Author Archives: Ben Hsu

Mega Car Chase in 1:64 Scale

Posted on April 17, 2009 by Ben Hsu

Let’s face it, blowing up real cars is not only expensive, but cringe-inducing. We can’t help but wince when a perfectly good nostalgic gets wadded up, even if the car was new and plentiful at the time of the stunt. … Continue reading →

Posted in datsun, minicars, nissan, trucks | 9 Comments

Clunkbucket Welcomes Unloved Cars

Posted on April 16, 2009 by Ben Hsu

Tired of the same old auto sites gushing nonstop about Porsche this, Ferrari that, ZR1 WTF OMG!? Enter Clunkbucket, an automotive site catering to the most unloved, obscure and forgotten specimens of the vehicular kingdom. Naturally, that includes a healthy … Continue reading →

Posted in kei, mitsubishi, suzuki, toyota | 6 Comments

Mazda Rotary Sports History Video

Posted on April 15, 2009 by Ben Hsu

And now for your viewing pleasure, a video packed with fantastic footage as it covers the history of rotary-equipped Mazdas in racing. Part 1 is an overview that culminates with the FC RX-7, apparently the newest rotary car at the … Continue reading →

Posted in mazda | Tagged , , , , , , | 9 Comments

JNC Magazine Issue 3

Posted on April 14, 2009 by Ben Hsu

Japanese Nostalgic Car Issue 3 has shipped! Thanks again to Dan, Kev and John for all their hard work and for all you readers out there waiting patiently. You should be receiving them in your mailboxes any day now. Enjoy!

Posted in jnc | 30 Comments

Beyond Car Shows: Garaging Expo 2009

Posted on April 13, 2009 by Ben Hsu

The Japanese are truly car crazy. In addition to all their wonderful domestic steel, during our recent Japan trip we saw more Lamborghinis and Ferraris in a couple of commutes along the Tokyo-Yokohama wangan than we see in the States … Continue reading →

Posted in events, japan | 7 Comments

Armored Nissan Gloria Wagon Getaway

Posted on April 10, 2009 by Ben Hsu

Yabba dabba doo, it’s the weekend! Time for your Friday video. Here’s another gem from Seibu Keisatsu, the ass-kickingest, Nissan-wreckingest cop show around. In this clip, the bad guys bust into police HQ in a shootout reminiscent of Heat and … Continue reading →

Posted in datsun, nissan, seibu keisatsu, wagons | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

Local Mazda Gathering in Sydney, Australia

Posted on April 9, 2009 by Ben Hsu

We love to see pics from gatherings, no matter how small. Sometimes it’s easy to miss one so we just wanted to make sure you didn’t pass by Australian JNCer RestoreMaz’s post of a local Mazda gathering in Sydney, Australia. … Continue reading →

Posted in mazda, trucks | Leave a comment

Mecum to Auction Jack Safro Toyota Collection

Posted on April 8, 2009 by Ben Hsu

On a trip to California in the late 60s, Jack Safro was introduced to the RT40 Toyota Corona, a car then unheard of in his native Wisconsin. But everyone in California seemed to know it, and a dealer told him … Continue reading →

Posted in for sale, toyota, trucks | Tagged | 6 Comments

East Coast Nostalgics in the Papers

Posted on April 7, 2009 by Ben Hsu

Who says there are no nostalgics left on the east coast? In recent weeks both the Washington and New York Times have published stories about owners of J-tin on opposite ends of the mileage spectrum. First up is Linda Smith, … Continue reading →

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

Correction Regarding Albrecht Goertz

Posted on April 1, 2009 by Ben Hsu

In recent months we’ve been fighting a battle to debunk the commonly circulated “myths” that Count Albrecht Goertz designed some of Japan’s most famous sports cars, like the Toyota 2000GT and Nissan Fairlady Z/Datsun 240Z. Our own JNCers have spoken … Continue reading →

Posted in jnc | 20 Comments

Automaker Headquarter Hopping

Posted on March 31, 2009 by Ben Hsu

We’ve mentioned this before, but if you go to Tokyo you can visit the headquarter buildings of at least three Japanese automakers. Here’s the Nissan home base in the upscale Ginza district. Naturally, the hot new car was the Fairlady … Continue reading →

Posted in Galleries | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

A Visit to S&A Auto Create

Posted on March 30, 2009 by Ben Hsu

We’re still not finished with coverage from Japan. During our visit we had the privilege of visiting Kanagawa Prefecture’s S&A Auto Create. The owner has been doing modern engine swaps in older cars and fabricating the parts needed for almost … Continue reading →

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

Friday Video: Detective Story's Mazda Cosmo AP

Posted on March 27, 2009 by Ben Hsu

This week’s video is a clip from 1979’s Detective Story. The 27-episode series was a comedy-drama about down-on-his-luck private detective Shunsaku Kudo. You see, Kudo was once a good cop in San Francisco that somehow felt responsible for the death … Continue reading →

Posted in mazda, Video Games | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Asics Onitsuka Tiger Shoe with Toyota 2000GT

Posted on March 26, 2009 by Ben Hsu

Here’s an interesting item found in one of the many small shops in the Ameyoko district near Ueno Station. It’s a glow-in-the-dark shoe featuring a Toyota 2000GT. We’re not sneaker freaks, but we tend to gravitate towards anything vintage and … Continue reading →

Posted in honda, nostalgic wear, toyota | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

The Road to Narita

Posted on March 25, 2009 by Ben Hsu

JNC is back home in the States, but there’s still much leftover material from Japan to write about. Here’s a look at the typical Japanese scenery one encounters during a drive to Narita Airport. This was my coach, my friend … Continue reading →

Posted in japan, toyota, wagons | 10 Comments

GRAND TOURING: Fuji Speedway in a Toyota Crown

Posted on March 23, 2009 by Ben Hsu

So sad… our last day in Japan, but at least it ended with a bang. Here’s a behind the scenes look at some upcoming material. My friend Goshu and I went to the Time Machine Festival at Fuji Speedway. Why … Continue reading →

Posted in events, japan, toyota | Tagged , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Friday Video: Mitsubishi Kei Car vs. Mustang II

Posted on March 20, 2009 by Ben Hsu

Perhaps the Skyline vs. Cougar video from two weeks ago was a bit too much excitement for your delicate sensibilities. If so, this week’s video is another Japan vs. Detroit matchup that flexes considerably less muscle. In 1985’s My Lucky … Continue reading →

Posted in datsun, mazda, mitsubishi, nissan, Video Games | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

NIHON LIFE: Tressa Yokohama, Toyota’s Mega-Mall

Posted on March 19, 2009 by Ben Hsu

I finally got some free time to go check out Tressa Yokohama, a giant Toyota-owned mega-mall in Kohoku, Yokohama. In addition to your typical shopping mall features like a McDonald’s counter and escalators pointing every which way, showrooms representing all … Continue reading →

Posted in Nihon Life | Tagged , , , , | 11 Comments

CA Seeks to Smog Check 15 Year Old Cars, Again

Posted on March 18, 2009 by Ben Hsu

Last August California assemblyman Dave Jones put forth a bill that sought to apply the state’s strict emissions inspections to cars 15 years or older. The bill was defeated, but now Jones is at it again. This time funds from … Continue reading →

Posted in laws | 9 Comments

More from Odaiba Car Show

Posted on March 17, 2009 by Ben Hsu

Here’s another photo from the weekend’s Odaiba car show sent to us by Mooneyes. There seems to be something car-related going on all the time there. This Celica may seem as painful as the itasha cars to some, but it’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Spotlight, toyota | 6 Comments