Author Archives: Ben Hsu
Grand Touring: 2011 Scion tC & Calty Design Research
Recently, we found ourselves behind the wheel of a jet black 2011 Scion tC. Why are we telling you this? Because the tC is the latest vehicle to emerge from Calty Design Research in Newport Beach, California, the first US … Continue reading
Posted in toyota
Tagged 2011 scion tc, a40, calty, celica, fj cruiser, fxv-II, hilux, scion, supra, tc, toyota, trd
12 Comments
More Nostalgic Toyotas from Cyprus UN Buffer Zone
Last week we mentioned that the UN was documenting the Green Line, a demilitarized Buffer Zone set up on the island of Cyprus in 1974. One photo showed a couple of lonely but brand new E20 Toyota Corollas, one with … Continue reading
Kidney, Anyone? 38-Mile Toyota Corolla Untouched for 37 Years
Want a brand-new E20 Toyota Corolla that has sat untouched since 1974? It’s there for the taking. All you have to do is sneak it out of the demilitarized zone on the island nation of Cyprus.
More Toyota FT-86 Details Emerge
Moto, founder of Club4AG, has spilled a few beans regarding the new Toyobaru FT-86 (or as we Yanks will call it, the Scion FR-S). From his report, everything has been engineered with the enthusiast in mind. Case in point: the dash … Continue reading
Tomica Limited Vintage Neo Nissan Skyline C110 Wagon
American toymakers are doing their part to enrich the lives of diecast collectors. What about Japan? Anyone’s who been to the seizure-inducing overstimulation of a Japanese toy store is familiar with Tomica toy cars, but did you know the had a upscale … Continue reading
Nostalgics at the 2011 Historic Acropolis Rally
Watch a parade of Corolla, Celica, Starlet, Gemini, and Mazda RX-7 rally cars rip through the dusty roads of Athens alongside Lancias and Porsches in the 2011 Historic Acropolis Rally.
Posted in isuzu, mazda, motorsports, rally, toyota
Tagged a40, acropolis rally, celica, corolla, fb, gemini, historic, isuzu, kp61, mazda, motorsports, opel, rally, rx-7 savanna, sa22c, starlet, te37, toyota
5 Comments
2011 Japanese Classic Car Show Registration Now Open
Kyuusha fans, it’s that time again. Registration has opened for the 2011 Japanese Classic Car Show! It’s the biggest, coolest, most diverse gathering of vintage Japanese cars on the continent. In addition to all the vintage Datsuns, Toyotas, Mazdas, Hondas … Continue reading
Posted in events
9 Comments
Friday Video: 39 Years of Honda Civic
With 19 million units sold and 39 years under its belt, the Honda Civic is an icon of motoring. With the recent introduction of the 9th generation, Honda’s marketing team has put together a video called “Heritage” that explores its … Continue reading
1981 Toyota Celica Supra at Survivor Car Show
A car show that only allows survivors? Awesome concept. If a car has been modified or restored, it is not eligible for the Survivor Car Show in St. Charles, Illinois. In other words, it’s for either OCD obsessives or incredibly … Continue reading
EVENTS: Eagle Rock Swap Meet
Aaah, SoCal. We know the rest of the country hates it when we gloat. But sorry, it’s just damn nice to be able to take a leisurely Sunday morning cruise to an old school Japanese car bazaar. The Eagle Rock … Continue reading
Hot Wheels Kenmeri Nissan Skyline 2000GT-R & Vintage Racing BRE Datsun 510 Bluebird
Hot Wheels is on a tear these days, adding Japanese classics to their lineup as quickly as the diecast cars will speed down an orange track. We were thrilled to be part of the hakosuka Nissan Skyline 2000GT-X (which is … Continue reading
Posted in minicars, nissan
Tagged 2000gt-r, 2011, 510, bluebird, bre, c110, datsun, first editions, gt-r, hot wheels, john morton, kenmeri, kgc110, kpgc110, mattel, nissan, peter brock, skyline, vintage racing
25 Comments
850hp Toyota Celica Is Fastest Hill Climber at 2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed
Like Pikes Peak, the Goodwood Festival of Speed is one of motordom’s greatest hill climbs, a spectacular celebration of racing machinery from across the spectrum. Unlike Pikes Peak, the ascent is only 1.16 miles, and takes you up someone’s driveway. … Continue reading
Posted in motorsports, toyota
Tagged all-trac, celica, festival of speed, goodwood, gt-four, st205, toyota, wrc
8 Comments
Friday Video: The Depth of Speed
Remember the video of JDM Legends that we posted a while back? The filmmaker, Josh Clason, has returned with another beautiful video featuring the inner workings of the SLC-based tuning house. Along for the ride are their Celica, Starlet, and hakosuka. Feast … Continue reading
Posted in nissan, toyota, tuning shop
Tagged a20, c10, celica, datsun, depth of speed, Hakosuka, jdm legends, kgc10, kp61, kpgc10, nissan, ra21, skyline, starlet, ta21, ta22, watanabe, work equip
13 Comments
JDM Old School Style Hits Russia
Can you identify this awesome Japanese-style sled? No? Well, don’t beat yourself up too bad — it was a trick question. That’s because the car is a Russian VAZ 2106 steeped in vintage JDM style. With Hoshinos, bolt-on flares, shakotan … Continue reading
Posted in Nuts and Bolts
Tagged 2106, autovaz, hoshino, impul, jdm, kyuusha kulture, lada, only dropped picnic, russia, russian, vaz
22 Comments
Adrien Brody Drives a StarQuest
Although he has been seen in a black Ferrari California, actor Adrien Brody recently pulled up to the terminal at JFK airport in a Chrysler Conquest. He was spotted by TMZ, who called it a “crappy car” and titled the … Continue reading
Posted in mitsubishi
Tagged adrien brody, chrysler, conquest, mitsubishi, starion, starquest
14 Comments
Rumor: Nissan May Bring Datsun Back
Rumors are circulating that Nissan will be bringing back the Datsun brand. Unfortunately, it would be for low-cost models in emerging markets that are expected to ring in at $5000 or less. The news is being reported by the Nikkei … Continue reading
Enjoy Your JNC at Upcoming Summer Meets and Events
As temperatures increase, so do the number of events in SoCal where you can take your nostalgic car. We are highlighting some of these because these venues have not traditionally been a home for vintage Japanese steel. But their requests … Continue reading
Posted in events
2 Comments
Friday Video: Gachapin and Mukku Teach Kids about Gymkhana on Hirake! Ponkikki
The Japanese show Hirake! Ponkikki is a morning kids show akin to Sesame Street. The main characters are a green, adrenaline-junkie dinosaur named Gachapin and a red yeti named Mukku. In this episode, they visit Honda’s Twin Ring Motegi Circuit … Continue reading
Posted in honda, Video Games
Tagged acura, gachapin, hirake ponkikki, honda, integra, mukku, s2000, twin ring motegi, type r
11 Comments
Sam Witwicky’s Datsun 510 in Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon
Last year a Datsun 510 sedan with twin black racing stripes and a “Bee-yotch” air freshener was spotted filming in Milwaukee for Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon. Immediately, speculation began that one of the star robots, Bumblebee, had disguised … Continue reading
