Author Archives: Ben Hsu

KIDNEY, ANYONE? Datsun 510 sells for $247,000

Posted on April 1, 2015 by Ben Hsu

The past twelve months have seen astounding prices for Japanese cars at auction, but perhaps none were as astounding as a bone stock Datsun 510 that sold recently at the Raeford Concours D’Elegance for $247,000, including the auction house’s 10 percent fees and … Continue reading →

Posted in for sale | Tagged 510, a10, april fools, bluebird, datsun, nissan, stanza, violet | 21 Comments

QotW: What’s the best JNC for NYC?

Posted on March 30, 2015 by Ben Hsu

JNC is in NYC this week for the New York International Auto Show. If you want to follow along, check us out on Facebook and Instagram. While in the Big Apple, we’ve come to wonder: What’s the best JNC for … Continue reading →

Posted in Question of the Week | Tagged QotW, Question of the Week | 14 Comments

GALLERIES: Nissan Yokohama Headquarters, 2015

Posted on March 26, 2015 by Ben Hsu

It’s been a little over a year since we had the chance to visit Nissan’s Yokohama headquarters. The relatively new glass and steel tower was opened in 2009, replacing the long-standing Ginza HQ in the heart of Tokyo. While, like most automaker showrooms in … Continue reading →

Posted in Galleries | Tagged 510, a30, bluebird, cedric, datsun, Eporo, fairlady roadster, gloria, gt-r, H130, le mans, leaf, nissan, prince, r35, R390, Ultraman | 5 Comments

JNC THEATER: 5000km to Glory

Posted on March 25, 2015 by Ben Hsu

Earlier this year the full 2 hour, 54 minute uncut version of 5000km to Glory was aired on Japanese TV for the first time. The 1969 film, an octane-filled tale of motorsports, honor, and heroic driving was tops at the Japanese box office … Continue reading →

Posted in JNC Theater | Tagged 5000km to Glory, 510, bluebird, datsun, japan grand prix, masahiro hasemi, Monte Carlo Rally, moto kitano, nissan, r381, safari rally, takahashi kunimitsu, Yujiro Ishihara | 3 Comments

QotW: What’s your springtime JNC ritual?

Posted on March 23, 2015 by Ben Hsu

Spring is here, and for much of the world it’s time to take your JNC out of storage, finish up your winter project, or go for the year’s first drive. What’s your springtime JNC ritual? Well, if you live in SoCal, the answer is … Continue reading →

Posted in Question of the Week | Tagged QotW, Question of the Week | 22 Comments

KIDNEY, ANYONE? The mystery of the “first” Toyota 2000GT

Posted on March 19, 2015 by Ben Hsu

A mysterious ad for what is claimed to be the first Toyota 2000GT has been making the rounds in Japan (and beyond) recently. The serial number on the car is claimed to be MF10-10001, and if that is the case it … Continue reading →

Posted in for sale | 16 Comments

EVENTS: 2015 Nostalgic2Days, Part 03

Posted on March 17, 2015 by Ben Hsu

Closing out our coverage of the 2015 Nos2Days show, we begin with some cars being honored on the red carpet. Just like at a movie premiere, the event reserves a special crimson rug for those that have graced the cover of a magazine. In this … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged 2000gt, aw11, butaketsu, c130, cosmo sport, csp311, datsun, datsun 220, Fairlady Z432, honda, japan, laurel, mazda, mr2, nissan, Nostalgic2Days, prince, s600, silvia, skyway, toyota | 5 Comments

QotW: When is it okay to stance?

Posted on March 16, 2015 by Ben Hsu

Stance. It’s what all the youngin’s are into these days. Sometimes it looks cool; sometimes it’s downright painful to witness. When is it okay to stance? Yes, we know it’s popular. We also know it’s even more popular to hate on … Continue reading →

Posted in Question of the Week | 48 Comments

MARKETWATCH: Nissan Fairlady Z432 sold for $253,000

Posted on March 14, 2015 by Ben Hsu

Moments ago, a 1970 Nissan Fairlady Z432 that crossed the block at the Amelia Island auctions sold for $253,000, making it the most expensive publicly exchanged S30 Z in the world.

Posted in marketwatch | Tagged Amelia Island, auctions, datsun, Fairlady Z432, nissan, s30 | 4 Comments

NEWS: FR Nissan 2-door sedan rendered by Best Car

Posted on March 14, 2015 by Ben Hsu

With the disclaimer that this is pure speculation, we present an image a new rear-wheel-drive Nissan 2-door sedan expected to debut at the Tokyo Motor Show this fall. The cars you see here will appear on the cover of the April 10 issue of … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Hakosuka, IDx, Motoharu Kurosawa, nissan, skyline | 12 Comments

ART CORNER: Bosozoku Cats and Kyuusha by San Mamiya

Posted on March 12, 2015 by Ben Hsu

San Mamiya is a brilliant artist from Japan that operates mainly on Instagram. With an apparent fondness for old cars, bosozoku cats and the superdeformed style that populates manga, his illustrations exhibit a unique Nihon style that can probably be loosely described as Japanese Ed Roth.

