QotW: What’s the best JNC for open-top cruising?

Posted on June 17, 2019 by Ben Hsu

As of yesterday, Toyota became the only Japanese carmaker to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans twice, but when it came time to escort the colossal trophy around Circuit de la Sarthe, they had to go with a 1987 Toyota Celica. Now the T160 Celica is a fine car, but it highlights the rarity of the open-top cruiser among JNCs. A Miata or S2000 is a different animal, built for canyon carving rather than relaxed wafting on a cool summer night. Compared to Detroit, they are so uncommon that we’ll have to include roadsters, targas, and T-tops just to get a diversity of answers.

What’s the best JNC for open-top cruising?

The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What is the Best Japanese Automotive Trilogy?” Continue reading →

Posted in Question of the Week | Tagged | 25 Comments

MOTORSPORT: Toyota’s Celica Convertible Le Mans Trophy Car

Posted on June 16, 2019 by Ben Hsu

As is tradition before each year’s running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the previous year’s champion gets to do a little parade lap showing off the towering trophy they have. The prize then gets delivered to FIA officials so it can be passed on to the next winner. Of course, one must find the appropriate chariot for the presentation, and in Toyota’s case it was a 1987 Celica Cabrio. Continue reading →

Posted in motorsport | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

TOYOTAFEST SPOTLIGHT: One-owner Supra

Posted on June 14, 2019 by Ben Hsu

Every once in a while you run into a car that simply drops your jaw. At this year’s Toyotafest, one of those cars was Gary Toomer’s 1984 Toyota Celica Supra. It looked as it it had rolled straight out of the showroom 35 years ago, and time-warped itself to Long Beach. Continue reading →

Posted in Spotlight | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

EVENTS: All-Toyotafest, Part 05 — Big Sedans

Posted on June 13, 2019 by Dan Hsu

There’s nothing like a big Toyota sedan, and Toyotafest was full of ’em. Whether you’re talking about the brilliant luxury of a Lexus LS or the deadbolt reliability of a Camry, each one had its fans and fastidious owners. With sedans going the way of the dodo thanks to the crossover takeover, let’s take a look at this class where Toyota has excelled. Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

BIKES: Kawasaki re-releases retro W800 motorcycle

Posted on June 12, 2019 by Ben Hsu

Kawasaki has re-released the W800, a vertical-twin motorcycle inspired by the original Kawasaki W-series built from 1965 to 1974. The W800 is said to not only take its layout and look from its predecessors, but its riding feel and sound as well. However, like many nostalgic vehicles, a huge part of the Kawasaki’s fame comes from an memorable appearance in pop culture. Continue reading →

Posted in Motorcycles | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

EVENTS: All-Toyotafest, Part 04 — Starlets & Tercels

Posted on June 11, 2019 by Ben Hsu

Over the years even traditional, Camry-hating mainstream car enthusiasts have come to appreciate some Toyotas, your Celicas, MR2s, and FR Corollas. However, when it comes to the marque’s most diminutive compacts, the love still tends to emanate only from the dedicated Toyotaku. Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged , , , , | 14 Comments

SHOWA SNAP: Nagoya, 1972

Posted on June 11, 2019 by Ben Hsu

The Nagoya TV Tower was completed in June of 1954 is one of the key landmarks of the central Japanese city. In this photo from 1972, a lineup of taxis before it have the typical Toyota Crowns and Nissan Cedrics, but also a rare Isuzu Florian (in yellow and white). For its 65th year, the current was closed for renovations and will reopen in July 2020.

Image: eBay

Posted in Showa Snap | Tagged | 2 Comments

QotW: What is the Best Japanese Automotive Trilogy?

Posted on June 10, 2019 by Dan Hsu

The new Supra is finally here, and Toyota has been parading a lineup of previous-generation Supras whenever possible in order to remind us that the new one is definitely a Toyota-and-not-a-BMW Supra. But for all the flack Toyota’s been getting about its partnership with BMW, at least they’re trying. Trilogy here is defined as three consecutive generations of a particular model. Year gaps are allowed (A80 -> A90 Supra) as well as name changes (Integra, RSX).

What is the best Japanese automotive trilogy?

The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What should we do with the Subaru X-100?” Continue reading →

Posted in Question of the Week | Tagged | 16 Comments

Happy 610 Day from JNC!

Posted on June 10, 2019 by Dan Hsu

To celebrate 610 Day, here are two of our favorites from last year’s JCCS. Don’t forget to mark your calendars for this year’s event, which is on Saturday, September 21st! Continue reading →

Posted in Holidays | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

VIDEO: Dirt track oval racing in Japan

Posted on June 7, 2019 by Ben Hsu

Dirt track racing is stupid fun, doing with real cars essentially what every kid does with Hot Wheels. That, apparently, is true no matter what country you’re from. Back in the day, with plenty of big, rear-wheel-drive cars available for peanuts on the used car market, Japan even had a Dirt Track Stock Car series. Continue reading →

Posted in motorsport | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

EVENTS: 2019 All-Toyotafest, Part 03 — Classics that Started It All

Posted on June 7, 2019 by Ben Hsu

It’s hard to believe, but this year’s Toyotafest was the 24th of annual shows held by the Toyota Owners and Restorers Club. It’s been almost a quarter century since the first one took place, and at that first one all the Supra Turbos, MR2s, and Lexuses that populate the field today were still brand new. The heart of Toyotafest has always been the cars of the Showa Era. Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

