Author Archives: Ben Hsu

JCCS Preview: Autograph session with Datsun BRE engineer John Knepp

JNC is honored to welcome a very special guest to our booth at the Japanese Classic Car Show this Saturday. John Knepp was a key engineer on the BRE team (above, 7th from left) who helped build championship cars such as the … Continue reading

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JCCS Preview: Hot Wheels X JNC giveaway

Are you ready for JCCS this Saturday? We at JNC are having a Fairlady Roadster-themed day to coincide with the debut of Hot Wheels’s newest JNC casting, the Datsun Fairlady 2000. As such, we will be giving away several cars at the show, including … Continue reading

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JCCS Preview: JNC “39” shirts debut

We are very excited about the JCCS (four days away!), and the theme at the JNC booth this year will be early Nissan motorsports. To celebrate, we are debuting a new shirt design, called simply “39”.

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JCCS Preview: History of Mazda Premium and a tribute to a racing legend

Mazda’s plan for JCCS this Saturday is two-fold and promises something for Mazdafarians of all stripes — a history of high-end models and a tribute to its motorsports legends.

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JCCS Preview: Nissan DNA Garage cars loaded up

This morning, a truck in Nashville picked up a couple of old cars to transport to California, including what is arguably the most valuable car in Nissan USA’s DNA Garage. 

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KIDNEY, ANYONE? The last Mitsubishi LanEvo is up for auction

Tomorrow will mark the end of an era, as the last Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution goes on sale. After ten generations and 24 years of turbocharged, all-wheel-drive madness, this rally car for the road is sayonara-ing into the sunset.

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VIDEO: Shihomi Hosoya test drives the Rocky Auto 3000GT

The Rocky Auto 3000GT is a work of modern art. A hand-crafted body draped over one of the finest drivetrains ever produced and screwed together by one of Japan’s top tuners, it’s an homage to a timeless blue chip Japanese classic. 

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NIHON LIFE: Japan proposes changes for easier expressway navigation by foreigners

Japan’s expressways are famously difficult to navigate. Most are named for the far-away places they head to and are difficult for non-native Japanese speakers to remember. That may all change, the Ministry of Transport is proposes an alphanumeric system to help us gaijin not get … Continue reading

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PIXELATED: Scoot Scoot‘s Motocompo gymkhana will drive you insane

Okay, so Scoot Scoot isn’t a driving game per se, but any time a Honda Motocompo is the star vehicle consider our interest piqued. The premise is simple. Pilot the folding bike from the back of a Honda City around a richly colored parking … Continue reading

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NEWS: Bosozoku magazine Champ Road suspends publication

It was announced on September 5 in Japan that Champ Road, the last bosozoku tuning magazine, is suspending publication. The so-called “Bad Boy Bible” has been in print for 29 years, showcasing the bikes, cars, and fashion of Japan’s rebel youth. The November 2016 … Continue reading

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KIDNEY, ANYONE? Ridley Scott Super Bowl 300ZX

In 1990 Nissan debuted the Z32 with what was likely one of the most expensive car commercials ever commissioned at the time. They hired the most famous Hollywood sci-fi director in the world, Ridley Scott (of Blade Runner, Alien, and Black Rain fame), aired … Continue reading

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VIDEO: The age old battle of Skyline vs Rotary

Skyline vs Rotary. It’s one of the oldest rivalries in Japanese motorsports, ever since Mazda snatched the Skyline’s widely expected 50th touring car victory in 1972. The folks at Best Motoring have recreated the battle, with tributes to the works Hakosuka GT-R and Savanna … Continue reading

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JCCS Preview: Nissan 2017 GT-R NISMO debut, Matchbox Hakosuka giveaway

After a strong showing in 2015, Nissan will be back at the Japanese Classic Car Show this year in a big way. First off, they’ll be showing what is arguably the crowning jewel of its American collection, the BRE Datsun 510 raced by John … Continue reading

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QotW: What’s your most prized JNC part?

If you have an old Japanese car, it’s not difficult to find yourself with a garage full of old Japanese parts, too. Even weird stuff like a 350mm Hitman steering wheel. What’s your most prized JNC part? What say you, dear reader? As … Continue reading

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Happy National Dog Day from JNC

Wow. Such design. So convertible. Much JDM. Many happy.

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VIDEO: The UK’s most famous Honda Civic restorer

“Mad about Honda” is the way one UK man describes his love for the early Civics, so much so that he’s built an entire community around the preservation of early UK-market examples. 

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NEWS: Miata from Louisiana flood rescue video will be restored for free

In a heartwarming story of generosity, heroism, and what love for a car can accomplish, a Miata seemingly ruined in the recent Louisiana flood will be brought back to life by enthusiasts. 

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QotW: What’s the best Japanese car name?

Yes, we all know about the Suzuki Every Joy Pop and the Hino Dolphin Dump, but we’re not talking about “oh look how weird and crazy those Japanese are” type car names today. We’re talking cool names that instantly evokes … Continue reading

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NEWS: Mazda announces 1,000 Launch Edition MX-5 RF Miatas

There have been many limited edition Miatas. Here’s one more. Mazda has announced that the first 1,000 examples of the 2017 MX-5 RF will be exclusive Launch Edition models. As with the soft-top ND Miata Launch Edition, the RF will feature a few bits that you … Continue reading

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NEWS: Subaru 360 recognized as part of Japan’s cultural legacy

The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers has certified the Subaru 360 as part of the the nation’s “Mechanical Engineering Heritage.” It is only the second car in the organization’s 119-year history that an automobile has received this honor. So what … Continue reading

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