Author Archives: Ben Hsu
QotW: What JNC is most “on trend” right now?
It was only fitting that a video in which Fast & Furious star Sung Kang and designer Magnus Walker meet and drive each other’s cars debut during SEMA week. After all, Sung’s Fugu Z Datsun was the star of the … Continue reading
Posted in Question of the Week
Tagged 240z, datsun, Fugu Z, nissan, QotW, s30 z, Sung Kang
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SEMA 2016: Datsuns, Datsuns, Datsuns!
You’ve seen what Mazda, Toyota, and Honda have done for SEMA. Nissan had no official presence, but one thing is clear. Of all the old school Japanese marques, among customizers, none is more beloved than Datsun.
SEMA 2016: Honda channels 1990 with the new Acura NSX
It was 1990 all over again at the Honda booth. There wasn’t much in the way of proper Soichiro-era steel, but the new Acura NSX was one of the biggest OEM hits at the show. People gawked non-stop. We waited 40 … Continue reading
SEMA 2016: Toyota brings out the classics
For the 50th anniversary of the Corolla, Toyota brought out one of its best SEMA displays ever, which included one example of every generation of the world’s best-selling nameplate. That alone would have been a pretty awesome display already, but Toyota … Continue reading
SEMA 2016: Two Miatas to whet your touge fantasies
They were teased last week, now they’ve been revealed at the 2016 SEMA Show. The pair of driver-focused Miatas will never see production, but they exist to show what is important to the company, and to offer two wildly different … Continue reading
MINICARS: Hot Wheels Mazda REPU prototype
Those who stopped by our booth last Sunday may have noticed a few sneak peeks from our friends at Hot Wheels, hand-delivered in a nondescript plastic bag by designer Jun Imai himself. The first of them is a brand new casting for … Continue reading
KIDNEY, ANYONE? StarQuest flatty in the D
Today’s Kidney Car is a rarity, but it probably won’t even cost you an internal organ. Offered for sale on Craigslist Detroit is a 1986 Plymouth Conquest flatside for the sweet, sweet price of just $2,500.
NEWS: Scion brand name revived… as Trump hotel
Toyota had always described their Scion brand, which was axed earlier this year, as not just a car marque but a “lifestyle brand.” People seemed to either lament its passing or thought it was a horrible idea to begin with. As it turns out, Trump … Continue reading
VIDEO: Toyota GT86s in retro livery go for a drive
Toyota UK has been straight up killing it, unafraid to go all-out in promoting the marque’s vast motorsports history. They’ve decked six GT86s in the liveries of the most significant Toyota racing machines, brought an Initial D-inspired GT86 to life, and … Continue reading
NEWS: All your Mitsubishi are belong to us
Do not adjust your set. This is a takeover. Nissan’s purchase of a controlling stake in Mitsubishi Motors is now official. Transaction complete. Nissan-Mitsubishi-Renault-Samsung-Dacia-Venucia-Lada Alliance is now one of the top three largest automotive groups in the world. Plants will be optimized, … Continue reading
VIDEO: Why you should get a Datsun 240Z
Despite lacking the slick production values popular with online classic car videos these days, Australia’s Shannons Club TV is our favorite series on the web. That’s because they have real, well-researched, and informative content that doesn’t simply parrot conventional wisdom. Watch this video on the Datsun 240Z … Continue reading
PROFILES: The first Honda built for the US market, restored
One of the reasons JCCS was so special this year was the special debuts that carmakers had in store. Perhaps the most significant of them all was Honda’s unveiling of the newly restored Serial One N600, the first Honda automobile built for … Continue reading
Come to the Toyota USA Museum for the Touge 80s finish
This Saturday will be the inaugural running of Touge 80s, our first Touge California event with a focus on cars of the pop-up headlight era. After six hours of driving, our finish will be the Toyota USA Museum. And while all openings on the driving … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged ae86, corolla, te27, Touge 80s, Touge California, toyota
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TUNE UP: Rich Chigga – Dat $tick Remix feat Ghostface Killah and Pouya
An Indonesian rapper going by the name of Rich Chigga went viral when he uploaded his song “Dat $tick” to YouTube in March. Rockin’ a preppy pink polo, an 80s Reebok fanny pack and plenty of guns, it seemed like satire. Or … Continue reading
NEWS: Toyota-Suzuki partnership could result in a Japanese Big Three
At a surprise press conference October 12 in Japan, Toyota and Suzuki announced that they are in talks about a potential partnership. The announcement was puzzling to industry watchers, but if such a tie-up comes to fruition, we will essentially have three factions of … Continue reading
MOTORSPORT: Nissan pays tribute to the R32 GT-R at Bathurst
Nissan Australia does some pretty cool stuff Down Undah, things we can only dream of in the States. For example, they take the Altima racing, but instead of cheesy stunts punking normal schlubs, the Aussies turn them into actual race cars by … Continue reading
Posted in motorsport
Tagged Altima, australia, bathurst 1000, Jim Richards, mark skaife, nissan, r31, r32, skyline, V8 Supercars
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RIP Tony Adamowicz, 1941—2016
American racing driver Tony Adamowicz (above, third from left) has passed away at the age of 75. Over an accomplished career, he drove just about every type of car imaginable in every type of race imaginable. From Dodge Challengers in Trans-Am to … Continue reading
EVENTS: 2016 Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 06 — The Indestructibles
You would think that some of the most indestructable machines built by humankind would be plentiful. Well, yes, but not in show-like condition. Ironically, because Toyota trucks work so damn well they’re used, abused, and then used some more, and vehicles like … Continue reading
NEWS: You guys, this is the real Ken Bone
During last night’s presidential debate, the internet was lit afire when an audience member named Kenneth Bone from Labadie, Missouri stood up to ask Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump a question. Perhaps it was his trenchant query about energy policy and jobs that captured … Continue reading
EVENTS: 2016 Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 05 — FiveTens
Perhaps drawn by the 510 gods that brought John Morton’s BRE racer all the way from Nashville, this year’s JCCS had a surprisingly plentiful turnout of Nissan’s OG sports sedan. While Nissan’s racer was one of the biggest hits of the show, parked there alongside its modern counterparts … Continue reading
