QotW: What will happen to classics after the EV revolution?

Automakers, governments, and Elon Musk are all pushing the industry headlong into electric cars. There are pros and cons to EVs, but whether you see them as Betamax or VHS, it doesn’t really matter. The industry seems like it’s headed in that direction and there’s probably no turning back. What we’re here to ask is:

What will happen to classics after the EV revolution?

The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “How have video games affected your passion for cars?Continue reading

Posted in Question of the Week | 22 Comments

Collect the 100 most significant Japanese cars in 1/64 scale

By now JNC readers are probably familiar with large-scale subscription model kits. Iconic cars like the Nissan Skyline GT-R or Toyota AE86 are common subject matter, with a few pieces mailed to you each week over a period of about two years. In the end you’ll have an approximately 2-foot model of a single car. But what if you want a whole collection of tiny historic Japanese cars instead? Well, one of the companies that kicked off the modern subscription model trend has got you covered. Continue reading

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KIDNEY, ANYONE? 1973 Mazda Luce with less than 4,000 miles

When considering the list of 6-figure Japanese cars, the Mazda RX-4 isn’t typically a chart topper. When new it was considered too heavy for its rotary engine, especially compared to its RX-3 and RX-2 stablemates. But man, it was a looker, especially as a 2-door coupe. They’re rare, too, which is perhaps why dealer in Australia is offering an eye-wateringly beautiful original example for the equally eye-watering price of $149,950 AUD ($101,165 USD). Continue reading

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A Toyota Corona runs from the law in Assassin

Almost exactly 40 years ago, on September 15, 1982, the movie Assassin was released in Japan. The plot was loosely based on the Setouchi Seajack Incident of 1970, one of the country’s most notorious hostage situations at the time. In the dramatized version, a suspect takes a Toyota Corona taxi, leading police cars on a thrilling chase through the narrow streets of Atami, Shizuoka Prefecture. Continue reading

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A Nissan Patrol became the first vehicle to cross the Simpson Desert 60 years ago

Sixty years ago, the Sprigg family made history as the first to cross Australia’s Simpson Desert in a motorized vehicle. That vehicle was a G60 Nissan Patrol, a four-wheel-drive rival to the Toyota Land Cruiser. The Spriggs made the 12-day trek with no maps, GPS or radio, only a bare minimum of supplies and a 200-liter (53 gal) drum of fuel in the back. Continue reading

Posted in trucks | 7 Comments

QotW: How have video games affected your passion for cars?

Today, September 12, is National Video Game Day. For many car enthusiasts, especially of Japanese machines, the cultural reach of video games has been instrumental to the hobby. Whether you’re into cars we’d otherwise never see on the streets, the world of highway and touge battles, the physics and traditions of customization, or building a dream garage, games have offered those opportunities

How have video games affected your passion for cars?

The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “Which JNC looks best in black?Continue reading

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1970 Datsun 240Z Rallye Monte-Carlo: A history lost, now found

As iconic as the Nissan Z is, remarkably little is known in English-speaking countries about its motorsports history. In the US, the American-spec Datsun 240Z is best remembered, and deservedly so, for its SCCA victories. But while names like Peter Brock, John Morton, and Bob Sharp were conquering American road racing, the Nissan mothership in Japan was in the midst of an all-out assault on international rallying. Continue reading

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Watching an immaculate 1,500-mile Mazda Miata get even cleaner is extremely satisfying

You might think that a 1990 Mazda Miata with only 1,500 miles on the odometer would not need a thorough detailing. Especially when that Miata was lovingly cared for by its original owner and is so “new” that even its convertible top had never once been put down. Well, you’d be wrong. Continue reading

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1969 Toyota Corolla driven 350,000 miles by original owner heads to museum

In 1969 Shougo Asada, 24 years old at the time, bought his first car. a KE10 Toyota Corolla. Now he’s 77 and still driving that same Corolla. Under Asada-san’s care, the car has traveled 563,632 km, or 350,225 miles. But soon, the one-owner car will have a new home. Continue reading

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QotW: Which JNC looks best in black?

Today, September 6, is Black Day in Japan. A number of businesses producing black goods promote their wares on this day, so it’s a good day to wear black clothes, eat black Kagoshima pork, or indulge your inner goth. It’s a pun on the Japanese pronunciation of 9 (kyu) and 6 (roku), which together sounds like kuro (black). Black also happens to be a near universal paint option for cars from the Black Limited AE86 to the Toyota Century. For most of the 60s and 70s few non-sedan models came in black, but we would take a 240Z in black over almost any factory color. It instantly transforms the car from a happy, fun sports car into a sinister midnight prowler.

Which JNC looks best in black?

