Author Archives: Ben Hsu
Toyotafest is this Saturday
Just a reminder: The 2018 Toyotafest is tomorrow, June 2 at Marina Green Park in Long Beach, California. It promises to be the largest one yet. There are over 550 slabs of Aichi steel registered for this event, plus vendors, special displays, … Continue reading
NEWS: Retro fourth-gen Suzuki Jimny leaked ahead of July debut
Though it has been on the market for nearly 50 years, the stalwart Suzuki Jimny has had only three complete generational changes. The fourth generation of the kei SUV debuts this July, but renderings based on leaked information in Japan’s Best … Continue reading
NEWS: Mazda celebrates production of 50 millionth car
On May 15, Mazda reached a production milestone. The Hiroshima-based company has built 50 million cars since it began making its first road vehicles in October 1931. A small ceremony was held at the Hofu plant in Yamaguchi Prefecture.
VIDEO: Suzuki Jimny ads sure beat the crap out of these kei SUVs
We continued to be tickled by the fact that Suzuki is releasing a lot of archival footage showing the evolution of their products. From animated history lessons to old ads, the company seems to be digging deep into the vault for this stuff … Continue reading
Happy S30 Day from JNC
Well, there really isn’t an S30 Day on the calendar, but the seminal Japanese sports car certainly deserves a day of its own. So, we might as well make May 30 that day, because an “S” looks kind of like … Continue reading
MINICARS: Can you help us identify these Japanese race car toys?
I recently rediscovered these toys of two historic Japanese endurance racing prototypes. They are completely plastic, have no branding underneath, but are extremely well-made examples. Can you help us identify where they came from?
Posted in minicars
Tagged 24 Hours of Daytona, 24 Hours of Le Mans, 787b, mazda, minicars, nissan, R91CP
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NEWS: New license plates reflect 41 regions of Japan
For nearly 70 years, the simple green-on-white number plate has been the default vehicle registration identifier for passenger cars throughout Japan. That’s all about to change, because on May 22 the Japanese government unveiled 41 new license plate designs, each … Continue reading
Happy 521 Day from JNC
You can’t not love an honest truck. They basically tie dogs for status of man’s best friend. The Datsun 520 and 521 were the first of the modern compact pickups by Nissan, and kicked off decades of the breed. Obligatory: Wish … Continue reading
MINICARS: the Jun Imai Era comes to a close at Hot Wheels
There is just one more bit of Hot Wheels news left for today, and it’s a sad one. Our friend and star designer Jun Imai has left Mattel for new opportunities. We had known it was happening for a couple … Continue reading
50 YEAR CLUB: Hot Wheels celebrates half a century of toy cars
Fifty years ago today, the world was introduced to what just might be the most influential cars ever made. The automotive world was forever changed on May 18, 1968 when Mattel introduced the Hot Wheels brand of toy cars to … Continue reading
Posted in 50 Year Club, Hot Wheels, minicars
Tagged 2000gt, 200sx, 240z, 260z, 300zx, 50 Year Club, 510, a60, acura, ae86, Alton Takeyasu, bluebird, corolla, Corvette Stingray, datsun, honda, hot wheels, mazda, nissan, nsx, Odyssey, rx-7, Ryu Asada, s110, s30 z, sa22, silvia, supra, toyota, z31
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VIDEO: Classic car commercials in Australia would be unthinkable in the US
When Ricky told me to check out the Shannons video about the Isuzu Car Club of Australia gathering, I did. But the thing that absolutely blew my mind wasn’t even an Isuzu. It was this classic car insurance ad, which … Continue reading
MINICARS: Mighty Mo A60 Toyota Celica XX Police Car
Speaking of Supras, I recently discovered this old toy while at my mother’s house. I couldn’t remember how I got it or what company made it, but it is an old Toyota Celica XX police car and it’s awesome.
VIDEO: Jay Leno drives a JZA80 Toyota Supra
Jay Leno has plopped his denim self behind the wheel of a JZA80 Supra. It was bound to happen, we suppose — the car an icon and Leno is probably the most recognizable car collector in the US. However, in this case the show … Continue reading
Happy Mother’s Day from JNC
Be a Prince this Mother’s Day and do something special for her. Happy Mother’s Day from JNC!
VIDEO: Look at all the great driver’s cars you could get in 1991
At the height of the Bubble Era, every Japanese carmaker had a driver’s car. We’re not talking about high dollar sports cars like the NSX or Supra, either. In this Best Motoring video from 1991, a lineup of enthusiasts’ machines, sometimes … Continue reading
MINICARS: Tomica Limited Vintage made an FD3S Mazda RX-7 and it looks amazing
We haven’t written about Tomica Limited Vintage in a while, but the collectors’ offshoot of Japan’s most popular diecast cars has been quietly churning out excellent 1:64-scale models of classics for a while. The latest, however, is sure to make … Continue reading
Happy 510 Day from JNC
Happy 510 Day from JNC! What’s your favorite 510 memory? Ours was probably the time we spotted a stupendous BRE tribute on the streets of Monterey, which was second only to the time we posed glamorously by an SSS Coupe on … Continue reading
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MINICARS: Let’s not forget LS Collectibles’ Mitsubishi Starion
Last week we showed you LS Collectibles’ prototype A60 Toyota Supra model. But, if you remember from a post back in January, the company had a second Bubble Era Japanese icon in the works. And here it is: a 1:18-scale Mitsubishi Starion.
