Author Archives: Ben Hsu
New Nissan Z GT500 race car launch brings out the legends
Nissan has announced its newest car for the 2022 SuperGT season, and it’s no surprise that it will be based on the new Nissan Z. For the last 15 years the GT-R has been Nissan’s fighter in the ring, but … Continue reading
Posted in News
Tagged 300zx, fairlady z, haruhito yanagida, john morton, Kazuyoshi Hoshino, nissan, peter brock, Steve Millen, Tsugio Matsuda, z32, Z34B
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QotW: Will cars of the 2010s be collectible, and if so, which ones?
The other day we came across a company selling clothing “inspired by” 2010s style. That seems absolutely insane to us, as most of us probably have actual clothing hailing from before that era in our closets. Cars from the 80s … Continue reading
A 1974 Toyota Celica has sold for $61,000
We don’t need to tell you that the acceptance of Japanese cars as collectible classics is pushing prices to previously unseen heights. Among some makes and models, values of so-so condition cars are shooting past what cream puffs once traded … Continue reading
KIDNEY, ANYONE? Feast your eyes on a 94-mile Toyota Truck
We are constantly surprised by the prevalence of not-beat-to-dust Toyota pickups at shows like Toyotafest. Almost all of those, though, are examples that belie their actual mileage thanks to caring owners who have our full admiration. Then there’s this 1993 … Continue reading
Rays releases new wheels for 80s cars, celebrates anniversary of another classic
Rays has launched two new wheels that may be of interest to JNCers. One is new wheel specifically geared towards 80s cars. The other is an anniversary model for a take on a 90s classic, but sized for cars from … Continue reading
Posted in Product Guide
Tagged ae86, mazda, miata, Miata NA, rays, te37v, toyota, Volk Racing TE37
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Yamaha Racing Heritage Club launches to unite owners of historic bikes
We’ve seen many Japanese manufacturers launch heritage programs in recent years, but Yamaha is taking the idea to a new level. The motorcycle maker has just launched an official heritage club for collectors of their vintage racing machines. The Yamaha … Continue reading
QotW: What do you do with dumb car toys?
It’s a problem that never crossed our minds before children, but it’s a real one. Many JNC staffers have kids and we are happily giving them lots of cool Hot Wheels, Matchbox, and other automotive toys (while also reliving our … Continue reading
Toyota South Africa celebrates 60th anniversary
Toyota South Africa is celebrating its 60th anniversary today. The subsidiary was established in 1961, just four years after Toyota got a small foothold in California with the S30 Toyopet Crown. It shows just how rapidly — and perhaps optimistically … Continue reading
Integra was almost the original name for the Ford Taurus
Companies spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to pick names for their products. They have to sound good, be memorable, and not accidentally mean something offensive in other languages. Despite the number of words, the pool of usable names is … Continue reading
QotW: What’s your fondest auto show memory?
It seemed like only yesterday but it was February 28, 2020 when the Geneva Motor Show was canceled. With millions in booth displays already spent and cars shipped from around the globe, the show was axed just four days before … Continue reading
Toyota GR86 commercial proves, like the car, that less is more
Toyota commercials have been extremely bad since the “I love what you do for me” jump was discontinued. Like completely, utterly, forehead-slappingly bad. Even with the Supra they tried to be cool but ended up sounding like a stepdad trying … Continue reading
Peter Brock reflects on his career on his 85th birthday
Yesterday, November 15 was the 85th birthday of car designer, race car builder driver, team manager, and artist Peter Brock. JNCers may know him best for his work on the Brock Racing Enterprises race team campaigning Datsun race cars in … Continue reading
VIDEO: The Lexus ES300 had some unexpected features, like a manual transmission and ski sheath
The Lexus ES300 was largely decried as a “Camry with a fancy badge” back in the day. It was a more than that, though, even if it shared the same platform with its mainstream cousin. And so what if it … Continue reading
A car brochure collection of over 17,000 is used by Japanese police to investigate automotive crimes
Many of our readers have substantial car brochure collections, but none are likely to rival that of the Aichi Prefectural Police. Its Traffic Investigation Division has over 17,000 brochures covering nearly every make, model, year, and limited edition variant that … Continue reading
Japan’s Automotive Hall of Fame inductees for 2021 include Toyota Celsior and Nissan Be-1
The Japan Automotive Hall of Fame has announced its 2021 inductees. Each year three vehicles representing milestones in the country’s auto industry are selected for the honor. This year, they include two cars from the Bubble Era and a classic … Continue reading
Posted in News
Tagged be-1, f10, japan automotive hall of fame, kawasaki, lexus, Lexus LS, ls400, nissan
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Infiniti releases 8-part documentary about the brand’s 1989 launch
Infiniti launched exactly 32 years ago today, on November 8, 1989. To mark the occasion, the company has released an 8-part documentary on the origins of the brand. What’s unusual about this series is that there is almost no footage … Continue reading