Posted in Art Corner | Tagged 2000gt, 240z, 510, a20, alto, Art Corner, aw11, b210, bosozoku, bre, carry, celica, chaser, corolla, cressida, crown, datsun, datsun 620, e70, fairlady z, fc3s, Galant Lambda, honda, hot wheels, jimny, juke, kujira, mad manga, manga, mazda, mitsubishi, mr2, nissan, prius, rx-3, rx-7, s30, s60, samurai, san_mamiya, savanna, sports 800, suzuki, toyota, x30, x40, x60, x70 | 10 Comments

EVENTS: 2015 Nostalgic2Days, Part 02

Posted on March 11, 2015 by Ben Hsu

One of the featured marques at this year’s Nostalgic2Days was Isuzu. It’s a brand that usually doesn’t get much love, here or in Japan, so it was a rare opportunity to see some machines from the company’s own collection.

Posted in events | Tagged 117, 510, a20, Asso di Fiori, bluebird, c10, c110, Cablight, celica, cherry, cosmo, cosmo sport, crown, datsun, elf, fairlady z, Fairlady Z432, Hakosuka, impulse, isuzu, kenmeri, mazda, MID4, nissan, piazza, rx-5, s20, s30, s40, skyline, sports 800, Tea Valley, toyota, z31, z32 | 16 Comments

KIDNEY, ANYONE? Mint unicorn Datsun F10 Wagon

Posted on March 9, 2015 by Ben Hsu

Perhaps you’ve always wanted a Datsun, but find that 240Zs and 510s are annoyingly rear-wheel-drive. Or maybe you find even Skylines and B210s too common. Speaking of under-appreciated JNCs, here’s a 1978 Datsun F10 Wagon on craigslist.

Posted in Uncategorized | 5 Comments

QotW: What’s the most under-appreciated JNC?

Posted on March 9, 2015 by Ben Hsu

One could argue that all JNCs are under-appreciated, but even among the outcasts there’s a hierarchy. Not all of us can drive 2000GTs and Hakosukas, or even 510s. What’s the most under-appreciated JNC? Allow us to proffer the 1984 Toyota Camry. Sure, it … Continue reading →

Posted in Question of the Week | Tagged QotW, Question of the Week | 13 Comments

EVENTS: 2015 Nostalgic2Days, Part 01

Posted on March 6, 2015 by Ben Hsu

Nostalgic 2 Days, the annual two-day event held by Nostalgic Hero, is as much a car show as it is a trade show. It’s as if the magazine springs to life, particularly the pages in which Japan’s classic car businesses — shops, dealers and … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged 510, c10, fairlady z, fj20, Hakosuka, MID4, nissan, nos2days, Nostalgic 2 Days, prince, s30, skyline, star road, Yoshikazu Sunako | 8 Comments

EVENTS: 2015 New Year Meeting, Part 08 — Parking Area Finds

Posted on March 4, 2015 by Ben Hsu

Closing out our coverage of the 2015 New Year Meeting, we make a quick run through the show’s parking area. Thanks to the Japanese protocol of backing into their parking spaces, we were able to get full views of spectators’ rides to the show unobstructed … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged 510, 910, ae86, alcyone, bluebird, c10, city, corolla, crown, datsun, fairlady z, familia, gemini, Hakosuka, honda, isuzu, levin, mazda, new year meeting, nissan, prince, r100, r30, r31, s110, s120, s30, s40, silvia, skyline, soarer, sprinter, subaru, svx, toyota, trueno, xt, z10, z432 | 19 Comments

NEWS: Can you spot all the nostalgic styling cues of the Suzuki iM-4 Concept?

Posted on March 3, 2015 by Ben Hsu

Suzuki may be gone from the US market, but it’s alive and well in the rest of the world. The 85th Geneva Motor Show is going on right now, and its automotive branch unveiled this morning the Suzuki iM-4 Concept, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Next Version | Tagged cervo, escudo, fronte, Geo Tracker, iM-4 Concept, Sidekick, suzuki, swift | 7 Comments

QotW: What’s your biggest JNC regret?

Posted on March 2, 2015 by Ben Hsu

You hear these stories all the time: “I should’ve never sold that car.” “One day it was gone and the owner said he sold it for scrap.” “I bought a Chrysler Sebring.” Life is full of regrets, and cars are a … Continue reading →

Posted in Question of the Week | Tagged datsun, fairlady roadster, motorsport, mr k, nissan, QotW, Question of the Week, yutaka katayama | 36 Comments

EVENTS: 2015 New Year Meeting Part 07 — Compact Flash

Posted on February 25, 2015 by Ben Hsu

Today (no pun intended!) we take a look at the classic city cars that showed up at the New Year Meeting. Some, like this happy red Honda Today, are kei cars, but not all. As you might remember, the Today was the star car in You’re Under … Continue reading →

Posted in events | Tagged carol, cherry, city, civic, corolla, datsun 210, e80, fuji rabbit, fx-16, honda, K10, life, march, mazda, n360, new year meeting, nissan, publica, subaru, subaru 360, Super Turbo, today, toyota, Twincharger | 4 Comments

VIDEO: Toyota AE86 unites lonely drivers around the world