Japanese Nostalgic Car

QotW: Daily, Garage, Sell — Flagship Sedans Edition

Posted on April 13, 2020 by Ben Hsu

Welcome to another edition of Daily, Garage, Sell, JNC‘s version of Bang, Marry, Kill. By the late 1980s, Japanese carmakers were taking on the established luxury brands with guns blazing. Tired of the sales price glass ceiling that names like Toyota, Nissan or Honda could command, they launched marques like Lexus, Infiniti, and Acura and introduced them with deluxe flagship sedans. If presented with prime examples of all three today, which one would you drive into the ground, which would you keep pristine, and which would you unceremoniously throw on Craigslist?

Daily, Garage, Sell — Lexus LS400, Infiniti Q45, or Acura Legend?

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 JNC for extreme social distancing?” Continue reading →

Posted in Question of the Week | Tagged Daily Garage Sell, QotW | 14 Comments

Daihatsu, Japan’s maker of small cars, also made this giant diesel engine

Posted on April 10, 2020 by Ben Hsu

Like Nissan and Isuzu, Daihatsu is now also offering virtual tours of its museum. Though known mainly for kei cars nowadays, Daihatsu is 113 years old and started life making gigantic engines for steamships and industrial diesels. Though shorter than the other carmakers’ tours, the video highlights a couple of important milestone products that the company calls “The Origins of Daihatsu”. Continue reading →

Posted in Galleries | Tagged daihatsu, Daihatsu Humobility World, Daihatsu-go | Leave a comment

MINICARS: Lego should license this unlicensed Initial D AE86

Posted on April 9, 2020 by Ben Hsu

In the old days unlicensed toys used to be somewhat janky, but in recent years in China, where manufacturing prowess and the wild west of intelletctual property law intersect, a lot of it has gotten quite good. Case in point: this incredibly detailed non-Lego, non-Initial D Toyota AE86 tofu delivery car. Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged ae86, Initial D, lego, sprinter trueno, toyota | 6 Comments

ART CORNER: Build these retro race liveried Toyotas during coronavirus lockdown

Posted on April 8, 2020 by Ben Hsu

A few years ago Toyota UK created some very cool GT86es to commemorate the company’s 50th anniversary in the United Kingdom. While slapping a wrap and putting some wheels on an otherwise stock car can be a half-assed way for automakers to create a “show car”, the fact that these GT86es wore racing liveries of famous Toyotas around the world made them instantly cool. Now, you can build your favorite one, or all six of them, out of paper. Continue reading →

Posted in Art Corner | Tagged 2000gt, 86, a20, A80, celica, Celica GT-Four, imsa, JGTC, papercraft, scca, st185, supra, toyota, wrc, yatabe | 2 Comments

VIDEO: These Mazda at 100 videos are pretty nifty

Posted on April 7, 2020 by Ben Hsu

Mazda is now 100 years old, and it’s done a lot over the past century. To prove it, the company has dug into its archives to put together some videos, mixed with newer footage, showing their highlights and imparting their carmaking philosophy. Mazda UK just released the English versions of the videos, and if you’re a Mazdafarian (or just a general fan of clever cars) they convey a strong sense of history and surmounting the odds. Continue reading →

Posted in Video | Tagged 787b, cosmo sport, familia, glc, Jujiro Matsuda, Kenichi Yamamoto, mazda, miata, rotary engine, rx-7, RX-Vision | 2 Comments

QotW: What’s the best JNC for extreme social distancing?

Posted on April 6, 2020 by Ben Hsu

It looks like this coronavirus social distancing thing is going to last a lot longer than what was initially ordered. In fact, it might be best to take a few months’ supply of food and essentials and escape from civilization altogether.

What’s the best JNC for extreme social distancing?

