Category Archives: kei

Early Japanese classics among top emerging collectibles says Hagerty

Posted on January 23, 2012 by Ben Hsu

With all the automotive madness whipped up by the Arizona auctions week, let’s take a look at how it affects the nostalgic car scene. First, collector car insurance company Hagerty issued a press release identifying three “segments represent[ing] a group … Continue reading →

Posted in honda, kei, nissan, subaru, toyota, wagons | Tagged 240z, 260z, 280z, 280zx, 510, barikan, bluebird, corona, cr-x, crx, datsun, fairlady z, fj40, honda, kei, land cruiser, n600, nissan, rt40, s130, s30, s500, s600, s800, shovelnose, subaru, subaru 360, t40, wagon | 18 Comments

Subaru celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the Sambar

Posted on November 9, 2011 by Ben Hsu

It’s not fast, luxurious or particularly sexy, but the Subaru Sambar is a key part of Japan’s automotive history and one of its first kei trucks. If you’ve ever set foot in Japan you’ll know these little breadboxes are everywhere, … Continue reading →

Posted in kei, subaru | Tagged akabou, kei car, sambar, subaru, subaru 360, trucks | 11 Comments

Friday Video: Suzuki Jimny SuperTrials

Posted on September 2, 2011 by Ben Hsu

It always amazes us how unbelievably varied Japan’s automotive culture is. Here is an entire event, televised no less, dedicated to kei-class Suzuki Jimnys. In the Jimny Supertrials, these 660cc, oft-turbocharged little four-wheelers run a time attack in the snow. It … Continue reading →

Posted in kei, motorsports, suzuki | Tagged jimny, kei, samurai, sj10, sj20, snow time attack, supertrials, suzuki, time attack | 5 Comments

Suzuki Fronte 550

Posted on August 17, 2011 by Ben Hsu

This here rare brown bird is a Suzuki Fronte 7-S 550. That’s 550cc’s of rear-engined, rear-wheel drive kei car sweetness. It’s difficult to eyeball the scale of this car until you get a look at the fender mirrors, which protrude … Continue reading →

Posted in kei, suzuki | Tagged 550, fronte, kei, suzuki | 5 Comments

EVENTS: New Year Meeting 2011 Part 04: Kei Jidosha

Posted on February 8, 2011 by Dan Hsu

If a flux capacitor equipped kei car from 1960 traveled to the present, it’d be totally jealous of the “massive” 660cc displacement its modern counterparts enjoy. Back then, maximum allowable engine size was a scant 360cc. But as the Mazda … Continue reading →

Posted in events, honda, kei, mazda, mitsubishi, subaru, suzuki | Tagged carol, carol 360, cervo, co10t, daihatsu, fronte, fuji heavy industries, fuji rabbit, honda, jidosha, jimny, kei, lj10, mazda, midget, minica, mitsubishi, MkII, n360, n600, r2, r360, skipper, ssr, subaru, subaru 360, suzuki, z-act, z360, z600 | 12 Comments

Unloved Cars of Tochigi

Posted on June 24, 2010 by Skorj

Location scouting North of Tokyo, we were surprised to pass a yard not filled with the usual rural kei cars — or farming implements — but one filled with an enormous range of nostalgics.

Posted in datsun, honda, kei, nissan, subaru, toyota | Tagged 240z, 430, 510, a30, b110, bluebird, butaketsu, c10, c130, datsun, datsun 1200, fairlady z, gloria, Hakosuka, honda, kei, kgc10, kpgc10, laurel, life, nissan, s30, skyline, sprinter trueno, step van, subaru, subaru 360, subaru r2, sunny, super 6, super six, te27, tochigi, toyota | 15 Comments

Posted on March 16, 2010 by Ben Hsu

Suzuki Mario Bros.: Those Koopa Troopas don’t stand a chance when Mario and Luigi are behind the wheel of Suzuki Carry. The kei truck feasts on turtle soup tonight. [Reddit via Jalopnik]

Posted in kei, suzuki, trucks | Tagged carry, kei, mario, super mario bros., suzuki, trucks | 3 Comments

Reader Build: Mitsubishi 360 Van

Posted on March 15, 2010 by Ben Hsu

Congrats to JNC reader Nakazoto for getting his 1967 Mitsubishi 360 Van project featured on both Jalopnik and Speedhunters in the same week! David lives in Nagoya, Japan and came across this kei commercial vehicle rotting away in a field. … Continue reading →

Posted in kei, mitsubishi | Tagged kei car, mitsubishi, mitsubishi 360, mitsubishi 360 van | 3 Comments

EVENTS: JCCS 2009 Part Two: Wagons Ho!

