The fourth-generation Toyota Crown is one the most outlandish designs in the company’s long history. The space-age front end was like nothing else at the time, and like nothing else since. Predictably, it was quite polarizing, leading to perhaps an aborted sales period in the US market. Continue reading
PARTS GUIDE: Yokohama adds new sizes for GT Special throwback tire
Last year, Yokohama Tires released a modern version of its iconic GT Special tire, with sizes specifically fitted for classic cars. Due to its success, Yokohama is adding new sizes to the lineup, which should be a boon to restorers of many JNCs. Continue reading
Posted in Product Guide
Tagged a10, a20, bellett, bluebird, carina, celica, galant gto, isuzu, mitsubishi, nissan, toyota, yokohama
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Happy Z32 Day from JNC
A styling departure from the ones that had come before it, the Z32 300ZX still looks good today. Happy Z32 Day from JNC!
Posted in Uncategorized
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QotW: What JNC would you pick if you had to charge through a snowy mountain?
The Toyota Celica GT-Four may have nabbed the starring role in Take Me Out to the Snowland, though the filmmakers originally wanted to cast a Mitsubishi. The Celica proved capable, but Japan has a plethora of AWD and 4WD machines that can take on inclement conditions, from kei cars to Land Cruisers.
What JNC would you pick if you had to charge through a snowy mountain?
The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What should the Emperor of Japan have in his garage?” Continue reading
Happy Z31 Day from JNC
Won’t you consider adopting a third-generation Nissan Fairlady Z? There are many that need loving homes. Happy Z31 Day from JNC!
JNC THEATER: That time a Celica GT-Four starred in a Japanese movie about skiing
The ST165 Celica GT-Four has gotten some attention lately, thanks to Toyota constantly comparing it to the new GR Yaris. While that link is still somewhat tenuous, it did remind us of when Toyota showed off the newly introduced Celica GT-Four’s snow driving prowess in the Japanese rom-com, Watashi o Sukī ni Tsuretette (Take Me Out to the Snowland). Continue reading
Honda wants to know which parts S2000 owners need
For the 20th anniversary of the S2000 Honda has created exclusive parts to make essentially a “third facelift” version, but it’s also going one step further. As with the NSX and Beat, Honda is creating a parts catalog of hard-to-find and in-demand parts for the S2000. Continue reading
Honda is selling new parts for the S2000’s 20th anniversary
In honor of the S2000’s 20th anniversary, Honda is selling all-new parts designed for its popular roadster. Based on the S2000 20th Anniversary prototype unveiled at the Tokyo Auto Salon, Honda is technically calling this a MMC, or minor model change. In other words, consider this the third facelift for the S2K. Continue reading
VIDEO: Z-Cars and Rotaries, classics that appeal to “the youths”
What are the classic cars that will inspire the younger generation of car enthusiasts to carry on the restoration hobby? You already know the answer but if any additional validation was needed, Hagerty Insurance’s Barn Find Hunter video series reaffirms it: Japanese steel in the form of Mazda rotaries and early Nissan Z-Cars. Continue reading
Kidney, Anyone? A well preserved 1968 Toyota Corona
The RT40 Corona is easily one of the most underrated Toyota classics, which is why it was the subject of one of our illustrious Consider the Following articles. Given how instrumental it was for getting the Toyota name into the American lexicon and its beautiful of-the-era mid-century design, it is a wonder that they aren’t more sought after. Some days you can find a flawless manual coupe for $3,500 and other days it’s $15,000 for an automatic sedan in North Dakota that last saw the road during the Carter administration. Today, however, we have what appears to be one of the best preserved examples that we have had cross our desk recently. Continue reading
QotW: What should the Emperor of Japan have in his garage?
Today is the day when Japan celebrates the Emperor’s birthday. Though the Japanese royals are just figureheads, they can still own pretty much any car(s) they want. The previous Emperor, Akihito, kept it 100 with a low-spec Honda Integra sedan. He stepped down last year, presumably to spend more time cruising around in his Teggy, so this is the first time the country is celebrating the birthday of the new Emperor, Naruhito. Toyota already gifted him a fleet of four Centurys, including a bespoke vert, but why should the patriarch of the Imperial Family settle for just four cars? A birthday seems like a good a time as any to request automobiles from your subjects.
