Japanese Nostalgic Car

Today, November 24, is Evolution Day, marking the date on which Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species was published in 1859. Like in the animal kingdom, when cars go from one generation to the next, changes can occur. Sometimes they’re an improvement, sometimes they’re not. Purists may prefer the undiluted driving experience of earlier generations, while leadfoots might enjoy the advancements in performance that came with subsequent ones, and there are some generational changes in which everything just went to shit. Was it the quantum leap between R31 and R32 Skyline? Or perhaps the return to basics that characterized the Z32 to Z33 Fairlady Z?

Which car had the best evolution between generations?

The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “How do you satisfy your car addiction when you can’t access your actual car?“. Continue reading →

It’s been raining a lot in California, a rare occurrence, keeping us from tinkering with actual cars in the driveway. But like a junkie, we’re going through withdrawal. We tried hitting up the local Target for Hot Wheels but there was nothing to buy. What should we try next, binge-playing Gran Turismo, building a Tamiya kit, or just standing outside in the rain like a serial killer and watching the water bead on cera-coated paint?

How do you satisfy your car addiction when you can’t access your actual car?

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

Autumn, the season of turning leaves and pumpkin spice everything. Orange objects are suddenly obligatory. But in the automotive world the color of paprika isn’t particularly popular. We can think of only two eras in which orange was widespread — the late 60s/early 70s, and a brief moment in the 2000s when metallic orange had its turn in the spotlight. There are many JNCs that are iconic in orange, but is it ever the best possible hue in the palette of factory colors?

Which JNC looks most proper in orange?

The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What types of cars should be preserved?“. Continue reading →

Today, November 3, is Classic Car Day in Japan. It commemorates the founding of the Classic Car Club of Japan in 1956 by Professor Tokutaro Hama. Hama was the first prominent scholar in Japan to argue the merits of cars purely as works of art rather than something utilitarian. The goal of the CCCJ is “preserving [classic cars] as historical and cultural heritage, while ensuring their proper use on roads and circuits and passing them on to future generations in good condition.” This feels like as good a time as any to ask:

What types of cars should be preserved?

The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What is your ideal Honda Civic build?“. Continue reading →