Author Archives: Ben Hsu
QotW: How have video games affected your passion for cars?
Today, September 12, is National Video Game Day. For many car enthusiasts, especially of Japanese machines, the cultural reach of video games has been instrumental to the hobby. Whether you’re into cars we’d otherwise never see on the streets, the … Continue reading
1970 Datsun 240Z Rallye Monte-Carlo: A history lost, now found
As iconic as the Nissan Z is, remarkably little is known in English-speaking countries about its motorsports history. In the US, the American-spec Datsun 240Z is best remembered, and deservedly so, for its SCCA victories. But while names like Peter … Continue reading
Posted in motorsport
Tagged 240z, datsun, nissan, Rallye Monte-Carlo, s30 z, safari rally
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1969 Toyota Corolla driven 350,000 miles by original owner heads to museum
In 1969 Shougo Asada, 24 years old at the time, bought his first car. a KE10 Toyota Corolla. Now he’s 77 and still driving that same Corolla. Under Asada-san’s care, the car has traveled 563,632 km, or 350,225 miles. But … Continue reading
Toyota MegaWeb showroom demolished; to be replaced with sports arena
Yesterday, August 31, was the final day for the Daikanransha, the 377-foot ferris wheel that was one of the many attractions by Toyota’s MegaWeb showroom. When it opened in headier times in 1999, it was the tallest ferris wheel in … Continue reading
This 1960 Toyopet Crown Custom Sports is the only known survivor from Japan’s first coachbuilder
The Toyota Automobile Museum has shared some images of one of the rarest and most seldom seen cars from its collection, the 1960 Toyopet Crown Custom Sports. The hand-built car was the first attempt at a coach-built car from Japan. … Continue reading
NISMO reproduces Silvia S15 and Skyline R34 gauge clusters
NISMO has begun selling reproduction gauge clusters for the Silvia S15, Skyline R34, and Skyline GT-R BNR34 models. Note that these are not the OEM Nissan units, but actual NISMO aftermarket ones that would have been in-period upgrades for these … Continue reading
QotW: If you could only drive cars from one marque, what would it be?
If car companies had their way, every buyer would be a return customer. Start your automotive life with a Tercel, move up to a nicer Corolla at your first job, get a Camry when your family expands, and arrive in … Continue reading
Tetsu Ikuzawa’s 1967 Japan Grand Prix-winning 906 gets factory homage from Porsche
No, you haven’t mistakenly clicked on German Nostalgic Car (no relation). Granted, this isn’t the type of car we normally cover, but it’s too cool not to share. Porsche Japan has created a one-off factory custom tribute to Tetsu Ikuzawa’s … Continue reading
Posted in News
Tagged 1967 Japan Grand Prix, fuji speedway, nissan, porsche, prince, r380, r381, r382, Tetsu Ikuzawa
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New California laws will mean stricter smog tests, phase-out of gasoline cars by 2035
The strictest state in the union in terms of emissions and fuel economy is about to put the hammer down on gasoline cars. Two laws introduced in California this week will crack down on emissions cheats and fossil fuels. It’s … Continue reading
Honda has been quietly reproducing parts for the 1988-99 Acty Truck
In recent years Japanese automakers have been remaking genuine parts for many of their most popular discontinued models. Thus far, such programs have been for sports cars and enthusiasts’ models. However, Honda has also been quietly reproducing parts for the … Continue reading
Japan’s motorsports history unfolds at Suzuka Circuit in the 1960s
This year marks the 60th anniversary of Suzuka Circuit. Japan’s first full-scale race track. It was the brain child of Soichiro Honda, who so fervently believed in racing as a means to improve his motorcycles and cars, he carved out … Continue reading
The Nissan Z configurator is now online, so this is how we’d build one
After what feels like eons of waiting, the time has finally come when you can get a new Z. Nissan has just launched its online configurator, prompting us to wonder how we would build a new Z. When a JNC … Continue reading
How good are you at Japan’s Car Meister Test?
Can you correctly answer 100 questions about cars in one hour? If so, you might have what it takes to pass Japan’s Car Meister Test. Since 2014, the Japan Meister Test Association has held exams to see who qualifies as … Continue reading
QotW: What is the best engineered Toyota?
In 1985 Japan’s Patent Office named the country’s 10 greatest inventors. As it turns out, a full six out of the ten came from Japan’s central region. The most famous among them, at least to automotive enthusiasts, was Sakichi Toyoda, … Continue reading
Initial D taxis are here to take you around Takumi’s hometown
The city of Shibukawa, Gunma is promoting itself as the home town of Initial D protagonist Takumi Fujiwara. The real-life town is where all the action of the series began, and even now, 27 years after its debut, fans of … Continue reading
QotW: How do you encourage a kid who’s just discovering cars?
On a recent visit with some friends that I haven’t seen in years, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the younger of their two kids, now eight years old, is really into cars. His parents aren’t, so he’s been … Continue reading
How Honda celebrated 50 years of the Civic
Yesterday Honda launched the new Civic Type R, but the occasion was more than just the debut of Honda’s latest FF rocket. Honda also took the opportunity to celebrate the Civic’s 50th birthday with a lineup of multiple body styles … Continue reading
QotW: What’s the last year that had cars which interested you?
If you’re a glass-half-empty type of person, you’re probably not excited about where the automotive industry is headed. Each year that passes, there seems to be fewer and fewer enthusiast cars, and the ones that come out are compromised in … Continue reading
