The Tokyo Auto Salon is known for insane builds, but that kind of stuff can be overwhelming. However, there are stock or mostly stock cars being restored and preserved, even among the pandemonium. Here are some of the cars that we came across.
You may know the brand KeePer from the KeePer Supra GT500 in the SuperGT series, but at the KeePer booth there was a Nissan 180SX. It looked bone stock but for its bazooka-sized exhaust. KeePer is a Japanese car care products company, and they were showing off their new DIA II “diamond coat” resin that protects paint and keeps the surface shiny.
At Wise Square, a parts manufacturer and car restoration shop lurked a 1982 Nissan Fairlady 280Z. The one-owner car was recently restored after sitting for 20 years in its full Manhattan color scheme glory. The car will be featured in Nippon Television’s “Treasure Mountain” reality show, which finds “junk” items across Japan that can be turned into treasure, like vintage clothing, run-down houses, and old cars.
The Auto Salon also has a section for cars to be auctioned, and this pristine FD Mazda RX-7 was among them.
The Nihon Automotive Technical School, or NATS, is known for its outlandish builds, but this year they brought a restored first-generation Honda Life. It had at some point been painted yellow, but the goal here was to bring it back to factory specification, so it underwent a complete nut and bolt restoration, even down to reproduction stickers on the brake fluid reservoir covers. Students planned to break in the Life on a graduation trip that doubles as a test run.
Showing off a set of Modena wheels at the Auto Strada booth was a clean, black Nissan Fairlady Z. Originally introduced in 1989, these Italian-inspired 5-spokes were a popular style for Z32s in the 90s. Last year parent company Abe Shokai announced they were re-releasing them after 20 years out of production. It was only fitting that they were on a Z32.
The Yokohama Tires booth displayed a beautiful white NA1 Honda NSX wearing Advan RG-D2 wheels (F:17×8.0J+37, R:18×9.0J+43) wrapped in Advan Sport V107 tires.
Last but not least, Toyota’s Gazoo Racing booth had the GR GT3, Toyota’s next supercarr that will keep the flame of Japanese sports cars alive. Wide, long and low, it is completely stunning to behold in person. We can’t wait to see one outside of the confines of a convention center.
