Want to see your car featured on grandJDM?

Posted on June 29, 2007 by Van

 Datsun 2000

There are thousands of beautiful old skool JDM cars out there – you only need to look at the photos from the various events  and shows around the world.  But, of course, getting in touch with the owners is another thing all together.

So, if you own a great example of a classic JDM car – whether it’s a sports car or a saloon, or even a truck! – and would like to see your car featured here at grandJDM, send us an email to discuss it.  We’re ideally looking for cars older than 1980, but we’re happy to discuss the possibilities for especially great examples of 80s JDM too.

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Old School Toyz

Posted on June 29, 2007 by Van

Old School Toyz

Old School Toyz, as you’ve no doubt guessed by now, is a website dedicated to old school Toyotas, from the 60s through to the 80s. While we don’t focus as much on the 80s yet here at grandJDM, we’ve got no shortage of love and envy for the bevy of gorgeous classic Toyos featured on this site. Head over and check it out!

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Impending Redesign

Posted on June 28, 2007 by Ben Hsu

Do not adjust your screen. If you’ve been noticing some screwy behavior in the blog, it’s just because we are in the process of tweaking the look and feel of the site right now. We will return to your regularly scheduled website shortly.

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Number One Crush

Posted on June 28, 2007 by Ben Hsu

Ok, so this warning about various municipalities putting modified cars into the crusher may be only tangentially relevant to owners of Japanese classics, seeing as how many of our cars are not even capable of breaking the speed limit (or even leaving the driveway, for that matter). Still, for those of you rolling old school with a 4AG or SR20 swap, we offer this public service announcement.

Last week, police from inland So-Cal counties crushed six modified cars used for allegedly containing stolen parts. In the LA Times example, Charles Hoang had the receipts to the transmission of his 350hp ’94 Integra, but the fuzz deemed it stolen and examples had to be made, so Hoang’s car was scrapyarded. Ontario (that’s CA (which means California)) Police Cpl. Jeff Higgins and clever punner says, “We’re making a dent” in street racing activity. According to the article this amounts to a roundabout attempt to curb racing, because such cars are run hard, which means they need more frequent repairs, which will more likely result in the use of stolen parts. Rube Goldberg, eat your heart out.

Not to be outdone, Ontario (Canada, this time) Attorney General Michael Bryant has warned that just plain modifying a car with speed parts is cause for a crushing, says the Toronto Star. We’ve heard Canada was socialist, but come on! Says Bryant: “Just on the balance of probabilities if we can establish that a car is being used for the unlawful purpose of street racing, we will seize it and you will never see it again,” which means that if your car even looks like it could be used for illegal racing, it’s toast. He even likened speed shops to bomb factories. Yes folks, fear of death by bomb is the new Nazi comparison.

Source [autoblog.com]

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KPGC10 Skyline GT-R Replica

Posted on June 27, 2007 by Van

C10 replica GT-R

Automotive news site Autoblog have stumbled across an astounding C10 GT-R replica. Considering the prices that the genuine item can fetch these days (anyone else wishing they’d bought one in the 80s/90s and held onto it?), it’s no surprise that people are choosing to go The Way of the Replica so often these days. And when it’s as lovingly done and as true to form as this example, who wouldn’t be happy to take it off his hands for the right price?

There’s some discussion in the Autoblog comments that the seller’s asking too much, but frankly, we think it’s a more than reasonable sale!

Visit Autoblog for more information and photos.

Posted in nissan | 2 Comments

Pip Pip: Goodwood Wrapup

Posted on June 26, 2007 by Ben Hsu

On Sunday, the Goodwood Festival of Speed of 2007 drew to a close. We’ve been waiting for pictures to filter in, and Autoblog, which has made no secret of how badly they’ve wanted to go after missing last year’s (sort of the position we find ourselves in right now), has posted galleries galore since their triumphant return to the States. Our favorite car in the recent photo batch has to be the 1968 Honda RA301. The F1 machine, piloted by John Surtees during the ’68 season, was notable for its water-cooled V12 and monocoque body, made ultra-light due to liberal application of magnesium. Sadly, gremlins and crash avoidance manuvers conspired to rob Surtees of several podium finishes and at least one first-place victory.

Goodwood isn’t just some fancy lawn party for jodhpur-wearing, pinky-lifting tea-sippers. To give you an idea of its significance, Nissan even brought out the clear winner of the “Most Chased by Spy Photographers, 2005-2007” award, the Skyline GT-R prototype, for the hillclimb, complete with black camouflage disguising the nose!

Jolly good, then. I think that just about does it for West Sussex. Oh, what the hell, here’s one more shot of the Toyotas up in the air.

Images courtesy of Autoblog. GT-R tip courtesy of Jalopnik.

