Author Archives: Ben Hsu
NEWS: Mazda revives NA Classic Red, introduces Tokyo Auto Salon lineup
It’s subtle, but if you look carefully the ND in the accompanying photos is missing the metallics, blues and purples in Soul Red, the signature color slathered on all modern Mazdas. No, it’s the appropriately named Classic Red, one of the three original … Continue reading
QotW: What are you asking Japanese Santa Claus for this year?
Pulled on a flying zokusha by eight flying Nara sika deer, Japanese Santa Claus travels the world bringing sweet diecast cars, rare JDM parts and, if you’re really good, possibly entire cars to good little JNC boys and girls everywhere. … Continue reading
BIKES: Honda reveals retro-styled 2017 CB1100 EX
Honda has announced the 2017 CB1100 EX, a motorcycle styled after the renowned 1969 Honda CB750. That model was the world’s first production superbike and transformed the world of motorcycling when it debuted.
VIDEO: Nissan restores 1987 Paris-Dakar Patrol
In 1987, Nissan won the diesel class of the Paris-Dakar Rally with a turbodiesel Patrol. It was promptly retired and languished in a museum for almost three decades. Then, a group of Nissan engineers saw some photos of it in a … Continue reading
TUNE UP: The Weeknd drives an FC3S RX-7
We thought 1980s Toyotas had a lock on the music video game. Apparently not, as alternative R&B singer The Weeknd has posted to his Instagram feed photos of a flared FC3S Mazda RX-7 with “⚡️” (lightning bolt emoji) as the only comment. … Continue reading
Honda marks 30th anniversary of Canada manufacturing with its own Monopoly game
In 1986, Honda became the first Japanese automaker to build cars in Canada. The Alliston, Ontario plant churned out Accords first, then Civics, and in 1998 a second plant was constructed to make Odysseys and CR-Vs. To mark the 30th anniversary of Honda Manufacturing … Continue reading
TUNE UP: Two sexy classics in Justice’s “Fire” video
French band Justice’s latest video stars a pair of classics that are beautiful and seemingly ageless: an A60 Celica convertible and actor Susan Sarandon, who is according to Wikipedia apparently 70 years old (!). It’s no secret that 80s Toyotas have become … Continue reading
Behold, the new JNC wagon
Behold, the new JNC Wagon. You’re looking at a 1987 Toyota Van in all its two-tone glory, complete with dual sunroof, ice maker, and a big ol’ pock mark smack dab in the middle of its prodigious face. Now for the drive … Continue reading
A new JNC Wagon is on the horizon
We are headed to San Francisco today to pick up what could be the next JNC Wagon. After nine years of service, our current one, a Cressida, is being taken off the road for some proper care. It has taken us all … Continue reading
KIDNEY, ANYONE? Plaid-tastic 1980 Dodge Challenger, aka Mitsubishi Galant Λ
A 1980 Mitsubishi-built captive import Dodge Challenger has appeared on Harrisburg, Pennsylvania’s Craigslist. Advertised as a one-owner, garage kept, car, it might be one of the finest examples left in the country.
VIDEO: AE86 with historic plates confounds Roadkill host
In a recent episode of Roadkill Extras, host David Freiburger is at Westech Performance in Mira Loma, California when he’s rendered utterly dumbfounded at the presence of an AE86 wearing California Historic Vehicle license plates. Turns out, it’s a car we featured back … Continue reading
TUNE UP: Rich Chigga is back with another zokusha Skyline
Indonesian rapper Rich Chigga is back with another video and more zokusha sleds. Though his previous video featured a white Kenmeri, his new track titled “Who That Be” features none other than a C210 Skyline Japan. If the car looks familiar to you, … Continue reading
NEWS: Honda marks 50th anniversary of N360 with N-One appearance package
50 years ago this month, Honda debuted the N360 at the 1966 Tokyo Motor Show. To celebrate, Honda has issued a special appearance package for the retro-styled N-One available in Japan.
NEWS: The world’s first mass-produced compact 4WD car, restored
Known as the world’s first mass-produced compact 4WD car, the Kurogane Type 95 began production in 1936. Only six are known to have survived, but three years ago a seventh one was discovered in a Kyoto auto repair shop, where it had sat … Continue reading
VIDEO: M10 Nissan Prairie
Behold, one solid minute of the coolest M10 Prairie in the world. Sold as the Nissan Stanza Wagon in the US, this B-pillarless, sliding-door wonder preceded he original Dodge Caravan by two years. While these are usually beat to hell in the … Continue reading
Happy Thanksgiving from JNC
We here at JNC are thankful for your readership and for being part of the JNC community. We hope you are enjoying a warm and safe Thanksgiving with your loved ones. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.
VIDEO: Toyota Australia shows some love to Celica fans
Continuing on the theme of how Toyota has much better advertising everywhere else in the world, Toyota Australia recently put together a video of A20 Celica owners down under. Selected from the Toymods forum, the owners show their admiration for not … Continue reading
Our thoughts are with Japan this Doukoho Eve
As we were preparing for our yearly remembrance of Doukoho Eve, news came from Japan that Fukushima was struck by another massive earthquake. This was the same region that was hit in 2011, and while the quake measured only a magnitude 7.5, significantly … Continue reading
KIDNEY, ANYONE? 9,000-mile Toyota Cressida
This could be he most well-preserved Toyota Cressida in the United States. A first year for the beloved X70 chassis, this 1985 example for sale now in New York is said to have one owner, was always kept in a … Continue reading
