Author Archives: Ben Hsu
Toyota Land Cruiser body panels are here to help you rebuild an FJ40
One of the surest signs a car has become a classic is when an aftermarket company begins to offer body panels for it. At the SEMA Show this year, we stumbled upon a outfit making replica body panels for nearly … Continue reading
Toyota’s TRD tricolor will never not look cool
At the SEMA Show Toyota unveiled a colossal number of trucks while announcing yet another line of off-road sub-brands called Trailhunter. Apparently this overlanding thing is really taking off (/s). The coolest among this gaggle of 4x4s is a Sequoia … Continue reading
QotW: What’s the most sinister looking JNC?
Just in time for All Hallows’ Eve, we come to you with a question of the most sinister looking JNC. Some people think old wagons are just creepy because they look like hearses. An S40 Gloria wagon in particular looks … Continue reading
BRE Sunny Truck with Leaf powertrain leads Nissan’s SEMA 2022 lineup
In the past couple of years the pandemic has decimated participation at the SEMA Show, but there are some signs of life in Las Vegas. Nissan, for example, is bringing a diverse mix of weird and wonderful builds that capture … Continue reading
Hyundai continues to build better Mitsubishis than Mitsubishi
In 1986, to prepare for the upcoming Seoul Olympics, Hyundai needed a flagship sedan. But it was so wet behind the ears that it had to turn to another carmaker to design one for them, one that seemed like a … Continue reading
QotW: Can you help a fellow JNC reader find a ride-on car for their daughter?
This week’s question comes from Robin N., whom we are trying to help with the very worthy goal of finding a Japanese Power Wheels-type car for kids. “There are not many ride-on cars for kids that are Japanese,” Robin wrote … Continue reading
Posted in Question of the Week
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QotW: What’s your favorite car chase scene?
The world of movie car chases was forever changed 54 years ago today. October 17, 1968 saw the theatrical release of Bullitt, in which the centerpiece action sequence between ad Ford Mustang and Dodge Charger is considered to be one … Continue reading
Posted in News
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Japan’s first railway began operating 150 years ago today
One hundred and fifty years ago today, Japan’s first railway opened. The line connected Shimbashi, Tokyo to nearby Yokohama, a distance of just 18 miles. Pulled by a British-built steam locomotive, the trip took 53 minutes non-stop. The train made … Continue reading
Hot Wheels has a tsunami of Japanese cars coming
Our friends at Hot Wheels recently shared with us some previews of upcoming cars. For fans of Japanese diecast, there will be no shortage offerings infiltrating every series the company makes. Here’s a couple dozen peeks at what’s coming down … Continue reading
50 YEAR CLUB: How Honda’s CVCC beat its rivals and made the Civic a household name
Fifty years ago today, at the Akasaka Prince Hotel in Tokyo, Honda revealed the CVCC engine to the world. The engine was still over a year off from mass production in a road car, but Honda was eager to get … Continue reading
Why Toyota Land Cruisers are the best, according to the man who literally wrote the book on crossing the Sahara Desert
Chris Scott has completed over 50 overlanding expeditions and is an expert on crossing the Sahara Desert. He’s authored several books on the subject. He made his first trip into northern Africa on a motorcycle in 1983. Since then he’s … Continue reading
Miatas enter Guinness Book of World Records for largest Mazda parade
A gathering of Mazda MX-5 Miatas has broken the world record for largest parade of Mazda cars. The assembly took place at Italy’s Modena Circuit on September 18 and was certified by a Guinness Book of World Records adjudicator at … Continue reading
Posted in News
Tagged mazda, Miata NA, Miata NB, Miata NC, Miata ND, Modena, mx-5, nobuhiro yamamoto
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Tadashi Kume, former president of Honda, 1932-2022
It was announced today that Tadashi Kume, the third president of Honda Motor Co., had passed away. The engineer turned businessman died on September 11, 2022 at age 90. The influential leader guided the company from 1983 to 1990, a … Continue reading
The Nissan Z is looking sharp as a GT4 race car
The lads at NISMO have been busy at work with the new Z, and Nissan has just revealed the results. It’s not the street legal NISMO Z you’re hoping for, but could be even better, depending on your perspective. Instead, … Continue reading
VIDEO: The Lexus SC presented buyers with a difficult dilemma
The Lexus SC is probably, to this day, still one of Toyota’s best-looking cars. It was the Supra you could take to the opera, built upon the same chassis that spawned the legendary JZA80, but grander, more civilized, and fitted … Continue reading
QotW: What TV series or movie fueled your love for cars?
Forty years ago today, on September 26, 1982 Knight Rider debuted on NBC. As much as I hate to admit it, the show played a seminal role in my love for cars. The reason I hate to admit it is … Continue reading
The 1937 Datsun Type 16 now displayed at one of Japan’s top engineering universities is a gift from a former student
On September 20 an unveiling ceremony was held at Shibaura Institute of Technology, one of Tokyo’s most prestigious engineering universities, for one of Nissan’s oldest prodcution vehicles. The 1937 Datsun Type 16 sedan is now part of the school’s permanent … Continue reading
QotW: What will happen to classics after the EV revolution?
Automakers, governments, and Elon Musk are all pushing the industry headlong into electric cars. There are pros and cons to EVs, but whether you see them as Betamax or VHS, it doesn’t really matter. The industry seems like it’s headed … Continue reading
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A Nissan Patrol became the first vehicle to cross the Simpson Desert 60 years ago
Sixty years ago, the Sprigg family made history as the first to cross Australia’s Simpson Desert in a motorized vehicle. That vehicle was a G60 Nissan Patrol, a four-wheel-drive rival to the Toyota Land Cruiser. The Spriggs made the 12-day … Continue reading
Posted in trucks
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