Tag Archives: mazda
VIDEO: You could tune pretty much anything in Japan
In the 90s, Japan was so high on octane that you could find aftermarket parts for just about any car imaginable. In this Best Motoring video, the hosts step out of NSXes and GT-Rs for a second and test drive tuned … Continue reading
BACKROADS: 1988 was Mazda’s Year of the Turbo
It’s an old trope among JNC enthusiasts in North America: we never get the good stuff like they do in Japan. From the obvious to the obscure — the Skylines, the City Turbo, the AZ-1 — the list never ends. But … Continue reading
EVENTS: 3rd Touge California, 2017
Because we, along with title sponsor Mazda, were celebrating the 50th anniversary of the rotary engine this year, a large contingent of piston-less cars were lined up at the starting grid of the 2017 Touge California. Joining them were decades-old twin-cam Toyota … Continue reading
Posted in Touge California
Tagged 240z, 510, a10, a20, a40, bluebird, Bluebird Coupe, c10, carina, celica, century, corolla, corolla levin, cosmo, cosmo sport, CX-3, cx-5, CX-9, daruma, datsun, dodge colt, eunos, fairlady roadster, fc3s, fd3s, galant, Hakosuka, kgc10, mazda, mazda 3, mazda 6, miata, mitsubishi, MX-5 RF, nissan, repu, rotary engine, rx-2, rx-3, rx-3 sp, rx-7, rx-8, S30Z, sa22, skyline, sprinter trueno, sunchaser, te27, Touge California, toyota, VG40
17 Comments
VIDEO: It’s hard finding Cosmo Sport parts in Japan
If you haven’t been keeping up with Mazda Germany’s web series about the restoration of a very rusty Cosmo Sport race car, you’re missing one of the best car restoration shows out right now. Since we last checked in, there have … Continue reading
Touge California: Honoring 50 years of the rotary engine
Our commemorative poster for this year’s Touge California commemorates the calling card of our title sponsor, Mazda. It has been 50 years since the world’s first production dual-rotor engine debuted on the 1967 Cosmo Sport. Our poster honors the historic achievement with … Continue reading
Posted in Touge California
Tagged cosmo sport, familia, mazda, r100, rotary engine, Touge California
6 Comments
VIDEO: Mazda’s History of Red
Even though I own a red car, in most cases I don’t like the color. It’s loud, hides the taillight design, and generally makes it seem as if the car is trying to compensate for something, whether it’s speed or exoticness. Also, … Continue reading
KIDNEY, ANYONE?: 48k-mile 1989 Mazda RX-7 Turbo II
As JNCs become bona fide as collector vehicles we’re beginning to see more well-preserved examples come out of hiding and onto the market. 15 years ago, a well-preserved JNC was usually owned by some little old lady who drove it to … Continue reading
TOUGE CALIFORNIA: Roundels not round this year
Touge California has a tradition of using large magnetic roundels to identify cars participating in the rally. They are not for sale and only available to participants of the event. For this year’s event, which will take place July 15, the … Continue reading
VIDEO: The traffic to Tokyo Disneyland in 1985 was JNC heaven
Were you lucky enough to have a four-day Independence Day weekend? In Japan, one of the biggest tourism holidays is Golden Week, which takes place in the spring. So here, for your viewing pleasure, is a home video of what seems … Continue reading
PIXELATED: Kat’s Run Zen-Nippon K Car Senshuken
Have you ever played Mario Kart and thought, “I wish these were all kei cars.”? If so, we have a game for you. Kat’s Run: Zen-Nippon K Car Senshuken produced by Atlus Games in 1995 was available exclusively for the Super … Continue reading
Posted in Video Games
Tagged alto, Autozam AZ-1, beat, cappuccino, daihatsu, honda, jimny, kei car, mazda, minica, mira, mitsubishi, Nintendo, Sega, Super Famicom, Super Nintendo, suzuki, today, Toppo, video games, Wagon R
16 Comments
VIDEO: The best car show is this Mazda Cosmo Sport restoration from Germany [UPDATE: 3rd episode released]
Are you tired of purported car shows that promise wrenching but end up being a collection of character tropes manufacturing drama while standing next to muscle cars? The answer is yes, we all are. That’s why this web series from Mazda Deutschland could … Continue reading
BACKROADS: Mazda’s Great Little Car
As we gear up for the next annual Touge California in the hills of Southern California, we are reminded of the cars that came with us last year. We had a truly eclectic mix ranging from built track beasts to pristine grand tourers — and … Continue reading
50 YEAR CLUB: Mazda Cosmo Sport and Rotary Engine
Like it or not, the automotive industry is a highly conservative one. Advances are incremental, radical innovations few and far between. Amidst this seemingly depressing state, however, genuinely novel and creative ideas that challenge convention catch our attention and imagination … Continue reading
Posted in 50 Year Club
Tagged 787b, cosmo sport, Familia Rotary, Kenichi Yamamoto, l10a, mazda, r100, rotary engine, rx-2, rx-3, rx-4, rx-5, rx-7
11 Comments
NIHON LIFE: Stumbling across random car shops in Tokyo
It’s easy to get lost in Tokyo. The streets aren’t laid out in a grid and often have no signs on them, or if they do, they’re in Japanese. As a car otaku, the problem is compounded because rather than looking at … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged atenza, aw11, b310, celsior, Ciic Type R, Cima, civic, Civic EK, cosmo sport, Countach, datsun, F50, fairlady roadster, fairlady z, honda, infiniti, Infiniti Q45, lamborghini, lexus, Lexus LS, lfa, mazda, mr2, nissan, porsche, prius, r33, RUF, s130, skyline, sports 800, sunny, Sunny California, toyota, vip, W50
11 Comments
NEWS: Historic Mazdas make more history at Concours d’Elegance
Ah concours d’elegance, an age-old tradition in the world of classic automobiles. It’s an aristocracy long impenetrable by anything but the most time-tested and pedigreed works of art. Mazda just made history by taking home wins at not one but two major concours … Continue reading
Posted in News
Tagged 110s, 787b, Amelia Island, Concours d'Elegance, cosmo sport, mazda, Pinehurst
8 Comments
Mazda presents the 2017 Touge California — Registration open
We at Japanese Nostalgic Car are proud to announce that Touge California, our vintage road rally for all Japanese marques, returns for 2017 with Mazda as the title sponsor. It is a particularly great honor this year, as 2017 marks the 50th anniversary of … Continue reading
Mazda museum to open in Germany, first outside of Japan
A museum dedicated to classic Mazdas is about to open in Augsburg, Germany. Operated by Auto Frey, a Mazda dealer in the Bavarian city, and with support from Mazda Germany, Frey’s Mazda Classic Car Museum promises to be the first and … Continue reading
BACK ROADS: The HD Mazda 929
Mazda is on a roll these days, their current products heralded as best-in-segment in every class they compete in. Their designs have been stunning, especially in contrast to the current trend of excessively decorative styling, and their driving dynamics are top … Continue reading
MINICARS: Hot Wheels Mazda RX-7 FD3S
You’ve seen the 3D prototypes, now here is the first peek at the new Mazda RX-7 FD3S casting courtesy of the official Hot Wheels design team (you can follow all their antics at their Instagram account). Finished in a dark metallic … Continue reading
MINICARS: Lego JNCs that need to be made into sets
Did you know that Lego has an Ideas website where you can submit models for a vote, and if you receive enough, the company will consider making the set? It takes 10,000 votes to get a model reviewed, and combing through … Continue reading
