Webmining: Speziell MH23S Wagon R

Speziell is one of my favorite Wagon R tuners, although they also make a great line of parts for the Hi-Ace van. I like the angel-eye fogs and the dual angled tips. Most of my favorite MH2X's have wacky camber, but I dig this one as-is.

Check their site out HERE

I made tons of progress on the Ruckus over the weekend, hopefully I'll be able to get some pics up soon.

Webmining - Fledermaus/Regina Toyota Vellfire

Fledermaus makes parts for both vans and kei cars, and their aero line is called "Regina". This is a Toyota Vellfire, which is basically an Alphard with a different front end and some interior changes (i.e. Levin vs. Trueno or Mk II vs. Cresta). Personally, I prefer the Vellfire headlights.

I *think* this is an actual photo and not a render. If you can tell, comment. Either way, I love the aero, stance, and wheels. They make INCREDIBLE custom interiors, but that's a post for another day.

Webmining: US-JDM Steez 2

The Japanese obsession with tuning vehicles to look like they'd been modified in the US is apparently not limited to cars.

I stumbled across these shots of a JDM Zoomer that had been completely redone to look like a USDM Ruckus. It has "Ruckus" badges, a "Yoshimura USA" stamped TRC pipe, Bowls and Fatlace stickers (3 of them), and Password JDM parts (I see a bolt kit and radiator screen at the very least).

He's even re-located the horn back out onto the light grille, the exact opposite of what we do.

I guess the TRC is built in Japan, stamped with a "USA" logo for US distribution, and then the guy went to the trouble of having it brought back to Japan to complete the USDM look? Bonkers.

Webmining: US-JDM Steez 1

I try to show some different stuff on here (i.e. Dodge Vans) rather than the same S-chassis, Corollas, and RX7's that are all over the place (not that I don't like them).

Everyone has heard of the "Spo Com" (i.e. Sport Compact) phenomenon, wherein Japanese tuners were putting lambo doors and LED washer nozzles on their cars in an attempt to copy the "F&F" look of half a decade ago.

Everyone wants what they don't have, and so the "USDM" or "US JDM" obsession in Japan has only grown in popularity since. I'm fascinated by this, as it's fun to see how quickly they pick up on US trends over there. I have tons of pictures of this stuff, but for this first look at it, I thought I'd stick to how the Japanese are copying "2009" trends from the US.

Roof Racks, BBS RS, rusted hoods, Fatlace stickers, etc. There are even LHD conversions and USDM (mostly California) license plates. I will be posting more of this in the future.

Sorry for the small pics.

Webmining: Mikami Auto GC10

I love this car and I have more pictures of it, but this will have to do for now.

L20 with triple solexes, kakimoto pipe, S13 Apex'i N1 dampers in the front, HID conversion, Hayashi Streets, good stuff. Far from wild by tuned GC10 standards in Japan, but I'd like it in my garage. Video is terrible quality and short, but at least you hear some music.

Webmining - Nissan ElGrand

Thanks to Google Translator and my limited Katakana literacy, I seem to run across a lot of interesting content just digging through the internet. Until I get bored with it, I'm going to start making a post or two per week with whatever I find.

These shots are from Minkara Carview. All shots on there are limited to 800 x 600, so not wallpaper quality. I will post all content as I find it, so any photo edits (i.e. face/license plate masking) was a part of the original shot.

This is a Nissan ElGrand. Unlike the usual oni-camber/hipari tire look you see in Vanning, this guy seems to have gone for a very track-inspired setup. While I'm sure he has no intention of seriously tracking this behemoth, he definitely gets points for thinking different. I love the brakes and the photography is very good.