Author Archives: Ben Hsu
EVENTS: 2012 Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 03: Sport Coupes
Part 03 of our 2012 Japanese Classic Car Show coverage considers the very vehicles that put Nihon cars on the map. Agile and stylish, the rise of the Japanese sport coupe gave those of us who like to do our … Continue reading
Posted in events, honda, mazda, nissan, toyota
Tagged 200sx, 510, 610, a20, a60, ae86, b110, b210, bluebird, c30, capella, celica, corolla, da3, datsun, datsun 1200, epsilon, familia, gt 86, hachiroku, honda, integra, laurel, levin, liftback, mazda, nisei, nissan, r100, ra21, ra29, ra65, rally, riverge, riverside, rs watanabe, rx-2, rx-3, rx-3 sp, s10, s110, s12, savanna, scion fr-s, silvia, sprinter, sr-5, ssr, sunny, ta21, ta22, te37, toyota 86, trueno, watanabes, z360, z600
12 Comments
Kidney, Anyone? Possibly the freshest Mitsubishi Galant Sigma in the US
With all the JCCS coverage going on it’s time for east coasters’ yearly grumble session about their lack of clean cars. While it’s true that faded 510s and AE86s are not on every corner there, it’s equally true that when … Continue reading
QotW: What is the greatest Mazda of all time?
From greatest engine to most luxurious to most beautiful to proudest marque, Mazdas have consistently been winners in our QotW series. And since it’s also SevenStock/Mazdafest week, we thought we’d devote the next question to this one very special marque. What is the … Continue reading
QotW: What made you fall in love with Japanese nostalgic cars?
This past weekend one of my oldest friends, whom I’ve known since the eighth grade, came to his first JCCS (more on that later). After his baptism by fire into the world of nostalgics, he immediately went home and began scouring … Continue reading
Posted in minicars, mitsubishi, nissan, Question of the Week, toyota, wagons
Tagged 510, cedric, crown, datsun, japanese classic car show, jccs, jun imai, nissan, QotW, Question of the Week, Taxi, toyota, wagons
50 Comments
JCCS Preview: JNC “Showa Motor Club” Kenmeri Shirt
It’s a JNC tradition to debut a new shirt design at JCCS, and each year we choose a theme that marks a historic occasion. For 2012 we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the fourth-generation Nissan Skyline, which debuted in September 1972, … Continue reading
Posted in events, JNC Apparel, nissan, nostalgic wear
Tagged 240k, c110, datsun, diane krey-welsey, gc110, jnc apparel, ken & mary, kenmeri, kgc110, kpgc110, nissan, nostalgic wear, Showa Motor Club, skyline, yonmeri
9 Comments
JCCS Preview: Happy 103rd Birthday to Mr. K
This Saturday, September 15, is not only going to be the 8th Annual Japanese Classic Car Show in Long Beach, but Mr. K‘s 103rd birthday as well! That’s right, Yutaka Katayama was born way back on September 15, 1909, around the … Continue reading
Posted in events, nissan
Tagged 240z, 260z, 280z, 510, datsun, japanese classic car show, jccs, mr k, nissan, yutaka katayama
6 Comments
QotW: What would you like to see at JCCS this year?
It’s JCCS week, rock ‘n’ rollers, so today’s question is all about the biggest kyuusha show in the hemisphere. What you would you like to see at JCCS this year? Our answer is perhaps a bit out there, blasphemous to … Continue reading
Posted in events, nissan, Question of the Week, trucks
Tagged 720, bosozoku, datsun, fukuoka, japanese classic car show, jccs, nissan, pickup, truck
34 Comments
MINICARS: 2013 Hot Wheels 1970 Toyota Celica revealed
Toyotaku, your offerings to the diecast gods have paid off. This is the first official photo of the Hot Wheels 1970 Toyota Celica. We saw a prototype of this car a few months ago, but had been sworn to secrecy … Continue reading
Friday Video: Tim Mings’ collection of Honda 600s
Tim “Merciless” Mings has been driving, collecting and restoring 600cc Hondas since he could drive. Over the years, he’s amassed an astounding collection both cars and parts and has become America’s go-to guy for anything Honda N600 and Z600. Part of his collection includes the … Continue reading
Posted in Friday Video, honda
Tagged Friday Video, honda, merciless mings, n360, n600, tim mings, z360, z600
4 Comments
Wednesday Wall: Aoshima Gurachan Box Art
If you haven’t gone to the Aoshima‘s English Facebook page yet, you’re missing out on some gorgeous gurachan wallpaper based on their box art. Where else can you decorate your desktop with a beautiful shakotan Skyline Japan in purple illustrated in purple? … Continue reading
Posted in minicars, nissan, Wednesday Wall
Tagged aoshima, c210, japan, nissan, skyline, Wednesday Wall, wednesday wallpaper
1 Comment
QotW: What’s the coolest Japanese Nostalgic Truck?
