A decade ago, the stance movement was in full swing, buzzing with each enthusiasm and criticism. Even though it wasn’t a brand new phenomenon on the time, it continued to evolve. Fast forward 10 years, and it’s clear that the stance scene has not only endured, but will likely have its place in modified automobile culture for the foreseeable future.
As a pioneer of the subculture, Japan has all the time done stance well. In a few months time, StanceNation will return to Tokyo (October 13-14 in Odaiba) and convey out a few of the country’s finest low cars. With that in mind, for this week’s throwback post we’re delving into the archives and checking out Dino’s coverage of StanceNation Japan 2014.
2014 Feature
I proceed to be captivated by Japanese automobile culture. I’ve been covering the ever-changing scene professionally because the early 2000s, and in that point I actually have seen many styles come and go. So I’m all the time curious whether a brand new thing is just the newest fad or an actual and sustainable movement. I like to look at, or be ready to accomplish that – and that’s what I do. I take a look at things, report them and present them to you without judgment. But I actually don’t know what to make of this whole stance movement…
That’s precisely what I used to be considering on Sunday after my first quick walk across the 700 or so cars that showed as much as the second StanceNation event ever held in Japan, at Fuji Speedway within the weekend. It’s pretty evident that there has never been anything quite so broad as what’s currently happening with this particular scene. It not only manages to embrace an enormous number of cars, however the pace it continues to realize popularity – and at the identical time evolve – has made it removed from a fad.
That is it right here. That is what an excellent deal of individuals wish to do with their cars.
We’ve been seeing a really evident mainstream shift over to dress-up and style-oriented trends for some time now; performance taking a somewhat second seat within the greater scheme of things. And Japan continues to indicate us the best way.
I like seeing the entire East meeting the West sentiment that goes on here – it’s a real driving force behind the scene. People do all that’s of their power to give you fresh recent touches to their cars, keeping them current with the aim of getting picked up by a global blog or website, or one in every of the numerous Japanese magazines that now cater to this area of automobile culture. In the event you consider just how long Japan has been doing the entire shakotan thing, it’s the rationale you get to see beauties like this Corona Mark II in the identical space as very different varieties of cars.
Like an RWB Porsche for instance, or more specifically the famous Rough rhythm which this time round was sporting one other recent set of wheels.
There’s never a doubt that you simply are in Japan.
Just a few years back VIP guys wouldn’t have considered bringing their cars to a non VIP-only oriented show. But now, together with the actual scene accepting more daring approaches, plainly anything goes.
That’s why there have been rows upon rows of mean looking slammed sedans.
And never wanting to make all of it feel repetitive – because in any case, there are an excellent deal of cars that we’ve seen prior to now – I attempted to focus on things we haven’t covered on Speedhunters. Or perhaps cars that we’ve seen before which might be now looking a bit of different – very similar to this Abflug-kitted FD3S RX-7.
This turned out to be quite a straightforward exercise, since the Japanese put plenty of effort into attempting to wow the crowds. This Nenza Style Daihatsu Mira had a continuing crowd of individuals around it throughout the day, for obvious reasons.
I’ll show you a rear view so that you could gauge just how exaggerated the entire onykyan thing was here!
Then you definately come across other cars that might need more sedate touches, however the platform itself could also be odd. This Nissan Pao was the proper example – one in every of those wonderful curiosities from the early ’90s when the JDM spawned countless quirky cars. Based on the K10 March, I’m guessing that the factory accentuated fenders – especially on the front – made this model a lovely proposition for its owner to change.
Add to that the impressive custom paint that the engine bay was treated to and it’s easy to see why this little automobile stopped me in my tracks.
Now that the F30 BMW 3 Series has been out for a bit of while, tuned examples are starting to indicate up all over the place. And that’s thing because this particular model seems to lend itself to aftermarket upgrades well, as this sedan on SSR Formula Mesh shows us.
Here’s a Ferrari F430 sitting on the identical set of wheels. I like the look, and it’s definitely an improvement on the questionable designs that Ferrari often comes up with for its wheels!
You may’t help but notice, and respect, how much work is required to get a few of these cars sitting the best way that they do.
The Japanese are the masters of fender flaring and there’s nothing anyone can say to alter my opinion.
This work-in-progress Golf was an excellent reminder of the extents you’ve gotten to go to drag off the wild cambered and slammed look.
Then after all, there are the more complex aesthetic touches which some prefer to do.
Sometimes the wilder the higher!
But I’m still of the opinion that the simpler approach will all the time yield the very best result – just so long as you choose your base automobile well. In the event you go for a Toyota Century – the king of all JDM-only luxury sedans – you then’re already half way there. Drop it on a set of appropriately-dished wheels and also you immediately have the type of look that just can’t be emulated with another automobile.
Rocket Bunny aero treatment for the FD3S continues to realize popularity now that deliveries are in full swing. Is there a better-looking kit for the series six onwards Mazda RX-7?
And should you desired to see more artworks from TRA Kyoto then there was plenty to see on the very top end of the automobile park next to the doorway to the show. Together with the Sarto Racing Mercedes-Benz CLK, Enkei had gathered up Miura’s own Scion FR-S and Mazda RX-7 to indicate off the brand new 6666 wheels they’ve released in collaboration with Rocket Bunny.
