Author Archives: Steve Chang
Mitsubishi Starion getting first wash in 12 years is extremely satisfying
It’s not clear why someone would let a built Mitsubishi Starquest sit unused in a barn for 12 years, but that’s what happened. It gets even more curious when the builder is your father and one of the longest-serving experts … Continue reading
QotW: How do you tell a “car enthusiast” from a car enthusiast?
Many people claim to be car enthusiasts, but are only superficially interested in things that go vroom-vroom. Sometimes what really appeals to “car enthusiasts” is the perceived status that owning a loud, flashy, expensive thing confers on them. Many go … Continue reading
Mitsuoka announces production of “M55” Honda-based Kenmeri Skyline
Mitsuoka announced on February 29 that it will put the M55, shown last November as a concept, into production. The M55 was built to mark Mitsuoka’s 55th anniversary and is based on a modern Honda Civic, but the body has … Continue reading
Toyota GR cars fight off boring autonomous vehicles in anime series GRip
Toyota has launched an anime miniseries to promote its Gazoo Racing lineup of sports cars. It’s called GRip: A Toyota Story, and its first two letters cleverly match the prefix in the series’ three star cars, the GR Corolla, GR … Continue reading
QotW: What should be the last purely gasoline-powered car ever produced?
If the rumors are true, the upcoming and very limited MR2 will likely be the last Toyota powered solely by gasoline. All future models will either be a gasoline-electric hybrid, electric only, or hydrogen-powered (either fuel cell or hydrogen fuel). … Continue reading
Toyota MR2 revival reportedly mulling single or double decklids
According to reports from Japan Toyota’s upcoming MR2 is progressing nicely. The question apparently isn’t whether they should pursue an MR2 at all, but whether it should have one or two decklids. On the one hand, a single rear door … Continue reading
Enkei Dish II brings back old school style for newer vehicles
The original Enkei Dish was an old school slot mag-style wheel sized for Japanese cars. They were released way back in 1968, and has been revived in several permutations since. On February 8 Enkei announced that they’re back again under … Continue reading
QotW: What JNC should be made into a Lego set?
Lego are insanely popular right now, but there isn’t much in the way of JNCs. They have licenses from Nissan, Toyota, Yamaha, Kawasaki, and maybe Honda, but they barely do anything with them. There’s a lot of potential in those … Continue reading
Posted in Question of the Week
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O.G. Nissan Skyline GT-Rs go for a relaxing afternoon drive
There isn’t much to this video, just a couple of O.G. Skyline GT-Rs at the track. Nissan calls the video a relaxing afternoon drive and the pace certainly appears leisurely. But pristine specimens of S20s on steelies snaking through bends … Continue reading
QotW: If you could magically merge the body of one car with the hardware of another, what would you choose?
One of the coolest things about the FJ40/J70 Franken-Cruiser from the Tokyo Auto Salon was how it looked. It was indistinguishable from a classic FJ40 to all but the most dedicated Land Cruiser enthusiasts. Yet it rode on a modern … Continue reading
Restored S13 Silvia, Nissan Bluebird Cube, Toyota S-FR roadster: Incredible creations by Japan’s tech school students
NATS always has a big presence at the Tokyo Auto Salon but it’s not the only school with cars to display. There are many technical colleges across Japan that all get to display their projects at the country’s biggest custom … Continue reading
Posted in Tokyo Auto Salon
Tagged bluebird, Bluebird 410/411, cube, datsun roadster, mazda, Miata NC, nissan, S-FR, silvia, tokyo auto salon, toyota, Z12
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QotW: What JNC is perfect for any occasion?
Life circumstances have made it so that you can have only one car that needs to do it all. It has to take you to work every day, look dignified enough as to not embarrass your boss/date/HOA, and be fun … Continue reading
HKS teases Group A R32 Skyline GT-R for Tokyo Auto Salon
HKS is teasing its upcoming Tokyo Auto Salon booth with a look back at its 50-year history. Founded in 1973, the tuning house has a long history of building incredible street and race cars. One of its most iconic is … Continue reading
Posted in Tokyo Auto Salon
4 Comments
QotW: What’s your automotive resolution for 2024?
New year, new beginnings. 2024 is when you’re finally going to get that back burner project finished, or perhaps started, or at least cleared out so that it’s no longer surrounded by cardboard boxes. We believe in you. Commit your … Continue reading
Posted in Question of the Week
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Honda Super Cub art from around the world celebrates the iconic bike
At what point does a mass-produced consumer product become art? The Honda Super Cub has been in production since 1958 and proliferated the landscape of humanity by selling over 100 million units. There’s no arguing that the Super Cub is … Continue reading
Shaking Toyota Land Cruiser demonstrates force of 7.5M earthquake
Rescue and relief efforts are still under way in Japan after a magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck Japan on New Year’s Day. Demonstrating the force of the tremor, an eyewitness video shows a parked Toyota Land Cruiser being rocked on its … Continue reading
Toyota releases map of drivable roads after New Year’s Day earthquake
This is not how we wanted to start off 2024, but on New Year’s Day a 7.5 magnitude earthquake occurred in Japan. The epicenter was in the Sea of Japan, just off the Noto Peninsula near Ishikawa Prefecture. The death … Continue reading
R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R tissue box will dry your nose super quick
If your home is anything like ours, this winter has been a revolving door of viruses. Tissues flow non-stop. But now at least there’s an entertaining dispenser to make blowing your stuffy nose a bit less of a drag. Behold … Continue reading
The Bridgestone Super R.A.P. aluminum wheel has been resurrected
It looks like a steelie, but the Bridgestone Super R.A.P. is an aluminum wheel. Introduced in 1987, it was designed to be “the ideal competition wheel”. This year marks the 60th anniversary of Bridgestone’s motorsport program, so the company has … Continue reading
Posted in wheels
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