Author Archives: Ben Hsu
My car broke down two days before JCCS, but the Land Cruiser community is awesome
In preparation for the Japanese Classic Car Show this Saturday, I went to our storage to pick up all the stuff needed to set up our booth at the show. With our J80 Land Cruiser packed to the headliner, I … Continue reading
Akio Toyoda inducted into Automotive Hall of Fame
On September 23 Toyota Motor Corp chairman Akio Toyoda was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame in Detroit. Just two days prior, he had crashed a Toyota off-road vehicle during testing. “So, if I look a little banged up, … Continue reading
Nissan’s Z Kaze Concept is an homage to the 90s
With its newly unveiled Z Kaze concept, Nissan is paying tribute to the 1990s. The car was unveiled at ZCon in Phoenix, Arizona, a gathering of the hardest-core Z enthusiasts in the country. Nissan says the Z Kaze “unlocks a … Continue reading
Japan’s oldest vehicle body manufacturer celebrates 125 years
On September 12, a lesser-known corner of Japan’s automotive world celebrated a milestone. Pabco, the oldest vehicle body manufacturer in the country, observed its 125th anniversary. It’s a company whose roots date back to the Meiji Era, a decidedly pre-automotive … Continue reading
Impul revives the GT bumper for R34 Nissan Skylines
The R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R might be decades old, but aftermarket parts are still coming. Case in point: Impul has revived its GT Bumper. It hearkens back to the original Impul GT Bumper from when the R34 was available new, … Continue reading
California to move smog test exemption to 1986 thanks to Leno’s Law
On Wednesday morning California Senate Bill 1392 was signed into law. Also known as Leno’s Law, it’s a reprieve for classic car enthusiasts across the state, as it pushes back the state’s notoriously strict smog tests to cars built through … Continue reading
The final Daihastu Copen rolls off the assembly line
On August 31, Daihatsu held a ceremony as the last Copen finished production and rolled off the line. A small group of lucky and dedicated Copen owners were invited to see off the Jaune Yellow kei convertible, a fitting color … Continue reading
Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance welcomes a Japanese class for the first time
The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance that marks the grand finale of Monterey Car Week has long held the title of most prestigious car show in the world. Winning Best of Show is the highest and most coveted honor a car … Continue reading
Posted in Monterey Car Week
Tagged 24 Hours of Le Mans, 767b, 787, acura, celica, group c, honda, mazda, Monterey Car Week, nissan, nsx, Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, R91CP, T180, toyota, WEC, yojiro terada
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Carlyn Dinkler, pioneering Toyota Corona restorer and preservationist, 1939—2026
We are sad to report that Carlyn Dinkler, a pioneer in the world of vintage Japanese cars, has passed. Long before the internet, long before Toyotafest, and long before anyone though old Toyotas were cool, Dinkler was already devoting his … Continue reading
Mitsubishi Pajero returns as new body-on-frame SUV
When Mitsubishi discontinued the Pajero in 2019 it was punch in the gut for enthusiasts. That was followed by a knockout uppercut when Mitsubishi shuttered Pajero Manufacturing Co., Ltd., its legendary plant dedicated to building the the famed SUV (as … Continue reading
QotW: What other ‘outdated’ things do you enjoy?
Recently my 7-year-old has become obsessed with DVDs. He was born in an age where everything you could ever want to watch is on-demand. He can’t fully grasp it when I explain (in old prospector’s voice) that back in my … Continue reading
Ken Okuyama’s supercar celebrates the spirit of 1989, a landmark year for Japanese cars
“1989 was a defining year. It gave us the GT-R, Lexus, and the RX-7. Japan’s automotive industry reached new heights,” says renowned automotive designer Ken Okuyama. His latest creation, the V12-powered Kode89, is a tribute to that seminal year. It … Continue reading
Hiroshi Okuda, former Toyota president and chairman who fast-tracked the Prius, 1932—2026
Toyota confirmed last week that Hiroshi Okuda, former president and chairman of the company, had passed away on August 8 at the age of 93. He was a transformative figure in Toyota’s history. When he took the helm in 1995, … Continue reading
QotW: What’s the most inexpensive way to command respect at Car Week?
We just returned from Monterey Car Week, where cars of all types mingle on the streets of the central coast peninsula. Traditionally Japanese cars have been relegated to the sidelines but are now gaining respect, even among the blue-bloods. Sure, … Continue reading
Acura Nexera Vision Concept begins the next chapter for the marque
As Acura marks 40 years since its launch, the brand seeks to establish an outlook for the future. Timed alongside its 40th anniversary, Acura’s Nexera Vision (the name is a portmanteau of “next era”) concept is a low-slung sports car with … Continue reading
QotW: What’s your favorite automotive hat?
Today, August 10, is Hat Day in Japan, formed by Japan’s love for a pun-based occasion: ha (eight) and to (ten), which together form hatto, the Japanese pronunciation of “hat”. It also happens to be one of the punniest dates … Continue reading
The second-gen Honda Accord was a technological marvel: navigation, auto-leveling suspension and ABS in the age of MTV
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Honda Accord, launched in May 1976. Pioneering ideas like front-wheel-drive and taking on environmental concerns with the CVCC engine, it sold 1.5 million examples in 90 countries. Expectations for were high when … Continue reading
QotW: What was your favorite slot car experience?
We at JNC often discuss diecast cars or model kits, but there’s another world of vintage automotive toys that many have fond memories of. In postwar America slot cars were the phenomenon that bridged the gap between toy models and … Continue reading