Posted on October 7, 2009 by Ben Hsu

Continuing with our JCCS 2009 coverage, here are the cars from my personal favorite category — the wagons! This restored orange Datsun 510 was gorgeous, and aside from the re-upholstered interior it looks like it could have driven off the … Continue reading →

Posted in datsun, events, honda, kei, mazda, nissan, toyota, wagons | Tagged 510, 910 maxima, bluebird, civic, cony, cony 360, corolla, cressida, cvcc, datsun, honda, mazda, mx32, mx62, mx72, nissan, rx-3, te72, toyota, wagon, wagons | 9 Comments

Clunkbucket Welcomes Unloved Cars

Posted on April 16, 2009 by Ben Hsu

Tired of the same old auto sites gushing nonstop about Porsche this, Ferrari that, ZR1 WTF OMG!? Enter Clunkbucket, an automotive site catering to the most unloved, obscure and forgotten specimens of the vehicular kingdom. Naturally, that includes a healthy … Continue reading →

Posted in kei, mitsubishi, suzuki, toyota | 6 Comments

A Visit to S&A Auto Create

Posted on March 30, 2009 by Ben Hsu

We’re still not finished with coverage from Japan. During our visit we had the privilege of visiting Kanagawa Prefecture’s S&A Auto Create. The owner has been doing modern engine swaps in older cars and fabricating the parts needed for almost … Continue reading →

Posted in datsun, kei, mitsubishi, nissan, toyota | Tagged datsun 510, mitsubishi debonair, mitsubishi minica, nissan bluebird, S&A auto create, toyota ae86, toyota land cruiser, toyota soarer | 5 Comments

Japanese Backyard Collection of J-tin

Posted on March 10, 2009 by Ben Hsu

This backyard stash of J-tin was just sitting about on a quiet suburban side street. The owner of this trove may not want to be revealed so I won’t mention any names, but he did say that the majority of … Continue reading →

Posted in datsun, honda, japan, kei, nissan, subaru, suzuki, toyota, vans, wagons | Tagged datsun b310, honda, honda n360, honda s600, honda s600 coupe, nissan caravan, nissan datsun, nissan sunny, nissan sunny b310, subaru, subaru r-2, suzuki, suzuki mighty boy, toyota, toyota celica, toyota crown, toyota sports 800, toypet crown | 6 Comments

Subaru 1969 Promotional Video

Posted on December 18, 2008 by Ben Hsu

Here’s a promotional video from 1969 extolling the virtues of the new wondercar from the Land of the Rising Sun, the Sue-BARR-oo 360. Look, it can park perpendicular to the curb between two massive Detroit land yachts! It may be … Continue reading →

Posted in kei, subaru | Tagged subaru, subaru 1000, subaru 360, subaru ff-1, subaru star | 4 Comments

World Micro/Mini Car Meet in 2010

Posted on November 20, 2008 by Ben Hsu

This is a ways off, but we thought you Subaru 360, Honda N/Z/S and various kei-car owners might be interested in making plans for the World Micro/Mini Car meet. It’s the brainchild of Ken & Sylvia Weger, owners/curators of the … Continue reading →

Posted in kei | 2 Comments

Kei-Cars on Your T-Shirts

Posted on September 23, 2008 by Ben Hsu

More T-shirts featuring old Japanese cars are popping up all over the place. Normally they’re all the popular models from Nissan and Toyota, leaving kei car fans a bit left out. But thanks to JNCer xemoto, here’s one of a … Continue reading →

Posted in datsun, honda, kei, nissan, nostalgic gear, subaru | 4 Comments

More Microcar Madness: Subaru 360 Ad

Posted on August 26, 2008 by Ben Hsu

Speaking of microcars, someone sent in four old Subaru 360 commercials to Jalopnik today. The car’s $1297 price tag and 66mpg are heavily touted, as is the price of a carburetor, just 13 dollars. I guess when you’re calling your … Continue reading →

Posted in cm, kei, subaru | 1 Comment

Honda Z600 Coupe Sets Bonneville Record

Posted on August 25, 2008 by Ben Hsu

Microcars are on a roll! First a duo of Subaru 360s finishes 1-2 in their class in the Liége-Brescia-Liége, and now a Honda Z600 has broken the 600cc class land speed record at Bonneville Speed Week. We first came across … Continue reading →

Posted in honda, kei, motorsports | 8 Comments

Subaru 360 Wins Class in Liége-Brescia-Liége Rally

Posted on August 24, 2008 by Ben Hsu

Two UK-based teams have taken first and second place in the Spirit 425cc Class of the Liége-Brescia-Liége microcar rally. Covering 2000 miles through Belgium, Germany, Austria, Italy and Slovenia, these little kei cars even conquered the Stelvio (not Kev’s dream … Continue reading →

Posted in kei, rally, subaru | 1 Comment

Happy 50th Birthday, Subaru

Posted on March 3, 2008 by Ben Hsu

Greetings, Pleiads! Today we help Subaru celebrate 50 years in the automaking business. What’s that you say? How can Subaru be celebrating their 50th birthday when back in 2003, they already partied hearty and released a slew of 50th Anniversary … Continue reading →

Posted in kei, subaru | 8 Comments

Subaru of America 40th Anniversary

Posted on February 9, 2008 by Ben Hsu

We apologize for the short notice, but we just discovered Subaru of America will be celebrating their 40th anniversary at the Philadelphia Auto Show. A small show, yes, but Philly is right next door to Subaru’s Cherry Hill, NJ headquarters. … Continue reading →

Posted in kei, subaru | Leave a comment