Tag Archives: celica

SEMA 2019, Part 01 — Japanese Hot Rods

When there are 2,400 companies and 2.2 million square feet of exhibits, limits are constantly pushed in order to garner attention. It can result in show cars that are insanely expensive but absent of taste. Still, there can be gems … Continue reading

Posted in events | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

The new Lupin III trailer has Bluebird-Cedric police cars

There’s a new Lupin III movie coming out, and the latest trailer shows a car chase with some classic Japanese police cars. At first glance they appear to be 510 Bluebird Coupes, but of course, it would be kind of … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

2019 Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 06 — Awesome 80s

The 80s were a pivotal time in Japan’s automotive history, and the JCCS did not disappoint with a of turbocharged, retractable-headlight, angular-bodied machines.

Posted in events | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

2019 Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 05 — Toyota fans save the day

Before Toyota moved to Texas, their displays were always a centerpiece of JCCS. A massive enclosed trailer would bring a truck-full of the Toyota USA Museum’s rolling treasures to the show. Now, with the company’s headquarters several states away and, … Continue reading

Posted in events | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

2019 Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 02 — JDM, yo

This year marked the 15th anniversary for America’s premier gathering of Nihon steel. To put that in perspective, at the first JCCS in 2005, the newest Japanese cars allowed for import under America’s 25-year import ban were built in 1980. … Continue reading

Posted in events | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

What cars were parked at Toyota USA headquarters in the 1980s?

Toyota is long gone from southern California, but back when they were still in Torrance, their massive campus was a showcase of its then-current models. This was especially true in the 1980s, when their star was on the rise. These … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

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 … Continue reading

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

Celebrating 40 years of Toyota Racing Development USA

These days TRD USA’s primary focus is with NASCAR and dressing up some trucks, but back in the 80s and 90s, it was a Toyotaku’s dream come true.  Founded in 1979, it’s celebrating its 40th anniversary and looking back at … Continue reading

Posted in History Lesson | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

MOTORSPORT: Toyota’s Celica Convertible Le Mans Trophy Car

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 … Continue reading

Posted in motorsport | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

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

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 … Continue reading

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

MINICARS: Upcoming AUTOart 1:18 releases

Collectors of scale-model JNCs have come to expect beautifully detailed 1:18 pieces from AUTOart, though new releases can come along with maddening infrequency. Thankfully, news from the 2019 Shizuoka Hobby Show indicates that the coming year will be a veritable … Continue reading

Posted in minicars | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

VIDEO: Who did it better, Toyota USA or Toyota UK?

Recently, Toyota subsidiaries on both sides of the pond put out a call to enthusiasts and owners, assembled them at a race track, and filmed the experience. In the US, it was to promote the new Supra at Auto Club … Continue reading

Posted in Video | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

KIDNEY, ANYONE? Toyota hoarder selling off entire collection

It appears we have found the answer to what lies at the end of the rainbow: a collection of old Toyotas in various states of disrepair. Just outside of Las Vegas, a seller is purging a literal lot of Aichi … Continue reading

Posted in for sale | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

EVENTS: The Final New Year Meeting, Part 01

It is with a heavy heart that we bring you this report on 2019’s New Year Meeting, held on the fourth weekend of January, for it is also the very last New Year Meeting. period. Twelve years ago, JNC became … Continue reading

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

MINICARS: A new first-gen Toyota Celica diecast is coming

There’s a new first-generation Toyota Celica miniature car coming, and the source may surprise you. It was revealed at the Nuremburg Toy Fair in Germany earlier this month, and comes from French company Majorette. Apparently the A20 Celica is becoming … Continue reading

Posted in minicars | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

VIDEO: The first-gen Celica was decades ahead of its time

When people talk about sporty Japanese cars from the 70s, the Datsun 240Z usually gets first billing. The Toyota Celica, however, was just as compelling, even with its Malaise Era safety bumpers. In fact, when compared with its competition from … Continue reading

Posted in Video | Tagged , , , | 11 Comments

Happy TA22 Day from JNC

Let’s all take a moment to remember the first-generation Celica, perhaps one of Toyota’s finest designs, the timeless A20 Celica. Of course, in the US they were technically RA coded, but nonetheless we celebrate the best of the breed on this … Continue reading

Posted in Holidays | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Tokyo Auto Salon: A rallying cry for WRC’s return to Japan

At the Tokyo Auto Salon this year the carmakers of Japan joined forces for a display of their iconic rally cars. Toyota, Nissan, Subaru and Mitsubishi each brought turbocharged monsters to the halls of Makuhari Messe. For rally fans, it … Continue reading

Posted in Tokyo Auto Salon | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

MINICARS: Behold the most detailed Toyota Celica model kit ever made

Starting today, fans of scale model kits in Japan will be able to buy what is likely the most detailed miniature Toyota Celica ever made. Measuring over 20 inches long and over six inches tall in 1:8 scale, the Celica … Continue reading

Posted in minicars | Tagged , , , , | 24 Comments

SHOWA SNAP: Fastbacks abound in 1975

Every time you see a new crossover ambling down the street, clogging your view, remember what life could have been. In this 1975 Japanese street scene, fastbacks are everywhere. In the car park to the right there’s a Corona Mark … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments