Author Archives: Ben Hsu

QotW: What’s the best way to introduce someone to the world of JNCs?

There’s a certain segment of self-proclaimed car nuts convinced that latest equals greatest. Of course, JNCers know that they’re wrong. Dubs aren’t better than a set of 14-inch vintage barrels. A powerful AWD machine isn’t better than a lightweight RWD . … Continue reading

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Honda/Acura to Completely Revert to 1991 Lineup

Honda Motor Corp. has shocked the automotive world with the announcement that it will be completely reverting to its 1991 lineup. Safety and emissions equipment will be updated and prices adjusted for inflation, but everything else — including its former … Continue reading

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QotW: What’s the most impressive JNC restoration job you’ve seen?

Since it’s Easter this weekend, let’s talk about resurrection. It wasn’t too long ago that Japanese cars were considered disposable and unworthy of restoration. In our opinion, that only makes you crazy JNCers even more heroic when you put your blood, … Continue reading

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Beauteous Brown Mitsubishi Lancer Celeste wows 2013 Geneva Motor Show

By dint of being held in a European country known primarily as a tax haven, the Geneva Motor Show is where the latest Paganis and limited edition Lamborghinis are unveiled to the world’s Bond villains. However, this year Mitsubishi surprised everyone … Continue reading

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KIDNEY, ANYONE? 55,000-mile AE86 Toyota Corolla

Like the beautiful brown Datsun 510 last week, this is not that AE86, but a lesser loved 1984 Toyota Corolla SR5. Still, it’s a 55,000-mile, RWD hachiroku, probably the best preserved example in the entire country and it’s on eBay right … Continue reading

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QotW: If you could have one JNC as your only car, what would it be?

We know most of you have multiple cars. Your JNC, your kiddie haulers, your daily drivers, and so on. But let’s say you could only choose one vehicle to suit all your needs, and it had to be 25 years … Continue reading

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KIDNEY, ANYONE? 18,000-mile 1978 Datsun 510

Raise your hands, who wants a showroom condition Datsun 510? Well, no, it’s not that 510, but the A10 Stanza was a fine machine in its own right. After all, it did win Australia’s Southern Cross Rally three times in a … Continue reading

Posted in for sale, nissan, wagons | Tagged , , , , , | 16 Comments

MINICARS: Transformers Masterpiece Datsun 280ZX — Bluestreak and Prowl return

Many JNC readers (and staffers) are of a certain age, one where their childhood memories are filled with golden afternoons glued to television screens to watch the epic war between Autobot and Decepticon unfold. I am of that age, and … Continue reading

Posted in minicars, nissan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

EVENTS: 2013 Nostalgic2Days, Part 03

We begin Part 03 of our Nostalgic2Days coverage with four generations of beautiful ‘Ladies. There’s the Wangan wedge Z31, disco club S130, world beating S30, and the pre-Z roadster spanning two decades of sporting Nissans.

Posted in events, mazda, nissan, toyota | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

QotW: What’s the craziest thing you’ve done to get the JNC (or part) of your dreams?

We’ve met a lot of crazy JNC owners over the years and heard even crazier stories. From buying a one-way ticket from LA to Philly in order to drive back with a set of Celica smiley bumpers, to putt-putting a … Continue reading

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EVENTS: 2013 Nostalgic2Days, Part 02

Welcome back to JNC‘s Nostalgic2Days coverage, from the Pacifico Yokohama convention center. The building itself might be located in the city’s Minato Mirai 21, or “Future Port of the 21st Century” district, but the cars are all from back in … Continue reading

Posted in events, nissan, suzuki, toyota | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 22 Comments

We drive the new Toyota Pro/Celebrity TRD Scion FR-S, despite being neither Pro nor Celebrity

Since 1977, Toyota has been putting celebrities with varying degrees of track experience into race-prepped cars and unleashing them onto the streets of Long Beach. The carnage that unfolds is, thankfully, limited primarily to the sheetmetal of two dozen freshly … Continue reading

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PRODUCT GUIDE: Koyorad Datsun 510 Radiator

While we’re on the topic of mods for your classic car, cooling is an important part of keeping your nostalgic in tip-top running order. Stock radiators in older cars were usually pretty flimsy to begin with, and after years of … Continue reading

Posted in nissan, Product Guide | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

QotW: What’s the best mod you can make to a classic car?

Last week’s QotW broke records for having the most answers since we started doing our weekly polls. JNCers had opinions both plentiful and strong about the absolute worst mods that could be foisted upon classic cars. Well okay then, smarty … Continue reading

Posted in Question of the Week, toyota | Tagged , , | 42 Comments

MOTORSPORT: 76 Years of Nissan Motorsports

Watch footage from 76 years of Nissan motorsports, starting with the monopoly-piece looking 1936 Datsun racer to the futuristic 2012 Nissan DeltaWing. The video commemorates the new NISMO headquarters grand opening February 26, which will shift the seat of Nissan’s … Continue reading

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EVENTS: 2013 JCCA New Year Meeting, Part 04

We continue with more parking lot finds in Part 04 of our 2013 New Year Meeting coverage. Our previous installment featured some bosozoku style rides that caused some controversy, despite their important place in Japan’s tuning culture. Today’s shakotan style … Continue reading

Posted in events, mazda, nissan, toyota | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

QotW: What’s the worst mod you can make to a classic car?

There’s purists and there’s everyone else. At least that’s how the purists see things. We don’t expect everyone to keep their JNC showroom original, but there are things that simply should not be done. What’s the worst mod you can … Continue reading

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EVENTS: 2013 JCCA New Year Meeting, Part 03

We sure feasted our eyes on beautiful examples of Nihon steel in Parts 01 and 02 of our 2013 New Year Meeting coverage. The real show, however, is in the spectator parking area, which is packed full of shakotan sleds … Continue reading

Posted in events, mazda, nissan, toyota | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

VIDEO: Jay Leno’s Garage Gets Down with a Custom Datsun 510

A car nut can’t get much better a gig than working for Jay Leno. And once you finish building your custom Datsun 510, like Tonight Show prop master Greg Elliot, the boss man himself might even feature it on his … Continue reading

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QotW: Who’s the Baddest President of a Japanese Car Company?

Since Monday was Presidents’ Day here in the States, we thought it’d be a good time to find out which captains of Japanese industry you admire most. From Mitsubishi founder and real life samurai Yataro Iwasaki to current Toyota head … Continue reading

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