Japanese Nostalgic Car

On this day in 1980, Honda announced it would become the first Japanese automaker to build a factory in the US. In 1982, the first car to emerge from the completed Ohio  plant would be a second-gen Accord sedan, a car that could dodge trade tariffs, shipping costs, and UAW outrage all at the same time. It opened the floodgates for other carmakers, and today we have marques whose lineups barely have any Japan-built cars in them — and thus a wide variety of non-Japanese built Japanese cars to choose from. For the purposes of this question, feel free to answer according to your own country.

What’s the best Japanese car not made in Japan?

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 JNC from 1996?“ Continue reading →

Welcome, everyone. You’ve made it to 2021! That in itself should be reason enough to celebrate, but the new year also means that a whole slew of cars will pass the 25-year threshold to become official classics. We’re stoked that Daihatsu Midget IIs are finally federally legal for import, but perhaps a JY33 Nissan Leopard or Toyota Mega Cruiser is more your style. Or, pick a USDM car that has finally attained classic status, like the EK Civic or eighth-gen Mitsubishi Galant, for which you can now get classic car insurance and historic plates in most states.

What’s your favorite JNC from 1996?

The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What are you trying to forget about 2020 or looking forward to in 2021?” Continue reading →

In Japan, the end of the year brings bounenkai, or get-togethers with friends or colleagues for the purposes of forgetting the past year’s ills. Typically that involves lots of alcohol, but 2020 is the type of the year demands boatloads of it. Even sadder, 2020 is also a year in which many of us can’t get together with our friends at all. However, bounenkai is also an opportunity to look ahead to the coming year with optimism. We’ve all been on a roller coaster journey together this year, with plenty good news countering the avalanche of sad, and we couldn’t have made it with you, the readers that comprise our little corner of the web. So let this QotW be your virtual bounenkai, whether it’s something car-related or not.

What are you trying to forget about 2020 or looking forward to in 2021?

The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What are you asking Japanese Santa Claus for this year?” Continue reading →

After a grueling year, the year-end holidays are hopefully a time when we can all wind down and relax. It’s also a time for hope, and a time when we traditionally ask what you’d request from a magical man who can conjure up any present your heart desires. After all, Japanese Santa Claus rides around on a sleigh that looks like a flying Honda S800 but has a Tardis-like trunk that’s bigger on the inside than the outside. Contained within are any JDM car part you can think of, the rarest diecasts, entire classic automobiles, and even abstract concepts such as world peace.

What are you asking Japanese Santa Claus for this year?

The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “Which car should receive the factory restoration treatment next?” Continue reading →