Author Archives: Ben Hsu
Happy Presidents’ Day from JNC
And now for your viewing pleasure, a lowrider 1980 Nissan President. An amalgam of Japano-American style created in the UK. It exchanged hands on eBay for £2,750 (or $4,268 USD) recently, which seems like quite a small amount of dead … Continue reading
QotW: What year was the peak of Japanese car design?
The Japanese auto industry has undergone many design eras — the jet setting Sixties, the techno-boxy Eighties, the lozenge Nineties. But like an old curmudgeon you know there’s a single year in your minds after which everything went downhill. What … Continue reading
MOTORSPORT: Remembering Funabashi Circuit
If you’ve ever taken the JR Keiyo train from downtown Tokyo to Makuhari Messe for the Auto Salon or Tokyo Motor Show, you’ve passed over the former grounds of Funabashi Circuit. Like much of Japan in 1965 Funabashi city was … Continue reading
Posted in motorsport
Tagged datsun, fairlady roadster, Funabashi Circuit, honda, Motoharu Kurosawa, motorsports, s600, s800, sports 1600, sports 800, tojiro ukiya, toyota
9 Comments
MOTORSPORT: Mazda 787B Named Le Mans car of the 1990s by Automobile Club de l’Ouest Jury
France’s Automobile Club de l’Ouest, the organizing body behind the 24 Hours of Le Mans, recently announced the 10 race cars they believe to be most emblematic of the legendary race. One car was chosen to represent each decade of … Continue reading
Posted in mazda, motorsport, motorsports
Tagged 787b, le mans, mazda, motorsports, yojiro terada
4 Comments
VIDEO: Rocky Auto’s Lexus V8-powered Hakosuka
Many of you loved the cars in the last video we posted but found the music controversial. Prepare yourself for the opposite. It’s hard to take offense to a Temptaions-esque free use Motown groove, but the accompanying car is one … Continue reading
QotW: What’s the greatest video game JNC of all time?
Many readers were plunged into the world of nostalgic cars thanks to Japanese video games. The fact that those machines were made of pixels and polygons rather than glass and steel didn’t make our lust for them any less fierce, … Continue reading
Posted in nissan, Question of the Week, Video Games
Tagged 240z, 260z, 280z, a20, celica, datsun, devil z, fairlady z, nissan, QotW, Question of the Week, ra21, s30, shutoku battle, ta22, Tokyo Xtreme Racer, wangan midnight
24 Comments
QotW: Which car should Japanese automakers sell again exactly as they were?
In 1998 Nissan embarked on an unprecedented program to buy back 1970-71 Datsun 240Zs, restore them, and sell them through dealerships with an official warranty. Only about 40 of the 250 planned cars were sold, and even at nearly $28,000 … Continue reading
Posted in honda, nissan, Question of the Week
Tagged 240z, 260z, 280z, crx, datsun, fairlady z, honda, nissan, QotW, Question of the Week, s30
34 Comments
ART CORNER: The least resilient Land Cruisers you’ll ever see
Yesterday we saw Toyota FJ40s fetching some high prices at the recent Arizona auctions. These, on the other hand, are the cheapest Land Cruisers you’ll ever encounter. They’re also some of most easily destructible ones too, as they’re made completely out … Continue reading
Posted in Art Corner, toyota, trucks
Tagged Art Corner, fj40, fj45, fj55, land cruiser, papercraft, toyota
5 Comments
VIDEO: The Emperor of Japan drives a mauve Honda Integra
You would think that being the absolute top dog of a country known for building spectacular vehicles would provide Emperor Akihito with a garage to end all garages. Instead, when the head honcho of the Japanese royal family is not … Continue reading
QotW: What’s the most significant “new” nostalgic car from 1988?
It’s 2013, and that means a new lineup of vehicles has officially crossed the magical 25-year threshold to become nostalgics. Cars built when INXS and Arsenio Hall ruled the airwaves can now officially qualify for historic tags and and collector’s … Continue reading
Posted in nissan, Question of the Week
Tagged 180sx, 240sx, nissan, QotW, Question of the Week, s13, silvia
31 Comments
EVENTS: Fundraiser for ex-Toyota 2000GT driver Scooter Patrick
This is just a quick post to let you guys know that Scooter Patrick, former driver of the white-and-red #33 Carroll Shelby SCCA Toyota 2000GT, has a case of rapid onset Alzheimer’s disease. There’s a fundraiser happening January 12, 2013 … Continue reading
Posted in motorsports, toyota
Tagged 2000gt, Riverside International Auto Museum, Scooter Patrick, toyota
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QotW: What’s your New Year’s resolution?
It’s a new year, and you know what that means. Finally, for the love of all that is good and holy, it’s time to open up that good book gathering dust on your nightstand, get that oxidized heap in your … Continue reading
Posted in honda, Question of the Week
Tagged f1, formula 1, honda, QotW, Question of the Week, ra272
21 Comments
MINICARS: 2013 Hot Wheels Toyota 2000GT Treasure Hunt
Boom. Ever since we began reporting on Hot Wheels‘ Renaissance of classic Japanese cars, there’s been one that collectors clamored for more than any other — the Toyota 2000GT. Well, your offerings to the diecast gods have paid off. We … Continue reading
California to enact vintage license plate program
Great news for nostalgic car owners in California. The state has just announced today a new program that will allow classic car owners to get period correct license plates based on the year their cars were manufactured. “Legacy” license plates … Continue reading
