For the past few years, with the rise of aesthetic mods and high-end motors taking centerstage at the Tokyo Auto Salon, those wanting a taste of true blue authentic JDM tuning goodness were happily catered for in a special event space located just next to the main halls. With a lovely selection of vehicles specially curated by THE JDM tuning periodical, Option magazine.
Each year Option puts together a fantastic group of cars to showcase with some years having specific themes. This year’s theme, “Tuning Car Meeting”, sounded rather generic though. At least it seems to cover all bases.
For some strange reason, this new Beetle managed to sneak in. It was the only import car in this hall and it did make me wonder what was under the hood.
We mentioned it before in a previous post but i guess it’s worth repeating, when it comes to cult sports cars, no other Japanese manufacturer comes close to Nissan.
This rather wild S30 is from Star Road.
Looks fantastic from this angle.
Star Road’s own in-house designed wheels, the Glow Star. Expensive.
Another S30 but taking to yet another extreme, this looks ready to hit the track!
Spec sheet reveals a worked on L28 and other goodies inside to make it go fast!
Biggest wing in the hall i reckon.
And yet again another S30, this time also built for the track but with a more old-school approach.
Yes, once again from Star Road.
Check out those cut-out vents. Would you ever take a knife to your S30 if you had one now?
With prices of S30s, Hakosukas and Kenmeris hitting record highs, it could only mean one thing, every other old Japanese car’s value were soon to follow. Case in point, these DR30/R31 Skylines, a previously overlooked and almost unwanted generation of Nissan’s flagship Coupe. Now, just flip through Nostalgic Hero or Hachimaru Hero and take a look at their current asking prices.
With shops willing to drop coin to rebuild these cars back up, if you’ve always been lusting after one of these boxy cars, you’d best be quick!
TE37V wheels, of course.
This one’s immaculate!
Speaking of immaculate examples, an FD RX7 might not be the oldest car out there but guess what? It’s been over 20 years since the car first launched. It still looks amazingly good don’t you think? What beautiful styling.
This FD looked stunning and hardly used!
Going back to Nissans, here’s probably one of the wildest S-chassis cars ever made. I think we’ve seen it sporting a different look on previous years and it seems to be always evolving.
Just in case you were wondering what it started out life as.
Insane.
Check out those louvers on the rear quarter window.
Need a closer look? 😛
Inside, it looks the business, this is no show car, the owner takes it out for sideways action regularly. Maaaad… Just Maaaad……
Next to the purple S13, this pink car now looks rather sedate.
R34, looks like a GTT dori dori machine.
No, not really… Mad engine bay though!
This is a Chaser with an Audi face! Audier? Auhaser?
Just in case you didn’t believe me, here’s the spec sheet.
Another dori dori machine.
R35s. One taking things less seriously than the other.
N-Labs reworked their S660 Neo Concept for the Auto Salon and came up with this gem of a Kei Car.
Stunning! Honda needs to make this a production car!!!
Love the rear treatment, very reminiscent of some old Japanese sports cars, which i guess was the intention.
Yeap, that’s a perspex engine cover on this R32.
Garage Saurus’ R32. Looking great and most probably a fearsome speed machine.
This R32 has both a Supercharger and Turbocharger plumbed into its engine.
Feed’s FD.
And finishing off with yet another Nissan, here’s Power House Amuse’s Z33.