Author Archives: Dan Hsu
BIKES: After 43 years, it’s the end of the road for the Yamaha SR400
After over four decades of production, the Yamaha SR series is coming to an end. These days, Japanese motorcycle manufacturers are rapidly debuting throwback bikes that hearken back to their heydays, but the Yamaha SR400 and SR500 existed in that … Continue reading
Let’s turn our Bride racing seats into rocking chairs, since we’re all old now
If you’re into Nihon steel, it’s hard not to feel like an old geezer these days. The cars we grew up with are now being lauded and collected as classics, and their parts are getting ever scarcer. Many of us … Continue reading
MINICARS: The Nissan R390 GT1 Road Car joins the 2021 Hot Wheels lineup
The Nissan R390 GT1 Road Car has been a dream machine for so many. Nissan made only one to homologate for Le Mans in 1997, and never put it up for sale. However, come 2021, you can buy it for … Continue reading
BIKES: Kawasaki revives the Meguro marque with K3 vertical twin
Kawasaki has just revealed one of the coolest bikes we’ve ever seen. Japan has seen no shortage of retro styled motorcycles in recent years, but none have been more of a throwback than this, the Meguro K3. Not only does … Continue reading
Happy Birthday, Soichiro Honda
Today is the birthday of Soichiro Honda, found of Honda Motor and known badass. A picture is worth a thousand words, and this photo says so much about who he was — a man who was adamant that his nascent … Continue reading
Acura revives Long Beach Blue heritage color on the new NSX
Acura is continuing to bring back what it calls heritage colors on the new NSX for 2021. Long Beach Blue Pearl is one of the rarest paint colors offered on the first-generation NSX. Though it was offered for four years, … Continue reading
Happy Halloween from JNC
Is there anything scarier than a long-neglected project car lurking in its cramped parking spot? It’s as if this Isuzu Hillman Minx found in Kanto is beckoning, “Fix me… Fix me.” Happy Halloween from JNC!
VIDEO: For the 30th anniversary of the Acura NSX, chief engineer Shigeru Uehara has a message for fans
Building on the NSX’s 30th anniversary, Honda has released a message from the original car’s chief engineer, Shigeru Uehara. It’s all in Japanese, naturally, but with the help of our pal and Hot Wheels’ resident Honda-head Ryu Asada, we’ve been … Continue reading
QotW: What’s the greatest “normal” JNC?
The cars that yank hardest at our heartstrings are typically specialty machines — thrilling sports cars, rugged ladder-frame trucks, adorable kei jidosha, and such. However, there are legions of once-common grocery getters that are now rare and sought-after. And, possibly … Continue reading
Nissan takes over Cars & Coffee Tokyo with Z Proto
Cars & Coffee in Tokyo is a relatively small event but given its location, it’s a place where Japan’s carmakers will sometimes sneak a priceless concept out to mingle with enthusiasts. Sometimes, even a CEO will pop up and pose … Continue reading
Acura is seriously considering an NSX Refresh Program for North America
Honda has been offering a factory NSX refresh program in Japan for years. Owners can take their cars in and select from a menu of restoration items, from a deep clean to an engine rebuild. You can even get the … Continue reading
VIDEO: Here’s every generation of the Honda Trail Cub
Here’s a very informative history lesson on the Honda Trail Cub (or Hunter Cub, or Postie, depending on which continent you live on). Produced by Honda, it goes through every iteration of what started out as a Super Cub modified … Continue reading
Honda launches NSX 30th anniversary minisite in Japan
Over the weekend Honda launched an NSX 30th anniversary minisite in Japan. But wait, you might say. Didn’t Honda already celebrate the 30th anniversary of the NSX last year? Well, you would be correct. The event at the 2019 Chicago … Continue reading
VIDEO: The Honda Collection Hall’s S800 and NSX in action
Honda periodically posts videos of cars from their museum at Twin Ring Motegi going out for a spin. All the cars at the museum are kept in running condition, as these videos demonstrate, and as it happens the most recent … Continue reading
BIKES: Honda patent for electric Super Cub discovered
A patent for an electric Super Cub at the US Patent and Trademark Office has been unearthed. The patent looks like it was filed back in 2016, but was discovered by Autoblog this week. It contains an swapable battery pack … Continue reading
BIKES: Honda trademark filing could mean a new Motocompo
Honda has submitted a trademark application for the name “Motocompacto” with the US Patent and Trademark Office. The name immediately conjures visions of the 1981-85 Honda Motocompo, a folding scooter designed to fit in the cargo area of the Honda … Continue reading
An EK9 Honda Civic Type R has sold for $73,000
Prices on top-spec Hondas and Acuras from the height of the Tuner Era have been climbing rapidly in recent years. The Acura Integra Type R is leading that charge, with clean examples selling between $60,000 and $82,000. But what about … Continue reading
Happy 710 Day from JNC
Back in post-Oil Crisis 1976, small cars were finally getting some attention as Americans shifted from land yachts to compacts. Datsun positioned the 710 as one that didn’t feel like a penalty box. As touted in this ad, it boasted … Continue reading
PSA: Replacements for recalled Harbor Freight jack stands now also recalled
A couple of months ago, Harbor Freight Tools recalled a bunch of their jack stands. Those 3-ton and 6-ton units were under risk of collapsing due to a manufacturing defect that could cause the support pawl to become disengaged. 1.7 … Continue reading