There’s been a lot of QotWs about Japanese nostalgic cars, so it’s high time we asked about their bed-equipped workhorse counterparts that were responsible for creating an entire vehicle segment: What’s the coolest Japanese nostalgic truck? Our pick is the Datsun … Continue reading
Posted in nissan, Question of the Week, trucks
Tagged 620, datsun, nissan, pickup, QotW, Question of the Week, truck
43 Comments
JNC Ken & Mary Art Contest Update: Win an Aoshima KenMary Works model kit
Exciting news! One of Aoshima‘s amazingly detailed 1:24 scale plastic model kits is now another prize in our Ken & Mary Art Contest! As with all of Aoshima’s kits, it comes with multiple grilles and lights, and separate aero pieces, so you … Continue reading
The beautiful Box Art and history of Aoshima model kits
Step inside any Japanese hobby store and you’re bound to be dazzled by both the beauty and abundance of Aoshima box art. Their highly detailed plastic model kits have been around for decades, and in many cases have done a … Continue reading
Posted in minicars, mitsubishi, nissan, toyota
Tagged 240k, 330, 350z, 430, ae86, aoshima, aristo, bosozoku, c10, c110, c210, cedoglo, cedric, chaser, corolla, cressida, datsun, dekotora, enkei, evo x, fairlady z, fd3s, focus racing, fuso, gazelle, gc10, gloria, gs400, gurachan, gx81, Hakosuka, hayashi, hilux, japan, kenmeri, kgc10, kgc110, kpgc10, kpgc110, lancer, lancer evolution, levin, lexus, mark II, mazda, mitsubishi, model kits, nissan, pgc10, r32, rx-7, s110, shadow, shakotan, silvia, skyline, soarer, sprinter, ssr, street, toyota, trueno, v-max, x30, x40, x80, yamaha, z10, z33
9 Comments
QotW: Where’s your favorite place to drive your nostalgic car?
Japan is home to some of the best kept secrets in auto-dom. Their tolls are prohibitively expensive, have little to no English signage outside major metro areas, and are all floating on an island you can’t drive to. And yet … Continue reading
Posted in nissan, Question of the Week
Tagged butaketsu, c130, hot wheels, laurel, mad manga, nissan, Question of the Week
35 Comments
Shaken preparation at Sports Car Service of Yokohama
Nestled in the sleepy, semi-rural outskirts of Yokohama is Sports Car Service, specializing in the repair and maintenance of nostalgic cars. Recently a friend needed to get an old rotary prepped for shaken, Japan’s roadworthiness inspection, and we tagged along to … Continue reading
Posted in Nihon Life
Tagged 110s, 1500 sports, 1600 sports, 2000 sports, bellett, capella, cosmo sport, datsun, fairlady, fairlady roadster, honda, isuzu, mazda, nissan, rx-2, s800, Service Corner, sp311, sports 800, Sports Car Service, sr311, toyota, yotahachi
13 Comments
QotW: What diecast car should they make next?
Last week it was announced that Tomica, after 42 years making diecast Japanese cars, is finally coming out with the pivotal Datsun Fairlady roadster. We learned too that the first A60 Celica to exist anywhere in 1:64 universe would soon debut, a mere … Continue reading
Posted in minicars, Question of the Week
Tagged 12a, 13b, hot wheels, luce, mazda, minicars, QotW, Question of the Week, rotary, rx-4, rx-7, sa22, savanna
38 Comments
EVENTS: 2012 Nisei Showoff, Part 02
As we mentioned in Part 01, early nisei contributions to car culture went largely unnoticed for decades. This was mainly because 1.) most of the culture revolved around illicit pink-slip showdowns and 2.) it was centered in SoCal. Los Angeles’ … Continue reading
Posted in events, honda
19 Comments
The origins of Nissan’s Ginza Gallery and Miss Fairlady
No trip to Tokyo would be complete without a stop at the Nissan Gallery in the high-end shopping district of Ginza. The showroom doesn’t sell any cars, but serves as prime advertising for the automaker at of one of Japan’s … Continue reading
Posted in Friday Video, nissan
Tagged 1500 sports, 1600 sports, 2000 sports, datsun, fairlady roadster, Ginza, Miss Fairlady, Miyuki-zoku, nissan, nissan gallery, van
4 Comments
Initial D Fifth Stage to premiere November 9
Hang on to your e-brakes because the hit anime Initial D returns November 9. What was originally lost in translation and reported as a reboot is actually a restart, continuing the series where it left off six years ago.
Posted in toyota, Video Games
Tagged ae86, corolla, Fifth Stage, Initial D, levin, sprinter, Takumi Fujiwara, toyota, trueno
25 Comments
