Author Archives: Ben Hsu

MS112 Toyota Crown on Super Volks

1980s swirly rims always seemed a bit cheesy so we’ve never been real big fans of them. Until now. Get a set of white Super Volks and slam a similarly white S112 Toyota Crown on top of them in a … Continue reading

Posted in toyota, wheels | Tagged , , , , , | 16 Comments

Video Camera Goes on Wild Ride with Honda S800

Sky-high redline, feather weight chassis, open top motoring. The Honda S800 is a breathtaking machine. It is also a camera-taking machine. If this short clip of a topless roadster howling through the two-lane backroads of Japan does not induce some … Continue reading

Posted in honda | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

Identify This Rusty Car Found in a Japanese Junkyard

See that wagon lurking behind this hakosuka and Honda Today? All we know is that it’s old, rust, and resting in a junkyard somewhere in Japan. This photo was sent to us by a reader there. Heck, it may not even be Japanese. Be … Continue reading

Posted in japan | Tagged , , , | 25 Comments

RA21 Toyota Celica Drift Machine

This may look like an RA21 Toyota Celica. But look below the surface where the sun don’t shine and you’ll find a full-on AE86 drift machine. The result? Whether it’s smoking tires sideways or just cold chillin’ by a vending machine, … Continue reading

Posted in motorsports, toyota | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

Friday Video: Toyota 2000GT Meets Nissan Fairlady 240ZG Meets KPGC110 Skyline GT-R

The title says it all. Watch the luckiest bastards in the world at Best Motoring drive the greats.

Posted in nissan, toyota | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Hot Wheels Datsun 240Z Treasure Hunt

It seems we’ve got some exciting news from Hot Wheels every week now. Mattel‘s diecast toy line is really firing on all cylinders with cool nostalgics that JNC readers will love. Now you can park this Datsun 240Z next to … Continue reading

Posted in minicars, nissan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Kidney, Anyone? 1959 Datsun 1000

It’s not every day you find a 1959 Datsun 1000 on eBay. This L210 is probably one of the earliest Nissan products ever sold in the US. This ancestor of the Bluebird is not for the faint of heart though. … Continue reading

Posted in for sale, nissan | Tagged , , , , | 11 Comments

EVENTS: Mooneyes Mania Cruise

Every couple of months our friends at Mooneyes holds an informal gathering near their HQ in Yokohama called the Mania Cruise. The great part about these shows is that you get to see oddball machines that tend to get crowded … Continue reading

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

Friday Video: B110 Sunny & KP61 Starlet Take to the Hills

Best Motoring may be no more, but videos like this from their heyday are what old school Japanese cars are all about! Lightweight, rear-wheel-drive, small-displacement cars that are a blast to sling through the twisties. Watch as Keiichi Tsuchiya and … Continue reading

Posted in Friday Video, nissan, toyota | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

New JNC Shop Open, LowLife T-Shirts Now Available

We quietly launched a new JNC Shop a few weeks ago, giving it an updated look and easier ordering process. It includes all the new gear we debuted at Toyotafest, like the Vintage Barrels II shirt, JNC X JAF decal … Continue reading

Posted in jnc | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

The Most Painful Skyline You’ll Ever See: Hakosuka Itasha

It’s one thing to slap giant anime characters on your Suzuki Wagon R, Toyota Alphard, or even your Ferrari F430, but a KGC10 Skyline? That really hurts. This hot pink hakosuka was spotted last week at an itasha car show … Continue reading

Posted in nissan | Tagged , , , , , , , | 20 Comments

Friday Video: This Nissan Cedric Hates Bicyclists

A suspect attempts to slink away just as our heros from the Western Division arrive on the scene. Too late, he’s made. Nothing left to do but wheel that Cedric like it’s your ticket to salvation. Oh, an plow over … Continue reading

Posted in Friday Video, nissan, Video Games | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Kenmeri Too: Hot Wheels KPGC110 Nissan Skyline 2000GT-R is Coming

If you guys were excited about the Hot Wheels Hakosuka, then buckle your racing harnesses because the boys at Mattel are about to double down. That’s right, they are doing a kenmeri too.

Posted in minicars, nissan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 26 Comments

Mazda 787B Returns to Le Mans for 20th Anniversary of Victory

Twenty years ago, the Mazda 787B became the first and only rotary-powered car to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It’s also the only Japanese car to win overall what has been called “the most demanding endurance race in … Continue reading

Posted in mazda, motorsports | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Hot Wheels X JNC Hakosuka Nissan Skyline

We at JNC are very proud to announce the latest classic Japanese car to grace the 2011 Hot Wheels lineup — the legendary hakosuka. Mattel just sent us a small batch fresh off the assembly line, and has graciously allowed … Continue reading

Posted in minicars, nissan | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 64 Comments

EVENTS: Toyotafest 2011 Part 02

Welcome to Part 02 of our Toyotafest 2011 coverage. As Michio Kaku would say, let’s jump right in and take a look at some of more extreme cars that were at the show. This TE51 Corolla has exchanged hands a … Continue reading

Posted in bosozoku, events, toyota, wagons | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

EVENTS: Toyotafest 2011 Part 01

Prepare to salivate like Pavlov’s dog in a pachinko parlor. Here are photos from Toyotafest 2011! The sixteenth annual gathering of the extended Toyota family took place this weekend at the Queen Mary in Long Beach, California, and that means … Continue reading

Posted in events, toyota | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 21 Comments

JAF History and a New JNC Decal

If you’ve been around old school Japanese cars you’ve seen this blue and white logo affixed to grilles or windows in badge and decal form. The Japan Automobile Federation is Japan’s version of AAA, a motoring club that you can … Continue reading

Posted in jnc | Tagged , , , , , | 10 Comments

JNC Vintage Barrels II T-Shirt

Ever since we released our original Vintage Barrels T-shirt, the suggestions have been flowing for a second design. So without further ado, we are proud to present JNC‘s Vintage Barrels II T-shirt! We’ll debut the new threads at Toyotafest this … Continue reading

Posted in nostalgic wear, wheels | Tagged , , | 12 Comments

Getting Ready for Toyotafest

Posted in events, toyota | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments