Author Archives: Ben Hsu
Happy Mother’s Day from JNC
To all the moms out there, thanks for doing all that you do. Happy Mother’s Day from JNC!
Toyotafest Spotlight: Orly Tapay’s Works replica KP47 Starlet
One of the stars of Toyotafest this year was Orly Tapay’s 1974 Toyota Starlet. Not only was it a rare model never sold in the US, but it was a stunning replica of a Toyota works racer from the heyday of … Continue reading
Toyotafest Spotlight: JZ-powered Celica drag racers
Two of the biggest head turners at this year’s Toyotafest were a pair of seriously mean drag racers built on a daruma Celica chassis. Both were caged, tubbed, and running mills from the legendary Toyota JZ family.
Posted in events
Tagged a20, celica, daruma, drag race, toyota, toyotafest, Toyotafest 2017
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Toyotafest Spotlight: Richard Pope’s 1977 Celica Liftback
After a decade of attending Toyotafests, the thing we look forward to most are the surprise builds that come out of nowhere. This year, one of the cars that really caught our eyes was Richard Pope’s 1977 Celica Liftback.
Happy 510 Day from JNC
Nissan introduced the Bluebird 510 in 1967. Here’s to killing giants for half a century. Happy 510 Day from JNC!
EVENTS: All-Toyotafest 2017, Part 02 — Celebrating the all-conquering Land Cruiser
Toyotafest this year took the opportunity to honor what could be Toyota’s most legendary model. Sure, a neck-snapping Supra, drifting-birthing AE86, or luxe Lexus may be the dream cars of the first world, but for the rest of the globe the Land Cruiser is the ultimate aspirational … Continue reading
Posted in events
Tagged FJ25, fj40, fj45, fj60, fj62, J80, land cruiser, toyota, toyotafest, Toyotafest 2017
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EVENTS: 2017 All-Toyotafest 2017, Part 01 — New Digs
Like RAV4 sales numbers, the number of cars at Toyotafest is ever-expanding. Now in its 22nd year, the country’s most comprehensive Toyota, Lexus and Scion car show has outgrown its home at the Queen Mary. This year, organizers from the Toyota Owners and Restorers Club … Continue reading
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Tagged 4runner, a20, a40, a60, ae86, avalon, aw11, camry, Camry Coupe, celica, Colin Project, corolla, corolla levin, corona, cressida, e70, e90, focus racing, ke10, lexus, Lexus GS, Lexus LC, Lexus LS, Lexus RC, longchamp xr-4, mr2, s190, scion, Scion xB, star sharks, sunchaser, sw20, t80, toyota, Toyota Van, toyotafest, Toyotafest 2017, UCF20, UCF30, x30, XV10
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QotW: What’s your best “3-digit purchase price” car story?
If you’ve been around J-tin long enough, you’ve purchased a 3-digit car. That’s when the transaction price is less than $1,000, and we’re not talking about the so-called “value” you declared to the DMV. We mean money that actually exchanged hands, … Continue reading
MOTORSPORT: Honda Civic Racing History
The Honda Civic was a giant slayer if there ever was one. Rarely in history has one model done so many things so well. One of those things was racing, a facet of the Civic rarely covered in Western media. … Continue reading
Posted in motorsport
Tagged accord, civic, Civic EA, Civic EG, ef, Fuji Grand Champion, honda, Honda Welcome Plaza, JTC, jtcc, sb1, Team Yamato
15 Comments
KIDNEY, ANYONE? This 1980 Honda Prelude is gold, Jerry!
For five generations and 22 years the Prelude was sports coupe of the Honda lineup. Later iterations were some of the best handling front-drivers ever built, darlings of the Tuner Era, but the SN-chassis is where it all began. And when … Continue reading
REMINDER: 2017 Toyotafest is this Saturday
Just a friendly reminder: The 22nd Annual Toyotafest takes place this Saturday, May 6, at its new location. It’s still in Long Beach by the Queen Mary, but it will now be held at Marina Green Park. Instructions can be found … Continue reading
QotW: Which car should automakers make reproduction parts for next?
We learned last week that NISMO is going to start making brand new parts for the R32 Skyline GT-R again. This is great news for enthusiasts, who will be able to restore and drive their cars, and also great for the … Continue reading
NEWS: NISMO announces Heritage Parts restoration program for R32 Skyline GT-R
This is huge. NISMO announced this week that its is launching a program to recreate discontinued parts for certain Nissan cars. Called the Heritage Parts program, its purpose is to “provide support for Nissan performance models.” First up is the R32 Nissan Skyline GT-R, which achieved … Continue reading
Radwood is Goodwood for cars of the 80s and 90s
A new car show in northern California just might have the best name ever in the history of car shows. Described as Goodwood for 80s and 90s cars, Radwood will be held on June 3 in San Francisco, California. Basically, … Continue reading
Robert M. Pirsig, author of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Mainetenance, 1928 — 2017
American author Robert M. Pirsig died on Monday at his home in South Berwick, Maine. His passing was made known by his publisher, William Morrow, who said that the writer’s health had been failing. Pirsig is most known for his classic 1974 … Continue reading
TUNE UP: Happy birthday to Show Ayanocozey, lead singer of bosozoku boy band Kishidan
Today is the birthday of Show Ayanocozey, the gloriously pompadoured lead singer of one of JNC‘s favorite bands, Kishidan. Though the concept of a bosozoku boy band likely began (like many Japanese bands) as a gimmick, and everything they do is … Continue reading
Shanghai Motor Show: China’s long history with Toyota
China is not a place you would immediately think of when Japanese nostalgic cars are mentioned. The country was largely closed off from imports until the 1980s, and wounds both psychological and physical, caused by Japanese actions during World War II, were not … Continue reading
EVENTS: How Nissan celebrates the 60th anniversary of the Skyline in Japan
Sixty years ago today, on April 24, 1957, the Prince Skyline debuted on a rainy day at the famed Tokyo Takarazuka Theater. It’s no exaggeration to say that few cars have a more revered place in the Japanese psyche, having served as … Continue reading
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Tagged ALSI, BLRA-3, c10, c110, c210, dr30, gc10, gc110, GT-R Vision 2020, Hakosuka, Infiniti G35, Infiniti G37, Infiniti Q50, kenmeri, leaf, nissan, Nissan Crossing Ginza, nissan gallery yokohama, prince, r30, r31, r32, r33, r34, s50, skyline, skyline sport, v35, v36, V37, yonmeri
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QotW: What’s the greatest Skyline?
The Nissan Skyline is celebrating its 60th birthday today. Since its debut on April 24, 1957, it has seen 13 generations, countless trim and option variations, and an immense number of limited editions and tuning specials, from ALSI to KPGC10 to R34, … Continue reading
