Tokyo Auto Salon: The awesome stuff we didn’t get to
In the past, the Tokyo Auto Salon has been pretty easy for us to cover. The show is still geared towards cars on the cutting edge of performance tech and style, so true chrome-bumpered classics were...
View ArticleMOTORSPORT: Historic racing Datsuns are headed to The Mitty
It is a landmark year for Nissan. Its classic models are growing in value, and its long history of racing achievements are finally being recognized. Not only is Nissan the first Japanese marque to be...
View ArticleMINICARS: Datsun 240Z wins the Hot Wheels RedLine Club Selections bracket
Each year Hot Wheels allows collectors to choose one casting that will be made into a premium collectible. Eight cars are nominated, and then voted on by the Hot Wheel Collectors community in a March...
View ArticleMINICARS: Charge your phone with a Fairlady Z
There are few phone accessories a boring as a portable charger battery, usually no more than a rectangular box with an LED light and a USB port. In Japan, however, you can now charge your phone with...
View ArticleVINTAGE RACING JOURNAL: Road to The Mitty, Part 01
Editor’s note: Vintage Racing Journal is a new segment on JNC following the exploits of Glenn Chiou, owner, restorer, and vintage racer of two historic Datsun race cars. Glenn is based in California...
View ArticleJNC THEATER: A review of Velocity’s JDM Legends
The premiere of JDM Legends on Velocity Channel premiere is old news by this point, but as a watcher of many automotive-themed TV shows I wanted to sit down and actually think about how I feel about...
View ArticleHappy DNA Day from JNC
Today is National DNA Day, which celebrates the discovery, 65 years ago, of the double helix structure comprising life’s building blocks by James Watson, Francis Crick, Maurice Wilkins, and Rosalind...
View ArticleMOTORSPORT: John Morton’s 240Z lap at Road Atlanta
The Mitty was this weekend, and Nissan was the featured marque. We’ll have a full report on what it’s like to race at Road Atlanta in a Datsun 240Z coming soon, but for now check out this video of John...
View ArticleVINTAGE RACING JOURNAL: The Mitty, Part 01 — Test Day
There’s nothing like the early morning start to a race weekend. Your mind becomes clear. Any lingering stress from your day job is replaced with the smell of a coffee and race gas mixture. Nothing else...
View ArticleVINTAGE RACING JOURNAL: The Mitty, Part 02 — Qualifying
Road Atlanta is truly a sight to see. Its rich history and beautiful rolling hills make it the perfect venue for vintage racing. After spending most of the prior afternoon and evening swapping...
View ArticleVINTAGE RACING JOURNAL: The Mitty, Part 03 — Race Day
“Racing is life. Anything before or after is just waiting.” Steve McQueen could not have summed it up any better. All the stresses of a day job, outstanding bills, hardships of life, are easily...
View Article50 YEAR CLUB: Hot Wheels
Fifty years ago today, the world was introduced to what just might be the most influential cars ever made. The automotive world was forever changed on May 18, 1968 when Mattel introduced the Hot Wheels...
View ArticleHappy S30 Day from JNC
Well, there really isn’t an S30 Day on the calendar, but the seminal Japanese sports car certainly deserves a day of its own. So, we might as well make May 30 that day, because an “S” looks kind of...
View ArticleVINTAGE RACING JOURNAL: Five forgotten heroes of Datsun racing
As we prepare for Datsun race cars to flood Raceway Laguna Seca for the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion in August, let’s take a moment to remember the forgotten heroes of Datsun racing. You’re...
View ArticleEVENTS: Petersen Museum Cruise-in, Part 01
Last weekend the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles hosted their annual cruise-in for Japanese cars. J-tin of all eras and styles flocked to the museum’s parking structure at the corner of...
View ArticleEVENTS: Petersen Museum Cruise-in, Part 02
The Petersen Museum in Los Angeles puts on many events throughout the year, each with a theme ranging from hot rods to Porsches. Recently, they hosted their annual cruise-in for Japanese cars, inviting...
View ArticleMINICARS: A beginner’s guide to JNC Legos, Part 01
The popularity of Legos had exploded in recent years, leading to many fans going beyond off-the-shelf kits and building their own custom creations. We’ve posted about Legos before, starting from back...
View ArticleNEWS: Nissan to exhibit racing legends, R390 GT1 road car, at Monterey
Nissan has announced some details about its plans for the upcoming Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. The event will be a significant milestone, since it is the first time a Japanese marque has...
View ArticleMINICARS: A beginner’s guide to JNC Legos, Part 02
With the popularity of Legos showing no signs of slowing, it’s a good time to get into building custom JNCs out of these little Danish bricks. In Part 01 of our beginner’s guide, we took a look at some...
View ArticleKIDNEY, ANYONE? Nissan Fairlady 240Z-G
Monterey Car Week takes place next week, and we’re seeing more Japan-market classics trickling their way over to US shores. Perhaps the most desirable among this year’s crop is a genuine 1972 Nissan...
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