Author Archives: Ben Hsu
Patrick Stewart was in an 80s Japanese motorcycle racing movie
Humanity lost one of its greatest treasures with the passing of actor Patrick Stewart yesterday at the age of 86. While best known for his roles as Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Professor X in the … Continue reading
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Pour one out for the Lexus LC, last of the V8 interceptors
The final Lexus LC rolled off the assembly line on August 22, 2026. Yesterday, Lexus posted a video documenting the end of its production. It was a somber occasion, one that marks the end of an era. The LC500 is … Continue reading
Nissan unleashes trio of throwback concepts for SEMA
Nissan has revealed three retro-themed concepts ahead of the 2026 SEMA Show. The lineup includes Z-cars from the first and latest generations, as well as a callback to a beloved sport sedan from the 90s.
Toyota Celica mid-engined AWD coupe debuts in racing livery
Toyota has debuted its new mid-engined sports car in racing livery. Officially, it’s called the GR Yaris M Concept, but no one other than Toyota is actually referring to it by that name. Japanese media is confident that this vehicle … Continue reading
Mitsubishi president wants to return to Dakar and WRC
Now that Mitsubishi has a Pajero again, it has the potential to return to the racing venues that built the brand. Mitsubishi president Keisuke Kishiura recently confirmed that he would like to see his company return to the Dakar Rally and, … Continue reading
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NHK’s ‘Inside Toyota’ documentary takes us where cameras never go
A new NHK documentary takes an unprecedented look inside the world’s top carmaker as it navigates an industry-wide existential crisis. Cameras go behind the scenes at the company’s technical center in Toyota City and the Design Dome (above), a highly … Continue reading
This buildable Hakosuka Nissan Skyline GT-R brings our partnership with Mattel full circle
October 2026 marks the 20th anniversary of Japanese Nostalgic Car. The scene for classic cars from Japan has evolved a lot over the years, especially in the realm of collectibles. Arguably, the current craze of “JDM” Hot Wheels was kicked … Continue reading
‘Initial D’ and Williams F1 collab is a weird snapshot of 2026 car culture
The Williams F1 team has unexpectedly collaborated with Initial D for a line of merch. There really isn’t a lot in common between a British Formula 1 team formed in the 1970s and a touge racing manga from 1990s Japan, … Continue reading
Butame Toyota Mark II stars in new J-hop music video
Members from two hit J-pop boy bands have formed a new group whose aesthetic is built around 1980s bosozoku culture. Maekawa Ippa has only one single so far, and the music video is stylized like a nostalgic Showa or Heisei … Continue reading
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Reimagined Honda NSX, the JAS Tensei, officially revealed
A modern interpretation of the iconic Honda NSX has now been fully revealed in physical form to media aPenned by Pininfarina and engineered by race car constructor JAS, the Tensei (meaning “rebirth” in Japanese) answers the question of what an … Continue reading
Actor Leo Morimoto owned one of the rarest Mazda models
Last month the beloved Japanese actor Leo Morimoto passed away at the age of 83. He was known for his laid back demeanor and calm screen presence in dramas like Shomuni and Nagi’s Long Vacation. However, he is best remembered … Continue reading
First NISMO Performance Center outside of Japan opens
Nissan Motorsports has cut the ribbon on the first NISMO Performance Center built overseas. It’s in the whimsically Australian-sounding suburb of Ferntree Gully, just outside Melbourne. It’s all part of Nissan’s grand plan to expand NISMO’s presence globally.
To celebrate our 20th anniversary we made a very simple shirt
October 2026 marks 20 years since Japanese Nostalgic Car was launched. We’ve had many shirt designs in this time (thank you to all who purchased one to support this site), but never a plain shirt with just the inkan on … Continue reading
Get your 80s JNC inkan at JCCS
It’s been many years since we’ve updated our inkan logo. Our classic version was an homage to bullet-shaped fender mirrors and vintage wheels like the sakura-spoked Yayoi. There were two versions, the original red and white and a black and … Continue reading
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
