Tag Archives: trucks
Toyota is coming out with a sub-Tacoma compact pickup
For years fans of Toyota trucks have been clamoring for a return to the compact pickup, the kind of mini-truck that helped Toyota establish itself in the US in the 70s and 80s. The Tacoma has gotten too big and … Continue reading
Nissan 350Z, Toyota Truck, Suzuki Cappuccino are cars to invest in, says Hagerty
Hagerty has published its annual Bull Market list, next year’s “hottest collector vehicles” according to the classic car insurance company. Out of the ten cars (and one motorcycle) three hail from the land of the rising sun. Let’s see which … Continue reading
Posted in News
Tagged cappuccino, fairlady z, kei, N60, nissan, suzuki, toyota, toyota truck, trucks, z33
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SHOWA SNAP: Unicorn Datsun U221 pickup zooms through post-war Tokyo
Showa era images always manage to unearth something of interest. For example, in a photo taken in the late 1950s or early 1960s, we stumbled upon an ultra-rare Datsun U221 pickup. It looks like a coupe at first glance, but … Continue reading
Happy 520 Day from JNC
What you’re looking at is one of the rarest Nissan compact trucks ever sold. The Datsun 520 debuted in May 1965 with a two-headlight design beneath its sculpted fenders and hood. This generation was facelifted to a flat hood, quad … Continue reading
Nissan Hardbody and Datsun 720-inspired Frontiers debut at Chicago Auto Show
Nissan is going HAM on the throwback stuff these days, and we’re not talking about the new Z. For the Chicago Auto Show they’re bringing not one, but two concept trucks with a decidedly flavor based on new Frontier pickup. … Continue reading
Toyota South Africa celebrates 60th anniversary
Toyota South Africa is celebrating its 60th anniversary today. The subsidiary was established in 1961, just four years after Toyota got a small foothold in California with the S30 Toyopet Crown. It shows just how rapidly — and perhaps optimistically … Continue reading
Japan’s Automotive Hall of Fame inductees for 2020 include the Suzuki Jimny, Honda RA272
Each year the Japan Automotive Hall of Fame choose three classic automobiles of historic significance to honor, and they’ve announced their inductees for 2020. More so than in past years, the trio covers extreme opposite ends of the vehicular spectrum. … Continue reading
Posted in News
Tagged formula 1, honda, japan automotive hall of fame, jimny, lj10, ra272, suzuki, Tatsuo Hasegawa, Toyopet SKB, toyota, trucks
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VIDEO: Why the Isuzu museum in Japan has a Chevy in it
Despite its prowess in building large industrial trucks for any type of terrain, Isuzu was never truly able to succeed in the domestic truck and SUV market. They never were able to challenge the like of the Land Cruisers, Patrols … Continue reading
VIDEO: The Isuzu Elf had a cute name but did massive work
The Elf is to Isuzu what the Land Cruiser is to Toyota or the Skyline is to Nissan. At 61 years old it’s the longest running nameplate in Isuzu’s history, and a truck that can be seen in almost every … Continue reading
VIDEO: The Isuzu TX-80 helped build modern Japan
The Isuzu TX-series trucks were a fixture in Japan’s post-war reconstruction. Their rule spanned over three decades, from 1946-79, an era that saw Japan transform from a defeated power to and economic juggernaut. TX-series trucks hauled cargo, moved earth, and … Continue reading
OH, KEI! The Jimny Santa Monica was a cute beach cruiser based on Suzuki’s mini-4×4
With summer is upon us, so are dreams of beachside cruising. In the history of kei cars, there was perhaps no vehicle more fitting for that purpose than the Jimny Santa Monica (it’s right there in the name!). Built upon … Continue reading
Happy 521 Day from JNC
Today is the day that we celebrate reasonably sized pickups. Yes, we know there’s a 520 but they are extremely hard to come by and thus difficult to take a photo of. So let’s just say May 21 is also … Continue reading
Check out Isuzu City, the mind-blowing miniature town that is Japan’s largest diorama
Goodbye forever, readers. We at JNC have decided to move to a place in Japan where there are plenty of nostalgic cars, clean streets, and barely any traffic. It’s Isuzu City, population 3,300, located inside the Isuzu Plaza museum in … Continue reading
Here’s a kit to make the new Suzuki Jimny look like its great-grandfather
It should come as no surprise that the Suzuki Jimny is a popular car in Japan. It’s one of the coolest new cars you can buy there, and a vehicle whose purposeful engineering is at the core of its appeal. … Continue reading
See some rare Showa Era trucks at Mega Web right now
If you’ve been to Tokyo you’ve likely visited MegaWeb, Toyota’s showroom in the Odaiba shopping district. The History Garage section has a rotating collection of classics, and typically you’ll be able to see a Toyota Sports 800, Mazda Cosmo Sport, … Continue reading
Posted in Galleries
Tagged 3-wheeled truck, corona, daihatsu, datsun, datsun 220, honda, Honda T-Series, mazda, midget, nissan, Ohta, T20, toyoace, toyota, trucks
6 Comments
Japanese Classic Car Show 2019, Part 09: Trucks, Vans, and Wagons
We have arrived at what could be our favorite part of JCCS, the vans, trucks, SUVs, and wagons. And now, in addition to seeing amazing US-market builds of such cars, their Japan-market counterparts are flooding in. No longer are the … Continue reading
Posted in events
Tagged 510, 521, 620, Blizzard, bluebird, corolla, corona, crown, daihatsu, datsun, dodge, e30, fj40, forte, H100, hiace, hilux, honda, J60, J80, jccs, land cruiser, Life StepVan, mazda, mitsubishi, montero, n10, N20, N30, nissan, pajero, Pajero Evolution, repu, s130, stout, t80, Taft, toyota, trucks, vans, wagons
4 Comments
NEWS: Isuzu celebrates 60th anniversary of the Elf
Yesterday, every major newspaper in Japan carried the above spread in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Isuzu Elf, the first Japanese cab-over-engine light truck in its class. In six decades and six generations, the Elf has sold over … Continue reading
EVENTS: All-Toyotafest, Part 06 — Trucks
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