Posted in honda, nissan, racing, toyota | Leave a comment

Semi-bosozoku style C211 Skyline

Posted on June 26, 2007 by Van

Boso-style C211 Skyline

Depending on who you ask, the C211 is possibly one of the less popular models in the lengthy Skyline history, but it’s gotta be fair to say that this particular example is stunning. While its interior and engine bay could stand a little attention, the exterior looks to be in awesome condition, and the rims and exposed oil cooler really help to set it off.

Check out The Drift Scene for more information and photos!

Posted in nissan | 1 Comment

Old Skool at JTuned

Posted on June 25, 2007 by Van

Luce at JCCS

A little time travel today, as we throw you back to October 2005 to check out an article and gallery of shots from the inaugural Japanese Classic Car Show in California, USA, by well known JDM-dedicated online magazine JTuned.

While many of the cars shown are post-1980 (technically, a classic car in the US need only be 25 years or older), there’s no shortage of sexy 60s and 70s JDM to feast your eyes on.  Get to it!

Old Skool JDM @ JTuned.com

Posted in events | 2 Comments

SR20DET powered 510-series Bluebird

Posted on June 24, 2007 by Van

SR20DET powered 510 Bluebird

“OneSickLambo” – a member of the EvolutionM.net forums – has undertaken the task of dropping an SR20DET engine into his Datsun 510, known in its homeland as a Nissan Bluebird from the 510 series. More than that though, he’s gone all out to modernise and customise the hell out of this thing. Custom dash fabrications, Bride race seats, bi-xenon HID headlight setup, what appears to be an Evo VIII centre console, the whole deal.

He’s been maintaining a very in-depth photo journal of sorts, through a thread on the forums. Jump on over there and check it out!

SR20DET Bluebird @ EvolutionM.net
Nissan Bluebird 510 series @ Wikipedia
Datsun 510 @ Wikipedia

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I Say: More Goodwood Goodness

Posted on June 23, 2007 by Ben Hsu

The second day of the Festival that keeps on giving has drawn to a close. Autoblog actually has men on the estate, snapping photos and broadcasting them across the pond. The one that will probably be of most interest to us nostalgic lovers is the Mazda Cosmo 110S that was part of Cartier Style et Luxe, the Goodwood concours that literally translates to “You Can’t Afford These.” As far as we can tell, this is not part of the Mazda 40th Anniversary of the Rotary exhibit that is one of 800 plus anniversaries being celebrated this year at the Festival of Speed, which means that Japanese cars are finally being recognized in concours events!

Other birthdays include Brooklands Circuit’s 100th, the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy’s 100th (which gave Honda motorcycles much of their early fame), the Bugatti Royale’s 80th, 75 years of the Ford flathead V8, Monoposto’s 75th, 25 years of Group C racing, 50 years of Scalextric slot cars, 60 years for both Ferrari’s and Saab, and 70 years since Toyota Motor Corp’s founding (although an automobile division of Toyoda Automatic Loom Works, Ltd. in 1933).

Jalopnik has managed to dig up a Flickr pool of Goodwood photos that stretches back to previous years’ events too. Take a look. It is truly the most spectacular car party on Earth.

Image courtesy of Autoblog.

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By Jove: Goodwood Updates

Posted on June 23, 2007 by Ben Hsu

The news keeps trickling in from West Sussex. The Goodwood Festival of Speed is going on right now, as we are simulataneously typing this and kicking ourselves for not scraping together the cashish we needed to go.

Autoblog has just posted a gallery of Thursday evening’s opening night ball and unveiling of the giant torii gate tribute to Toyota, this years’s honored marque. Apparently, underneath the five Toyota race cars suspended in mid-air, sat six more significant sleds from the Big T’s past, including the 800hp 1970 Toyota 7 turbo (pictured) and a replica of the 1957 Toyota Crown that ran the Australian Mobilgas Rally and ushered in 50 years of Toyotas in motorsport.

The centerpiece of the Festival is a 1.16 mile timed competition hillclimb on the grounds of the Earl’s estate. Thus far, Anthony Reid has driven two Nissans, a 350Z GT500 and a BTCC (British Touring Car Championship) Primera to their respective class wins.

Saturday kicked off with the Cartier Style et Luxe concours, where five of the world’s six Bugatti Type 41 Royales were gathered, totalling $60 million. At the “Green Goodwood” exhibit Nissan showed off its eco-friendly Pivo Concept, a car that could have doubled as a capsule from 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Next, F1 cars took to the stage, with the Toyota TF106 and Honda’s Earth-schemed RA107 driven by Ralf Schumacher and Jenson Button, but the highlight, and a sight worth the $80+ admission fees alone, must have been Mark Webber and Kazuki Nakajima drifting their F1 cars past the Goodwood House. Later in the afternoon, Rod Millen took his Pike’s Peak-winning 800hp AWD Toyota Tacoma (pictured) out for a spin.

