Author Archives: Ben Hsu
QotW: What’s the greatest forced-induction JNC?
The Skyline Japan GT-EX kicked off the Age of the Turbo when it debuted in April 1980. Not only was it the first Skyline to rock a snail, it was deemed so important by Nissan that it was positioned successor to the mighty … Continue reading
EVENTS: 2016 Tokyo Auto Salon, Part 01 — A Preview
The Tokyo Auto Salon kicks off this weekend, and that means it’s time for the craziest builds the Japanese aftermarket has to offer. While gold-plated GT-Rs and VIP vans are still very much a part of it, looking past the glitz this year … Continue reading
Posted in events
Tagged 180sx, ambulance, bluebird, Bluebird 810, bosozoku, caravan, copen, d1gp, daihatsu, kei, mark II, NATS, nissan, shooting brake, sienna, Spirit Rei, SuperGT, TAS2016, tokyo auto salon, toyota, X100, x70
20 Comments
DETROIT: Aisin’s 1961 2-speed Toyoglide
This crusty old transmission seems like it should be sitting in the back of an old Japanese garage in some rural prefecture but it was displayed proudly, behind glass, at the Aisin booth at the Detroit Auto Show.
DETROIT: Soul Red is the new white
Despite our decree that white was the best color for Japanese cars, Nihon automakers are still continuing to make cars in other colors. One hue that seems to be surpassing the traditional white is Soul Red.
DETROIT: White is the best color for Japanese cars
The NSX proves that the best color for Japanese cars, especially Honda sportscars, is white.
Posted in honda
16 Comments
DETROIT: Akio Toyoda’s rousing speech about Toyota’s future
Lexus has unveiled its new halo sports coupe, the LC 500, at the Detroit Auto Show. If you’re thinking you’ve seen it before, that’s probably because it looks identical to the LF-LC concept that spawned it. This is, amazingly, an … Continue reading
DETROIT: Toyota Kikai gets an American makeover
One of the funkiest concepts to come from the Tokyo Motor Show last year was the Toyota Kikai, a steampunkish, Miyazakian retro hot rod. It’s a re-imagining of the automobile for a world where mechanical objects are things of beauty … Continue reading
QotW: What’s your most anticipated 25 Year Club addition?
Each year on the calendar brings us another round of cars that turn 25. Why is this significant? In short, 25 is the age at which most governments will grant a car historic status, which makes them eligible for things like collector car license plates … Continue reading
Posted in Question of the Week
21 Comments
MOTORSPORT: The Super Silhouette Nissans that inspired a generation of bosozoku
One of the biggest treats from the NISMO Festival at Fuji Speedway the display of Nissan’s Super Silhouette racers from the late 1970s and early 1980s. Developed for Group 5 specifications, their extreme aero styling inspired a generation of bosozoku and kaido racers.
Posted in events, motorsport
Tagged bluebird, Bluebird 910, dr30, gazelle, group 5, haruhito yanagida, K10, Kazuyoshi Hoshino, march, masahiro hasemi, Matchy Kondo, NISMO Festival, nissan, r30, s110, s12, silvia, skyline, super silhouette
7 Comments
MOTORSPORT: How Nissan thwarted Toyota in the golden age of the Japan Grand Prix
By 1968 Toyota had had enough of losing their home country’s biggest race — the annual Japan Grand Prix — to Nissan. They had just debuted the nation’s flagship sports car in the 2000GT, but it was getting trounced by the Prince/Nissan R380, a … Continue reading
EVENTS: Walking the paddocks at the 2015 NISMO Festival
A celebration of all things Nissan and racing, the annual NISMO Festival held by the Nissan mothership in Japan. For one late November day, legendary racing machines are dusted off and emerge from their Zama hibernation to roar across the hallowed tarmac … Continue reading
Posted in events
Tagged 2011 nissan silvia, 24 Hours of Daytona, 24 Hours of Le Mans, fuji speedway, NISMO, NISMO Festival, R390 GT1, R91P, skyline
5 Comments
2015: The JNC Year in Review
With 2015 in the books, we thought it might be a chance to look at the highlights from the world of JNC.
Posted in jnc
12 Comments
QotW: What’s your JNC New Year’s resolution?
Happy Year of the Monkey! We’re like 80 percent sure that Han Dynasty astrologists weren’t talking about Honda’s 50cc mini-bike, but perhaps this will be an auspicious year for you, JNC-wise, anyway. Will you finally pull the trigger on that old … Continue reading
QotW: What automotive woes are you most eager to forget?
In Japan, the bonenkai (“year forgetting”) parties on December 31 are where you leave behind the stresses of the previous year, usually by consuming large quantities of alcohol with friends. Old cars can be the source of many reasons to down a pitcher of … Continue reading
Happy Holidays from all of us at JNC
From all of us at Japanese Nostalgic Car, have a happy holiday. May your desserts be sugared and your cars unsalted!
EVENTS: Hachimaru Meeting at Fuji Speedway
If it wasn’t for its glorious motorsports history, Fuji Speedway would be just about the worst place to hold a car show. It rains seemingly half the time there, and while that makes for cool photography, it can’t be pleasant for the … Continue reading
Posted in events
Tagged 430, acty, ae86, c210, carry, corolla levin, crown, datsun, dr30, f31, gloria, Hachimaru Meeting, hiace, honda, infiniti, Infiniti G20, J80, land cruiser, leopard, mark II, nissan, P10, Primera, r30, r31, r32, s120, s130, skyline, soarer, sprinter trueno, suzuki, toyota, utilitas, vanette, x70, y30, z10
16 Comments
Celebrate the holidays with your own JNC AE86 cookie cutters
Want a JNC-themed activity you can do with your family this holiday season? We at JNC have created an AE86 cookie cutter that you can download, 3D print, and use to make delicious, rear-wheel-drive cookies that will drift their way right … Continue reading
Posted in jnc
Tagged ae86, cookies, corolla gt-s, corolla levin, sprinter trueno, toyota
13 Comments
QotW: What will you ask Japanese Santa Claus for this year?
Little known fact: Japanese Santa Claus lives in Hokkaido and has a team of magical Sanrio animals that can make any car part your little heart desires. If you’re a good boy or girl, he can deliver them via a flying Hino flatbed pulled … Continue reading
VIDEO: The Starion, a Mitsubishi that didn’t just race on dirt
While most Japanese automakers battled it out on Suzuka and Fuji, Mitsubishi took a different tack. From 1970s Lancers on the Safari Rally to the WRC Evos of the 90s to the Pajeros reigning supreme over Dakar, Mitsubishi has always loved to get dirty in the dirt. … Continue reading
