Typically, we don’t name drop the Kidney Car’s seller, but if you are even remotely familiar with our site, or the American JNC community, the shop JDM Legends is a household name. The Utah-based restomod shop has been around as long as we have, just over 10 years, and have been cranking out some of the best JNC builds in the country since. They even have their own TV show. Now, you have a chance to own JDM Legends’ owner’s personal car. Continue reading
PIXELATED: Honda celebrates 30 years of gaming with new ad
Honda has a new commercial celebrating 30 years of video games. Apparently, the company sponsors a team of professional gamers that is competing in the upcoming League of Legends championships, and released the ad to commemorate the occasion. Can you name all the appearances? Continue reading
Posted in Video Games
Tagged civic, Civic EG, Civic Type R, crx, ef, honda, nsx, Ridgeline, video games
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VIDEO: FJ Company’s G43 is a restomod Land Cruiser done right
There is exactly one Japanese car that has achieved the kind of cult following that spawns aftermarket companies building ground-up tributes to the original, and it’s not a car at all. The Toyota Land Cruiser, like the Porsche 911, has inspired a thriving restomod industry surrounding the singular model, with the top end builders charging many times the cost of the original car for their bespoke creations. Continue reading
NEWS: Japan’s postal service honors 50 years of GT-R and Z with postcards
Like Christmas cards in the US, Japan has a tradition of sending nenga, or New Year’s postcards for the upcoming year, during the year-end holiday season. This year, to honor the 50th anniversary of the Nissan GT-R and Fairlady Z, Japan’s postal service is publishing nenga celebrating the iconic cars that have been part of the country’s cultural fabric for half a century. Continue reading
QotW: What’s the coolest JNC work vehicle?
It’s Labor Day, an occasion to honor the hard working men and women that make the world go round. We also recently celebrated the 60th anniversary of one of Japan’s most popular work vehicles, the Isuzu Elf. It’s the perfect time to ask:
What’s the coolest JNC work vehicle?
The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What Japanese luxury car would you get, and why?” Continue reading
VIDEO: Motorweek reviews the 1987 Acura Legend Coupe
Lexus and Infiniti might wear the Japanese VIP crowns today, but in 1986 Acura was the first to challenge the idea that a luxury car could come from Japan. The Legend was loaded with features like leather, automatic climate control, and premium stereo, and gave buyers who wanted luxury without the European price tag a fresh new alternative. And yet, the notion of nearly $29,000 Honda was unthinkable to most Americans at the time. Continue reading
NEWS: The best way to get around Kyushu right now is via Land Cruiser
Torrential downpours have struck Japan’s western region of Kyushu, where three deaths due to Typhoon Krosa have been confirmed and the government has issued evacuation warnings for 870,000 residents. Footage of vehicles up to their headlights in brown water is all over the news, but in a brief segment less than a minute long, no less than two classic Toyota Land Cruisers plow through the waters without breaking a sweat. Continue reading
NEWS: Toyota and Suzuki’s stock share meld takes us one step closer to a Japanese Big Three
Some industry news out of Japan tells us that Toyota and Suzuki have made their courtship official in the way that multinational corporations do: by taking a stock stake in each other. The two companies announced a technology sharing partnership back in 2016, but it was made formal this week when Toyota paid ¥96 billion ($908 million USD) for a 4.94 percent share in Suzuki. Continue reading
VIDEO: Escape this hopelessly uncool promo video with a Toyota Previa
A while back we featured a bizarrely dorky promo video about the Toyota Cressida. There must have been something in the water in Torrance in the early 90s, because Toyota USA headquarters churned out what appears to have been an entire video series of schmaltz. This time it features the Toyota Previa and, naturally, enough cheese to clog your major arteries. Continue reading
NEWS: Isuzu celebrates 60th anniversary of the Elf
Yesterday, every major newspaper in Japan carried the above spread in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Isuzu Elf, the first Japanese cab-over-engine light truck in its class. In six decades and six generations, the Elf has sold over 6.5 million units, including in the United States under the Chevy and GMC brands, and it was launched on August 26, 1959. Continue reading
PIXELATED: The latest Gran Turismo Sport update is packed with Japan’s best
The next Gran Turismo Sport update features an all-Japanese lineup of performance icons from five different carmakers. This is unusual, as these updates typically feature a smorgasbord of machinery from all around the world. For update 1.43, though, no matter what your Nihon steel the selection is unlikely to disappoint. Continue reading
Posted in Video Games
Tagged 3000GT, ae86, corolla, gran turismo, Gran Turismo Sport, gto, honda, impreza, Impreza GC, mitsubishi, nissan, s13, s2000, silvia, subaru, toyota
4 Comments
QotW: What Japanese luxury car would you get, and why?
We all love our roadsters and lightweight coupes but sometimes you just want the nicer things in life. Whether it’s a serene cabin as quiet as your penthouse living room, a fancy stereo, or just a seat that’s not made of vinyl, sometimes life calls for a luxury car. Now, luxury doesn’t mean we all have to run out and get Toyota Centurys. It can mean a lot of things to a lot of people. You can even find early Lexus and Acura cars in manual. Or in yellow. It doesn’t even have to have a luxury badge. Some might prefer the “stealth wealth” look of the Land Cruiser.
