Author Archives: Ben Hsu
That new life-size Gundam robot in Japan is basically a Mazda RX-7 from the 22nd century
Giant robots are serious business in Japan. Construction has just finished on a 59-foot Gundam robot in Yokohama, and it’s not even the first. If you’ve been to Odaiba, Tokyo where Toyota’s MegaWeb showroom is located, you have probably seen … Continue reading
Posted in Nihon Life
Tagged gt-r, Gundam, mazda, nissan, r35, rx-7, sa22c, Shiro Nakamura
9 Comments
Why Toyota’s Heritage Parts Program for the 2000GT was so challenging
Toyota announced in 2019 that it would reissue parts for the A70 and A80 Supra. Last month, they added the 2000GT to the GR Heritage Parts Program. The initial list for each model is pretty short, to be honest, and a … Continue reading
JCCS to go virtual and worldwide for 2020
Of all the events on the auto show calendar, the Japanese Classic Car Show ranks as one of our favorites. Unfortunately, it cannot be held this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the organizers have something special planned that … Continue reading
Here’s what modern cars would look like with their predecessors’ wheels
There’s a new Facebook page that seems to have nothing but photochops of new cars with old wheels. Specifically, the images on the aptly named Unnecessary Wheel Swaps are of modern vehicles wearing the wheels of their predecessors. The ND … Continue reading
QotW: What’s your best story involving a small car?
Small cars are going the way of the dodo. Toyota has killed the Yaris, Honda has killed the Fit, and Mazda has killed the 2. Only in the US market, of course; all those cars are alive and well in other … Continue reading
How Hondas from the S800 to the NSX have inspired our greatest living supercar builder
Gordon Murray, perhaps the world’s greatest living supercar builder, came out with a new car this week, the GMA T.50. This isn’t typical JNC fare, but we are very much admirers of Murray’s car-building philosophy. Murray’s notions of ideal car … Continue reading
Posted in Legends
Tagged acura, Formula One, Gordon Murray, honda, McLaren Honda MP4, nsx, s800
10 Comments
VIDEO: Can you identify 100 years’ worth of Mazda interiors?
Mazda has released a video called “The Evolution of Mazda Interiors” as the latest installment of their 100th anniversary celebrations. As you might expect, it’s a series of driver’s-view shots from Mazda cars over the decades. While I can do … Continue reading
NEWS: 2021 Mazda 3 Turbo will destroy all comers with a $29,900 base price
There are few new cars more hotly anticipated around the JNC offices than the Mazda 3 Turbo. The non-turbo is already an absolute hoot, and on paper the forced-induction version looked to be even better, with 250-horses, 320 lb-ft (on … Continue reading
Toyota is building a Motorsports Village at Fuji Speedway
Toyota, which owns Fuji Speedway, is planning to turn the facility into a world-class motorsports destination. It has announced plans to a motorsports village that will include a luxury hotel, museum, and facilities for both racing teams and privateers to … Continue reading
QotW: What’s your fondest Pajero/Montero memory?
The death of the Mitsubishi Pajero has hit us pretty hard here here at JNC. So, we’ve been watching old Dakar videos and trying to remember the fond times we had with Pajeros. For me, it was the time a … Continue reading
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
