Author Archives: Ben Hsu
There’s nothing more satisfying than using the right tool for the job
Japanese tool company KTC has developed a new gadget to help ease the act of pulling out a relay. If you’ve worked on any car with a cramped fuse box, you know that what should be an easy task is … Continue reading
Mitsubishi ending Pajero production, closing down dedicated Pajero plant
Mitsubishi announced yesterday that it is ending production of the Pajero and shutting down its plant, Pajero Manufacturing Co., Ltd., responsible for building the legendary SUV since the model’s inception in 1982. This is not exactly surprising, as Mitsubishi announced … Continue reading
Posted in News
Tagged assembly line, city, fac, honda, mitsubishi, Mitsubishi Jeep, Pajero/Montero, toyota, Toyota DA
12 Comments
SHOWA SNAP: A fleet of convertible Toyota Crowns are ready for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics
We would be in the first week of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics if the coronavirus hadn’t thrown a giant pole vaulter’s bar into the entire world’s plans. The first time Japan’s capital hosted the Olympic Games was back in 1964, … Continue reading
QotW: At what point do you fly instead of drive?
On this day in 1949, the first commercial jet made its maiden test-flight in England, ushering in a new age of travel by dramatically shrinking the time between two points. Fast forward 71 years, and flying is about as glamorous … Continue reading
Now you can get classic Nissan coronavirus face masks
If you want to protect yourself (and others) from transmitting a harmful virus while simultaneously expressing your love for classic Nissans, there is now a face mask for you. In Japan, you can now get two types of masks, one … Continue reading
BRIDE racing seat face masks now come in red
Last month, our story about face masks by Japanese racing seat maker BRIDE became one of our most-shared items of the year on social media. Why? We have no idea. But since you loved them so much, it seems only … Continue reading
Happy 720 Day from JNC
Today is Ugly Truck Day, except the 1981 Datsun 720 King Cab GL was anything but. With an elegant shade of 80s brown and a stripe kit to die for, it was a beaut. Plus the GL trim had amenities … Continue reading
QotW: What does your dream truck look like?
Today is Ugly Truck Day but, as we all know, that’s kind of a misnomer. Even ugly trucks are actually good-looking trucks, because while dents, scratches, or rust ruin a car, those same imperfections give a truck character. That is, … Continue reading
Now that Nissan has a new logo, let’s take a look at a history of Nissan logos
Nissan has a new logo, debuting on the electric Ariya Crossover unveiled in Yokohama this week. Usually we have to be dragged kicking and screaming toward any change like this, but in this case, we have to say, the new … Continue reading
RIP Yoshihiko Matsuo, Nissan Fairlady Z and Datsun 240Z designer, 1933—2020
Yoshihiko Matsuo, the man who spearheaded the design of one of the most influential sports cars of all time, has died. Matsuo led the Nissan design team that penned the S30 Fairlady Z, known as the Datsun 240Z in the … Continue reading
Posted in Legends
Tagged 240Z/260Z/280Z, datsun, fairlady z, nissan, s30 z, Yoshihiko Matsuo
21 Comments
VIDEO: Keiichi Tsuchiya drifts a collector’s stock $37,000 AE86
The AE86 is a hot commodity now, with very nice examples selling in the mid-$20,000 range in the US. In Japan, however, cherry low-mileage examples have been commanding top prices for years. In 2017, Hot Version gathered a dream gathering … Continue reading
Posted in Video
Tagged ae86, best motoring, corolla, corolla levin, d1gp, hot version, keiichi tsuchiya, Max Orido, Nob Taniguchi, sprinter trueno, toyota, Tsukuba Circuit
6 Comments
SHOWA SNAP: Oji San-chome, Kita Ward, Tokyo, 1967
At 10:00 am on April 20, 1967, a procession of Shinto priests followed by a brass band opened a pedestrian footbridge over a five-way intersection in Tokyo. This type of blessing ceremony is typical of grand openings in Japan, even … Continue reading
Posted in Showa Snap
3 Comments
VIDEO: What made the 1992 Honda Civic a good car?
History has taught us that the EG Civic was one of the greatest compacts of all time, but how was it reviewed when it was new? Surprisingly, it wasn’t for the things we love about 90s Hondas like responsive engines, … Continue reading
WRC champion Nicky Grist bought his dream car, an ST185 Celica GT-Four
Nicky Grist has co-driven in over 130 WRC races, won 21 of them, and even racked up a season championship. He’s navigated for legends like Colin McRae, Juha Kankkunen, and Armin Schwarz. He’s shouted instructions for legendary teams like Ford, … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Armin Schwarz, celica, Celica GT-Four, Colin McRae, Juha Kankkunen, Nicky Grist, st185, T180, toyota, wrc
3 Comments
VIDEO: Why the Acura Integra Type R is worth $60,000
These days, Acura Integra Type R values are higher than those of an Acura NSX. Prices have shot as high as $82,000, with most decent examples in the $60,000 range. On paper, the numbers don’t look that spectacular. Its 1.8-liter … Continue reading
Toyota launches Supra reproduction parts program, adds 2000GT, international availability
Toyota has announced that it will start making reproduction parts for the Supra and 2000GT. Even better, it says that the parts will be available both in Japan and “overseas,” which means that they will likely be coming to the … Continue reading
QotW: What are your favorite automotive-themed watches?
For the most part, we at JNC are not Watch Guys. However, we do recognize that it’s a thing that might tick our boxes, if we weren’t pouring every spare dime into cars, and we know that there is a … Continue reading
If you need Mazda RX-3 taillights, you’re in luck
For many older Japanese cars, plastic bits are near impossible to find. Or, if you do find them, they cost a fortune. They’re not like muscle cars, where you can open a Year One catalog and basically rebuild a 1969 … Continue reading