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 scariest thing you’ve discovered while working on your car?” Continue reading →

Posted in Question of the Week | Tagged QotW | 15 Comments

Mazda 100th Anniversary Edition models include a nod to the R360 Coupé

Posted on April 3, 2020 by Ben Hsu

Mazda is celebrating their 100th anniversary this year, and they are marking the milestone with a series of 100th Anniversary Special Edition cars. Announced this morning in Japan, the lineup draws inspiration from Mazda’s very first passenger car, thee 1960 R360 Coupé, a best-selling styling icon in its day. Continue reading →

Posted in News | Tagged CX-3, cx-30, cx-5, CX-8, kei, mazda, mazda 3, mazda 6, Miata ND, mx-5, r360 | 6 Comments

GALLERIES: A virtual tour of Japan’s impressive Isuzu museum

Posted on April 2, 2020 by Ben Hsu

Isuzu Plaza, the official Isuzu museum was opened in 2017 in Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture, next to one of the company’s oldest factories. It’s currently closed through April 30 due to the coronavirus pandemic, but thanks to Isuzu you can still visit virtually through a newly posted video tour. Unless you’re a box truck aficionado you might not think the Isuzu museum is worth the hour-plus trip southwest of Tokyo, but this tour might change your mind. Continue reading →

Posted in museums | Tagged bellel, Chevy LUV, elf, faster, gemini, Giga, impulse, isuzu, isuzu Plaza, piazza, Sumida, Wolseley | 2 Comments

The new Corona Pandem kit is here

Posted on April 1, 2020 by Ben Hsu

The widebody masters at Rocket Bunny are preparing to launch a new kit for the T40/T50 Toyota Corona. The latest subject for their popular line of Pandem-branded kits may seem like an odd choice, but we think it’s one that will spread quickly around the world. The teaser image above is the only official one right now, but we managed to find another. Continue reading →

Posted in Holidays | Tagged corona, t40, toyota | 12 Comments

Bake some quarantine treats with these car-shaped cookie cutters

Posted on March 31, 2020 by Ben Hsu

We know being trapped at home can be boring, and not all of us can use this time in the garage. Luckily, here’s another JNC-themed way to liven up the quarantine and possibly occupy any kids that are climbing the walls for a few hours: baking some delicious car-shaped cookies. Continue reading →

Posted in Art Corner | Tagged aw11, Civic EF, crx, del Sol, fairlady z, fc3s, fd3s, fj40, fj60, honda, land cruiser, mazda, miata, Miata NA, mitsubishi, mr2, MR2 Spyder, mx-5, nissan, nsx, rx-7, s2000, s30 z, sa22c, starion, sw20, toyota | 14 Comments

BIKES: Honda reveals retro CB-F Concept

Posted on March 30, 2020 by Dan Hsu

To mark the 60th anniversary of the revolutionary CB-series motorcycles, Honda had planned to debut the striking CB-F Concept at the Tokyo Motorcycle Show in March. Unfortunately, the coronavirus threw a big wrench into those plans, but Honda has revealed images of the bike online nevertheless, and it’s gorgeous. Continue reading →

Posted in Motorcycles | Tagged CB-F Concept, CB900F, CB92, honda | 4 Comments

QotW: What’s the scariest thing you’ve discovered while working on your car?

Posted on March 30, 2020 by Ben Hsu

Since we in California are under “shelter in place” orders due to the coronavirus, I decided to spend some much-needed time making a bit of headway in my multiple project cars. About a year ago I picked up an FZJ80 Land Cruiser but since we took delivery of it it hasn’t seen much action other than sitting in the driveway. It was clear it needed some new shocks, as the front end got bouncy every time it hit a bump, but I had no idea how bad it was until I stuck my head underneath. The lower retainers, bushings, and stud had completely shorn off, leaving the damper just resting on the frame and an unsecured 3/4-inch nub keeping it in place. I don’t know if this is the most alarming mechanical malady I’ve ever discovered among my heaps, but it definitely raised an eyebrow.

What’s the scariest thing you’ve discovered while working on your car?

