Tag Archives: tacoma

In its 26th year, Toyotafest is still going strong — a brief history of TORC, the Toyota Owners and Restorers Club

Posted on September 2, 2022 by Dan Hsu

We’ve been attending Toyotafest every year since JNC started in 2006, and it’s consistently one of our favorite events. Last year was the 25th Toyotafest, which means the show itself is now old enough to wear historic plates, buy collector … Continue reading →

Posted in News | Tagged 4runner, a20, a60, a70, A80, ae86, aw11, cabe toyota, celica, corolla, corona, e20, e70, fj40, fj60, GR86, hilux, J70, kp61, L10, land cruiser, lexus, lexus is, Lexus LS, mr2, N60, RAV4, scion, sports 800, st185, st205, starlet, stout, supra, sw20, t40, tacoma, tercel, toyota, toyotafest, W30, xb | 6 Comments

Pikes Peak Tacoma brought out of retirement for 100th hill climb

Posted on June 28, 2022 by Ben Hsu

Over the weekend the 100th running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb took place. The event was marked by rain and dense fog, conditions that shattered any chance of drivers setting new records. One driver that didn’t need to … Continue reading →

Posted in motorsport | Tagged pikes peak, Pikes Peak Celica, Pikes Peak Tacoma, Rod Millen, tacoma, toyota | 2 Comments

Toyota Chinook Camper reborn in “Tacozilla” SEMA build

Posted on November 3, 2021 by Ben Hsu

Toyota has revealed its incredible Tacoma-based Tacozilla, a retro mobile home based on the Chinook campers of the 1970s. Unlike the Chinooks of old, which were mostly fitted to 2WD pickups, the Tacozilla rides on a 4WD Tacoma TRD Sport … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged Chinook, sema, tacoma, toyota | 5 Comments

Toyota is building a 1970s Chinook-inspired Tacoma camper

Posted on October 15, 2021 by Ben Hsu

If you were around in the 70s and 80s, you probably have vivid memories of neat little campers built from Toyota HiLux pickups. The compact motorhomes were an official Toyota product, sold at dealerships and borne of a partnership between … Continue reading →

Posted in Next Version | Tagged Chinook, hilux, RVs, tacoma, toyota | 7 Comments

EVENTS: Ryu Asada Memorial Drive and Fundraiser

Posted on April 23, 2021 by Ben Hsu

Ryu Asada was loved. By his family, by his friends, by his colleagues, and by the 200 people that showed up with a week’s notice to celebrate his life. The venerated Hot Wheels and Matchbox designer was taken from all … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged acura, Cadillac, Corvette, datsun, DeLorean, Dodge Challenger, Ford Mustang, GMC Typhoon, honda, infiniti, jun imai, mazda, Meyers Manx, mitsubishi, nissan, Pontiac Firebird, Pontiac GTO, porsche, porsche 911, Ryu Asada, subaru, tacoma, toyota | 19 Comments

MINICARS: 2021 Matchbox lineup includes MR2, BRAT, T360, and more

Posted on July 21, 2020 by Ricky Silverio

The annual Matchbox collector’s convention was supposed to be last weekend, but the coronavirus happened. Instead, it was held virtually, with a video presentation to show what’s coming down the line. There’s a lot of excellent new castings for fans … Continue reading →

Posted in minicars | Tagged 280zx, 510, aw11, brat, c10, civic, d21, datsun, eclipse, f10, fj cruiser, Forester, Hakosuka, hardbody, hilux, honda, Honda e, infiniti, Infiniti G, Insight, lexus, Lexus LS, matchbox, mitsubishi, mr2, nissan, Nissan Junior, s130, s2000, sambar, skyline, subaru, T360/T500, tacoma, toyota, v36, Xterra | 17 Comments

Details on next Toyota 86, Land Cruiser leaked

Posted on March 25, 2020 by Ben Hsu

We’ve given Toyota a lot of shit recently, but maybe there’s a method to their madness after all. Yesterday, a slide from a dealer meeting was leaked, revealing Toyota’s plans for six models extending to the 2022 model year, including … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 4runner, brz, camry, corolla, GR86, land cruiser, lexus, Lexus GS, lexus is, Lexus LC, Lexus LX, Sequoia, subaru, tacoma, toyota, toyota 86, trucks, tundra | 15 Comments

SEMA 2019, Part 04: More Nihon Steel

Posted on November 8, 2019 by Ben Hsu

It’s really hard to capture everything at a show as big as SEMA, but here are a few more slabs of Nihon Steel we found lurking around. There was everything from slammed sleds to off-road heroes, sometimes both in the … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged 370z, acura, civic, Civic EG, cressida, eclipse, fc3s, fj40, fj62, Frontier, honda, hot wheels, J200, J60, J70, J80, jimny, Kicks, land cruiser, mark II, mazda, mitsubishi, N260, nissan, nsx, rally, Rocket Bunny, rx-7, rx-8, s13, sema, silvia, subaru, suzuki, tacoma, Titan, toyota, WRX STI, x80, z34 | 5 Comments

EVENTS: All-Toyotafest, Part 06 — Trucks

Posted on June 21, 2019 by Dan Hsu

Many long-time Toyota enthusiasts may feel that the company has squandered their loyalty by farming out their sports car icon (no matter what the reasons) or dissolving important parts of the Toyota USA Museum. However, there is one thing Toyota … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged 4Runneer, fj40, fj60, hilux, J20, J40, J60, J80, land cruiser, N130, N20, N30, N50, N60, R20, tacoma, toyota, toyotafest, trucks | 2 Comments

SEMA 2018: Toyota brings it with Supras, Trucks, and RWD Corollas

Posted on November 2, 2018 by Ben Hsu

We’ve poked fun at Toyota’s SEMA presence before, like when they brought a buncha Camrys to the world’s biggest tuner show. This year, however, they brought the ruckus, with a slew of Supras, a team of Tacomas, and a rear-wheel-drive … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged a40, a60, a70, A80, corolla, E210, sema, supra, t100, tacoma, toyota, trucks | 11 Comments

We went off-roading with a cadre of Japanese nostalgic trucks

Posted on August 10, 2018 by Ben Hsu

The mountains to the north of Los Angeles are home to some of the best driving roads in America. I had covered Angeles Crest, Glendora Mountain Road, and Mulholland Drive many times. But it was always in a light, rear-wheel-drive … Continue reading →

Posted in Back Roads | Tagged 4runner, acura, ae86, chevrolet, corolla, d21, fj cruiser, fj60, Forester, hardbody, hilux, jeep, land cruiser, Land Cruiser 100, Land Cruiser 80, Lexus LX, mdx, Mighty Max, mitsubishi, montero, N220, N60, nissan, pathfinder, R50, subaru, suzuki, tacoma, toyota, trucks | 6 Comments

EVENTS: Radwood NorCal 2018, the Greatest Hits

Posted on July 20, 2018 by Ben Hsu

Among the many examples of 80s and 90s Japanese cars that populated Radwood NorCal this year, there were a few that really stood out to us. We hesitate to call them the best; except for the actual “Best Of” voted … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged 240sx, 323 GTX, accord, Accord 1G, b13, camry, cressida, cultus, Dodge D50, Eagle Talon, eclipse, f31, fd3s, forte, geo, honda, infiniti, leopard, m30, mazda, metro, miata, Miata NA, Mighty Max, mitsubishi, mx-5, nissan, prelude, Prelude 3g, Radwood, rx-7, s13, sa22, sentra, silvia, suzuki, swift, tacoma, toyota, v10, x70 | 15 Comments