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 only drive cars from one marque, what would it be?“. Continue reading

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In its 26th year, Toyotafest is still going strong — a brief history of TORC, the Toyota Owners and Restorers Club

We’ve been attending Toyotafest every year since JNC started in 2006, and it’s consistently one of our favorite events. Last year was the 25th Toyotafest, which means the show itself is now old enough to wear historic plates, buy collector car insurance, and (if it were JDM) could be imported in the US. Not only that, but Toyotafest is the second-oldest continuously running Japanese car show in the US (Z-Con is the first), and the oldest continuously running Toyota show in the world. We thought this would be a good time to speak with some of the original members of TORC, the Toyota Owners and Restorers Club, about how the show got started.  Continue reading

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Toyota MegaWeb showroom demolished; to be replaced with sports arena

Yesterday, August 31, was the final day for the Daikanransha, the 377-foot ferris wheel that was one of the many attractions by Toyota’s MegaWeb showroom. When it opened in headier times in 1999, it was the tallest ferris wheel in the world, a forecast of the good times to come. Now the final vestige of Tokyo’s hub for all things Toyota will close for good just as Toyota announces its plans for MegaWeb’s replacement. Continue reading

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This 1960 Toyopet Crown Custom Sports is the only known survivor from Japan’s first coachbuilder

The Toyota Automobile Museum has shared some images of one of the rarest and most seldom seen cars from its collection, the 1960 Toyopet Crown Custom Sports. The hand-built car was the first attempt at a coach-built car from Japan. The museum’s example is one of just five built, and the only one known to have survived. Continue reading

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NISMO reproduces Silvia S15 and Skyline R34 gauge clusters

NISMO has begun selling reproduction gauge clusters for the Silvia S15, Skyline R34, and Skyline GT-R BNR34 models. Note that these are not the OEM Nissan units, but actual NISMO aftermarket ones that would have been in-period upgrades for these cars. All of them have been out of production for a number of years. This also marks the first time Silvia reproduction parts have been made available. Continue reading

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QotW: If you could only drive cars from one marque, what would it be?


If car companies had their way, every buyer would be a return customer. Start your automotive life with a Tercel, move up to a nicer Corolla at your first job, get a Camry when your family expands, and arrive in a Cressida when you’ve really made it. Thankfully, we have choices in life, but what if you were forced to stick with one brand for your whole existence?

For the purposes of this exercise this means you’ll have to use cars from the same marque for all your motoring needs, but you won’t be limited to a certain year or continent. You could commute with a Minica, have a weekend FTO fun car, and haul your lumber with a Mighty Max if you so desire.

If you could only drive cars from one marque, what would it be?

 
The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “Daily, Garage, Sell — Mazda Miata, Toyota MR2 Spyder, and Honda S2000.Continue reading

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Travis Pastrana’s Subaru GL Wagon takes on Goodwood

Subaru has released a short film about taking their 1983 Subaru GL Wagon to the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The 15-minute video goes behind the scenes and into the mind of driver Travis Pastrana as the team set out to claim the top time at the Festival’s hillclimb. Though the car has about as much in common with an original GL as a NASCAR racer does with a stock Mustang, it’s still great fun to watch a vaguely 1980s Subaru wagon-shaped object hurtle with that much speed. Continue reading

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Tetsu Ikuzawa’s 1967 Japan Grand Prix-winning 906 gets factory homage from Porsche

No, you haven’t mistakenly clicked on German Nostalgic Car (no relation). Granted, this isn’t the type of car we normally cover, but it’s too cool not to share. Porsche Japan has created a one-off factory custom tribute to Tetsu Ikuzawa’s Porsche 906 race car, which won the 1967 Japan Grand Prix as part of a fierce feud with Prince/Nissan. It looks fantastic, and it raises the question of why Porsche does a better job of commemorating Japan’s automotive history than actual Japanese companies. Continue reading

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New California laws will mean stricter smog tests, phase-out of gasoline cars by 2035

The strictest state in the union in terms of emissions and fuel economy is about to put the hammer down on gasoline cars. Two laws introduced in California this week will crack down on emissions cheats and fossil fuels. It’s already a hard state to own a older, classic or modified car in, but here’s what owners will have to look forward to. Continue reading

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Oops, someone has already wrecked a new Nissan Z

As you read this the Nissan Z is just arriving at dealers, but the first documented crash involving the new 400-horsepower sports car has already occurred. As it happens, the Z configurator went live on Nissan’s US site only two weeks ago, and this destroyed Z is exactly how we spec’ed our car. Sadly, the unknown buyer with great taste never even got to drive it, as this wreck happened on the dealer lot. Continue reading

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Honda has been quietly reproducing parts for the 1988-99 Acty Truck

In recent years Japanese automakers have been remaking genuine parts for many of their most popular discontinued models. Thus far, such programs have been for sports cars and enthusiasts’ models. However, Honda has also been quietly reproducing parts for the second-generation Acty Truck, the popular kei pickup that ended production over 20 years ago. Continue reading

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