The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What shot of a JNC will be forever seared into your brain?” Continue reading →

Posted in Question of the Week, Uncategorized | Tagged QotW | 16 Comments

VIDEO: Watch Tim Allen try to identify a Mazda Cosmo Sport while blindfolded

Posted on March 27, 2020 by Ben Hsu

On Jay Leno’s Garage, there’s apparently a recurring segment where the prolific car collector puts blindfolds on his fellow showbiz car guy friends and makes them guess what car they’re riding in. In a recent clip Tim Allen, star and creator of the 90s sitcom Home Improvement, is Leno’s latest victim. Continue reading →

Posted in Video | Tagged cosmo sport, jay leno, mazda, Tim Allen | 5 Comments

Honda has brought back the Trail Cub

Posted on March 26, 2020 by Ben Hsu

At the Tokyo Motor Show last year Honda showed a cool little concept bike that looked like a revival of the 1980 CT110. Also known as Trail Cub or Hunter Cub, the original was a more rugged version of the venerable Super Cub for light off-road duty. Honda said the concept was merely there to gauge customer reaction. Customer reaction must have been quite good, because Honda has just announced it’s going into production. Continue reading →

Posted in Motorcycles | Tagged CT110, CT125, honda, Hunter Cub, Motorcycle, super cub, Trail Cub | 9 Comments

Details on next Toyota 86, Land Cruiser leaked

Posted on March 25, 2020 by Ben Hsu

We’ve given Toyota a lot of shit recently, but maybe there’s a method to their madness after all. Yesterday, a slide from a dealer meeting was leaked, revealing Toyota’s plans for six models extending to the 2022 model year, including the next-generation 86 and Land Cruiser. Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 4runner, brz, camry, corolla, GR86, land cruiser, lexus, Lexus GS, lexus is, Lexus LC, Lexus LX, Sequoia, subaru, tacoma, toyota, toyota 86, trucks, tundra | 15 Comments

VIDEO: In post-Maria Puerto Rico, cars still shine

Posted on March 24, 2020 by Ben Hsu

Even though it’s about the size of Connecticut, and despite a devastating hurricane just two years ago, Puerto Rico has a thriving car scene. It’s downright amazing what enthusiasts on the small island territory are able to accomplish, considering the extra hurdles they have to jump just to finish a car. But, the results speak for themselves, as seen in a newly released video. Continue reading →

Posted in Video | Tagged 240sx, ae86, corolla, gt-r, nissan, r35, s13, toyota | 2 Comments

QotW: What shot of a JNC will be forever seared into your brain?

Posted on March 23, 2020 by Ben Hsu

Today is the birthday of one of the greatest humans ever to work behind a camera, director Akira Kurosawa. If he were alive today, Kurosawa would be 110 years old. Film (and digital) shots, whether still or moving, can make the mundane beautiful, and make the beautiful breathtaking.

One of my personal favorites of all time is the one that introduced to the world the 1967 Mazda Cosmo Sport and its baby brother, the Familia Rotary Coupé,. Angling skyward on a banked curve during testing, the brightness in the image of the cars, the sky, the unblemished track surface, perfectly captured the optimism and seemingly unlimited potential of not just the new type of engine under the hood, but of Japan’s coming industrial boom.

What shot of a JNC will be forever seared into your brain?

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 JNC project until this whole coronavirus thing blows over?” Continue reading →

Posted in Question of the Week | Tagged QotW | 19 Comments

Happy Familia Day from JNC

Posted on March 23, 2020 by Dan Hsu

Being cooped up at home under COVID-19 quarantine is a great way to spend some quality time with your family. It’s fitting, then, that today is Familia Day, also known as 323 Day. Be sure to tell your loved ones what good little kids they are (before you go insane arguing over what to watch on Netflix).

Posted in Holidays | Tagged 323, familia, mazda | 7 Comments

Nissan has trademarked a retro logo for the next Z; could it be electrified?

Posted on March 20, 2020 by Ben Hsu

Nissan has filed trademark applications in at least three countries for a new Z logo. For Zed heads waiting for a new Z, this alone would cast a ray of hope for a next-generation Z, but there’s one aspect that’s even better. The Z logo is a throwback to those found on the original 240Z. Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged fairlady z, nissan, s30 z, Z35 | 5 Comments

VIDEO: There’s no need for austerity measures when you’re driving the T12 Nissan Stanza