Among historically significant Japanese cars, the 2000GT sits right there at the top of the heap. Among 2000GTs, the Carroll Shelby’s ex-SCCA race car is one of the most historically significant. The car is almost certainly going to be the first Japanese classic to break the $2 million auction barrier, and possibly the $3 million barrier when it goes up for sale this weekend. Continue reading
QotW: What Japanese car would you build a lowrider with?
We’ve always had a fascination for the way Japan blends a deeply studied foreign automotive style with its own. Earlier this year, a Toyota Century limousine lowrider took the Grand Prix in the sedan category at the Tokyo Auto Salon. We’ve also discussed itasha, which seems like a modern incarnation of car-as-art, and lowriders are definitely an art form. Big sedans like Centurys and Presidents might seem like the natural choice, but everything from Suzuki Samurais to Nissan Maximas have made their mark on the lowrider scene.
What Japanese car would you build a lowrider with?
The best comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What are your thoughts on itasha?” Continue reading
Toyota Crown making a return to the US?
The Toyota Crown might be returning to the US market, if a leaked dealer schedule sheet is to be believed. Though it’s been Toyota’s most popular and evergreen sedan in Japan for nearly 70 years, it was sold stateside for only a fraction of that time, disappearing from the US in 1971. Incredibly, it could be back by the end of the year. Continue reading
An A70 Toyota Supra Turbo has sold for almost $89,000
Earlier this year we asked in a Question of the Week what the next six-figure Japanese car would be. Well, it seems that the A70 Toyota Supra Turbo is well on its way to that amount. Yesterday, a practically showroom-new 1987 example, with only 236 km on the odometer (147 miles) traded hands for $88,888. Continue reading
The original Toyota 2000GT subscription model has been re-released, requiring $1,000 and year to complete
No, you’re not having déjà vu. Another expensive, mega-scale Toyota 2000GT model kit has just be released in Japan. Actually, re-released is more like it, because the 1:10-scale DeAgostini Toyota 2000GT is the model that kicked off the modern age of high-end subscription kits in Japan. It’s not to be confused with the Hachette Toyota 2000GT that came out earlier this year, meaning there are now two concurrent Toyota 2000GT model kits whose parts you can wait impatiently by the mailbox for. Continue reading
QotW: What are your thoughts on itasha?
Over the weekend I took my toddler to a local show to see some cars. Though it wasn’t advertised as an itasha event, fully 85 percent of the cars there had anime characters plastered all over them, even cars like Dodge Chargers and assorted traditional muscle cars. Maybe this is yet another sign that I’m getting old, but I don’t understand the appeal of the “painful car” subculture.
What are your thoughts on itasha?
The best comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “How has car ownership affected your love life?“. Continue reading
Happy Presidents’ Day from JNC
The Nissan President was meant for the leaders of Japanese society — government officials, captains of industry, and other assorted VIPs. It wasn’t enough just to have a bigger, more luxurious car. To really separate yourself from the peons you needed something completely out of reach. The President met that prerequisite by costing seven times as much as a Nissan Sunny. The Sunny’s modern equivalent is the Sentra, which starts at $19,610. Can you imagine a Nissan sedan that costs $137,270, and how opulent it would have to be to warrant that price tag? That’s the grandness you were getting when you slid into the plush cabin of a President. Happy Presidents’ Day from JNC!
The Nissan Fairlady Z chair brings your Z into the comfort of your own home
Welcome to Japanese Nostalgic Car‘s home furniture-themed sub-section, Japanese Nostalgic Chair. Admittedly it’s not a frequently visited sub-section, as we’ve only once before had the occasion, when a small Japanese carpentry shop in Yaizu City, Shizuoka Prefecture made a living room chair out of a Hakosuka Skyline seat. Turns out they make a Fairlady Z chair as well. Continue reading
Alive Hoon, the first movie about pro drifting, has a trailer and behind-the-scenes video
It’s been over 20 years since the D1GP, the first professional drifting league, was born. So it’s a bit surprising that, in all this time, there hasn’t been a feature film about the sport (no, Tokyo Drift doesn’t count). But, that’s all about to change. With the somewhat clunky name of Alive Hoon, the first scripted movie about drifting is about to hit theaters. Continue reading
VIDEO: Drifting in America has come a long way since 1998
Drifting was still a little-known underground activity in the United States back in 1998. However, that didn’t stop some of Japan’s most famous drift racers and judges from visiting southern California to see what the nascent scene was all about. Honestly, it’s a little embarrassing for us Americans, but hey, we all have to start somewhere. Continue reading
Posted in News
Tagged acura, ae86, Civic EG, crx, drifting, eclipse, honda, integra, keiichi tsuchiya, Ken Nomura, mitsubishi, mr2, s13, s14, sw20
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Toyota’s first race car, the Toyopet Racer, was nearly lost to history
For decades in the western world, the origins of Toyota’s motorsports history lay at the foot of the 1957 Toyopet Crown, which competed in that year’s 10,563-mile running of the Mobilgas Around-Australia rally. Many of Toyota’s own materials have reinforced that narrative. However, it was recently revealed that, in fact, Toyota’s first race car came much earlier in the form of the 1951 Toyopet Racer. Continue reading
QotW: How has car ownership affected your love life?
