BITOG AMA - Brian Jannusch
We asked Brian questions in this thread:
Brian answers our questions below:
The "legends of JDM" are certainly well-established, with nameplates such as GT-R, Supra, RX7, NSX, Civic/Integra Type-R's, etc. With these cars aging to the point of becoming classics, which newer or current-generation Japanese offerings do you predict will become the next crop of highly desirable collectibles?
These are great questions and something I spend a lot of time thinking about. The Lexus LFA has already established itself as a blue chip collectible, and the R35 GT-R has some unique specifications that will also land among other modern collectibles. The 2007 Nissan Fairlady Z Type 380RS is one that I think will definitely be on the list. Only 300 were produced, and all were for the Japanese market, meaning they will be eligible for import in 2032. The 2007-2008 Honda Civic Mugen RR was also limited to only 300 units and will be a must-have for many Honda collectors. The 2003 second-gen MX-5 coupe is also one I see as being ultra-desirable, with only 179 cars produced. If we are talking about something that is not ultra rare but just has not caught on yet, I think the Nissan Silvia S15 Spec R, Nissan Z32 and the Mitsubishi GTO both have some room to grow in the collectors market, especially for a clean one in the right spec.
Could you tell us about how you maintain your Japanese cars?
Japanese cars get a lot of points for reliability, but that comes with maintenance. The RB26 (GT-R), the 2JZ (Supra) and the 13B (RX-7) all rely heavily on quality oil, so do not cut corners here. I use Pennzoil Platinum® Full Synthetic Motor Oil; I've done the independent testing, and it works great. Car care products are also often overlooked for older cars. These cars rust and sitting water accelerates that. Using waterless wash and other quality car detailing products can help prevent that.
The high-output engines in your Japanese cars surely require some TLC between races to keep them running. Do you ever tear the engines down for inspection?
For racing, yes. Racing and street vehicles have very different applications, requiring different maintenance intervals. We do 3,000km rebuilds for my race car to avoid any potential challenges on the track. For a street car, that isn't necessary; general care and maintenance are enough to keep you on the road as a casual street driver. Whether it’s my race car or street car, I count on Pennzoil Platinum® to keep my engines running efficiently.
Have you observed any differences in wear between JDM engines and their USDM counterparts at similar mileages?
There isn't an equivalent to the RB26 in the U.S., but for the Supra with the 2JZ and 13B (RX-7), for example, which were sold in the U.S., the short answer would be no. They often use a different turbo and manifold, but they are the same and require the same maintenance and care.
We asked Brian questions in this thread:
Brian answers our questions below:
The "legends of JDM" are certainly well-established, with nameplates such as GT-R, Supra, RX7, NSX, Civic/Integra Type-R's, etc. With these cars aging to the point of becoming classics, which newer or current-generation Japanese offerings do you predict will become the next crop of highly desirable collectibles?
These are great questions and something I spend a lot of time thinking about. The Lexus LFA has already established itself as a blue chip collectible, and the R35 GT-R has some unique specifications that will also land among other modern collectibles. The 2007 Nissan Fairlady Z Type 380RS is one that I think will definitely be on the list. Only 300 were produced, and all were for the Japanese market, meaning they will be eligible for import in 2032. The 2007-2008 Honda Civic Mugen RR was also limited to only 300 units and will be a must-have for many Honda collectors. The 2003 second-gen MX-5 coupe is also one I see as being ultra-desirable, with only 179 cars produced. If we are talking about something that is not ultra rare but just has not caught on yet, I think the Nissan Silvia S15 Spec R, Nissan Z32 and the Mitsubishi GTO both have some room to grow in the collectors market, especially for a clean one in the right spec.
Could you tell us about how you maintain your Japanese cars?
Japanese cars get a lot of points for reliability, but that comes with maintenance. The RB26 (GT-R), the 2JZ (Supra) and the 13B (RX-7) all rely heavily on quality oil, so do not cut corners here. I use Pennzoil Platinum® Full Synthetic Motor Oil; I've done the independent testing, and it works great. Car care products are also often overlooked for older cars. These cars rust and sitting water accelerates that. Using waterless wash and other quality car detailing products can help prevent that.
The high-output engines in your Japanese cars surely require some TLC between races to keep them running. Do you ever tear the engines down for inspection?
For racing, yes. Racing and street vehicles have very different applications, requiring different maintenance intervals. We do 3,000km rebuilds for my race car to avoid any potential challenges on the track. For a street car, that isn't necessary; general care and maintenance are enough to keep you on the road as a casual street driver. Whether it’s my race car or street car, I count on Pennzoil Platinum® to keep my engines running efficiently.
Have you observed any differences in wear between JDM engines and their USDM counterparts at similar mileages?
There isn't an equivalent to the RB26 in the U.S., but for the Supra with the 2JZ and 13B (RX-7), for example, which were sold in the U.S., the short answer would be no. They often use a different turbo and manifold, but they are the same and require the same maintenance and care.