October 28 is International Animation Day, and what better day could there be to ask about your favorite animated cars? We’ve always had a soft spot for a certain white FC RX-7. Among the legendary Takahashi brothers, the older Ryosuke was the smarter and more stone cold racer than the younger and more emotional Keisuke. Yet Ryosuke was the one with the “lesser” RX-7. That didn’t stop his FC, the White Comet of Akagi, from being more formidable an opponent than Keisuke’s FD though. When watching Initial D for the first time that was an unexpected and welcome twist that drew us into the story even more.
What’s your favorite animated JNC?
The most entertaining comment by next week will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “How do you clean old stains from floormats and carpets?“.
We haven’t been able to try all the suggestions from last week’s carpet cleaning question. We should have stipulated that the car is stock and will stay that way, so the OE carpet should be kept. We tried StreetSpirit‘s hydrogen peroxide suggestion but so far these stains have proven too stubborn for that. Next we’ll probably attempt the following suggestions in order: vinegary and water as suggested by brkr12002, a stain remover and steamer as recommened by Michael Jue, a pressure washer as proposed by legacy-san, and a re-dye as advised by speedie. Before a professional re-dye, though, we might give this week’s winner a shot and try RIT dye as urged by Fred Langille:
Hmmm … lessee. Very stubborn stain, eh? Is it in a very noticeable spot? Could it be human or other mammalian “leftovers”? Interesting, very interesting indeed. Your problem is possibly not with the removal, sop to speak but, with an actual covering up of the stain. Let us assume … right, we know that could make you an ass out of u and me but, let’s go that route any way. So, how to “cover up” the stain? Without seeing it, we can also “assume” it’s presence is but, a damning shadow of what it was originally. There are TWO methods that might be useful. First, is a auto interior carpet/vinyl spray. Trying this on a hidden area of the carpet … after taking it out of the car, that is … to see if you can match it up, one way of dealing with the stain and, if it works you can reminisce with distain on previous efforts. However, if it is one of “those” shades of carpet that are of a more colorful hue, you need to pull out your big guns … RIT fabric dye! I have used this on our living room carpet twice in the 30 years we have been in our home so, don’t knock it my friend! In fact it would be easier than the hand sponging of dye on the carpet (it was horribly faded along with the stains from both an overactive Chinese Shar Pei and, dachshund … of which the latter was more prolific than the former). With the carpet out of the car you CAN do this. It is even easier to match up the shade than fabric paint as RIT can be mixed if needed to match your carpet. Also, if the spot dries a tad darker … covering the stain, then depending if it is THAT noticeable or not … then one cand using a sponge (like I did … wearing old jeans and rubber gloves, hand work the color into the carpet. I was fortunate that out of the myriad colors offered, Forest Green matched our living room perfectly. Despite my aching back along with the mighty oaths and vile imprecations during the process, which WILL occur, my friend, have no doubt about it as this is an arduous task but, much less one than my living room … in shork, bubi, it works! So, Get ‘Er Done!
Omedetou, your comment has earned you a set of decals from the JNC Shop!
I think we all should agree that Bunta Fujiwara was the GOAT in the anime / manga. He could literally win against anyone in the 86, and the knowledge he had was far better than what RT had and I dont think Takumi could get to the high standard Bunta was at even after the education he got from Bunta and the whole of project D. You could see how calmly he takes down the 86 in the Subaru shocking Takumi which he never got over even after he found out that Bunta was the driver. A guy who could jump from an ancient 86 to a Subaru WRX and beat the crap out of his son who is so used to the 86 that speaks volumes of the guy. Also mind you he knew when the engine of the 86 was going to blow and he already had an engine on the ready.
Well apart from that I love the manga on the Countach its also a great story line of an office worker who races a Countach on the highway at night and his escapades with other exotic cars.
There was an anime I watched in the early 2000s called “Gate Keepers” and one of the characters drove a modded Toyota S800 and if I remember had a license plate that allowed them to speed without police interference.
I do not mean to stick with just Initial D but Mako Sato’s Sileighty. Impact Blue is it for me. I already have a soft spot for S13’s and S14’s but that blue shade is perfection. I did not scour my memories for anything from Shakotan Boogie and since it’s not yet real, Kaneda’s bike does not count? ha.
I would say any car from Initial D. I think its modern day successor MF Ghost will definitely make the Toyota 86 the answer ten or so years from now. The show has some great driving animation, but the blatant sexism of the “Angel” girls is a bit cringe worthy for anyone over the age of sixteen.
Granted I haven’t actually watched it, but the green TA22 Celica driven by some bosozoku side characters in Yoroshiku Mechadoc is my favorite. I tracked down a 1/43 scale resin model of it from Japan and it sits right behind my desk!
Honorable mention to the Honda CB750F from Baribari Densetsu, which is as influential and often-copied in the bike world as the AE86 from Initial D is in the car world
Do you mean orange? Green was the SA22C RX-7. Someone uploaded all the episodes dubbed in Italian where it’s called A Tutto Gas.
Maybe it was repainted? There was definitely a green one. There’s a picture of the same model I have in this old article- https://japanesenostalgiccar.com/yoroshiku-mechadoc/
Definitely GTO. That Kawak 750 is much a character as the lead (Eikichi Onizuka)
I’m also going with Ryosuke’s FC. Instead of winning with “magic” like the 86, it’s Ryosuke’s brilliance comes through his meticulous planning and car setup.
Devil Z from Wangan Midnight. And looks just like the new Z from Famous in 1/24…
Famous… as in Tamiya.
Ryoko’s Toyota MR2 SC AW11 from Over Rev. Say what you want about any of the Initial D cars and stars, but Ryoko successfully how to drift in an MR car. She and that car are a winning combo.
You’re Under Arrest.
Given Seibu Keisatsu was to Nissan Police Cars, Gurellia Group 8 was to Mitsubishis, You’re Under Arrest was to Honda Cop Cars. From the Honda Today, the Motocompo, to even the various Honda V-Series and even the rare NSX decked out as a cop car, it showed a marquee rarely seen as cop cars.
Gotta be Ryoko’s AW11 in the Over Rev! manga. She basically Akio’d the car from the junkyard condition it was and had the car witness her being from basically the failed track star to the aspiring touge racer that she became very passionate about.
Shame it never had an anime, but the live action movie works lol.