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?
Evolution of Style: Crafting a Unique VIP Crown Majesta Over 15 Years
Toyota's Crown Majesta has won many Drecon award races in the past. It has a unique custom VIP appearance, but the owner, Tomoo Ono, has made small changes over a long period of time, and after repeated successes and failures, he has completed the project. It is filled with advanced techniques that no custom craftsman, no matter how experienced, could have created on the spot.
Legacy of Craftsmanship: The Custom Journey of a VIP Celsior
This is a custom VIP car with a form that is full of originality and has a great impact, unlike a custom car made by combining kit parts. The base vehicle for this machine is the famous Toyota's 3rd generation 30 Celsior, the pinnacle of Japanese VIP cars We interviewed the owner, Kazuhaku Odagawa, about the details of the customization.
Balance of Style: The Minimalist Approach to VIP Car Design
"Babu-chan" is the owner of a Toyota GRS180 series "Crown" all painted in Majora Midnight Purple. She is surrounded by many friends with high levels of customization, and several of them have won dress-up car contests. Surrounded by such cars, one would expect her to escalate in the same extreme direction as her friends, but her preference is for a "natural VIP style.
Pursuit of Perfection: Fuel Efficiency Mastery in the Suzuki Alto
In May 2024, more than 200 Alto, Suzuki's proud light car flagship, were gathered at the "Arukusai Festival," where a wide variety of Alto models, old and new, in various styles and tweaks were on display. One of the most unique and customized cars was the "Fuel Economy Junkie Alto," as the owner himself called it. The tuning menu was full of surprises.
Craft of Passion: The Art of Customizing a 86 GR SPORT with a Unique Touch
At the "Gunma Sonic" held at G Messe Gunma on July 6, 2024. About 200 GR86 & 86 & BRZ cars gathered at the "Gunma Sonic" held at G-Messe Gunma on July 6, 2012. We found a simple but very beautiful Toyota "86 GR SPORT" at the event. We interviewed the owner, Mr. Futatsuka.
Legacy of Precision: A Father and Son’s Shared Love for the GT-R
The “RAYS Fan Meeting” held at Fuji Speedway in 2024 was again filled with cars with new and old RAYS wheels and their owners from all over Japan. Among the approximately 700 cars that participated in the event, we would like to introduce the Nissan R33 “Skyline GT-R” which was created by a prestigious store.
Legacy of Preservation: Keeping the 1981 Lancer EX Alive
In July 28, 2012, we checked out a vehicle of interest at the Kanazawa Classic Car Meeting held at the Japan Automobile Museum in Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture, on Sunday, July 28, 2012. This time we will introduce a 1981 2nd generation A170 series Mitsubishi "Lancer EX" with a square design. What is the reason why it remains beautiful and fully original inside and out, despite being a low grade vehicle that is rarely cherished as an old car?
Mystique of the TE47: A Two-Year Production and Its Legacy
On July 28, 2012, I checked out a vehicle of interest at the Kanazawa Classic Car Meeting held at the Japan Automobile Museum in Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture. This time, we found a beautiful second-generation Toyota TE47 "Sprinter Trueno," which is rarely seen even at old car events, so we talked to the owner. It seems that maintaining this rare model is very difficult?
Legacy of Precision: The 1975 Corona’s Return to the Road
In 2024, I checked out a vehicle of interest at the Kanazawa Classic Car Meeting held at the Japan Automobile Museum in Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture on Sunday, July 28. This time, we will introduce a 1975 5th generation Toyota "Corona" that has returned to the road after a spectacular restoration. It was an international bestseller, so it was saved in the restoration process.
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.
