QotW: What’s your JNC project until this whole coronavirus thing blows over?

Posted on March 16, 2020 by Ben Hsu

Many places around the world are shutting down because of the COVID-19, a.k.a. the coronavirus. Though the virus has nothing to do with vintage Toyotas, this is an excellent time to get some work done on your JNC project if your workplace has shut down or your area is under home isolation advisement. Those circumstances may cause some people to go stir crazy, but luckily we are Car Enthusiasts. Social isolation? That sounds like wonderful hours of uninterrupted time in the garage, whether its swapping in a new transmission, claying your paint job, or redecorating the ol’ shed. Hell, since no one else is on the roads, it’s a great time to go for a drive.

What’s your JNC project until this whole coronavirus thing blows over?

The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “Which JNC model deserves its own museum?” Continue reading →

Posted in Question of the Week | Tagged | 15 Comments

Toyota revives the Black Limited 86

Posted on March 13, 2020 by Ben Hsu

At the Tokyo Auto Salon in January, Toyota unveiled a close-to-production concept of a special edition 86 called the Black Limited. A throwback to one of the most desirable AE86 special editions of all time, it seemed to signal an upcoming model. Now it’s here, in all its midnight glory. Continue reading →

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MINICARS: The second color of the Hot Wheels Prelude is a tribute to Electron Blue Pearl

Posted on March 13, 2020 by Ricky Silverio

One of the most anticipated Hot Wheels castings of this year has been the fifth-generation Honda Prelude. We showed you the prototype last October, and Hot Wheels’ design team has revealed the first color, silver. Now, they’ve given us some exclusive photos of the second color, and it’s a tribute to one of the most memorable Honda colors of the 90s. Continue reading →

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JNC LIBRARY: A must-have book for the Isuzu aficionado

Posted on March 12, 2020 by Ben Hsu

If you’re a hard-core enthusiast, or even just a casual fan, of Isuzus, the the new book A History of Isuzu Passenger Cars by Setsuo Toma should be in your library. As the title implies, it spans the entire run of non-commercial Isuzus, from the company’s founding in 1916 as the oldest automaker in Japan to the end of its passenger car production in 2002. Continue reading →

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Akio Toyoda celebrates Lexus’ 30th anniversary with a champagne glass throwback to the original LS

Posted on March 11, 2020 by Ben Hsu

How does one celebrate a milestone anniversary? If you’re Lexus, it’s with champagne… glasses in the form of a tower on the hood of an LS. One of the most famous car commercials of the 1990s was Balance, the spot where a pyramid of champagne glasses was stacked on the hood of a then-brand new Lexus LS400. Now, Lexus has recreated the ad with CEO Akio Toyoda himself.  Continue reading →

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Happy 310 Day from JNC

Posted on March 10, 2020 by Dan Hsu

You know, even though we have been celebrating holidays like 510 Day for years, we’ve been neglecting the poor Sunny. No more. The sub-Bluebird compact deserves some love too. Happy 310 Day from JNC!

Posted in Holidays | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Toyota closes museums, Megaweb, for coronavirus

Posted on March 10, 2020 by Ben Hsu

COVID-19 is no laughing matter, but sometimes the jokes write themselves. Toyota has closed several of its facilities in Japan, including the Toyota Automobile Museum and Megaweb showroom, due to the coronavirus. Continue reading →

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Mazda brings back the 93LE Miata’s black and red for a limited Eunos Edition ND

Posted on March 9, 2020 by Ben Hsu

The Mazda MX-5 Miata has had many, many limited and special editions, but one of the most beloved is the 93LE. As the enthusiast-coined name implies, it came out in 1993 (1992 for Japan) and wore a distinctive black-with-red-interior color scheme. Now, Mazda is bringing it back for the fourth-generation MX-5. Not only that, but they’re reviving the Eunos name, just for the occasion. Continue reading →

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QotW: Which JNC model deserves its own museum?

Posted on March 9, 2020 by Ben Hsu

Most automakers have their own museums that showcase the history of the entire marque, but last week we wrote about an entire museum dedicated to one model, the Suzuki Jimny. Typically, to warrant its own museum the model would have to be something special and widely, like a Skyline or Miata, but there are plenty more models that we’re honestly surprised don’t have a museum of their own. The ways to outfit the museum would be endless — one of every variation ever built, mountains of literature, promotional materials, scale models in dioramas, or all of the above. The possibilities are endless!

Which JNC model deserves its own museum?

The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What JNC would you pick if you had to charge through a snowy mountain?” Continue reading →

Posted in Question of the Week | 8 Comments

BIKES: Now the Yamaha XSR700’s paint finally matches its retro looks

Posted on March 6, 2020 by Dan Hsu

When Yamaha introduced the XSR700 in 2016, its goal was to combine modern technology with classic styling. The naked twin used the MT-07’s frame, suspension, and the crossplane crank parallel twin, but wore the retro look of famous Yamahas of old like the XS 650. Now, for 2020, Yamaha is finally introducing a throwback livery to go along with the look. Continue reading →

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COLLECTIONS: By opening the Jimny Museum, Shigeru Onoue achieved his dream

Posted on March 5, 2020 by Ben Hsu

The Jimny Museum in Japan was not officially established by Suzuki. Instead, the two story shrine to the country’s favorite mini 4WD truck was the obsession of one 72-year-old man, Shigeru Onoue, who has devoted his life to this single model. Continue reading →

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KIDNEY, ANYONE? MS75 Kujira Toyota Crown Coupe

Posted on March 4, 2020 by Ben Hsu

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 →

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PARTS GUIDE: Yokohama adds new sizes for GT Special throwback tire

Posted on March 3, 2020 by Ben Hsu

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 →

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Happy Z32 Day from JNC

Posted on March 2, 2020 by Ben Hsu

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 | 2 Comments

QotW: What JNC would you pick if you had to charge through a snowy mountain?

Posted on March 2, 2020 by Ben Hsu

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 →

Posted in Question of the Week | Tagged | 11 Comments

Happy Z31 Day from JNC

Posted on March 1, 2020 by Ben Hsu

Won’t you consider adopting a third-generation Nissan Fairlady Z? There are many that need loving homes. Happy Z31 Day from JNC!

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JNC THEATER: That time a Celica GT-Four starred in a Japanese movie about skiing

Posted on February 28, 2020 by Ben Hsu

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 →

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Honda wants to know which parts S2000 owners need

Posted on February 27, 2020 by Ben Hsu

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 →

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Honda is selling new parts for the S2000’s 20th anniversary

Posted on February 26, 2020 by Ben Hsu

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 →

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VIDEO: Z-Cars and Rotaries, classics that appeal to “the youths”

Posted on February 25, 2020 by Ben Hsu

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 →

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