Author Archives: Ben Hsu
EVENTS: 2015 Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 05 — Stock as a Rock
This year’s Japanese Classic Car Show seemed to have more diversity in bone-stock rides than ever. We might be reaching a point where fans of J-tin are truly beginning to appreciate unmolested cars. Along with the other time warps peppering our other … Continue reading
Posted in events
Tagged 2000gt, 240z, 280zx, 310, 411, 510, a40, a73, accord, ae86, bluebird, civic, corolla, corona, cosmo, cressida, crx, datsun, dodge colt, e10, E50, EC1, fairlady roadster, honda, Honda N-Series, japanese classic car show, JCCS 2015, lancer, mazda, miata, mitsubishi, mx-5, na, ND, rx-5, s30 z, sb1, supra, t50, te27, Tercel 4WD, toyota, x30
14 Comments
QotW: What was the last great golden era Japanese car?
The era of the Japanese performance car is one of automotive history’s great epochs. With everything from kei sports cars to supercar killing sedans, there was seemingly nothing the Japanese wouldn’t build. Despite cars like the Nissan GT-R and Lexus LFA, … Continue reading
ART CORNER: Oh look, someone already digitally modified a Toyota S-FR
Here’s a Toyota S-FR photoshopped with a Zero theme, some better airflow, and gunmetal Wats. It was sent to us by a fan that shall remain nameless because he works for a car company that is not Toyota. Let’s hope the S-FR sees production … Continue reading
Posted in Art Corner, Tokyo Motor Show
Tagged S-FR Concept, tokyo motor show, toyota, Zero
7 Comments
NEWS: Two more retro concepts from Toyota
While the Yotahachi-inspired S-FR Concept is getting all the attention, Toyota is actually bringing several other concepts to the Tokyo Motor Show at the end of the month, two of them with throwback styling.
NEWS: Toyota S-FR Concept is the Sports 800 reborn
Toyota has previewed a new sports car concept ahead of the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show later this month. According to the automaker, the Toyota S-FR “continues the proud heritage of Toyota’s fun-to-drive lightweight sports cars.” Of course, this year was the 50th anniversary … Continue reading
JCCS 2015: A tribute to legendary figures in Z-Car history
When it debuted in 1969, the S30 Z promptly redefined the sports car, tearing down any remaining barriers, psychological or otherwise, to owning a Japanese car. It became the first piece of Nihon steel you could own with pride in America, which set the Z … Continue reading
Posted in events, jccs
Tagged 240z, 280z, bre, datsun, john morton, mr k, nissan, s30 z, yutaka katayama
15 Comments
VIDEO: Mitsubishi sends off the Lancer Evolution by showing you how it was made
It’s the end of the line for the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. The company is building 1,000 Final Edition cars for Japan and another 1,600 for North America. After that, they’ll be no more. The Final Edition cars will get several trim and mechanical … Continue reading
QotW: What’s the best shade of JNC red?
I hate red. It’s too loud, it fades to a powdery pink over time, and it’s often too obvious a choice. In Japan, red was forbidden on passenger cars until Soichiro Honda embarrassed MITI with a scathing editorial in the newspapers, thus opening … Continue reading
EVENTS: 2015 Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 03 — Made in the 80s
Have chrome-bumpered bullies been making you feel bad that your urethane-capped car isn’t truly a classic? Tell them to take a chill pill. Now that 1990 is the 25-year cutoff, everything that was built in the Eighties is officially a classic.
Posted in events, jccs
Tagged 200sx, 300zx, 323 GTX, a60, accord, ae86, back to the future, bosozoku, celica, civic, corolla, corolla levin, cressida, crx, datsun, e80, fc3s, fx-16, hachiroku, hilux, japanese classic car show, JCCS 2015, kp61, mazda, nissan, prelude, pulsar, Pulsar NX, rx-7, s110, s12, Shiro Special, sprinter trueno, starlet, tercel, toyota, Toyota Van, x30, x70, z31
22 Comments
NEWS: Mazda to unveil heritage sports car concept at 2015 Tokyo Motor Show
Mazda is set to unveil a new sports car concept at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show next month. That in itself is already cause to celebrate, but Mazda has gone on to state that this will be a heritage model. Sources from within … Continue reading
KIDNEY, ANYONE? 14,500-mile Toyota AE86
The march of AE86s coming out of the woodwork continues. Now what could very well be the lowest-mileage Toyota Corolla GT-S left in the world has surfaced in Waxhaw, North Carolina. With just 14,500 miles on the clock, this USDM version of … Continue reading
Posted in for sale
Tagged ae86, corolla, corolla levin, hachiroku, kidney anyone, sprinter trueno, toyota
14 Comments
VIDEO: Cruising and drifting Hakone in 1989
Talk about time travel. What were you doing in 1989? In Japan, car enthusiasts were lining up at Hakone Nanamagari Touge like it was a playground slide. A notoriously twisty section of mountain road, it is part of the most famous of Japan’s touge, the birthplaces … Continue reading
QotW: What JNC would you get if you had a time machine?
Time travel is real, but it only goes to one point on the space-time continuum: Showa Era Japan. For some reason, you have a briefcase full of 1960s-era yen in large bills. You also know of a remote garage in rural Japan … Continue reading
EVENTS: Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 01 – It’s JDM, yo
As it embarks on its second decade, the 2015 Japanese Classic Car Show has become a must-attend event, not just for J-tin owners or readers of this fine site, but car enthusiasts everywhere. Nowhere in America will you see a wider array of cars … Continue reading
Posted in events, jccs
Tagged 510, 610, A175, bluebird, c10, cosmo sport, datsun, fd3s, fj60, Hakosuka, hot wheels, japanese classic car show, JCCS 2015, john morton, jun imai, lancer, land cruiser, matchbox, mazda, mitsubishi, nissan, P40, pao, r30, r32, R390 GT1, rx-3, rx-7, skyline, spirit r, sports 800, starlet, toyota
17 Comments
JCCS 2015: The first Honda car ever imported to the US
This decrepit looking Honda N600 was one of the most important cars at the Japanese Classic Car Show last weekend. Why? Because it is the very first Honda automobile built for the US. That’s right, this faded lime green hatch barely larger than a picnic … Continue reading
Posted in jccs
Tagged honda, Honda Serial One, japanese classic car show, JCCS 2015, n-series
16 Comments
QotW: Which JNC sighting will you remember forever?
As a die-hard car nut, you may not remember how many kids your boss has, your first kiss, or even your birthday, but you can sure as hell remember every vivid detail about the millisecond you laid eyes on a mind-blowingly awesome JNC. I, for … Continue reading
Posted in Question of the Week
Tagged 240Z/260Z/280Z, datsun, fairlady z, nissan, Question of the Week
19 Comments