They’re the identical wheels which might be run on the KM4SH 86, which was also on the event and showing off Speedhunters’ soon-to-be-released collaborative aero kit for Toyota’s popular platform.
All of those cars were sitting right next to the Speedhunters booth, which was fully stocked up with our latest merchandise.
There was definitely no lack of kyusha to bask in, but out of all of the cars that I got here across on the day it was this old style Crown coupe that I’d have happily taken home with me. Other than the incontrovertible fact that the two-door kujira or ‘blue whale’ generation of the Crown is kind of rare, what really made it stand out was its wheels.
The old Porsche Fuchs that were tucked contained in the Crown’s expansive wheel arches added so much awesome to this automobile.
Here’s one for all you S30 lovers on the market – nice wheels, Works flares and a G-nose conversion for the last word Z-look.
While it takes plenty of effort to execute a posh one-off conversion, it’s probably twice as hard to acquire a certain ‘look’ with minimal intervention. Or at the very least making it appear like it was minimal. In my book simplicity continues to rule high above anything, and this USDM 240SX might as well be an envoy for this school of thought, because it oozed presence by nailing those few details that make a automobile sit good. By this I mean the flaring of the stock fenders, the suspension modifications and eventually the wheel and tyre alternative. Slammed perfection right here!
Here’s the identical approach, but with a JDM S13, making this pair two of the very best S-chassis machines at the entire show.
The RAYS Volk Racing TE37 will all the time be synonymous with performance, and that’s a theme that gave the impression to be carried right the best way through this AP1 Honda S2000.
Minivans are by far the most well liked selling kind of cars in Japan, in order that they proceed to be big contenders on this scene. And similar to the primary StanceNation Japan event in fall 2013, there have been plenty to be seen at Fuji this time around too.
And a few more extreme than others!
The actual fact is, it doesn’t matter what type of automobile you own – show the hassle that you’ve gotten put into it, and also you might be respected just as much because the guy who has forked out his life savings to accumulate a high-end machine.
Add a touch of national pride, very similar to this Mira is doing, and you’ll earn much more points.
It would just appear like a car parking zone filled with cars, but it surely actually took a protracted time to walk through the show – mostly because I used to be constantly being distracted by specific cars. The NSX all the time tends to do that to me. It’s one in every of those ageless legends from the past that over 20 years on continues to exude presence – much more so when sporting some JGTC-inspired aero.
Remember my post on the true essence of drifting? Well, if you’ve gotten sharp eyes you would possibly recognise this Rocket Bunny-kitted Halloween Racing S13 from that night up within the Kobe mountains. The automobile has since been treated to a pleasant clean up and a unique set of wheels, and is looking higher than ever.
Representing the entire ’80s movement beautifully was this Supra Celica on a set of Hayashi Street wheels – one other example of the way you don’t actually need much to get your automobile looking its best.
Just a few cars up the road was this F31 Nissan Leopard running RB-power and a highly polished set of SSR Longchamp XR-4 wheels. It’s a automobile we’ve seen before at other events, but one I just needed to share again.
Identical to the stance movement, Shuichi Nakagawa’s Bad Quality 180SX is all the time evolving. The Team Review automobile appeared to have been stripped of its front and rear diffusers, front canards and even the Rocket Bunny ducktail spoiler – a Nissan RPS13 item taking the latter’s place. There was no contrasting fluro graphics either, perhaps a touch that he’s going to be coming up with one more set of changes for the 2015 Tokyo Auto Salon.
And speaking of changes, here’s one automobile that appears to be painted a unique color every time I see it. Call it a new-age-VIP-style-meets-JDM-Euro and also you could be half solution to coming up with a solution to describe it!
The highest a part of the car parking zone where the show was being held was hiding some true jewels. They included this R33 Skyline from Show Up in Osaka, one of the vital famous and revered paint shops in the entire of Japan.
Drift-meets-VIP might be the best way I’d describe this old Cresta. The massive front-mounted intercooler was a touch to more tail-kicking power under the bonnet, while the prolonged and blended fenders are a pure VIP-style touch.
It sat very aggressively – no air bags to save lots of the side skirts or bumpers over rough roads.
There have been definitely some surprises at this 12 months’s StanceNation Japan show, including this Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X. Other than the additional power the tuned engine with its aftermarket turbo now provides, it was sporting a wild one-off wide-body conversion.
And after I say wild I mean wild. A very good 150mm having been added on all sides of the automobile and as much venting and aero work as any WTAC automobile would ever need.
And where there’s an Evo, an Impreza can never be too far-off. Try the Rocket Bunny-inspired flares which have made way for a custom set of Work XSA 04Cs on this Bugeye.
Regardless of how recent or old the automobile could also be, there’s all the time a spot for it on this ever-growing genre of world automobile culture.
This might be the one most impressive aspect of all of it. Stance doesn’t discriminate – it welcomes, and that’s precisely why it has all turn into so big. It’s hard to say where it is going to all go in the following years, but one thing is for certain – whether you prefer it or not, it’s probably not going to stop growing and evolving.
The Speedhunters
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Dino Dalle Carbonare
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dino@speedhunters.com
This Article First Appeared At www.speedhunters.com
