Tag Archives: toyota

Shaken preparation at Sports Car Service of Yokohama

Posted on August 23, 2012 by Ben Hsu

Nestled in the sleepy, semi-rural outskirts of Yokohama is Sports Car Service, specializing in the repair and maintenance of nostalgic cars. Recently a friend needed to get an old rotary prepped for shaken, Japan’s roadworthiness inspection, and we tagged along to … Continue reading →

EVENTS: Mooneyes Mania Cruise Bluebird-Corona Day, Part 03

Posted on August 22, 2012 by Ricky Silverio

We’re devoting the third and last installment of our Mooneyes Mania Cruise‘s Bluebird-Corona Day coverage to just one car. Why? Because the Toyota Corona teased in Part 01 is utterly steeped period correct modifications from the early 1970s.

Posted in events, toyota | Tagged Checkman, corona, Cossac-G, mooneyes, rt132, t130, toyota | 17 Comments

EVENTS: 2012 Nisei Showoff, Part 01

Posted on August 15, 2012 by Dan Hsu

Held in the historic Little Tokyo district of Los Angeles, Nisei Week is an annual festival for Japanese Americans dating back to 1934. The Nisei Showoff custom car show, launched during the height of the import tuning craze, is now … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged 200sx, 510, 520, 521, 610, 620 nissan, ae86, bluebird, bre, brz, corolla, cressida, datsun, fr-s, gt 86, hachiroku, hilux, jaf, kp61, levin, mr2, mx83, s110, scion, silvia, sprinter, starlet, subaru, sw20, te27, tosco, toyota, toyota 86, trueno, x80 | 15 Comments

Tomica Limited Vintage A60 Toyota Celica 1600GT-R

Posted on August 14, 2012 by Ricky Silverio

A60 Toyota Celica coupes have been surging in popularity lately, and why not? It’s RWD, still affordable, and styled with that 80s angularity we love so dearly. They’re like the AE86‘s big brother, but a lot easier to find on craigslist in … Continue reading →

Posted in minicars, toyota | Tagged a60, celica, ra63, ra64, ra65, tomica, tomica limited vintage, toyota | 9 Comments

Initial D Fifth Stage to premiere November 9

Posted on August 9, 2012 by Ben Hsu

Hang on to your e-brakes because the hit anime Initial D returns November 9. What was originally lost in translation and reported as a reboot is actually a restart, continuing the series where it left off six years ago.

Posted in toyota, Video Games | Tagged ae86, corolla, Fifth Stage, Initial D, levin, sprinter, Takumi Fujiwara, toyota, trueno | 25 Comments

QotW: What is the most influential Japanese car?

Posted on August 7, 2012 by Ben Hsu

The western world has often overlooked the influence of Japan’s cars. So this week we put to you the question, one that is bound to stir up plenty of debate. What is the most influential Japanese car? There are so … Continue reading →

Posted in mitsubishi, Question of the Week | Tagged dignity, equus, furuta, hyundai, kp61, minicars, mitsubishi, proudia, Question of the Week, starlet, toyota | 63 Comments

All around the world, it’s a happy 8/6 Day

Posted on August 6, 2012 by Ben Hsu

It’s amazing how one affordable little car can bring the world together. Around the globe August 6th has become the de facto worldwide holy day for honoring the Toyota AE86. 2012’s 8/6 Day will forever be remembered because it’s the … Continue reading →

Posted in events, toyota | Tagged 510, a20, ae86, bluebird, brz, celica, corolla, cressida, datsun, drift, e20, fr-s, gt 86, gt-s, keiichi tsuchiya, levin, lexus, lfa, mx72, mx73, nissan, s13, scion, silvia, sprinter, subaru, te27, te28, tetsuya tada, toyota, toyota 86, trueno, x70 | 11 Comments

The astoundingly detailed custom Hot Wheels of ScaleMaster

Posted on August 2, 2012 by Ricky Silverio

Please allow me to introduce our two newest JNC contributors — Ricky Silverio, an unquestionable nostalgic car guru who will be writing regularly about Japanese collectibles, and Mark Jones, the man behind these custom toy cars. Enjoy Ricky’s first article. – … Continue reading →

Posted in honda, minicars, nissan, toyota | Tagged 2000gt, 240z, 260, 280z, 350z, ae86, bre, celica, civic, civic si, corolla, datsun, fairlady z, hachiroku, hks, honda, hot wheels, kurosawa, levin, minicars, mooneyes, mugen, Nerve Hammer, nissan, r32, s30, ScaleMaster, skyline, sprinter, super tsunami, supra, toyota, trd, trueno, z33 | 20 Comments

EVENTS: Mooneyes Mania Cruise Bluebird-Corona Day, Part 02

Posted on August 1, 2012 by Ben Hsu

Though the Mooneyes Mania Cruise‘s Bluebird-Corona Day started out with rain, the Sunnys did come out. However throughout the day echoes of an ancient war between Japan’s two largest industrial giants would play out.

Posted in events, nissan, toyota, wagons | Tagged 410, b110, barikan, BC Wars, bluebird, corona, datsun, kp30, kp31, kp37v, mania cruise, mooneyes, nissan, p30, publica, rt40, rt52, sunny, t40, toyota, wagon | 11 Comments

NEWS: Initial-D anime to get reboot

Posted on July 30, 2012 by Ben Hsu

Speaking of mad mangas, Hollywood isn’t the only one endlessly retooling comic book movies. On Monday Kodansha’s Young Magazine announced that Initial D is getting the reboot treatment as well. Further details have yet to be announced but one thing for … Continue reading →

Posted in toyota | Tagged ae86, anime, corolla, Initial D, levin, manga, Shuichi Shigeno, sprinter, Takumi Fujiwara, toyota, trueno | 26 Comments

Britcar 24hrs Toyota GT86 to revive BTCC AE86 Corolla livery

Posted on July 30, 2012 by Ben Hsu

The car you see on two wheels above is an AE86 in its prime, campaigned by the UK’s Chris Hodgetts Motor Sports. With it, CHMS won the British Touring Car Championships during the hachiroku‘s heyday in both 1986 and 1987. This fall its … Continue reading →

Posted in mitsubishi, motorsports, toyota | Tagged ae86, BritCar 24 Hrs, British Touring Car Championships, BTCC, CHMS, Chris Hodgetts, fr-s, gt 86, hachiroku, mitsubishi, scion, Silverstone Circuit, starion, toyota, toyota 86 | 3 Comments

Grand Touring: Up the California Coast in a Toyota FJ Cruiser

Posted on July 26, 2012 by Ben Hsu

In Part 01 of our Bayline Gathering coverage we promised an in-depth examination of the steed that carried us north, away from our familiar SoCal environs and to the Bay Area in search of precious Nihon metal. First, let’s recap. Why exactly did … Continue reading →

Posted in Grand Touring, toyota | Tagged akio toyoda, Bayline Gathering, bj25, fj cruiser, fj40, fj45, fj55, Grand Touring, land cruiser, toyota | 20 Comments

In Saudi Arabia, rockin’ a Cressida has a whole new meaning

Posted on July 25, 2012 by Ben Hsu

And now for your viewing pleasure, a pair of X30 Cressidas on plinths. Raising cars on makeshift rock structures is apparently all the rage among the youths in Abha, Saudi Arabia. But lest you think this is the Saudi equivalent of … Continue reading →

Posted in toyota | Tagged cressida, mark II, mazda, mitsubishi, mx32, plinths, Saudi Arabia, toyota, x30 | 16 Comments

EVENTS: The Bayline Gathering, Part 04

Posted on July 24, 2012 by Dan Hsu

Our final installment of the Bayline Gathering kicks off with one of the Bay Area’s infamous Bluebirds that are not 510s. Remember the Appliance-shod 710 from Part 03? This tsurikawa strappin’ Datsun 610 is his partner in crime. Despite the mismatched Longchamps and MKIs it exudes shakotan cool.

Posted in events, mazda, mitsubishi, nissan, toyota, wagons | Tagged 240z, 260z, 280z, 323, 510, 610, a60, ae86, auto bahn, b110, Bayline Gathering, bluebird, capella, celica, colt, corolla, daruma, datsun, diane krey-welsey, dodge, e70, familia, fb, galant, Historic Japanese Car Gathering, hot wheels, kouki, levin, ma61, mary, mazda, mitsubishi, nissan, ra21, ra22, rx-2, rx-7, sa22, sa22c, savanna, sprinter, ssr mesh, sunny, superlite, supra, ta22, te71, te72, toyota, trueno, wagon, work equip 03, zenki | 29 Comments

QotW: What’s the best Japanese car commercial from the West?

Posted on July 23, 2012 by Ben Hsu

The Japanese are known for offbeat, zany or downright insane car commercials, but clearly not all of them would translate to western audiences. International marketing departments have their own way of luring you into the showroom, so we ask: What’s the … Continue reading →

Posted in honda, minicars, Question of the Week, subaru | Tagged furata, honda, impossible dream, kp61, legacy, Mel Gibson, QotW, Question of the Week, starlet, subaru, toyota | 37 Comments

EVENTS: The Bayline Gathering, Part 03

Posted on July 20, 2012 by Dan Hsu

We begin Part 03 of our Bayline Gathering coverage with a pair of matching ’85 A60 Celica ‘verts. San Francisco’s hills form one of the most beautiful urban landscapes in America and navigating them with an open top must make for a … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged 240z, 260z, 280z, 280zx, 300zx, 710, a20, a60, ae86, auster, Bayline Gathering, capella, celica, corolla, cressida, datsun, e70, enkei, enkei 92, f20c, fairlady z, hachiroku, Historic Japanese Car Gathering, levin, markII, mazda, MkII, mx63, nissan, panasport, performance options, ra21, ra22, rs watanabe, rx-2, s130, s30, sprinter, ssr, ta22, te27, te72, tosco, toyota, trd, trueno, violet, wagon, watanabes, work equip, x60, z31 | 17 Comments

EVENTS: Mooneyes Mania Cruise Bluebird-Corona Day, Part 01

Posted on July 19, 2012 by Ben Hsu

In the debut article from our newest contributor, Rod Serikaku of AutoNGraphic, we visit the Mooneyes Mania Cruise, an informal, early morning gathering of petrolheads. It’s a Japanese domestic version of Cars & Coffee of Japan except much, much cooler, … Continue reading →

Posted in events, toyota, wagons | Tagged 2t-g, 4A-G, a10, a60, bluebird, carina, corona, mania cruise, mooneyes, t40, toyota, wagons | 9 Comments

EVENTS: The Bayline Gathering, Part 02

Posted on July 17, 2012 by Dan Hsu

In Part 01 of our Bayline Gathering coverage we gazed upon the show’s centerpieces, a collection of rare vintage Nissan Skylines that had journeyed across the Pacific to be revered by a new generation of enthusiasts. But with nearly 200 cars … Continue reading →

Posted in events, mitsubishi, nissan, toyota, wagons | Tagged 2000 sports, 240z, 260z, 280z, 510, 710, a40, auster, bluebird, celica, chrysler, conquest, corolla, corona, cressida, datsun, e70, fairlady roadster, fairlady z, mitsubishi, mx62, nissan, performance options, s30, starion, t130, te37v, te72, toyota, violet, volk, wagon, x60 | 11 Comments

QotW: What’s the best car commercial from Japan?

Posted on July 16, 2012 by Ben Hsu

Now that the star of one of the most famous Japanese car commercials has been rediscovered, it’s time we asked: What’s the best car commercial from Japan? The 1972 Nissan Skyline hit the market just as Japanese citizens getting hooked … Continue reading →

Posted in mazda, minicars, nissan, Question of the Week, toyota | Tagged ae86, c110, corolla, cosmo, eunos, furata, gc110, jc, kenmeri, kgc110, levin, mazda, nissan, Question of the Week, skyline, sprinter, toyota, trueno | 30 Comments

EVENTS: The Bayline Gathering, Part 01

Posted on July 12, 2012 by Ben Hsu

Ever since Motoring J Style faded in 2008 there’s been a void in the NorCal nostalgic scene. The Bay Area is rife with vintage Nihon steel, and it needs a bona fide show to bring the cars out from their garages.

Posted in events, nissan, toyota | Tagged 240k, 240z, 260z, 280z, 510, ae86, aw11, b110, bbs, bluebird, c10, c110, corolla, corona mark II, cressida, datsun, diane krey, fairlady z, fj cruiser, gc10, gt-r, Hakosuka, jdm legends, jzz30, kenmeri, kgc10, kgc110, kpgc10, kpgc110, levin, lexus, lexus sc, mini, MkI, mr2, mx72, nissan, panasport, rs watanabe, s30, skyline, sprinter, ssr, sunny, toyota, trueno, tsurikawa, watanabes, x70 | 27 Comments