Japanese Nostalgic Car

Today, Toyota unveiled the 13th generation Toyota Crown in Japan. It doesn’t look much different from the 12th generation Crown, but it looks a helluva lot different from the first generation Crown from 1955. There aren’t many models in the world that can boast such a long continuous run. Seriously, it’s even outlasted its original marque, Toyopet. Though it’s no longer the king in Toyota’s lineup, having been displaced by Centuries, Celsiors and Lexuses, it remains what it’s always been, a stylish luxury car that is to Tokyo what a pickup truck is to Texas. And most importantly, it’s still RWD. Available engines are all V6s, with sizes ranging from 2.5 to 3.5. Symbolic of our times, a hybrid version is available with the 3.5L motor.

[Toyota Japan]

There’s no doubt that the FJ40 Landcruiser of the late 60s is a very cool thing. To just look at one, it just oozes offroad mojo, rock-hard toughness and indestructibility. But an FJ40 also has a softer side too. See one at the beach and now it’s a picture of laid-back, surfie-dude charm. It’s an unlikely JDM classic, but its credentials are sound.

But to drive, they’re pretty crude and primitive, with bouncy suspensions and asthmatic engines. But now a California outfit called TLC has refreshed the FJ40 Landcruiser for the 21st century.

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For our dear readers who are observing the Lunar New Year by partying hearty this weekend, we at JNC would like to wish you a happy and prosperous Year of the Rat. To celebrate, here’s a photo of one of our favorite firecrackin’ SEMA cars ever, a Toyota FJ45 Land Cruiser done up in rat rod style, powered by a 750-horsepower Toyota NASCAR V8. The door says, “Toyota Motor Sales. New Cars since 1957. Hollywood, Ca.” How cool is that?  Go here for more photos of this beast.