year Greetings from “Morizo” the racing alter ego of retired president Akio Toyoda, who used the opportunity to display some of his favorite cars. Continue reading →

Posted in Tokyo Auto Salon | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Restored S13 Silvia, Nissan Bluebird Cube, Toyota S-FR roadster: Incredible creations by Japan’s tech school students

Posted on January 24, 2024 by Steve Chang

NATS always has a big presence at the Tokyo Auto Salon but it’s not the only school with cars to display. There are many technical colleges across Japan that all get to display their projects at the country’s biggest custom car show. The projects range from serious to seriously wacky, but here are some of our other favorites from 2024. Continue reading →

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An FJ40 on a J70 chassis kicks off Toyota’s Land Cruiser customization business

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Ben Hsu

If you have an old Land Cruiser there is probably no better place to get it customized than Toyota itself. At the 2024 Tokyo Auto Salon what appeared to be a yellow FJ40 was displayed, but it was no ordinary Land Cruiser. The FJ40 body was mated to a J70 chassis, and it was there to promote a semi-official customization shop run by Toyota. Continue reading →

Posted in Tokyo Auto Salon | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

QotW: What JNC is perfect for any occasion?

Posted on January 22, 2024 by Steve Chang

Life circumstances have made it so that you can have only one car that needs to do it all. It has to take you to work every day, look dignified enough as to not embarrass your boss/date/HOA, and be fun enough to take on a spirited drive or whatever leisure activity you prefer. Money isn’t an object but space is.

What JNC is perfect for any occasion?

The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What’s your best/worst police encounter story?“. Continue reading →

Posted in Question of the Week | Tagged | 15 Comments

TOM’s launches Toyota restoration business to mark 50th anniversary

Posted on January 19, 2024 by Ben Hsu

Tachi Oiwa Motorsport, better known as TOM’s, has been modifying the latest and greatest Toyotas for 50 years. To mark the occasion, the famed tuning house announced at the 2024 Tokyo Auto Salon that it has started its own restoration business. To kick things off, TOM’s showed an A80 Toyota Supra restomod based on the TRD 3000GT first shown at the Tokyo Auto Salon 30 years ago. Continue reading →

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Mini Kenmeri Skyline, Corona lowrider, slammed Jimny: the wild Tokyo Auto Salon customs by NATS

Posted on January 18, 2024 by Ben Hsu

One of the most reliably entertaining booths at the Tokyo Auto Salon is that of NATS, the Nihon Automobile Technical School. The college teaches auto repair, but each year students get to indulge several far-out projects that end up on the floor of the Auto Salon. For 2024 the NATS creations were especially noteworthy, and each of the four showcase cars had some kind of nostalgic car angle. Continue reading →

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