Did we mention we were kicking ourselves yet?

Images courtesy of Autoblog and Goodwood.co.uk.

Posted in nissan, racing, toyota | Leave a comment

With a little help from our friends…

Posted on June 23, 2007 by Van

 Japanese Nostalgic Car and Auto Otaku

Even though we’ve only been going for a week so (and going strong!), grandJDM has proven to be an absolute blast for all of us.  We’ve been pushing for daily updates, and frankly it hasn’t been a challenge. There’s just so much excellent material out there!  We’ve lined up four or five beautiful cars to feature over the coming weeks, including interviews with their owners.  And even their owners have been suggesting other cars and fellow owners for us to interview!  So there’s no questioning the fact that grandJDM has some sweet times ahead.

With that in mind, we’d like to say a quick “cheers!” to a couple of our fellow websites/blogs.  Japanese Nostalgic Car, and Auto Otaku – both highly respected sites in our minds, and very much a major source of inspiration for the creation of this site right here – have both blogged about grandJDM in the past week.  This has resulted in a welcome boost in grandJDM’s traffic and exposure in the classic JDM community, and for that, we’re mighty thankful!So cheers guys, keep up the good work with your own sites, and our already healthy and growing community will only get stronger.

Japanese Nostalgic Car
Auto Otaku

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JP Blog 01: Private Tune / Murata Team

Posted on June 23, 2007 by Van

Blog - Private Tune

We thought it might be a neat idea to provide weekly links to some Japanese blogs. After all, blogging is not a phenomenon to be found strictly in the west! And with so many excellent English language blogs devoted to Japanese cars, it only makes sense that there’d be just as many excellent Japanese language blogs about classic JDM!

However, we don’t speak Japanese (oh the agony!), so you’ll have to bear with us while we use Google’s translator tool to figure out what’s going on with each of these blogs.

This week’s blog belongs to Private Tune / Murata Team, and frankly we can’t quite figure out the specific aim of the blog. What we can tell you though, is that there’s a fantastic selection of photos in many of the posts, so head on over and a bit of a browse through the pages of Private Tune’s blog!

Original link | Translated version

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Ming Fling

Posted on June 23, 2007 by Ben Hsu

Perhaps Ming the Merciless would have been more successful in his fight against Flash Gordon if, instead of being an evil Asian caricature, he was actually Tim Mings and had a fleet of Honda N600 and Z600s at his disposal.

We’ve always wanted to visit Mings, owner of Merciless Mings: The World’s Largest Honda 600 Shop, but have never had the honor. Thanks to Jalopnik, which has been on a microcar mission in SoCal these days, we now know what we’ve been missing.

The efficient, front-wheel-drive cars may seem more conventional than other early Hondas like the S- or T-series, but Honda still imbued them with their fair share of borrowed motorcycle technology. The Ns started out as 360cc kei cars but only the 600s were imported to the US starting in 1969, the first Hondas officially imported here. Cars like the S roadsters or Brian Baker’s 1964 T500F pickup were brought over privately or ended up here by chance. The sportier (a relative term) Z came about in 1970, after the N’s run ended but used the same 36hp motor, but in true Honda genealogy the N-series was succeeded by the Life, which later spawned its own offspring like the Life Step Van.

It would have been easy to underestimate Hondas based on the diminutive stature of these early imports, but then again, no one thought a Speedo-sporting 1930’s superhero would look funny in retrospect either.

Click here to read about Jalopnik’s visit to planet Mongo.

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1967 Toyota 2000GT

Posted on June 22, 2007 by Lachy

1967 Toyota 2000GT

Perhaps the ultimate – and undoubtedly the first – JDM Supercar, the Toyota 2000GT has in the past few years become more well known and appreciated outside of Japan, sending its value through the roof. Not that it was ever cheap. When it was released in the late 60s it was priced at about 30% more than a Jaguar E-Type, or almost double a Corvette. It’s price was largely the reason only 337 were ever built from 1967-1970.

Continue reading →

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Suspended Admiration

Posted on June 22, 2007 by Ben Hsu

Each year, the Goodwood Festival of Speed pays tribute to the featured marque by suspending an assortment of its million-dollar race cars several stories above ground on a huge piece of outdoor art. With Toyota taking the honors this year, we’ve been graced with something that resembles either a suspension bridge or the world’s most expensive Newton’s Cradle. From this puny pic, we can only tell that a.) the mixed media consist of an F1 car, some other open-wheel racer (Indy?), a TS020 GT-One, a Group C prototype, and a Celica rally car; and b.) it looks like rain.

