Author Archives: Ben Hsu
QotW: What’s the best inexpensive Japanese off-roader?
Recently we saw some laudable off-roading conducted by an unexpectedly capable 1978 Subaru station wagon. That has made us yearn for a truck that we can take into the wilderness without worry. To make this question more challenging, let’s add … Continue reading
Here’s a GT-R50 Kenmeri Skyline homage in the proper colors
Earlier this week Nissan released images of the first production GT-R50. It featured a subtle tribute to the Kenmeri Skyline GT-R show car from the 1972 Tokyo Motor Show — one that was in fact too subtle for some. So … Continue reading
You can now drive the Mazda RX-Vision… in Gran Turismo
One of the most stunning concept cars of the last decade has been the Mazda RX-Vision. No one has been able too drive the supposedly rotary-powered sports car, but that’s about to change — at least in the virtual world … Continue reading
PSA: Stop using these Harbor Freight jack stands immediately
Ah, Harbor Freight. It’s like the McDonald’s of tool stores. You know it’s probably not good for you, but when you’re working hard and need a quick fix so you can get on with your project, their easy access and … Continue reading
VIDEO: Mazda racing liveries, animated
Mazda UK has released a new video called “Our Greatest Motorsport Liveries” to honor its 100th Anniversary. The short animated movie goes through several of the company’s famous racing colorways, varying from the Group B RX-7 to the renowned (ha!) … Continue reading
Posted in motorsport
Tagged 24 Hours of Le Mans, 323 GTX, 787b, familia, fc3s, imsa, mazda, mazda 6, RT24-P, rx-7, rx-792p, sa22c, Xedos 6
4 Comments
DESIGN: A modern Honda roadster inspired by the Beat and RA272
Honda has come out with a new electric vehicle, a small, rear-wheel-drive electric hatchback called simply the Honda e. We have to admit the production version, while a good car, was a bit of a visual letdown after the fabulously … Continue reading
Posted in Design
Tagged beat, civic, concepts, David Beasley, honda, Honda e, IDx, nissan, ra272, Urban EV Concept
4 Comments
SHOWA SNAP: Kawaramachi-Sanjo, Kyoto, 1972
Kawaramachi-Sanjo, a shopping and nightlife district just northeast of the historic Gion section of Kyoto, was a lively spot after the sun went down. Sharp cars would cruise down Kawaramachi street, past a Fujiya Grill. On this particular 1972 evening, … Continue reading
QotW: What’s your favorite automotive museum experience?
Today is International Museum Day, and even though must museums are still temporarily closed due to the coronavirus, they are destinations of wonder, learning, and preservation. Needless to say, we are particularly fond of car museums, whether they are official … Continue reading
NEWS: Nissan will axe the Datsun brand… again
Reports are circulating that Nissan will soon undergo a massive restructuring plan and on the chopping block is the Datsun, revived in 2013 as a low-cost brand in developing countries. It was one of former CEO Carlos Ghosn’s crowning achievements … Continue reading
ART CORNER: Learn how to color like concept car artists, courtesy of Nissan
Have you ever wanted to draw cars like professional designers? Specifically, using color to light the car so it jumps off two-dimensional paper like a proper three-dimensional object? To help kids (and adults) deal with more coronavirus quarantine time, Nissan … Continue reading
The iconic Mitsubishi Fuso K201 fire engine is all but extinct
I have recently become obsessed with an iconic Japanese fire engine that is seemingly all but extinct. The Mitsubishi Fuso K201 was one of those big, ridiculous looking machines that makes kids go wide-eyed. It looked at once futuristic and … Continue reading
Posted in Emergency Vehicles
Tagged emergency vehicles, fire engine, K201, K252, mitsubishi, Mitsubishi Fuso
8 Comments
SHOWA SNAP: Peko-chan looms large over Ginza, circa 1964
Four hundred years ago, Sukiyabashi was a bridge crossing the outermost moat of Edo Castle, which separating nobles and samurai from ordinary townsfolk. Post-war, it became one of the two main intersections in Tokyo’s ritzy Ginza shopping district. In 1964, … Continue reading
QotW: What’s your favorite tire?
On May 11, 1947, the patent for the tubeless tire was issued to BF Goodrich, ushering in a new age of wheeling. Nowadays, it can be hard finding the right sized rubber doughnut for many classics here in the US. … Continue reading
VIDEO: An all-rotary episode of Option Video
The Japanese tuning series Option Video has just posted an all-rotary episode. In it, host Daijiro Inada assembles a group of cars that showcase the progression of rotary engine-equipped Mazdas, starting with a Cosmo Sport. Accompanying him in what seems … Continue reading
Posted in Video
Tagged cosmo, Cosmo JC, cosmo sport, d1gp, Daijiro Inada, fd3s, Isami Amemiya, kaido racer, mazda, option, re amemiya, rotary engine, rx-3, rx-5, rx-7, sa22c, wagons
3 Comments
VIDEO: Travel through time with these defining moments in Mazda’s 100-year history
As you may have heard, Mazda is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2020, and they have created a little video showcasing the company’s “defining moments”. It’s short, but cleverly blends archival footage with modern, to give the impression that you … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged 787b, cosmo sport, cx-30, Green Panel, le mans, mazda, rotary engine
3 Comments
ART CORNER: Here’s your classic Toyota papercraft
If you’ve ever visited the Toyota Automobile Museum, you may be familiar with the exclusive papercraft they give away at the info desk. It changes every so often, so you’ll never get the same one twice. Well, the museum has … Continue reading
Posted in Art Corner
Tagged a20, buses, celica, corolla, e10, FB-series, papercraft, toyota
6 Comments
MOTORSPORT: Watch these old Nissans dominate Fuji Speedway
If you’ve ever wondered why Nissan has such a strong following among Japanese enthusiasts, this video snapshot from 1970-71 explains it all. Nissans of all types dominate the field in two major races from those years. Though this was likely … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged 1300 coupe 9, 1600gt, 510, a30, b110, bluebird, c10, cedric, Colt F2000, corolla, datsun, fairlady roadster, fairlady z, familia rotary coupe, fuji speedway, gloria, Hakosuka, Hiroshi Kubota, honda, Jackie Stewart, JAF Grand Prix, japan grand prix, Kenji Tohira, kpgc10, kunimitsu takahashi, Kuniomi Nagamatsu, masahiro hasemi, mazda, mitsubishi, moto kitano, Motoharu Kurosawa, nissan, pgc10, publica, s30 z, Shogo Omori, skyline, sunny, Toshinori Takechi, toyota
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