Author Archives: Ben Hsu
QotW: What’s the one car you’d get from the year you were born?
JNC is proud to have readers of all ages, from teenagers just getting into vintage Nihon steel, to retired folks who remember these cars when new. Some of us were fortunate enough to have been born during golden years of … Continue reading
Happy 323 Day from JNC
The first Japanese car to win a Group A WRC race wasn’t a Subaru. It wasn’t a Mitsubishi, either, or a Toyota. It was a Mazda. On Valentine’s Day 1987, the humble Mazda 323 4WD (known as the Mazda 323 … Continue reading
MOTORSPORT: 1967 Daihatsu P-5 race car restored
These days Daihatsu is doing brisk business manufacturing an endless variety of kei cars as a Toyota subsidiary. It doesn’t have any presence to speak of in the world of motorsports today, but in the wild west of 1960s Japan, … Continue reading
MINICARS: Praise the JNC gods for this Datsun 240Z bath toy
Because my wife is expecting and we will soon have a little car nut of our own, I have recently spent an inordinate amount of time in the baby section of stores, desperate for cool JNC-related stuff. Not surprisingly, it’s … Continue reading
NEWS: Nissan exec suggests next Z and GT-R might be electric
With both the Z and GT-R in generations that have lasted a decade or so with no hints about their futures. So, whenever a top Nissan executive whispers a phrase about either model, enthusiasts take notice. The most recent utterance … Continue reading
QotW: What’s your favorite car from Japan’s tuning era?
If there’s anything we learned from the tragic passing of Junichi Tanaka a week ago, it was that many of you came to the world of Nihon steel after encountering an insane demo or race car from the glory days … Continue reading
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NIHON LIFE: Japan raises speed limit to 75 mph
Japan has raised its speed limit to 120 kph (75 mph) on two major expressways, the highest maximum that has ever been allowed in the country. The high-speed zones span a 50-kilometer section of the Shin-Tomei Expressway between in Shizuoka … Continue reading
Posted in Nihon Life
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VIDEO: JUN Auto Mechanic’s brain-melting creations
As we mourn the loss of Jun Auto Mechanic founder Junichi Tanaka, let’s take a a look back at some of his incredible creations. These were, for many enthusiasts, the dream cars that hooked them on Japan’s tuning culture. Though … Continue reading
Posted in Video
Tagged A80, BB4, best motoring, civic, Civic EK, fairlady z, gt-r, honda, jun auto mechanic, lancer evolution, mitsubishi, nissan, Option Video, prelude, r34, S15, s2000, silvia, supra, top gear, toyota, toyota 86, Tsukuba Circuit, z33
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MOTORSPORT: Kaori Okamoto — actor, businesswoman, race car driver
To say that Kaori Okamoto was multi-talented would be an understatement. Known today primarily as an actor, Okamoto in her long career has also been an author, entrepreneur, and yes, a race car driver. Okamoto wasn’t just your typical celebrity … Continue reading
Posted in motorsport
Tagged 24 Hours of Spa, ae82, ae86, ae92, carina, corolla, corolla fx, corolla levin, Dakar Rally, jtcc, Kaori Okamoto, motorsport, mr2, Spa-F, sprinter trueno, sw20, T190, tom's, toyota
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Happy TE37 Day from JNC
Since we are mourning the loss of the New Year Meeting this year, here’s a sexy Corolla Coupe from happier days, capping off a long row of TE27s. A standout from its predecessors here in both chassis and color, the … Continue reading
NEWS: Here are all the parts you can get from the Mazda Roadster Restore program
Ever since Mazda announced it would begin making reproduction parts for the first-generation Eunos Roadster, owners, enthusiasts and restorers of the beloved Miata have been excited about the list of parts that they might have access to. Well, Mazda Japan … Continue reading
NEWS: Toyota to revive Supra Turbo A designation, add horsepower?
Toyota will reportedly revive one of its most beloved Supra trims levels, according to Japan’s automotive tabloids. Car Top magazine in its April issue reports that in 2021, fans of the Toyota sports car can expect a higher-output version called … Continue reading
NEWS: Honda celebrates 50 years of CB750 with tribute bike
In 1969, the Honda CB750 revolutionized the motorcycle game. With an overhead cam, inline-four engine and front disc brake, it offered to the masses what was then only available on specialty racing two-wheelers. It was widely considered the world’s first … Continue reading
QotW: What’s JNC life like with a baby?
The JNC family is expanding, with a couple of us on the team expecting babies soon. In the next few months, both Brandon Kelley and I will soon each have little future car fans to take care of. To be … Continue reading
Happy Z32 Day from JNC
Since we had so many other 30th anniversary celebrations at the Chicago Auto Show this year, courtesy of Mazda and Honda, why not pretend Nissan did the same? The world saw the Miata and NSX there for the first time … Continue reading