We seriously considered jumping on a redeye to attend this event, but logic prevailed. Scientists of the world, get cracking on the transporter!

Image courtesy of Goodwood.co.uk.

Posted in racing, rally, toyota | Leave a comment

Toyota Trueno TE27 Levin GT

Posted on June 22, 2007 by Van

Toyota Trueno TE27 Levin GT 001

Probably one of the more distinctively recognised and admirably styled models among the Trueno/Corolla range, the TE27 Trueno Levin GT was built from the E20 series – the second generation of the Trueno. Read on for a little more info, and some photos!

Continue reading →

Posted in toyota | 3 Comments

Tally Ho: Goodwood Festival Of Speed Begins

Posted on June 22, 2007 by Ben Hsu

If you were an Earl with an impossibly big plot of land near the southern coast of of England, what would you do with it? Why, invite the world’s most famous drivers and gather the planet’s fastest racing machines to throw a colossal celebration of motorsport on your front lawn, natch.

Thus, since 1993, top automakers have brought their most prized examples of rolling history to West Sussex, whether for flat-out hill climbing, romping through a forest rally stage, display, auction, or simply suspension from a giant piece of modern art. Race cars of every stripe – F1, rally, drag, land speed record, vintage – are let loose on the grounds of the Goodwood House, usually at the hands of a world-renowned driver.

This year, the Festival’s Honoured Manufacturer title goes to Toyota, which is observing its 50th year in motorsport. As you can see, the program(me) cover honors Toyota with a gorgeous rendition of the 1999 Le Mans runner up TS020 driven by Ukyo Katayama, Toshio Suzuki and Keiichi Tsuchiya.

With 2007 being the 40th anniversary of the rotary engine, Mazda will also be present with a display of great pistonless cars. A tentative list of Japanese cars slated to appear include the following:

goodwoodToyota
1957 Toyota Crown Mobilgas rally
1970 Toyota 7
Pike’s Peak Celica
Pike’s Peak Tacoma
Toyota Celica ST165 GT-Four rally
Toyota Celica ST185 GT-Four rally
1997 TOM’S Castrol Supra JGTC
Toyota TF106 F1
Toyota TF107 F1
unspecified Group C racer
Toyota FT-HS Concept
Toyota I-Swing Concept

Honda
1967 Honda RA300 F1
Honda RA107 F1
Williams-Honda FW11 F1
Williams-Honda FW11B F1
Honda Civic Type-R
Honda Small Hybrid Sports Concept
a small army of racing motorcycles
ASIMO

Nissan
1973 Datsun 240Z rally
Nissan 240RS Group B rally
Nissan R90 Group C
Nissan 350Z GT500
Nissan Primera
Nissan Pivo Concept

Mazda
1967 Cosmo Sport 110S
1991 Mazda 787B Le Mans
Mazda FD RX-7
Mazda RX-8 Hydrogen Concept
Mazda RX-8 40 th Anniversary Concept
Mazda 2
Mazda Hakaze concept

Subaru
Subaru Impreza WRC rally

Suzuki
Pikes Peak Escudo

Sadly, because human society is still largely based on a monetary system, we will not be able to attend the Festival in person. We will, however, glue ourselves to the news and keep you updated as news filters in throughout the weekend.

Click here for an article about Toyota’s involvement as 2007’s featured marque.
Click here to instantly tempt yourself into buying plane tickets to England.

Posted in datsun, honda, mazda, nissan, racing, subaru, suzuki, toyota | Leave a comment

Random Pic: Toyotas Infiltrate Honda Museum

Posted on June 21, 2007 by Ben Hsu

One of the best things about car musuems in Japan, other than the fact that they’re museums, situated in Japan, and chock full of classic Japanese cars, is that they aren’t afraid to showcase vehicles made by their competitors.

Case in point: in 2003 the Honda Collection Hall had a special exhibit devoted to the early post-war vehicles that put the nation on wheels. Smack dab in the middle of the gallery were a pair of – gasp – Toyotas, a gray Publica followed by a silver Sports 800 to be precise. Other non-Honda (Nonda?) marques at the exhibit included Subaru, Mazda, Suzuki, and Yamaha. Respeck!

Posted in japan, museum, toyota | Leave a comment

We love a little bit o’ swag.

Posted on June 21, 2007 by Van

Enjoy Retro JDM - Hot Version 87

One of grandJDM’s valued contributors and go-to guys for those (many) moments when we can’t figure out what model JDM we’re looking at, recently took a trip to Japan, ostensibly for work, but you can be sure he got in a bit of leisure time as well!  He brought back a couple of great items for us here at grandJDM.

What a day! We’ve taken a few photos of the contents, which you can check out by clicking the “continue” link.

Now if you’ll excuse us, we’ve got some reading and watching to do!

Continue reading →

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