QotW: What are you asking JNC Santa Claus for this year?

Posted on December 23, 2024 by Steve Chang

There’s a legend in Japan that a jovial, rotund man in a white suit with a big red dot on it lives at the northernmost tip of Hokkaido. He keeps a list of lonesome car boys and girls and for those deemed good, on the night of December 24th he drifts down all the mountain passes of Japan in a white and red Roadster to sneak into their garages and leave them any wish their hearts desire. For those on the naughty list, however, they’ll wake up to find all their 10mm sockets replaced with 11mm ones. JNC readers mostly fall on the good side though, so we can put in a good word for you.

What are you asking JNC Santa Claus for this year?

The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What mods have you regretted making on your JNC?“. Continue reading →

Posted in Question of the Week | 13 Comments

Lexus digital gauges mimics that of classic Toyota 2000GT, AE86, and more

Posted on December 20, 2024 by Ben Hsu

At the Japan Mobility Show last year Lexus unveiled the LF-LZ, an electric flagship concept. We didn’t pay much attention to it at the time because looked like any number of EV concepts developed by various automakers over the last few years, just with some sharper edges. There didn’t seem to be anything relevant to classic Toyotas, but we were wrong! Recently Lexus shared a nifty feature of the LF-LZ, the ability to have its gauge cluster mimic the instruments of a number of classic Toyotas. Continue reading →

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Honda and Nissan’s merge is about more than just EVs

Posted on December 19, 2024 by Ben Hsu

Honda and Nissan are reportedly “in talks” regarding a possible merger. Officially the two companies plus Mitsubishi, of which Nissan owns 24 percent, say they’re “considering various possibilities for future collaboration, but no decisions have been made.” In our opinion, the formation of what will become the world’s third largest car company is all but inevitable. There are many reasons being reported right now, with the most common one being the sharing of technology to better face the industry’s EV-ification, but we think the actual reasons run far deeper than that. Continue reading →

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Honda Prelude officially returning to US after quarter-century

Posted on December 17, 2024 by Ben Hsu

It’s official. After nearly a quarter of a century, the Honda Prelude will be returning to the US market. Honda will be bringing its flagship coupe stateside in late 2025. While hard core enthusiasts yearning for a VTEC kick or Type SH handling might be disappointed, a sleek coupe is something that’s been sorely lacking from Honda’s — or any automaker’s — lineup for years, and its return is a welcome one. Continue reading →

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Get your beer delivered by Isuzu Bellett Express

Posted on December 17, 2024 by Matt De Mangos

Suntory began brewing beer in 1963 and the bottles weren’t going to deliver themselves. There weren’t a ton of options available at the time. A Nissan 410/411 Bluebird had only a 1.2-liter engine, and the full-size 1.9-liter Cedric was too big and fancy. Same went for the Toyota Crown, the tiny Publica would have been impractical, and the Corona/Tiara managed to squeeze only 48ps out of its 1.5. Honda had barely begun making its first cars.

Suntory apparently turned to Isuzu, often forgotten today but once a booming  automaker. The Bellett was far more substantial than the Nissan and Toyota compacts and its 1.5-liter made a whopping 63ps. Incidentally, the Bellett Express delivery van, though resembling a Bellett sedan in the front, boasted an entirely different frame design and was built in a completely different factory. And since the Bellett was introduced in 1963, perhaps Suntory felt some kinship with Isuzu as it launched its new beverage.

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QotW: What mods have you regretted making on your JNC?

Posted on December 16, 2024 by Steve Chang

We were all young and dumb once. Our tastes change as we mature and we realize that what we once thought was cool is actually something cringe. Turns out a giant wing and underglow don’t really make a car go any faster.

What mods have you regretted making on your JNC?

The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “How can Nissan be saved?“. Continue reading →

Posted in Question of the Week | Tagged | 11 Comments

Electric R32 Nissan Skyline GT-R is coming to Tokyo Auto Salon

Posted on December 13, 2024 by Ben Hsu

Back in March Nissan announced they were converting an R32 Skyline GT-R to run on fully electric power. The project is now complete, and will be shown at the 2025 Tokyo Auto Salon in January. Ahead of the event, Nissan has uploaded a video of the car onto social media, revealing some details under the gunmetal gray skin. Continue reading →

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Hagerty selects Datsun 280ZX, Honda Prelude as cars to buy for 2025

Posted on December 12, 2024 by Ben Hsu

Hagerty Insurance has announced its list of classics to buy for 2025. The “Bull Market List”, seemingly named for maximum flipper engagement, includes 10 cars plus an eleventh people’s choice selection whose values are expected to rise significantly. In other words, they’re good investments, if you see cars as such. Continue reading →

Posted in News | 4 Comments

Toyota Estima is latest nameplate selected for revival

Posted on December 11, 2024 by Ben Hsu

Now that the 86, Supra, Land Cruiser, Celica, and possibly Starlet and MR2 have all been properly resurrected, what other historic model names can Toyota bring back? Sports cars and SUVs are all well covered. How about a minivan? According to a new report out of Japan, the Estima, which was sold int he US as the Previa, will be the latest badge from the Toyota archives to be dusted off. Continue reading →

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Car & Driver‘s twin-engined Honda CRX rides again, with Jay Leno behind the wheel

Posted on December 10, 2024 by Steve Chang

We don’t normally we don’t pay much attention to crazy Frankenstein builds. They might be impressive feats of engineering and construction, but they usually exist to show off the owner’s insane wrenching skills or satisfy some performance metric at the cost of everything else, and in the process something of the original car’s spirit is usually lost. The twin-engine Honda CRX originally built by Car and Driver magazine is a bit different, as it received the blessing of American Honda, who donated the car and three addition engines to the project. Continue reading →

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QotW: How can Nissan be saved?

