Author Archives: Ben Hsu

Friday Video: Hamanako to Haneda Airport with the Nippon Datsun Club of 1961

Rather than showing you clips of Nissans cold catapulting over construction sites and Sgt. Daimon blasting fools in the face this week, here’s some footage of real life Nissans and Datsuns just doing what they were built to do. Recorded … Continue reading

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The New and Improved(?) Elderly Driver’s Mark

As we reported last October, the Japanese government is changing the time-honored Koreisha Mark. Problem was, senior citizens deemed the current design — a teardrop shaped leaf in fall colors (center) — rather insulting and complained to the National Police … Continue reading

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Shakotan Sedans: Toyota MX32 Cressida and MS65 Crown

JNCer toji004 posted this photo of his butame Cressida and theShaz’s kujira Crown with nothing but the caption “sexy pic.” Not only is it sexy, but sinister too. If these shakotan sleds don’t make all the neighborhood kids run and … Continue reading

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Mazda Familia 1200 Van, Ozzie Style

The Australians’ love for old Mazdas is exceeded only by their love for Venetian blinds and windscreen visors. Perhaps in the Outback it’s the only protection one has from becoming a steam-cooked dingo snack.

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Datsun Dealership from the 1970s

From the age of film cameras comes these photos of Chilliwack Datsun in British Columbia. 

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Why Daimon Is a Total Badass

A bad guy guns down his partners in crime in cold blood. There’s nothing standing between him and freedom except Sgt. Daimon, his gullwinged S130 Z, and his shotgun. Video below the fold, with bonus senseless Fairlady Z destruction!

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Crimson S130 Tide

Let’s pause for a moment to appreciate the S130 Z. We know the typical litany: it’s heavier, not as good-looking, and rides softer than the S30 Z, but is the second-generation Fairlady Z getting a bum rap?

Posted in datsun, nissan | Tagged , , , , , | 14 Comments

Wednesday Wall(s): More Classic Hondas

A gallery of historic Hondas for your desk-topping pleasure. [HondaFan]

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Morimoto Celica

We see a lot of cars, but the Morimoto Celica still gives us funny feelings every time we look at it. 

Posted in toyota | Tagged , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

These Boots Are Made for Motoring: Nancy Sinatra's Datsun 1600 Roadster

Did you know Nancy Sinatra drove a Datsun? A 1966 1600 Sports roadster, to be exact. It was a gift from her guitarist Lee Hazlewood when their song “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’” hit #1 on the pop charts … Continue reading

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Friday Video: Guerilla Group 8 Mitsubishi Sigma Clown Car

As we’ve mentioned before, Guerilla Group 8 was Mitsubishi‘s attempt at throwing vehicle sponsorship behind an action cop show to spice up their image (a la Nissan and Seibu Keistasu, Abunai Deka, and many others). Since Mitsubishi was footing the … Continue reading

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Skylines at the Gates

Outside of Japan, any one of these nostalgic Nissans would make heads explode. There, it’s par for the course. Just a little inspiration for Skorj.

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EVENTS: 2010 Mooneyes Street Car Nationals, Part II

Welcome to Part Two of our coverage of the Mooneyes Street Car Nationals. As we mentioned in Part One, this show often blends American and Japanese customization styles, as evidenced by this army-themed van. If you think a US military motif, … Continue reading

Posted in datsun, mazda, mitsubishi, nissan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Friday Video: Abunai Deka's F31 Nissan Leopard vs. Boat

Put on your shades and slick back your hair because it’s the 80s, and the dangerous cops of Abunai Deka simply will not tolerate your lousy escape attempt to escape by boat. Perhaps Infiniti would have sold more M30s if … Continue reading

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EVENTS: 2010 Mooneyes Street Car Nationals, Part I

You can tell by its name that the Mooneyes Street Car Nationals is an event heavily influenced by American hot rod culture. You won’t find much, if any, of the typical stuff we crave from JDM shows. Sorry, no negative … Continue reading

Posted in datsun, honda, mazda, nissan, toyota | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

"Datsun/Nissan: The American Story" Exhibit Opens at San Diego Auto Museum

If you’re going to be in southern California this summer, be sure to stop by the San Diego Automotive Museum for an exhibit called “Datsun/Nissan: The American Story.” In addition to classic Datsun and Nissan cars, there will be tons of … Continue reading

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Nissan Cedrics Speed Through Daitokai, The Big City

You may recognize some of the faces here, but this is not Seibu Keisatsu. Rather, it’s Daitokai (“The Big City”), a Japanese television series that preceded the car chase-filled antics of Tokyo’s western district. Tetsuya Watari (Sgt. Daimon in Seibu) … Continue reading

Posted in datsun, nissan, Video Games | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Vintage Japanese Car Show at Laguna Gamagori

Laguna Gamagori is a seaside amusement park in Aichi Prefecture. JNC reader Nakazoto went to a vintage car show there recently and snapped a metric buttload of photos. Somehow, a light blue hakosuka looks simultaneously oh so wrong and oh … Continue reading

Posted in datsun, events, honda, isuzu, mazda, mitsubishi, nissan, subaru, suzuki, toyota | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Friday Video: Nissan Cedric vs Plymouth Belvedere

We’ve seen villains in Seibu Keisatsu try and fail to make their escape in Detroit Iron several times before. Maybe their problem was their allegiance to the Blue Oval. What if they try Mopar power? Perhaps a 1969 Plymouth Belvedere … Continue reading

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EVENTS: 15th Annual All Toyotafest, Part III

Two years ago, nearly every AE86 at Toyotafest could have been a D1GP contestant. This past weekend, stock (or restorations with subtle mods) was the new black. We’ve long argued that the venerable twin-cam Corolla GT-S would be one of … Continue reading

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