Author Archives: Ben Hsu
QotW: What’s the greatest open top JNC?
It’s summertime, and what better way to enjoy the sun than to take a drive with the top down? Japanese cars come in all shapes and sizes, but one body style Nihon tends to lay off of is the convertible. … Continue reading
The return of Intelligent Sport” and a introducing a new member of the JNC family
By the time Nobuaki Katayama began work on the original Lexus IS, he was already a rock star within Toyota. He’d chief engineered all-time greats like the Lexus SC and JZA80 Supra and, in his younger days, worked on the … Continue reading
KIDNEY, ANYONE? 20,000-mile 1981 Toyota Century
If a Crown is just too common and a 2000GT too small for your old school flossin’ needs, here’s your chance to destroy all comers with a 1981 Toyota Century. The ultimate Japanese VIP sled is now for sale on … Continue reading
NEWS: The 2014 Datsun GO is here
Nissan is now a three-marque company. The revived Datsun brand was launched in Gurgoan, India today to much fanfare at a theater called the Kingdom of Dreams. The new car, christened the Datsun GO, took its name from the DAT GO, Nissan’s … Continue reading
QotW: What’s the most Japanese non-Japanese car?
Japan is a land of unbelievably cool motoring culture, a place you can see cars you’d never in a million years see elsewhere. Sure, you have your standard hakosuka Skylines and funky kei jidosha, but there are other cars the … Continue reading
NEWS: Prepare yourself for the new Datsun
In a few hours the world will have a new Datsun. Leading up to the unveiling in India, Nissan has been teasing older Datsuns from the Heritage Collection in Zama.
MINICARS: The 1/18 cars of your dreams are now for sale
A few months ago this slammed Toyota 2000GT spread like a gasoline fire across Teh Interwebz. Many thought it was real. Of course, 2000GTs are so rare that anyone who’d really shakotan one would simultaneously be considered a god among men and … Continue reading
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
