Jalopnik
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custom cars
That's Not A Custom Exhaust, THIS Is A Custom Exhaust; Japanese Tuner Car Fun
Oh land of the rising sun, you complete us. Whether it be dekotora, dekochari, custom flightless van, or cartoony car like the ones shown here, Japanese tuners make us laugh and cry, inspiring and frightening all while being endlessly amusing. How many aftermarket pharmaceuticals do you have to be on to come up with some of this stuff? We want more of this in the land of apple pie and baseball — think of how fun SEMA would be! Actually, we'd love to see some styles merged. Just imagine: Donkotora. Oh yes, this is a good idea. (Thanks Sasha!)
["ch.knuckles" flickr photostream, via Pink Tentacle] -
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jdm honda odyssey
Mugen Kits Already Out For JDM Honda Odyssey
So the reveal on the new JDM-only Honda Odyssey happened earlier today, but already those pseudo in-house tuners at Mugen are dropping body kits for a speedier-looking minivan. Available in two flavors, the kits offer revised nose styling, side skirts, rear spoilers, an exhaust kit, new brake pads, apparently new floor mats and snazzier aluminum wheels. We think the US minivan market needs some of this action, don't you? We can just picture the second vannin' craze sweeping grocery store parking lots and day cares across the country.
[NihonCar] -
jdm honda odyssey
All-New JDM-Only Honda Odyssey Revealed
Honda has unveiled its latest JDM Odyssey and, as is the norm, it's lighter, more nimble and more fuel-efficient than what we get on our shores. Aside from the more pointed, purposeful bodywork, the JDM Odyssey gets a 2.4-liter i-VTEC four-cylinder under the hood with output ranging from 171 to 203 HP, depending on trim level. A four-wheel double-wishbone arrangement holds everything up, with AWD an available option, while inside the Odyssey takes cues from the Fit with its multitude of seat-folding, space-utilizing options. Sounds like just the sort of fuel-efficient people-hauler we could use here in the states right about now. Don't hold your breath.
[BurlappCars] -
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Sprinter Carib aka Tercel 4WD: Survives Even Canada!
In mid-80s Japan, when you wanted a macho off-road machine that could take on the bears of the Canadian Rockies, you headed straight to the Toyota Sprinter Carib, which we Norteamericanos knew as the Tercel 4WD wagon. I've had a few of these things, and they're great for your hoonage-on-the-fire-road sort of activities (though I'm not so sure how one would fare in a flee-the-zombies-in-the-woods adventure). Thanks to SwapMeat for the tip! -
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1980 Toyota Cresta: The Exclusive Car!
In 1980 Japan, it was possible to get synthesizer keyboards with far more futuristic "whistling echo laser" effects than those used anywhere else in the Free World. Naturally, the Cresta was the machine most deserving of those keyboards. Somewhat similar in appearance to its American cousin, the Cressida, the Cresta was basically a luxury-enhanced Corona Mark II. Nice car, but we'd rather have a Crown Super Saloon. -
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Like Diane Lane, The 1990 Hino Ranger Truck Was Big In Japan
Paul Newman really did race Nissans and had a longstanding relationship with the company. But how about Diane Lane, star of Ladies And Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains? In a real test of the whole concept of suspension-of-disbelief, we see Ms. Lane driving a Mondrian-style Hino Ranger delivery truck through a Japanese neighborhood populated by refugees from the suburbs of Des Moines. Was there a rush on Hinos after this ad came out? -
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Paul Newman Thinks The 1984 Nissan Skyline Is Terrific
Paul Newman did a lot of ads for Nissan in addition to racing their cars, and the association went far beyond the usual "big in Japan" deal in which foreigners make major yen for appearing in car ads, then flee back home. Nissan even came out with a Paul Newman Version R30 Skyline, which is featured in one of the trio of '84 ads here. -
monterey historics
1967 Mazda Cosmo 110S Doesn't Care How Many Pistons Your Car Has
When's the last time you saw one of these? This damn-near-perfect first-year Mazda Cosmo didn't go out on the track, but it did grab more attention than most of the quadrillion-dollar Ferraris, just sitting there parked.
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1990 subaru legacy
Eat Dust, Schmaltz With The 1990 Subaru Legacy
Here's a pair of Japanese-market ads for the same car, the first-gen Subaru Legacy. First we have an ad packed with screaming engines and spraying champagne, with Subaru doing some heavy boasting about three Legacies driving a collective 100,000 kilometers in 19 days at the FIA track in Arizona and competing in the '90 WRC. But what about car buyers who shudder in horror at the idea of driving fast? For them, we have an ad featuring a tear-drenched singer sobbing out a Rod Stewart song, as a Legacy cruises placidly past what appear to be settling ponds at a uranium mine.
