Quest Fulfilled: The 20-Year Journey to Acquire a Nissan Gazelle
Did you know that the sibling of the Nissan S110 "Silvia" was the "Gazelle"? Here is the story of the owner, Mr. Sarutani, who has been searching for a turbo model of such a Gazelle for 20 years and finally obtained it. What kind of car is this model that he has admired since he was in junior high school?
Interview with STI’s New President: The BRZ Developer’s New Role at STI
Mr. Hiromi Tamou, the new president of STI, is a key person in the development of the first-generation BRZ. In this interview, we asked him what he would like to do at STI in his new position. He is a car enthusiast who says, "The response to the steering wheel is what is important," so we have high expectations for new developments.
Spirit of Microcars: A Deep Dive into the World of Mitsuoka K-3 Enthusiasts
As they say, "The Germans invented the car, the French turned it into a business, and the British play with it", and in the field of cars, Britain has long been a major hobby nation. One of the unique British car hobby cultures is the 'kit car' genre. So when you hear the word 'kit car', you first think of the UK, the home of the genre, but of course it is not exclusive to that country. In Japan, Mitsuoka Motor, well-known for its small cars, also sold kit cars.
Revving Up Commutes: A Rare Glimpse into the Honda ‘Life Light Van’
The Life Light Van is a derivative model of the Honda Life. This light van model is a rare vehicle with very few units produced. The owner, who uses such a Life Light Van for commuting, also owns several other Honda 360cc vehicles. What kind of a luxurious old car life is this?
Quest for Quality: Why Canadian Drivers Choose Japanese Cars
A Nissan Z32 "Fairlady Z" with the front bumper and front right tire removed and the hood and doors open. A peek under the open hood reveals a straight-4 engine different from the V-6 engine, or so-called VG-type engine, that was originally supposed to be sitting there. What on earth is this engine ......?
Intersection of Passion: Blending Work and Pleasure in a Fairlady Z
Dirk, a native of South Africa, came to Japan when he was in his early 20s and bought a Nissan Z33 "Fairlady Z" four years ago. He fell in love with Japanese cars after watching the anime "Initial D" in his home country, and before the Fairlady Z, he drove a Nissan S14 "Silvia" that was designed for drifting. Why did Mr. Durk choose the Fairlady Z?
Art of Transformation: Turning a Mira Walk-Through Van into a Classic
Although the number of variations in body shapes for kei cars, a standard unique to Japan, has decreased due to revisions to collision safety and other legal standards, there were many unique models a long time ago. Among them, the Daihatsu "Mira Walk-Through Van" is still popular among enthusiasts for its special looks. Koichi Nishihara, a resident of Osaka Prefecture, is one of those who were fascinated by such a strangely shaped vehicle.
Power of Black: Crafting a Unified, Bold Look for the GR86
The Toyota "GR" themed morning meeting at A PIT Autobacs Shinonome was held early in the morning on August 18, 2024. Among the unique GR vehicles gathered, we spotted one car that stood out from the crowd: a GR86 clad in a KUHL RACING body kit.
Temptation of Tuning: How a BNR32 Became a 750PS Beast
"Garage Active" is the only specialty store in Kyushu that proposes unique style GT-R customization such as chassis and twin chassis. The shop is a one-stop shop that meets users' needs with hard tuning, full restoration, and other services based on its many years of drag racing experience. We introduce some of the GT-R owners who share the company's originality in machine design. The man featured this time is Mr. Koyama, who purchased an R32 "Skyline GT-R" two years after new and has maintained its two-digit license plate number.
Value of Presence: Why Owning a GT-R Means More Than Driving It
"Garage Active" is the only specialty store in Kyushu that offers unique style GT-R customization such as chassis and twin chassis. The shop is a one-stop shop that meets users' needs with hard tuning, full restoration, and other services based on years of drag racing experience. We introduce a GT-R owner who shares the company's originality in machine design. This time, we will introduce Mr. Motokawa's R34 "Skyline GT-R", who has been a Nissan fan ever since he got his driver's license.
Craft of Connection: Building a Racing Legacy with an A30
The Festival of Sideways Trophy is a celebration of historic motorcycles & four-wheelers. In the spring edition held on May 26, 2024, at Sodegaura Forest Raceway, 22 postwar "Baby Austin" 3 brothers, Austin "A30", "A35", and "A40", gathered for the "Flying A Trophy". In this issue, we introduce Mr. Takehiko Ito, who participated with his wife in their A30. We asked him how he got hooked on British historic cars.
Balance of Beauty: The Glamorous Design of the C3 Corvette Daytona
Yujo Kabayama, 50, from Hyogo Prefecture, has loved American cars since he saw "Trans Am 7000" starring actor Burt Reynolds on TV as a child. Although he had once settled down, he was influenced by the car action drama "Knight Rider," which was re-aired on TV, and was attracted to American cars once again. He had considered the Pontiac "Firebird Trans Am" as a candidate for his favorite car, but as he researched, he fell in love with the style of the Chevrolet C3 "Corvette" and purchased it. I am enjoying a fulfilling car life as a C3 Corvette rider with outstanding looks.
Balance of Hobbies: A Kangoo and the Joy of Two Wheels
The theme of the event "GFGS CARLIFE IN YAHIKO Vol.1" held on June 9, 2024, in Yahiko-mura, Niigata Prefecture, was "cute cars made in the 1980s to 2010s that are used for everyday practical purposes". This time, we would like to introduce Masataka Ohno's car, a first-generation Renault "Kangoo," a car that fits the event's concept perfectly. The moped he brought with him was a Bridgestone, which is extremely rare.
Taming of Power: Ferrari’s SF90 XX Spider on the Streets of France
Based on the Ferrari SF90, the top range of catalog models, the "Circuit Model" can also be driven on public roads. We test-drove its open-top model, the "SF90 XX Spider," on public roads in France. How does this limited edition model, which has been developed with the ultimate in circuit performance, perform on public roads?
Freedom of Versatility: The Ideal Daily Porsche 911 Dakar
We tested the Porsche 911 Dakar, which has been tailored to be a "rally car" with its increased ride height and special suspension, over a long distance from Tokyo to Kyoto. With its high minimum ground clearance, it is easy to drive in town, and its driving performance is on par with the standard model.
Sophistication of Space: Lexus LM’s Latest 3-Row Addition
The long-awaited three-row, six-passenger "Version L" has been added to the Lexus LM luxury minivan. Developed with an emphasis on creating a relaxing interior environment that respects the personal touch of the occupants, Version L will be priced at 15 million yen, 5 million yen less than the "Executive" version.
