Author Archives: Ben Hsu
VIDEO: Brian Karasawa’s 1977 Toyota Celica Fastback by Electric Federal
In a new video called “Japan’s Forgotten Fastback,” Electric Federal gets up close and personal with our friend Brian Karasawa‘s and his gorgeous 1977 Toyota Celica Liftback. Of course, JNCers and anyone who’s been to Toyotafest or JCCS knows that the RA29, and … Continue reading
VIDEO: Honda celebrates 65th birthday with “Hands” advert
To celebrate its 65th birthday, Honda has created another insanely watchable commercial showcasing its long history of motorized products. In “Hands,” a single nut became everything from a Super Cub to an NSX to ASIMO the robot. It is the … Continue reading
QotW: What’s the greatest front-wheel-drive JNC?
Light weight combined with a front-engined, rear-wheel-drive architecture is a potent combination. It is the very reason why many of us love JNCs in the first place. Sometimes, however, our love for FR cars can give the appearance that we … Continue reading
NEWS: 2013 Japanese Classic Car Show registration now open!
It’s hard to believe that 2013 is half over. That means it’s time to start preparing for the 9th Annual Japanese Classic Car Show. The premiere event for nostalgic cars in North America will take place September 28, on the … Continue reading
NEWS: The Toyota Camry — 30 years old, 10 million cars sold
The Camry. Much derided punching bag for self-respecting car enthusiasts. Scapegoat for all the world’s automotive ills, its clueless drivers, and the decline of automotive culture as we know it. Where would we be without it?
QotW: What’s the best second JNC for your garage?
So you’ve got your dream JNC sitting pretty in your garage. Your holy grail. Your 2000GT, street fighter 240Z, Fuji GC RX-3 replica, whatever. What do you get next, a SR20-swapped Datsun 510 for daily duty? A bosozoku Mark II sled? … Continue reading
KIDNEY, ANYONE? 46,000mi unmolested Mazda RX-7 Turbo II
It’s getting increasingly difficult to find a bone stock FC3S Turbo. Peruse craigslist and you’ll find all the blown apex seals and drift-damaged body panels you can hoard, or an endless parade of motor-less shells whose forced-induction 13Bs have been … Continue reading
EVENTS: 2013 Nissan Jam, Part 02 — Rare Gems
One of our proudest accomplishments for the inaugural Nissan Jam was the ability to gather a truly diverse set of rare Nissans that you can’t see anywhere else. In Part 01 we looked at the SoCal Standards, stalwart machines that … Continue reading
EVENTS: 2013 Nissan Jam, Part 01 — SoCal Standards
It may surprise you to learn that SoCal, epicenter of car culture that it is, lacks a dedicated all-Nissan show. Oh sure, there’s plenty of club shindigs, marque-specific events, and informal meets, but nothing on the order of a Toyotafest … Continue reading
A Porsche 911 Inspired by a Mitsubishi Truck
Don’t worry, you haven’t mistakenly stumbled onto German Nostalgic Car. We just thought it was cool that someone built a Porsche 911 inspired by what is one of the all-time great decal packages.
KIDNEY, ANYONE? 1986 Honda City Turbo II, with Motocompo
Looking for a rare little turbo trickster from the dawn of Honda’s golden age? Look no further than this 1986 Honda City Turbo II, Soichiro’s bulldog with the foldable bike in the trunk.
QotW: When is it okay to buy an automatic transmission?
When considering what new cars will be future classics, JNC‘s Law of Transmission Selection for Future Collectability states: if it’s sold with a stick, you must buy it in stick. Yes, fancy new gearboxes can shift faster than a human being, … Continue reading
GRAND TOURING: 1,000 miles, Three Car Shows, One Week
The plan was simple. Three classic car shows, one week, 1,000 miles of driving. We even had at our disposal Japan’s latest long-distance luxe-UV, a brand spanking new 2013 Infiniti JX35. What could go wrong? A lot, apparently. Oh, it … Continue reading
Posted in Grand Touring, nissan
Tagged delica, Grand Touring, infiniti, jx, mitsubishi, Shokuji J-Tin, solvang datsun roadster classic, z-car west coast nationals
19 Comments
KIDNEY, ANYONE? 24,000-mile 1977 Toyota Celica GT
Almost two years ago to the day we reported on a 24,000-mile 1977 Celica GT Liftback for sale in Berthoud, Colorado. Asking price? $19,000. Some balked at the sum, despite the fact that the car was showroom fresh with an undercarriage you … Continue reading
QotW: What’s the greatest JNC barn find story?
Last week we asked what was the hardest JNC to find. Well, what happens when you actually find one? You can still discover JNC deals for a steal, but that era is quickly coming to an end as people realize … Continue reading
EVENTS: MSA’s Z-Car West Coast Nationals, Part 02
In Part 01 we looked at the broad spectrum of US and Japanese customization styles present at Motorsport Auto‘s 2013 Z-Car West Coast Nationals. In the past, the S30 generation (encompassing 240Z, 260Z and 280Zs) were the beloved stars of the show, … Continue reading
Posted in events, nissan
Tagged 240z, 280zx, 300zx, datsun, motorsport auto, nissan, s130, s30, z-car west coast nationals, z31
6 Comments
VIDEO: UNUSUAL DRIFT! Sideways and Stoppies with Kei Trucks
Okay, so there’s nothing nostalgic about a Suzuki Carry. However, we fully approve of modifying your company kei truck with a Suzuki Every turbo, a Cappuccino rear end, and a Silvia(!) coilover setup for the express purposes of drifting said company truck. It’s undiluted sunshine … Continue reading
Posted in kei, mitsubishi, suzuki, Video
Tagged carry, drift, kei, minicab, mitsubishi, suzuki
11 Comments
QotW: What’s the hardest JNC to find?
Let’s talk rarity. Cars like the Toyota 2000GT and kenmeri GT-R were rare when new, with only low triple-digit production numbers each. But owners knew they’d be valuable, so most were well preserved and are not exactly hard to see … Continue reading
Posted in Question of the Week
Tagged 200sx, datsun, nissan, QotW, Question of the Week, s10, silvia
65 Comments
MINICARS: Bosozoku Laurel wreaks havoc in 1970s Japan
Our friend LUXE37 has returned with another jaw-dropping stop-motion minicar chase comprised of high-end Tomicas. This time, A pair of bosozoku baddies wreak havoc on the means streets of a 1970s Japanese town. When his partner in crime’s RX-3 is … Continue reading
EVENTS: Shokuji J-Tin, Part 03 – The Next Level
For our final installment of Shokuji J-Tin coverage, we turn to some of the best builds, survivors and restorations from the Bay Area. There will be no rattle-canned hoods or stanced out cries for attention here — just pure, undiluted … Continue reading
Posted in events
Tagged 240z, 510, a60, celica, chevy sprint, civic, corolla, cultus, datsun, datsun 521, dodge colt, ea, fairlady roadster, fairlady z, galant, honda, kp61, mazda, mitsubishi, nissan, ra65, re5, rx-2, s30, Shokuji J-Tin, starlet, suzuki, te27, te28, toyota, wagon, work equip 03
12 Comments