What Japanese luxury car would you get, and why?
The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What rite of passage every JNC owner must endure?” Continue reading
EVENTS: Infiniti celebrates 30 years
As host of the Japanese Automotive Invitational, Infiniti took the opportunity to showcase, well, itself. 2019 happens to mark 30 years of Nissan’s luxury brand, and it threw a big birthday party complete with classics, concepts, and some special edition models (and invited all the other Japanese automakers). Continue reading
Posted in events
Tagged f31, g35, G50, infiniti, Infiniti FX, J30, Japanese Automotive Invitational, m30, Monterey Car Week, nissan, prince, Q Inspiration, Q45, Q50, Q60, Qs Inspiration, QX Inspiration, QX50, QX60, QX80, skyline sport, v35
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EVENTS: Japanese Automotive Invitational 2019
Now in its second year, the Japanese Automotive Invitational seeks to introduce the idea of collectible Nihon steel to a crowd that considers a 1954 Ferrari 375 MM not classic enough. Located at the Infiniti booth that sits just outside the Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance, it’s a primer for those who arrive at the prestigious golf course to gawk at Voisins and Delahayes. In other words, if you’re wondering what kind of Japanese car a super-rich old guy might be into, here’s a peek. Continue reading
Posted in events
Tagged 2000gt, 200sx, 240z, 280zx, 3000GT, 300zx, 310, 411, 510, 929, acura, adam carolla, alcyone, bellett, bluebird, c10, contessa, corona, cosmo, cosmo sport, crx, CRX EA, CRX EF, csp311, datsun, fairlady roadster, fc3s, fj55, g2, galant gto, Hakosuka, hino, honda, Honda S-Series, honda z, infiniti, Integra g1, isuzu, J80, Japanese Automotive Invitational, jc, jimny, land cruiser, legend, Legend g1, lexus, Lexus LX, lexus sc, lj20, luce, mazda, miata, Miata NA, mitsubishi, Model 70, Monterey Car Week, mx-5, nissan, nsx, paul newman, r130, r382, rx-7, s10, s130, S30Z, scca, Sera, silvia, skyline, sports 800, subaru, subaru xt, suzuki, svx, t40, toyota, Type 16, VehiCROSS, Z30, z31
7 Comments
NEWS: Toyota may kill off the Land Cruiser in the US market
We desperately hope this is wrong, but rumor has it that Toyota plans to kill off the Land Cruiser in the US market. If true that would mean the longest running model in the company’s history, offered continuously since day one of Toyota USA’s establishment in October of 1957, will no longer be their flagship vehicle here after the 2022 model year. Needless to say, we think that would be a terrible mistake. Continue reading
MOTORSPORT: Restored Gatorade RX-3 and other classic Mazda racers at Laguna Seca
Monterey Car Week’s centerpiece racing event, the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, concluded this weekend. While there was a noticeable lack of Japanese representation at Laguna Seca as compared to last year (despite the fact that the theme was the 50th anniversary of IMSA), Mazda did bring out some seriously cool machinery that from the early days of their US racing efforts. Continue reading
Posted in motorsport
Tagged imsa, Laguna Seca, mazda, monterey historics, Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, rx-2, rx-3, rx-7
10 Comments
MINICARS: The Datsun 240Z introduces a new Chameleon paint for Hot Wheels cars
Hot Wheels is about to introduce a new type of paint. Chameleon, which transitions from purple to green depending on the angle of light shined onto it, has been around in the full-size car scene for a while now, but this Custom 1972 Datsun 240Z will mark its first use on a Hot Wheels car. Continue reading
QotW: What rite of passage every JNC owner must endure?
Complete this sentence. You’re not a JNC owner unless you… Prefer driving a slow car fast? Live in deathly fear of salt? Have overpaid for parts from Japan? Have abused your AAA towing privileges to move a parts car? With every subculture there are certain joys hardships and that its members can jointly celebrate or commiserate in.
What rite of passage every JNC owner must endure?
The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “Where do you like to drive your JNC?” Continue reading
NEWS: Lexus’ Nori Green Pearl is the new best color
Normally we don’t really report on a new car unless there’s some link to a past model, like a revived beloved nameplate, or some throwback design touches. There’s not much that’s retro about the new Lexus LC 500 Inspiration Series, but its limited color, Nori Green Pearl, is absolutely stunning and quite nostalgic. Continue reading
EVENTS: Radwood NorCal 2019
Just a week after my colleagues were at SpoCom in SoCal, Radwood returned to its ancestral home in NorCal. The traveling show of 80s and 90s nostalgia started in the Bay Area in 2017, and has been expanding rapidly. There is always a good selection of Japanese steel present, so we headed down to take a look. Continue reading
Posted in events
Tagged 240sx, 300zx, 4runner, acura, ae86, aw11, cappuccino, celica, corolla, crx, CRX EF, fc3s, fd3s, fj60, honda, impulse, isuzu, kei, land cruiser, lexus, lexus sc, mazda, mr2, N60, nissan, nsx, piazza, rx-7, s13, s14, sa22, silvia, soarer, st185, suzuki, sw20, T180, toyota, z31
9 Comments
