Author Archives: Ben Hsu
VIDEO: Fun facts about classic Mazdas, depending on your definition of fun
Mazda UK has released a series of videos issuing “fun facts” about classic Mazdas. To be honest, it’s a bit of a stretch to call these facts “fun” unless you find scintillating tidbits such as “Mazda first used the 929 … Continue reading
VIDEO: The hand-built 117 Coupé was easier for the Isuzu Museum to restore than a lowly pickup
The most heralded passenger car from Isuzu’s portfolio of classics is the 117 Coupé.Marketed as a flagship luxury GT, it was very much an image car intended to put Isuzu on the map against the Toyotas and Princes of 1960s … Continue reading
MOTORSPORT: The Raybrig NSX finished its final race in a jaw-dropping blaze of glory
For nearly 25 years, the Raybrig NSX has been a fixture in the Japan Grand Touring Championships. In the heyday of JGTC, the striking blue racing machine was one of the most recognizable on the track. Over the weekend, however, … Continue reading
Posted in motorsport
Tagged acura, honda, Jenson Button, JGTC, kunimitsu takahashi, nsx, SuperGT
6 Comments
50 YEAR CLUB: The Toyota Celica, a pivotal player in Japan’s car culture
Fifty years ago this day, on December 1 1970, the first Toyota Celica went on sale in Japan. It proved to be a groundbreaking car, the first of Japan’s production “specialty cars”, fashionable personal coupes based on a sedan chassis. … Continue reading
Posted in 50 Year Club
Tagged a10, a20, carina, celica, fuji speedway, tokyo motor show, toyota
18 Comments
MINICARS: How to turn a Hot Wheels Nissan Skyline into a kaido racer
There’s a whole subculture of customized Hot Wheels and, as it happens, an ever-growing list of Japanese castings. That gives ample opportunity to create something cool from Japan’s rich car culture, like this Kenmeri Skyline kaido racer. It’s hard to … Continue reading
VIDEO: Nissan Z Proto designers talk about what inspired them
The Nissan Z Proto’s design leads, Executive Design Director Satoru Tai and Senior VP of Global Design Alfonso Albaisa, both have a strong love for Z-cars and worked on past Z generations. Tai said he in fact wanted to be … Continue reading
Posted in Video
Tagged Alfonso Albaisa, fairlady z, nissan, s130, s30 z, Satoru Tai, Z Proto, z32, z33, z34, Z35
9 Comments
VIDEO: The Isuzu Rodeo was cheap but cool
If you were a teenager in the late 80s or early 90s, wanting an Isuzu more than anything in the world was not an odd thing. Dealerships were lined with sleek Impulses and colorful Amigos. The coolest kid in my high … Continue reading
QotW: What JNC things are you thankful for this year?
It’s almost Thanksgiving in a crazy, tumultuous, and strange year. But if there’s one thing that can keep us sane, it’s our JNCs. Cars have no idea what ails the world. The friends we make, the experiences we have, and … Continue reading
Toyota will drown 65 years of history and tradition in a shallow bathtub by discontinuing the Crown sedan
It’s been a hard year and we’re so close to the finish line. Before it leaves us, though, 2020 is going to deliver one last sucker punch to the gut. The Chunichi Shimbun newspaper reports that Toyota will kill off … Continue reading
The Toyota Automobile Museum has opened a “Motorsport Biography” exhibit
“A harsh environment of competition toughens our people and cars,” said Toyota Motor founder Kiichiro Toyoda once said. It’s a quote framing the Toyota Automobile Museum in Aichi, Japan’s newly opened an exhibit highlighting some of the company’s historic race … Continue reading
Posted in Galleries
Tagged 2000gt, 24 Hours of Le Mans, 89C, celica, crown, imsa, mobilgas trial, s30, T165, TF109, toyota, toyota 7, Toyota Automobile Muesum, TS020
7 Comments
MINICARS: The classic Tomica Building playset updated and re-released for 50th anniversary
Originally released in 1971, the Tomica Building was one of the most popular and iconic playsets from the diecast company’s early years. The palm-sized diecast cars that had debuted in 1970 had turned out to be a big success, so … Continue reading
NEWS: Nissan may sell its stake in Mitsubishi Motors
It seemed like just yesterday that Nissan took a controlling stake in Mitsubishi Motors. Now, some insiders are saying that it’s looking to abandon the project like a crank-walked Eclipse. It’s no secret that Nissan is hemorrhaging cash, a one-two … Continue reading
QotW: What’s your favorite JNC fast food story?
Today, November 16, is National Fast Food Day. While I generally try to avoid the stuff for health reasons, there’s one situation where I give myself á la carte blanche: road trips. Whether it’s picking up a Craigslist score, cannonballing … Continue reading
Toyota Gazoo Racing Australia is restoring a ruined 2000GT
Toyota Gazoo Racing Australia recently announced they are undertaking a tremendous project: restoring what might be the country’s only 2000GT. The car was stuffed in a garage for 40 years, surrounded by junk, but it had been ruined long before … Continue reading
Chief engineers of Mazda Miata, R32 Nissan Skyline GT-R inducted into Japan Automotive Hall of Fame
In addition to cars, the Japan Automotive Hall of Fame also honors individuals who have made significant contributions to the country’s motoring culture. For 2020 three people were inducted: Toshihiko Hirai, chief engineer of the original NA Mazda Roadster; Naganori … Continue reading
Posted in News
Tagged japan automotive hall of fame, mazda, Miata NA, mx-5, Naganori Ito, Namiki Oka, nissan, r32, skyline, Toshihiko Hirai
5 Comments
Japan’s Automotive Hall of Fame inductees for 2020 include the Suzuki Jimny, Honda RA272
Each year the Japan Automotive Hall of Fame choose three classic automobiles of historic significance to honor, and they’ve announced their inductees for 2020. More so than in past years, the trio covers extreme opposite ends of the vehicular spectrum. … Continue reading
Posted in News
Tagged formula 1, honda, japan automotive hall of fame, jimny, lj10, ra272, suzuki, Tatsuo Hasegawa, Toyopet SKB, toyota, trucks
1 Comment
QotW: What JNC van should star in a Japanese A-Team reboot?
In 1972 a crack commando unit was sent to prison by a court even Nissan’s CEO didn’t want to face for a crime they didn’t commit. These men promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the Tokyo underground. Today, … Continue reading