Holidays are times we spend with our loved ones. But that time in the garage, on the road, or at the track can create conflict, because some of us also have spouses or significant others. Or, maybe your better half is the type that shares the same enthusiasm for automotive adventures as yourself. For this Valentine’s Day QotW, we ask:
How has car ownership affected your love life?
The best comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What’s the next Japanese car to cross the six-figure mark?“. Continue reading
Happy Valentine’s Day from JNC
There needs to be more pink cars. Look how great this Datsun 510 looks in sakura pink. It even has a pink JAF grille badge to match. Just something to consider on February 14. Happy Valentine’s Day from JNC!
Posted in Holidays
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This Toyota 2000GT model in 1/8 scale will cost $1,700 and take two years to complete
The latest classic from Japan to get the 1:8 treatment is the Toyota 2000GT. Issued by Hachette Collections Japan, the subscription kit will consist of 100 installments received weekly by mail with a retail price of ¥1999 ($17.25 USD) each. At the end of the nearly two-year project, the completed diecast model car will measure over 20 inches long and will have cost ¥195,401 ($1690 USD). Continue reading
Nissan Hardbody and Datsun 720-inspired Frontiers debut at Chicago Auto Show
Nissan is going HAM on the throwback stuff these days, and we’re not talking about the new Z. For the Chicago Auto Show they’re bringing not one, but two concept trucks with a decidedly flavor based on new Frontier pickup. The concepts take inspiration from two predecessors that bookend the 1980s, a Datsun 720 and a D21 Nissan Hardbody. Continue reading
Happy C210 Day from JNC
Sorry, Yamaha AR210, we are going to celebrate the Nissan Skyline C210 today, February 10, in the year of our overfender, 2022. Sure, the Yamaha might cost $50,000 and can travel on water, but it will never be half as stylish as the Skyline Japan. Happy C210 Day from all of us at JNC!
Posted in Holidays
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Classic Toyota Celica and Truck appear in 2022 Superbowl commercial
Toyota has released their 2022 Superbowl ad, and it features a couple of classics. Toyota has chosen to focus not on the cars, but on two real-life brothers, Brian and Robin McKeever, who are Olympic and Paralympic medalists. Much of the ad takes place in flashbacks to their childhoods in Canada, where Daruma Celica and an N100 pickup can be seen in the background. Continue reading
The iconic Kawasaki Z1 celebrates 50 years with anniversary models
Everyone’s awaiting the heritage-infused Nissan Z, but there’s another iconic Z that is celebrating its history this year. The Kawasaki Z1 was the most powerful bike in its class when it debuted 50 years ago, in 1972. It was technologically advanced too, with a 900 cubic centimeters of DOHC fury, pushing the bike to a top speed of over 130 mph. We called it the Kenmeri Skyline of bikes, but in reality it was more like the JZA80 Supra, if such a thing existed half a century ago. Continue reading
QotW: What’s the next Japanese car to cross the six-figure mark?
The classic car market is going bananas right now, leading to some sky-high prices for Japanese cars. The $112,000 Integra Type R is just the latest example of it, but we’ve already seen plenty of others cross the six-figure threshold. Then there are cars that are just on the precipice. All it’s going to take is a low-mileage cream puff with the righht color code and options to push it over the edge.
What’s the next Japanese car to cross the six-figure mark?
The best comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What movie or TV car scenes have angered you most?“. Continue reading
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Happy TE27 Day from JNC!
It’s good to see that these old ‘Rollas, supplanted and long-forgotten by front-driving commuters, are still out there, doing their thing. This Mango was spotted at the 2022 Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique last weekend, one of two Japanese entrants (the other was a Datsun 240Z) in a field of Lancias, Porsches, and Alfa Romeos. Happy TE27 Day from JNC!