What should the Emperor of Japan have in his garage?
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 best Toyota Corolla story?” Continue reading
VIDEO: Watch the Isuzu Trooper take a slalom without rolling over
In the 90s at the dawn of the SUV takeover, truck-based people haulers were trying to move upscale while still retaining their off-road cred. Also, Isuzu still existed as a purveyor of passenger vehicles. Their entry into the segment was the second-generation Trooper (or Bighorn, Jackaroo, Horizon, or Monterey depending on which country you lived in). Continue reading
Honda brings back Phoenix Yellow for limited edition Civic Type R
We all know that the most proper color for any Type R Honda is Championship White, but Phoenix Yellow ranks as a close second. Well, Honda has just announced that it’s bringing back the color on a limited edition Civic Type R for the 2021 model year. Continue reading
Toyota won’t bring the GR Yaris to the US, but will deliver another hot hatch
Toyota USA is adamant that the bonkers GR Yaris won’t be coming to the US. However, even if the car doesn’t, the WRC homologation special’s engine could, according to Toyota’s Bob Carter, executive vice president of sales, in the form of a new hot hatch. Continue reading
TUNE UP: A Mazda RX-7 appears in a Japanese boy band video
Once again we remain utterly clueless about the song or the artist portrayed in the video called “44 Raiders” by the Ballistik Boyz from Exile Tribe. We can only tell you that there is a Mazda RX-7 in it, and it looks very similar to a recent Tokyo Auto Salon winner. Continue reading
QotW: What’s your best Toyota Corolla story?
On this day in 1972, the Volkswagen Beetle overtook the Ford Model T as the best-selling car in the world. However, the Toyota Corolla has long since obliterated both combined, with over 44 million sold. Unless you’re living in an Amazonian tribe untouched by modernity you’ve owned, known someone who has owned, or ridden in a Corolla. And while we are eager to talk about our AE86s, TE27s, or FX-16s, some of the best tales can come from your run-of-the-mill DX sedans, Geo Prizms, or NUMMI Novas, all of which we will count for this week’s question.
What’s your best Toyota Corolla story?
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 most romantic JNC story?” Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
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Happy Presidents’ Day from JNC
No amount of lawmen can stop this President, a Nissan President H150, to be exact, in a clip from the crime drama The Big City, Part III. The authorities come at it hard, with countless Cedrics and even a Fairlady Z trying their best to bring it and its gang of thugs to a halt, but they are helpless to stop the steamrolling President. Continue reading
Toyota is already giving the A90 Supra significant updates
Supra sales are not great. Toyota sold just 2,884 of them in 2019, fewer than the number of 86es in same year (3,398). That’s not a good sign for a halo cars like the Supra, whose sales curves usually start out strong and diminish as time goes on. With Toyota’s announcement yesterday that it would jack up the power of the six-cylinder Supra and introduce a 4-cylinder model less than a year into the launch, it seems like the company is hoping to attract more interest. Continue reading
Happy Valentine’s Day from JNC
Happy Valentine’s Day, y’all. Show your loved ones some TLC today, but don’t forget your spouses!
Posted in Uncategorized
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The winners and runners up of the 2020 Tokyo Auto Salon
The 2020 Tokyo Auto Salon was, like SEMA, largely a big ol’ Supra-fest. However, after the trophies were handed out there were a few highlights from the awards categories that defied convention. Like the teachers said in English class, you have to appreciate the classics. Continue reading
Posted in Tokyo Auto Salon
Tagged A80, A90, b310, Blitz, c210, century, crown, csp311, datsun, fairlady roadster, hino, hks, mazda, nissan, re amemiya, rx-7, sa22c, silvia, skyline, sunny, supra, tokyo auto salon, Top Secret, toyota, ts cup
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