EVENTS: All-Toyotafest 2019, Part 02 — Fun Fours

Posted on June 6, 2019 by Ben Hsu

This year’s Toyotafest was headlined by the many generations of Supra in support of the A90’s debut. With all the focus on the new six-cylinder sports car, let’s not forget that Toyota has built plenty of fun fours. More and more of these specimen from the 80s and 90s are appearing at Toyotafest — Celicas, MR2s, Corollas, and more MR2s. Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

MOTORSPORT: Three Paris-Dakar drivers are reunited with the Mitsubishis they raced to victory

Posted on June 5, 2019 by Ben Hsu

The sun is setting on the Mitsubishi Pajero, but before the legendary nameplate enters twilight, the company is honoring its many successes in the Paris-Dakar Rally. A new video released by Mitsubishi Motors titled “The Spirit of Pajero” highlights the model’s 26 years of competition in one of the world’s toughest off-road races. Continue reading →

Posted in motorsport | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

EVENTS: All-Toyotafest 2019, Part 01 — Real Supras

Posted on June 4, 2019 by Ben Hsu

The theme of this year’s All-Toyotafest was, unavoidably, Supra. The 24th gathering of the Toyota Owners and Restorers Club featured generations of this one model on the offiical merchandise and promotional materals this year. Toyota gave many of the attendees the first in-person look at the new A90. And the owners of 100 percent Toyota-built Supras came out in great numbers. Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

VIDEO: 60 years of Honda at the Isle of Man TT

Posted on June 3, 2019 by Ben Hsu

The Isle of Man Tourist Trophy is perhaps the world’s most famous motorcycle race. Honda won its first constructors’ championship there in 1959, thanks to their RC141 and RC142 race bikes. It’s been 60 years since, and today the marque with the most victories at the TT — 183 in all — has been Honda.  Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

QotW: What should we do with the Subaru X-100

Posted on June 3, 2019 by Chris Nicholson

Recently, we wrote about the Subaru X-100 concept currently in the care of the Lane Motor Museum in Nashville, Tennessee. Subaru has decided to loan Fuji Heavy Industries’ record-setting 100 mpg experimental car for a whopping five years. The museum director would like to display it at concours events. As the guy who keeps the cars running at the museum, I can tell you we’re planning on going through the car mechanically so that it’s safe to drive in a closed setting — at least by the standards of experimental three-wheeled cars, a genre in which we have more than our fair share of experience. Personally, I would like to do something with the X-100 and another of our Tremulis-designed cars, the 1967 Gyro-X.

What should we do with the Subaru X-100?

The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “Has anyone tried to buy your JNC?” Continue reading →

Posted in Question of the Week | Tagged | 9 Comments

The real reason why Toyota didn’t build its own Supra from the ground up

Posted on May 31, 2019 by Ben Hsu

The fifth-gen Supra is an incredibly capable sports car, but it isn’t a full-on Toyota. The previous-generation A80 was a legend in its own time. The instant it left the market, demands for its return were universal among enthusiasts. When their prayers were answered, no one could have been prepared for what, to the Toyota faithful, seemed like the ultimate betrayal — a flagship built almost entirely by another automaker. Why would Toyota, perhaps the world’s most successful automaker, do such a thing? We spoke to the Supra’s Chief Engineer Tetsuya Tada to find out. Continue reading →

Posted in Next Version | Tagged , , , | 26 Comments

SHOWA SNAP: Ginza, Tokyo, 1971

Posted on May 30, 2019 by Ben Hsu

The clock tower of the Wako department store has seen countless cars pass beneath its face. Standing over one of the busiest intersections of Tokyo, the 4-chome crossing in Ginza, since 1932, it even predates times when cars were common in Japan. In 1971, these cars included plenty of Toyota Crown taxis, a Honda N360, and a then-new Nissan Bluebird 510. At the end of the corner from where this photo was taken stands the Nissan Crossing showroom, a landmark since 1963. For many, Ginza is a must-visit area thanks to its plentiful retails stores. Just know that it’s also an excellent place to car watch while the rest of your traveling companions shop.

Image: tansaisuketti

Posted in Showa Snap | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Happy S30 Day from JNC

Posted on May 30, 2019 by Ben Hsu

2019 is a very special year for the Nissan Fairlady Z. The iconic sports car turns 50 this year, a huge milestone for the iconic sports car that changed the very notion of what a sports car could be. Along the way, it also changed the idea of what a Nissan — or a Japanese car in general — could be. We may like other marques and other cars, but none of us would be here if it weren’t for the S30. Happy S30 Day from JNC!

Posted in Holidays | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

The 2020 Supra raises the question, what is a car?

Posted on May 29, 2019 by Ben Hsu

There probably hasn’t been a single car in Japanese automotive history more controversial than the fifth-generation Toyota Supra. What had come before had been so good, so genre-breaking, that it put Toyota in a difficult, maybe impossible spot. Like Game of Thrones‘ final season, it was always going to be a tough act to follow, and with a long hiatus building expectations to fever pitch, the result was probably destined to disappoint in some way. Is the Supra a good car, though? How you look at it probably depends a lot on what a car means to you. Continue reading →

Posted in Next Version | Tagged , , , , | 67 Comments