Past Gas

S2 Ep12: The Golden Era of JDM: Why Gen Z Grew Up Without Cars

From legendary 90s JDM icons skyrocketing into the millions, to corporate scandals, economic crashes, and a generation forced to trade the steering wheel for a smartphone, this is the true story of how we lost the greatest automotive era in history, and why the "car dream" is now completely out of reach for most of us.The golden era of Japanese sports cars is officially dead... or is it?

S2 Ep11: The Golden Era of JDM: The Last Great JDM Halo Cars

By the late 2000s, shrinking markets, tightening emissions, and a younger generation losing interest in vehicles signaled the end of the legendary JDM era. But a few rebellious engineers refused to go quietly, choosing instead to make their last cars arguably their greatest.In this second-to-last episode of Past Gas: The Golden Era of JDM, we explore the dramatic conclusion of Japan's greatest automotive era. Discover how Nissan built the R35 GT-R from scratch to successfully crush Porsche at the Nurburgring, why Toyota intentionally lost money on every screaming V10 LFA they built to educate their next generation of engineers, the heartbreaking cancellation of Honda's highly anticipated V10 NSX, and how Mazda kept the pure driving spirit alive despite the death of the rotary engine. This episode is brought to you by Lumi Gummies! Go to https://www.LumiGummies.com and use code PASTGAS for 30% off your order!

S2 Ep10: The Golden Era of JDM: The Secrets That Made Tokyo Drift Successful

In this episode, we explore the unbelievable evolution of drift culture. From Keiichi Tsuchiya—the legendary "Drift King"—cutting his teeth by sliding through blind corners, to the creation of the D1 Grand Prix and the birth of Formula Drift, drifting had to invent its own competitive rules and scoring systems from scratch. Join us as we dive into how this underground Japanese phenomenon captured the world's attention, conquered the American car scene, and eventually demanded absolute authenticity on the set of The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift.Thanks to Shopify for sponsoring this episode! Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at https://www.Shopify.com/Gas

S2 Ep9: The Golden Era of JDM: The Forbidden Japanese Cars The US Demanded

When The Fast and the Furious hit theaters in 2001, it lifted Japanese car culture out of the mountain passes and dropped it straight into the American mainstream.In this episode of Past Gas, we explore how Japan responded to the world's newfound obsession with its vehicles. We break down Daijiro Inada's terrifying 200 mph rollover crash in the Nevada desert, the intense enthusiast demand that finally forced legendary cars like the Subaru WRX and Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution stateside, and the historic end to Japan's 15-year 276-horsepower "gentlemen's agreement". Finally, discover how iconic aftermarket brands like GReddy and HKS engineered specifically for the West and turned American ambition into a global tuning empire.Thanks to QUO for sponsoring this episode! Try QUO for free PLUS get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to https://www.Quo.com/PastGas 

S2 Ep8: The Golden Era of JDM: Nitrous, Neon and... Internet Forums?

In this episode of Past Gas, we dive into the explosive rise of the tuner revolution. We explore the wild Motorex scandal that illegally brought the legendary Nissan Skyline GT-R to the US, the neon-lit spectacle of Hot Import Nights, and how a single magazine article birthed The Fast and the Furious. Discover how the World Wide Web and Hollywood mutated grassroots garage builds into a massive global phenomenon.This episode is brought to you by Rocket Money! Let Rocket Money help you reach your financial goals faster. Join at https://www.RocketMoney.com/PastGasAlso thanks to Lumi Gummies for sponsoring this podcast! Go to https://www.LumiGummies.com and use code PASTGAS for 30% off your order.This podcast is also sponsored by BlueChew! Right now, when you buy two months of BlueChew Gold, you get the third for FREE with promo code PASTGAS!And also thanks to Shopify for sponsoring this episode!