Posted on December 9, 2024 by Ben Hsu

There’s been some shocking rumors about Nissan circulating in the past week or so. According to The Financial Times, an anonymous senior official from the company said that Nissan has about “12 or 14 months to survive.” Sales have been plummeting, key models have not been updated for years, and Renault is said to want to divest from its ownership. It’s almost impossible to imagine that the storied marque of Silvia, Skyline, and Z could go bankrupt in a year.

How can Nissan be saved?

The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What indispensable items are in your toolbox?“. Continue reading →

Posted in Question of the Week | Tagged | 28 Comments

This Lego Toyota Supra looks absolutely terrible

Posted on December 6, 2024 by Steve Chang

Images of an upcoming Lego set depicting an A80 Supra have been leaked, and the model looks really, really bad. Even more shockingly, none of the badness has to do with the fact that it’s a Fast & Furious car. Yes, sadly, instead of sticking with a faithful factory version of the beloved A80, they’ve chosen to go with the garish orange rocketeer, which is like an extra layer of disappointment on a turd sandwich. Continue reading →

Posted in Toys | Tagged , , , , | 13 Comments

A brief history of Sori Yanagi’s Orient three-wheeled truck

Posted on December 5, 2024 by Ben Hsu

Last week we briefly touched upon the Mitsui Seiki TR-series Orient, one of many three-wheeled trucks that took to the streets of 1950s Japan. The Orient was notable for being the only vehicle designed by Sori Yanagi, a one of Japan’s most influential post-war industrial designers. And as far as we can tell only one surviving Orient remains in existence. Continue reading →

Posted in Three-Wheeled Trucks | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Toyota AE86 drifts into Diet Coke commercial

Posted on December 4, 2024 by Steve Chang

We think the fake sweetener in Diet Coke makes it taste horrible, but we don’t mind the soft drink’s latest ad, which includes a surprise appearance by a Toyota AE86. In the spot the two-tone light pink/dark pink Corolla slides around with abandon, drifting around a table and a Honda Spree scooter. Continue reading →

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Toyota’s resurrected Celica needs an ad campaign; here’s one free of charge

Posted on December 3, 2024 by Ben Hsu

With Toyota execs confirming the return of the Celica, the company needs a new ad campaign. Here’s one we think will really resonate with the public and get them buzzing about a car that hasn’t been in production since 2006. After all, what could speak to customers more than wild colors, aimless desert frolicking, and clothes straight out of Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey? Continue reading →

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QotW: What indispensable items are in your toolbox?

Posted on December 2, 2024 by Steve Chang

It’s the holidays and we need some gift ideas. So tell us the things that have made your automotive wrenching easier, saved your butts, or are simply so satisfying to use that you want to spread the joy. They can be anything, from tools to JB Weld to a clever hack that every shadetree mechanic needs to know. Bonus points if they’re not as basic as the vise-grips in the lead image, unless there’s some specific brand that outshines their rivals.

What indispensable items are in your toolbox?

The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What automotive things are you thankful for this year?“. Continue reading →

Posted in Question of the Week | Tagged | 18 Comments

Rare TR-series Orient three-wheeler captured in 1958

Posted on November 27, 2024 by Matt De Mangos

Sori Yanagi was a noted industrial designer in the post-war era. His works include everything from record players to bridges, and some of his furniture designs are part of the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. The only vehicle Yanagi ever designed was the TR-series Orient, a three-wheeled truck built by Mitsui Seiki and introduced in 1956. The company still exists but stopped producing vehicles in 1963, and very few TRs remain. However, in 1958 a random photograph on Heiwabashi Street in Katsushika City captured one in its prime. Because of Yanagi’s stature the Orient is one of the few trucks that receive interest from not just automotive historians, but the design community as well. The number of surviving TRs probably number in the single digits today.

Posted in Showa Snap | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Toyota Celica revival confirmed by top exec

Posted on November 26, 2024 by Ben Hsu

Rumors of a Celica return have been circulating for over a year and a half, but we finally have confirmation from the horse’s mouth. Or, rather, the mouth of a top Toyota exec who would know about such things. The admission at a Japanese motorsports event read like an off-the-cuff remark, but often those are the most revealing. Continue reading →

Posted in News | 6 Comments

QotW: What automotive things are you thankful for this year?

Posted on November 25, 2024 by Steve Chang

It’s almost Thanksgiving (here in America, at least), a time when we reflect on the things we’re grateful for in life. In an automotive landscape that can often look bleak, what are some of the silver linings and rays of light that make you glad to be a car enthusiast or owner? Or maybe your perspective is that everything is already awesome. We’d like to hear about that as well! Let’s share some high notes to make this odd community of petrolheads feel some warm fuzzies.

What automotive things are you thankful for this year?

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

Posted in Question of the Week | 14 Comments

The Mazdaspeed MX-5 Miata was a product of the tuner times

Posted on November 22, 2024 by Ben Hsu

It’s funny to see how our beloved cars were reviewed when new. In the present we think of the Miata as standing heads and shoulders above rival sport compacts of the era. Cars like the EP Honda Civic Si, Ford Focus SVT, and Dodge Neon SRT-4 are barely an afterthought. But in 2004 Mazda was trying to toughen up the Miata’s cutesy image and put down solid dyno figures to compete, so the put a turbo on the NB. Continue reading →

Posted in News | 3 Comments