Moving swiftly along with the Exciting Car Showdown coverage it's now time to head outside the Nagoya Port Messe exhibition center and check out the parking lot, for an equally diverse selection of top notch JDM rides. The best thing about taking a look in the parking area of shows like this is that you know you are seeing an authentic selection of rides, cars that are driven on Japanese roads, not just prepared for display at shows. So sit back as I take you through some of the coolest ones I came across.
A60 Supra on vintage rims.
I'm sorry to all R33 owners out there but here are my two favorite GT-Rs, the BNR32 and BNR34, both exhibiting a high level of aesthetic tuning.
Toyota Altezza, a model we don't get to see quite enough of on here.
Old school RA21 Celica. Love the color matched rims.
Tec-Art's tuned AE86.
As I was walking down towards the main entrance of the parking lot the Silvia club guys started arriving.
Autozam AZ-1, one of the coolest Kei-cars ever made. Gotta love the 90's graphics.
The Ise-Wangan that crosses the Nagoya-bay is one of the most expensive stretches of expressway in Japan. With so many bridges connecting the small islands built on reclaimed land it's not surprising they charge so much for tolls. They do make for some very nice backdrops!
Of all the Eunos Roadster conversions out there this has to be one of the most curious looking!
Z10 Soarer 2.8GT.
How about something modern for a change like this Top Fuel CR-Z with a unique center exit exhaust system.
More oldschool Soarers…
…this particular example I run into tuned for some drift action with a fully stripped out exterior.
Every time I head down to the Nagoya and Kansai areas of Japan I'm always surprised how popular Fits and small Hondas are. Seems the Kanjo racer image is still very much alive. The purple itasha S15 next to the Fit adds a bit of a contrast.
More GT-R goodness.
Vintage JDM wagons can't be beaten.
All we needed here was an MR-S and we would have had the complete MR-2 generation lineup!
You might have noticed the stunning selection of Toyota sedans in the opening shot…
…well here is a closer look of the brown Mark II and the dark green Chaser.
A lonely S13.
The Lightening S15 we first saw early in the year at the Tokyo Auto Salon.
S15 front S14 Silvia from Masa Motorsports
T200 Celica with a couple of drift spec Skylines.
Kaminari 260ZR
Not sure which is cooler, the panda Levin or the S15 Silvia Varietta cabriolet next to it!
I ended up finding quite the Supra gathering on one side of the vast parking lot…
…with quite a lot of special cars. Check out this wide body example…
…or how about this one tuned by Esprit.
And another one!
This guy came all the way from Sodegaura in Chiba-ken to show off his show-spec Mazda Axela…
…sporting igns aero and a very catchy colored body and wheels.
Oldschool R30 Skyline on Hoshino wheels…
…and more modern E34 4-door Skylines with GT-R front conversions.
It is Honda month after all so I thought I'd better show at least a few S2000s!
This Z34 proves the stock look can really work when the car is lowered appropriately!
More Honda perfection with this NSX from Weisse.
Darn drifters!! LOL
In Part 4 I'll be heading back into the main show area to continue the coverage. Back with more from Nagoya soon!
Nagoya Exciting Car Showdown 2011
-Dino Dalle Carbonare