Author Archives: Ben Hsu
QotW: What’s the worst car buying experience you’ve ever had?
A few years ago a friend of JNC finally bought his dream car, a machine that he’d been talking about and saving up for for years. It had a Toyota engine, but the rest was a bit more British. After … Continue reading
Acura Integra Type R driven by 86-year-old made new again
You hear about the “little old lady” driven sports cars still with their original owners, but how many of those stories are actually true? In the case of one Acura Integra Type R, the story is not simply myth. The … Continue reading
Mitsubishi’s hidden collection of Fuso work trucks was restored 12 years ago, then left untouched
May marked the 90th anniversary of when Mitsubishi Fuso built its first vehicle, a 38-passenger bus, at its Kobe shipyard. While researching the B46 bus, we learned that Mitsubishi Fuso has a small collection of classic trucks dating back to … Continue reading
QotW: What’s your most memorable rainy day car story?
Today is National Wiper Day in Japan, a date to remind drivers to replace their wiper blades in the name of safety. A date with the same month and day numeral was chosen because wipers are replaced in pairs, and … Continue reading
See you at Toyotafest 2022!
We are packing up the Land Cruiser and heading to the 2022 Toyotafest! If you’re at the show, please stop by and say hello. Look for the red JNC booth at Marina Green Park in Long Beach, California this Saturday, … Continue reading
Posted in Reminder
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This huge Toyota AE86 model will cost $1,600 and take two years to complete
The Toyota AE86 is finally getting immortalized in a highly detailed 1:8-scale model kit. Specifically, it’s a weekly subscription kit by DeAgostini in which parts will be mailed to the subscriber every seven days for over two years. At the … Continue reading
The base 2023 Nissan Z Sport 18-inch wheels will be timeless
Recently we got the chance to manhandle the 2023 Nissan Z. Nissan provided a base version, now called Sport, and an enthusiast’s version, called Performance. Most reviews have focused on the Performance trim, and rightly so. While the Performance is … Continue reading
Mitsubishi Fuso built its first vehicle 90 years ago at a shipyard
It has now been 90 years since the first vehicle to wear the Mitsubishi Fuso brand was built. The sub-brand’s lineup of heavy-duty trucks and buses has been part of Japan’s automotive landscape for nearly a century. While perhaps not … Continue reading
QotW: What should the plot of the Gran Turismo TV show be?
EXT. TRIAL MOUNTAIN CIRCUIT — DAY The world’s best drivers are gathered at the track, prepping their machines for the bout. It’s an eclectic mix of cars: Toyota GT-One, NISMO Skyline GT-R LM GT1, TVR Cerbera LM, Vector M12 GT2, … Continue reading
Toyota 4Runner 40th Anniversary Edition celebrates four decades of 4Running
The Toyota 4Runner, or HiLux Surf as it’s known as in Japan, debuted in October 1983. In simplest terms, it was a a HiLux pickup with an extra row of seats and a fiberglass bed canopy on it. Now, for … Continue reading
A retired Isuzu BXD30 bus seeks crowdfunded restoration
For 55 years, a 1966 Isuzu BXD30 “bonnet” bus faithfully served the Iya Valley area of Tokushima Prefecture. The green and blue coach was a regular sight among locals as it snaked through the scenic mountain roads loaded with tourists. … Continue reading
QotW: What is the ultimate Japanese car?
On May 23, 2002 Honda launched the NSX-R. It was the ultimate manifestation of Japan’s ultimate car at the time. It offered true racing technology in a production road car — carbon fiber body panels, flow-through aero creating negative lift … Continue reading
A 105-year-old electric car was restored in Japan on this day, Electric Car Day
Electric cars are all the rage today, but are by no means a new phenomenon. Electric Car Day in Japan was started by Yuasa, the Kyoto-based battery company. In the US, you might be familiar with Yuasa batteries if you … Continue reading
Posted in Holidays
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Nissan builds a Datsun 240Z Safari Rally tribute out of a Juke
Last June, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Datsun 240Z’s victory at the 1971 Safari Rally, Nissan Europe imagined a Juke homage to the original. Despite convincing Photoshop renders, the car was not actually built. However, due to “overwhelmingly … Continue reading
R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R stars in Khalid’s latest music video
Singer Khalid’s latest single, “Skyline” sounds just like the kind of hit that was tailor made to qualify for “song of the summer” status. It’s probably going to get a lot of radio play in the next few months. Turns … Continue reading
Nissan restores the Zexel R32 Skyline GT-R that won the 24 Hours of Spa
In 1991, while the R32 Nissan Skyline GT-R was busy at home winning every single race in the All-Japan Touring Car Championships in a four-year span, it also took the time to win the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. Built to … Continue reading