50 YEAR CLUB: Toyota HiLux

Posted on March 30, 2018 by Ben Hsu

Fifty years ago Toyota introduced what would become the most enduring workhorse the world has ever seen. Though ambitious in name, the HiLux — a portmanteau of the words “high” and “luxury” — was anything but. Utilitarian and austere, it was … Continue reading →

Posted in 50 Year Club | Tagged 4runner, dakar, hilux, Hilux Surf, n10, N20, N30, N40, N50, tacoma, toyota, trucks | 19 Comments

NEWS: These are your one-owner barn finds for 2028

Posted on January 10, 2018 by Ben Hsu

A new study has revealed which cars are bought new and kept by their original owners the longest. So, if you’re looking for a well-preserved one-owner car in 2028, this is what you’re likely to find. The good news is, … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged acura, avalon, camry, cr-v, Forester, Frontier, highlander, honda, mdx, Odyssey, prius, RAV4, Sequoia, sienna, subaru, tacoma, toyota, tundra | 11 Comments

EVENTS: All-Toyotafest 2017, Part 05 — Trucks

Posted on May 16, 2017 by Ben Hsu

Toyotafest is the only Japanese car show that can boast such a wonderfully diverse a mix of both car and trucks. This year, Toyota celebrated the Land Cruiser but there were just as many HiLuxes, Stouts, Tacomas, and other assorted trucks.

Posted in events | Tagged 4runner, avalon, back to the future, hilux, N20, stout, tacoma, toyota, toyotafest, Toyotafest 2017, trucks | 3 Comments

SEMA 2016: Toyota brings out the classics

Posted on November 3, 2016 by Ben Hsu

For the 50th anniversary of the Corolla, Toyota brought out one of its best SEMA displays ever, which included one example of every generation of the world’s best-selling nameplate. That alone would have been a pretty awesome display already, but Toyota … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged 2000gt, ae86, corolla, e10, E170, e30, e70, FJ25, ke10, land cruiser, MF12, prius, sienna, stout, tacoma, te27, toyota, toyota 86, Toyota Van | 25 Comments

MINICARS: Matchbox 2017 lineup revealed with surprising J-tin castings

Posted on July 19, 2016 by Ricky Silverio

Last week was the annual Matchbox Collector’s Convention in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Mattel took the opportunity to reveal the cars and trucks of their 2017 lineup, and there are several that will surely be of interest to JNCers.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 510, datsun, Junior, minicars, nissan, subaru, tacoma, toyota, trucks, WRX STI | 3 Comments

MINICARS: NY, LA and Dallas — Go get your Back to the Future diecast Toyotas now!

Posted on October 21, 2015 by Ricky Silverio

For Back to the Future Day, Toyota has set up three pop-ups across the country featuring a Tacoma tribute of Marty’s 1985 Toyota SR5. The cars are displayed in a life-size toy box because, well, Toyota is also quietly giving away diecast cars of … Continue reading →

Posted in minicars | Tagged back to the future, minicars, tacoma, toyota | 4 Comments

VIDEO: It’s October 21, 2015, Welcome Back to the Future

Posted on October 21, 2015 by Ben Hsu

Put on your self-tying sneakers and get on your hoverboards, because the future is here. Today, October 21, 2015, is the day Marty McFly time traveled to in Back to the Future II, and Toyota is using the opportunity to … Continue reading →

Posted in Video | Tagged back to the future, hilux, tacoma, toyota | 25 Comments

EVENTS: 2014 SEMA Show, Part 01

Posted on November 6, 2014 by Ben Hsu

Toyota’s SEMA presence this year was all about the Baja 1000. Ivan “Ironman” Stewart and his perfect hair were hanging around at the booth along with a ground pounding Toyota truck in the old tricolor racing livery.

Posted in events | Tagged 370z, 4runner, acura, Baja 1000, camry, fit, fr-s, ft-1, gt-r, honda, lexus, NISMO, nissan, NX, r35, RC F, RLX, scion, sema, sienna, Spoon, tacoma, toyota, TRD Pro, tundra, xb | 10 Comments