Author Archives: Ben Hsu
Stand out from the other CEOs with a TOM’s Racing Toyota Century
You’re wealthy enough to own a Toyota Century, but you don’t want it to look like every other bank CEO’s executive coach. What to do? Well, prior to the 2020 Tokyo Auto Salon, the only option was to a.) be … Continue reading
Liberty Walk creates Super Silhouette-inspired R34 Skyline
The Japanese tuning house Liberty Walk has created a what they call the LB-ER34 Super Silhouette Skyline. The red-on-black paint scheme will be instantly recognizable to fans of Skyline race cars of the 1980s. Revealed at the 2020 Tokyo Auto … Continue reading
Posted in tokyo auto salon
Tagged group 5, liberty walk, masahiro hasemi, nissan, r30, r34, skyline, super silhouette, tokyo auto salon
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QotW: What’s the worst JNC decision you’ve ever made?
They say hindsight is 2020. It’s also the year 2020, so it’s time to reflect on some of the mistakes we’ve made and save others from the same fate. Is it getting in over your head in on a project … Continue reading
Civic Type R’s chief engineer’s love for cars began with a toy Toyota Celica
Last week Tomica announced for its 50th anniversary that it would be collaborating with several Japanese carmakers for special edition toy cars. One of them was Honda, represented by the new FK8 Civic Type R. At the press conference Hideki … Continue reading
VIDEO: Even a shift to front-wheel-drive couldn’t slow down the Toyota Celica GT-S
Looking back now, the Toyota Celica’s switch from rear- to front-wheel-drive may seem like a let-down. Back in 1986, though, FF was seen as modern and the fourth-generation Celica’s performance was affected by the shift. In fact, it continued to … Continue reading
VIDEO: If you’re in St Louis check out this great Honda museum
The Mungenast Classic Museum in St. Louis, Missouri is what we all hope our collections look like when we pass on. Founded by Dave Mungenast, a man described as a Green Beret, stuntman, American Motorcycle Association hall-of-famer, and car dealer, … Continue reading
Posted in Collections, Video
Tagged cb750, CBX, honda, honda N, Honda S, honda z, motorcycles
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QotW: What’s your greatest JNC dream?
Do you have a dream of unlimited parking for a real life Gran Turismo garage? Do you have a dream that one day all parts, no matter how obscure, will be offered in the heritage catalogs of every carmaker? Do … Continue reading
Next Nissan Z design to have heritage cues
There’s some scuttlebutt going around about how the next-generation Nissan Z will have heritage-inspired design cues. First of all, hallelujah! Zed-heads and sports car fans in general should be thrilled that there will be a next-generation Z. Secondly, the heritage … Continue reading
MARKETWATCH: Good condition Skyline GT-Rs are way past the quarter million mark
Last weekend, at the same event that saw a Nissan Fairlady Z432-R sell for over $800,000, several S20 siblings traded hands for significant sums as well. Nissan Skyline GT-Rs of both Hakosuka and Kenmeri generations are seeing increased interest at … Continue reading
Posted in marketwatch
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Honda S2000 20th prototype shown at Tokyo Auto Salon
Last weekend Honda unveiled its S2000 20th Anniversary at the 2020 Tokyo Auto Salon. Man, that’s a lot of twos and zeroes. The car exhibited several minor changes, mostly subtle and cosmetic, that kept true to the original design.
MARKETWATCH: A Nissan Fairlady Z432-R has sold for over $800,000
Over the weekend a Nissan Fairlady Z432-R sold for ¥88.55 million, or $804,600 or so at current exchange rates. That makes it the most expensive S30 Z — and one of the most expensive Japanese cars, period — ever sold … Continue reading
QotW: What’s your favorite Japanese car from 1995?
Today is Coming of Age Day in Japan, the day when all those who turn 20 years old between April 2 of the previous year and April 1 of the current one officially become adults. It’s fitting, because as is … Continue reading
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RIP Yoshikazu Sunako, 1932 — 2020
It was announced yesterday that on January 3, 2020, racing driver Yoshikazu Sunako passed away at the age of 87. The former Prince and Nissan works driver was a pioneer during the nascent years of Japan’s motorsports scene, perhaps most … Continue reading
Toyota says the GR Yaris is a Celica GT-Four successor
At the Tokyo Auto Salon, Toyota has debuted a new hot hatch that it says is the spiritual successor to the almighty Celica GT-Four. While that claim does raise an eyebrow, the GR Yaris is a potent machine that could … Continue reading
Posted in tokyo auto salon
Tagged celica, Celica GT-Four, GR Yaris, homolgation, rally, st165, st185, st205, tokyo auto salon, toyota, wrc, yaris
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Toyota’s Supra Heritage Parts Program will be offered in the US
Last May Toyota became the latest Japanese carmaker to announce a heritage parts program, starting off with items for the Supra. Just hours ago, Toyota announced that not only is the program kicking off this spring, but that it will … Continue reading
The Honda Beat Parts program reveals why it’s so hard for carmakers to produce old parts
It’s been a while since we checked in on Honda’s Beat Parts program, which once again produces parts for Honda’s popular mid-engined, kei roadster. Since the program was announced in August 2017, the list of parts available has grown. And, … Continue reading
Tan Toyota Corona Liftbacks are the car of choice for broke lawyers trying to do the right thing
Recently Patrick sent me a link to the trailer for Dark Waters and wrote, “The magic happens at 0:08.” That magic, it turns out, was Mark Ruffalo’s character driving a tan T130 Toyota Corona Liftback. I didn’t really think anything … Continue reading
QotW: What’s your JNC New Year’s resolution?
It’s a new year, a new decade. A chance to start off right. Will you finally make progress on that long-awaited project, take that road trip of a lifetime, complete your collection of the JNCs of the Wonder Bread Crazy … Continue reading
Toyota has ended 51 years of Mark II, Mark X production
On December 23, Toyota held a farewell ceremony for the beloved Mark II and Mark X sedan. The final example, a white Mark X 250G, rolled off the line at Toyota’s second-oldest plant, the Motomachi factory in Aichi Prefecture, as … Continue reading
