Japanese Nostalgic Car

The JNC life is not an easy one. It starts with one old, temperamental, and rare car. Next thing you know, your savings, house, and free time are consumed by tools, parts, and perhaps even a spare donor car or three. Long-time JNCers probably have it even worse, because for decades these cars and their second-hand parts were relatively cheap to acquire. It can all get quite overwhelming.

Today, July 12, is Simplicity Day, created in honor of Henry David Thoreau, the poet who got rid of his worldly possessions and went to go live in a cabin in the woods. We’re not suggesting that, but we know it can be a challenge to keep your garage space work-friendly and your projects on track.

What are your best tips for managing your JNC life?

The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What’s the best way to find your dream JNC?” Continue reading →

It used to be very simple. If there was a JNC you wanted, you’d search its make and model on Craigslist. Either that, or hop on a forum dedicated to that model if such a thing existed. Nowadays, it can be a daunting task to find your dream car. Do you go on one of the newer sites like Offerup? Relentlessly prowl Facebook? Pay top dollar at one of the auction sites? With more and more people aware that Japanese cars are valuable, it’s a very different car buying landscape than it was a few years ago.

What’s the best way to find your dream JNC?

The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What’s your favorite Japanese luxury car?” Continue reading →

On June 28, 1995 the governments of the US and Japan reached a historic trade agreement regarding the auto industry. The US was seeking to balance out the trade deficit, and Japan agreed to build more cars in the US and buy more US-made parts. The US was threatening to slap a 100 percent tariff on 13 models of Japanese luxury cars. Fortunately a compromise was reached just hours before the deadline, though it does make one wonder what the market would’ve looked like for a Lexus LS that suddenly cost not $50,000 but $100,000. It also brings us to this week’s question:

What’s your favorite Japanese luxury car?

The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What’s your favorite Japanese race car?” Continue reading →

This week marks the 30th anniversary of Mazda’s historic victory at Le Mans. Fairy tale doesn’t properly describe it, as fairy tales are usually pat and tidy. For Mazda, it wasn’t just the race itself but everything that led up to it, including many prior years of blood, sweat and tears, as well as decades of rotary engine development that took place before that. Add to that the demonic roar of its fire-spitting quad-rotor, the end-of-era clinch in the final year of the rotary’s eligibility, and its insane so-ugly-it’s-cool livery, and it’s an unforgettable machine. It may be the obvious answer to a question, but this is just the discussion opener.

What’s your favorite Japanese race car?

The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What’s the biggest hurdle to keeping your JNC nice?” Continue reading →