Author Archives: Ben Hsu
Kidney, Anyone? $64,000 Nissan Stanza Ex-Works Rally Car
The UK owner of this car is asking 40,000 pounds sterling (over US$64,000) for a Nissan Stanza. Surprised? Well, this is no ordinary Stanza. According to the seller, it’s the ex-works car that won the 1979 Southern Cross Rally. Held … Continue reading
Posted in for sale, motorsports, nissan, rally
Tagged 510, atsugi, auster, australia, datsun, enkei, george fury, monty suffern, nissan, pa10, rally, southern cross, stanza, tokico, violet
4 Comments
Nissans at Le Mans: A Return with the Signature LMP2
Twenty-five years ago Nissan entered its first prototype style racer into the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans. Now the automaker is returning to the Le Mans Cup series with the Signature LMP2, which will run NISMO-tuned VK45 V8 motors. … Continue reading
Posted in motorsports, nissan
Tagged aguri suzuki, group c, le mans, lmp2, masahiro hasemi, nissan, r85v, r86v, signature
2 Comments
900,000 Mazda MX-5 Roadsters and Counting
The 900,000th Mazda MX-5 rolled out of Hiroshima last week, extending its lead as the best selling two-seat sports car in history according to the Guinness Book of World Records. The Miata got that title back in 2000 after surpassing … Continue reading
Honda Restarts Development of the NSX
Honda heads, rejoice! In Japan today Honda president Takashi Ito announced that the company will renew development of the NSX. The next generation of Honda’s supercar was put on hold as a result of the Lehman Shock (Japanese for Global … Continue reading
Toyota Land Cruiser Turns 60 Years Old, Gets Special Edition
The weapon of choice for outdoorsmen and dictators alike, the Toyota Land Cruiser had its humble beginnings as a spartan military vehicle in 1951. The Toyota BJ was the first vehicle ever to scale Mt Fuji to its sixth station, … Continue reading
Mazda Cosmo Sports Rust Away in Japan
What is this, Ultraman‘s collection of parts cars? [Komin’s Photo Blog via Banpei via Gred. Hat tip to Goki.]
New Koreisha Marks Go On Sale Today
Today is February 1, which means the “autumn leaf” elderly driver’s symbol is no more. Last summer, a nation-wide contest selected a new koreisha mark, this four-color clover-type thing, because the apparently drivers over the age of 70 do not … Continue reading
Mitsubishi Bids Slow Goodbye to Galant and Eclipse
Whenever once-great nameplates get axed, we feel a twinge of regret, even if it’s a mercy killing. According to trade journal Automotive News, Mitsubishi will scuttle all region-specific by the end of 2013. That means North American market platforms like … Continue reading
Posted in mitsubishi
Tagged arrow, champ, colt, dodge, eagle, eclipse, galant, laser, mitsubishi, plymouth, sigma, talon
16 Comments
New Year Meeting 2011 Preview
We’ve got hundreds of photos from the 2011 New Year Meeting streaming through cyberspace as you read this. For now, here’s a quick preview of the biggest nostalgic car show of the year. Here’s the Gateway to drooltown.
Posted in events, mitsubishi, nissan, toyota
Tagged 2011, 30, cedric, cherry, csp311, galant, gto, h31, mitsubishi, new year meeting, nissan, publica, silvia, toyota
5 Comments
Inside a Japanese Used Car Auction
8000 cars on a slow day, 20 seconds to jab buttons like lab pigeon on cocaine, thousands of yen, and one new ride to take home. Follow the Australian series Mad Mods on a quest to buy a JDM car … Continue reading
Friday Video: Nissan Skyline S54 GT-B vs Porsche 904
In light of Shinichiro Sakruai‘s passing we’ve been talking about the 1964 Japan Grand Prix a lot. As we’ve mentioned, this event was notable because that’s when Sakurai and Prince Motor Company threw down the gauntlets against the Porsche 904. … Continue reading
Posted in motorsports, nissan
Tagged 904, bellett, datsun, gt-b, isuzu, japan gp, japan grand prix, nissan, porsche, s54, skyline, suzuka
7 Comments
The KPGC10 Nissan Skyline GT-R in Battle
Our tribute to Shinichiro Sakurai, Father of the Skyline, continues with some of our favorite images of hakosuka in warpaint, ready for battle. After the S54 GT-B finished the 1964 Japan Grand Prix second to a purpose-built German race car, … Continue reading
Posted in Legends, motorsports, nissan, Uncategorized
Tagged c10, gt-r, Hakosuka, kgc10, kpgc10, nissan, shinichiro sakurai, skyline
5 Comments
Toyota FT-86 II Concept to be Revealed in Geneva
You know the drill. Lightweight coupe, FR layout, AE86 reborn. At the upcoming Geneva Motor Show in March, the Toyota FT-86 II Concept will be revealed, one step closer to the production version.
Posted in Uncategorized
20 Comments
Tokyo Auto Salon 2011: Super Builds
Here are a few parting shots from the 2011 Tokyo Auto Salon. Nothing major, just a couple of mind-blowing restorations make us drool uncontrollably like hungry babies. It’s a shame, but we rarely see builds of this caliber in the … Continue reading
Prince Skyline S54 GT-B at the Gates
In honor of Shinichro Sakurai, we’ve been poring over images of Skylines both Prince and Nissan. Here’s a quasi-replica of the Prince Skyline S54 GT-B that went up against a purpose-built Porsche 904 race car at the 1964 Japan Grand … Continue reading
Posted in motorsports, nissan
Tagged black wats, gt-b, nissan, prince, rally, s54, skyline, watanabe
9 Comments
Kidney, Anyone? 1982 Mazda 626 Capella
In the United States, the Mazda 626 was mostly known as an honorable mention in the Accord-Camry wars of the 1990s. Competent if unmemorable, the front-wheel-drive sedan was Hiroshima’s answer to the family car question few had asked. Europeans love … Continue reading
Shinichiro Sakurai, Father of the Skyline, 1929-2011
On January 17, 2011 in the quiet Tokyo suburb of Setagaya, Shinichiro Sakurai, the father of the Nissan Skyline, passed away due to heart failure at the age of 81. Every major newspaper and reporting agency in Japan ran a … Continue reading
Friday Video: Toyota Celica in Family Guy/Incredible Hulk
Your eyes do not deceive you. This is a non-photoshopped image of Stewie Griffin changing the tire on a 1971-72 Toyota Celica.
Posted in toyota, Video Games
Tagged celica, family guy, incredible hulk, ra21, ta21, toyota
10 Comments
Tokyo Auto Salon 2011: Nissan Roundup
Many people want the beauty of a nostalgic car but still need a family hauler that won’t sacrifice modern amenities like working aircon, cruise control and fuel injection. A hakosuka-faced Nissan Stagea is here to answer your prayers.
Tokyo Auto Salon 2011: Toyota Takes the Stage
Perhaps the biggest surprise of Toyota’s exhibition at the 2011 Tokyo Auto Salon was not a car, but a person. Company president Akio Toyoda took the stage and spoke about how driving the Lexus LFA in the 24hrs of Nürburgring … Continue reading
Posted in events, toyota
Tagged 2000gt, 2011, 3000 km trap, akio toyoda, century, crown, estima, fj cruiser, g's, hiromu naruse, jzs171, mazda, miata, mx-5, noah, pickup, police car, previa, tas 2011, tes concept t-sports, tokyo auto salon, toyota
8 Comments
