Author Archives: Ben Hsu
Happy 86 Day from JNC
Today is the day we honor the last of the rear-wheel-drive Corollas. Many perished in the touge battles of the 1990s, but those sacrifices early on gave us the freedom to not drive in a straight line, countless works of … Continue reading
NEWS: Nissan to exhibit racing legends, R390 GT1 road car at Monterey
Nissan has announced some details about its plans for the upcoming Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. The event will be a significant milestone, since it is the first time a Japanese marque has headlined the RMMR since its inception in 1974. … Continue reading
Posted in motorsport
Tagged 240z, 510, adam carolla, bob sharp, bre, datsun, GTP-ZX, john morton, le mans, nissan, paul newman, peter brock, r382, R390 GT1, s30 z, z31, z32
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EVENTS: Petersen Museum Cruise-in, Part 02
The Petersen Museum in Los Angeles puts on many events throughout the year, each with a theme ranging from hot rods to Porsches. Recently, they hosted their annual cruise-in for Japanese cars, inviting Nihon Steel both old and new to … Continue reading
Posted in events
Tagged 240sx, 240z, 350z, 4runner, 510, 626, a60, a70, acty, acura, ae86, bluebird, bosozoku, celica, civic, Civic EF, Civic EG, corolla, cressida, crx, datsun, datsun 521, datsun 720, F30, f31, fairlady roadster, gloria, gt-r, hilux, honda, infiniti, integra, Integra Type R, kaido racer, kei, leopard, Lexus GS, m30, M45, mark II, mazda, Mazda B-Series, minitrucks, nissan, nsx, Petersen Museum, r32, r35, s14, S160, s30 z, skyline, supra, te27, toyota, vip, wagons, x30, x70, Y34, z32, z33
6 Comments
VIDEO: Even when skies are gray in 1970s Tokyo, the cars shine
Most of us probably try to avoid driving our 1970s JNCs in the rain. But decades ago, in 1970s Tokyo, streets teemed with yet-to-be-nostalgic cars, even during a downpour. Bluebirds, Celicas, Savannas, Crowns, Sambars, Skylines, and even a few examples … Continue reading
SHOWA SNAP: Yurakucho Crossing, 1971
For this edition of Showa Snap, we take a look at the same area as the one Dave posted, kicking off the series. That area is Yurakucho Crossing, just south of Tokyo Station. where an elevated Shinkanesen embarks from the capital … Continue reading
VIDEO: Akio Toyoda travels through time to talk to his grandfather Kiichiro
Apparently, in addition to making cars, Toyota has taken its substantial profits to invent and build a time machine so that its current president, Akio Toyoda, could go back to the 1950s an interview his grandfather, Toyota Motor Corporation. founder … Continue reading
Japan Post celebrates 40th anniversary of Mazda RX-7 with exclusive rotary goods
Japan’s post offices have unleashed a slew of Mazda RX-7 themed merch to mark the 40th anniversary of the iconic Hiroshima sports car. The goods celebrate all three generations of the RX-7, as well as the rotary engine. The only … Continue reading
NEWS: Toyota brings back vintage tricolor livery on 86 TRD Special Edition
Toyota has announced a new version of its 86 sport coupe and bringing back some retro colors to go with it. The 2019 Toyota 86 TRD Special Edition is the most performance-oriented 86 (née Scion FR-S) offered in the US … Continue reading
QotW: What’s the most fitting match of car and place?
We all have our favorite cars. We all have our favorite places. But do your favorite car and place match? For example, I love my AE86, but I live in Los Angeles. But to be honest, the Hachiroku’s sharp handling … Continue reading
EVENTS: Radwood NorCal 2018, the Greatest Hits
Among the many examples of 80s and 90s Japanese cars that populated Radwood NorCal this year, there were a few that really stood out to us. We hesitate to call them the best; except for the actual “Best Of” voted … Continue reading
Posted in events
Tagged 240sx, 323 GTX, accord, Accord 1G, b13, camry, cressida, cultus, Dodge D50, Eagle Talon, eclipse, f31, fd3s, forte, geo, honda, infiniti, leopard, m30, mazda, metro, miata, Miata NA, Mighty Max, mitsubishi, mx-5, nissan, prelude, Prelude 3g, Radwood, rx-7, s13, sa22, sentra, silvia, suzuki, swift, tacoma, toyota, v10, x70
15 Comments
NEWS: Kiichiro Toyoda inducted into Automotive Hall of Fame
Toyota Motor Corporation founder Kiichiro Toyoda has been inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame. When he was born in 1894, his father Sakichi was already on his way to becoming one of Japan’s most famous inventors, by devising an … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged crown, Kiichiro Toyoda, toyoda aa, Toyoda G1, toyopet, toyota
3 Comments
One of the few Toyota Sports 800s sold new on US soil
These days, it’s easy, but also not terribly difficult to see a Toyota Sports 800 in the US. Though Toyota never offered them in the US, they’ve been part of numerous car shows and museum exhibits. And with their build … Continue reading
NEWS: Toyota is making a Celica, but they’re not calling it that
The more news about the Supra that comes to light, the more head scratching it elicits. First there was the revelation that it wouldn’t come in a manual, then that it would race in NASCAR, and lest we forget, the … Continue reading
SHOWA SNAP: Kyoto Station in 1967 was full of Bluebird taxis
In a previous Showa Snap we posted a photo of Kyoto Station full of Toyota taxis. A couple of decades earlier, in 1967, if you wanted to hail a cab from the station your choices were apparently limited to a 411 … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
2 Comments
VIDEO: Honda RA301 at Goodwood Festival of Speed
Fifty years ago, Honda introduced the RA301 race car at the 1968 Spanish Grand Prix. It hailed from the first generation of Honda’s Formula One efforts, and was powered by a 3.0-liter V12 in an aluminum body. The original car … Continue reading
Posted in motorsport
Tagged Formula One, Goodwood Festival of Speed, honda, Jensen Button, John Surtees, RA301
2 Comments
VIDEO: Toyota Supra and Nissan GT-R50 make their debuts at the Goodwood Festival of Speed
The Goodwood Festival of Speed is happening in England right now, and there’s a couple of neo-nostalgics headed up the hill. Here’s the first running footage for the A90 Toyota Supra and the Nissan GT-R50.
Posted in Video
Tagged A90, Goodwood Festival of Speed, gt-r, GT-R50, Italdesign, nissan, r35, supra, toyota
4 Comments
SHOWA SNAP: Meiji Jingu, 1967
We’ve covered a few car shows at Meiji Jingu Park in Tokyo, but here is what it looked like as a normal, everyday street in 1967. Look at all the Showa Era cars (Toyota Crown, 411 Bluebird, Prince Gloria, Mazda Familia, etc.) and trucks … Continue reading
Posted in Showa Snap
Tagged 411, bluebird, crown, datsun, familia, gloria, mazda, miler, minica, mitsubishi, nissan, prince, s40, sports 800, toyoace, toyota
3 Comments
