Author Archives: Ben Hsu

Nissan Cedrics vs Toyota LiteAce in Daitokai, The Big City

It’s odd to see a mixed-marque car chase in the heavily sponsored world of  Japanese cop shows. Almost as odd as using a Toyota LiteAce as a getaway vehicle when you’re being pursued by a fleet of Nissan Cedrics. But there … Continue reading

Posted in datsun, nissan, toyota | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

The Nostalgics of BARL, Barbados Auto Racing League

Despite having an area about 1/10th the size of Rhode Island, Barbados has a strong car culture and the Barbados Auto Racing League hosts some truly insane race machines. Rotaries, Toyota Starlets, and Nissans B310s are apparently quite popular. JNC … Continue reading

Posted in datsun, mazda, motorsports, nissan, toyota | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Drag Racer Hakosuka Skyline

We’ve seen all sorts of C10 Skylines, from stock to shakotan, but this is the first hakosuka dragster we’ve ever come across. This doorslammer comes from a 1995 issue of Auto Works magazine, and despite its fiberglass funny car looks, … Continue reading

Posted in datsun, motorsports, nissan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

1988 JTCC Ralliart Mitsubishi Starion

Here are some videos of a the Ralliart Mitsubishi Starion competing against Ford Sierra Cosworths, MA71 Toyota Supras and Nissan Skyline RS Turbos in the 1988 Japan Touring Car Championship. You may recognize some of the drivers, such as Takahashi Kunimitsu … Continue reading

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

Friday Video: AE86 Corolla on European Circuits

If you’ve gotten JNC Vol. 04 you’ll have seen our tribute to the 1985 Toyota Corolla GT-S, now officially a nostalgic in the US thanks to the 25-year rule. Though this car would become the poster child for drifting 15 … Continue reading

Posted in toyota | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

White Whale: MS75 Toyota Crown Hardtop

Killer kujira. That is all.

Posted in toyota | Tagged , , , , , | 12 Comments

Kidney Anyone? Another Toyota Corona RT52 Hardtop

It’s raining Coronas! Hot on the heels of last week’s 2200-mile ’68 RT52 Hardtop Coupe comes this 1969 example with 57,000 miles. That might be 25 times the miles, but the condition actually seems to be, like the color, a … Continue reading

Posted in for sale, toyota | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

1957 Tokyo Motor Show

Here’s some rare footage of the 1957 Tokyo Motor Show, which was held outdoors in Hibiya Park. At the time, Japan’s total automotive output was only a hair over 47,000 units, about 1/130 of the US’s. Debuts included the S30 … Continue reading

Posted in datsun, nissan, prince, Tokyo Motor Show, toyota | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Bagged 'Rona: Air Suspension RT40 Toyota Corona

The RT40 Corona is not often customized in the States, but check out this bagged barikan from Japan! Deletion of fender mirrors and a JDM window visor may look like subtle mods, but this sled actually had some pretty extensive … Continue reading

Posted in toyota | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Bonus Friday Vid: Toyota Starlet Makes Nissan GT-R Jump at the Drags

We think the blingy red wheels were the giveaway. Video below the fold.

Posted in nissan, toyota | Tagged , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Friday Video: C210 Skyline Turbo vs. Fairlady Z 2+2

At last, we get to see a Fairlady Z give Daimon and his Skyline Japan Turbo a run for his money! With all the Nissan sponsorship, it’s a wonder there weren’t more Z-car pursuits in Seibu Keisatsu but we’ll take … Continue reading

Posted in datsun, nissan | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

The Z Has Landed

Remember Yuta Akaishi’s Mad Max Z? Here’s another epic photo from NorCal’s Heartbreakers crew that will probably take over the Internets again. Maybe we should call it the E.T. Z now.

Posted in datsun, nissan | Tagged , , , , , | 9 Comments

Kidney, Anyone? Nissan Fairlady Z432

When Kev wrote that an $80,000 Tomica Nissan Fairlady Z432 made of pure platinum was still cheaper than the real thing, he wasn’t kidding. For those who want the sleek lines of an S30 Z but the fire-breathing heart of … Continue reading

Posted in for sale, nissan | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Kidney, Anyone? 2274-Mile 1968 Toyota Corona RT52 Hardtop

Remember that 8700-mile ’66 Toyota Corona that sold for $16000 in 2007, and then again for $32000 in 2009 with the addition of just one more mile? Well if there’s ever another that could top it, it’s this 1968 RT52 … Continue reading

Posted in for sale, toyota | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments

Gurachan Mazda Luce RX-4

Bosozoku-style C210 Skylines and Toyota Mark IIs are a dime a dozen, much to the delight (or repulsion, depending on your taste) of Nissan nuts and Toyotaku alike. For Mazdafarians there’s the occasional Cosmo AP, but here’s an even rarer beast … Continue reading

Posted in mazda, nissan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Friday Video: Cedric 230 vs 330 in The Big City

Going solely by old Japanese cop shows, you’d think three out of every five cars was a Nissan Cedric. It’s the Chevy Caprice Classic of Nihon car chases! In this clip from Daitokai (The Big City), there are, surprisingly, no … Continue reading

Posted in nissan, Video Games | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Belated Wednesday Wall: Hakosuka Drift

As Kev has often said, the Hako is a tail-happy machine that, back in the day, was even more so as a result of bias-ply tires. It was often seen breaking its caboose loose on the circuit. Well, here’s what … Continue reading

Posted in nissan, Wednesday Wall | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Nostalgics at SpoCom 2010

As you know, last weekend we teamed up with TORC and JCCS and some of SoCal’s finest nostalgics and invaded classed up the SpoCom Super Show in Long Beach. So for the first time ever, all the crazy drift machines, bagged … Continue reading

Posted in events, nissan, toyota | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Car Surfing on a Mazda Cosmo RX-5

The Jokers were one of Japan’s biggest bosozoku gangs in the ’70s and ’80s. What’s that? The Mazda Cosmo AP looks too close to the pageant winner of Japan’s 1976 Car of the Year? How about one with garuchan headlight covers, … Continue reading

Posted in bosozoku, mazda | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

On the Way to Long Beach

JNC would like to thank the JCCS and TORC crews, and all the old schoolers that came to the Spocom show in Long Beach this weekend. We set up our own little section of nostalgics and rocked the house. But … Continue reading

Posted in jnc | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments