When it comes to cars made in Japan, there are a few models in particular that have left their mark on enthusiasts around the world. For classic car enthusiasts, it could be the legendary Toyota 2000GT, the exotic NSX, the rally-racing Lancer Evolution or the world-champion Nissan GT-R.
For Mike Garrett, the line of four-door sedans produced by Toyota in the 1990s is at the top of his list. In this article, let’s look at an example from 10 years ago, built by N-Style Custom.
Original feature
Whether it’s the Mark II, Chaser or Cresta, there’s something very special about these Toyota sedans. Part of this might be because I’m an American and we’ve never been lucky enough to have these cars on our shores, but there’s no denying the following and the build potential.
When they left the showroom, the majority of these cars didn’t have anything particularly special. In a way, you could see them a bit like the Buick of Japan – something a modest businessman could use to get around town comfortably. But if you checked the right boxes when ordering your Toyota, you could get one of these four-doors equipped with a twin-turbo 1JZ-GTE inline-six with a manual transmission and limited-slip differential. The result was a car capable of much more than its sedate appearance suggested.
Better yet, like all great Japanese cars of the era, these Toyotas were easily adjustable. Supercar power was just a few modifications away, and their grown-up bodies covered a deceptively athletic and equally scalable chassis. It also didn’t hurt that their long wheelbases were very useful when driving sideways.
Aesthetically, the cars also offered a lot of potential. With the right body parts, ride height and wheels, they could look really badass, making you forget their businessman roots.
For this reason, the Mark II, Chaser and Cresta have been favored by street tuners, drifters and even race car builders for years. Now, 15 or 20 years later, their popularity shows no signs of slowing down.
That brings us to a particularly cool JZX100 Mark II that Larry photographed when he and Dino met the guys from N-Style Custom in Japan.
Owned by Hikaru Ikeda, this JZX100 is typical of the cars N-Style is known for. It has power, a look and an overall vibe that is just plain cool.
In addition to all the usual features that made many of us fall in love with the JZX platform, this one also had some nice little touches to make it stand out. The Carson Toyota license plate frame for example. Now if only you could actually bought one of these cars from Carson Toyota…
Under the hood of Ikeda-san’s Mark II is (unsurprisingly) the stock 1JZ-GTE VVT-i 2.5L engine and while the engine wasn’t designed for massive power, it remains more than enough for fun on the street and on the track. .
Among the work carried out on the engine is an upgrade to a large Trust TD06-25G turbocharger as well as a Trust intercooler and oil cooler. There are also SARD injectors and fuel pump, an APEXi Power FC and a Koyo aluminum radiator to keep things cool.
Don’t forget the custom exhaust either. Lady-musuko, he said – which roughly translates to “useless son”.
Because this JZX100 is widely used in drifting, Ikeda-san devoted a lot of work to the suspension. The car rides on Racing Gear coilovers and the chassis has also been upgraded with TRD sway bars, control arms from Kazama and Yura Mode, and custom knuckles from Taniguchi Auto.
There are endless possibilities when it comes to wheel selection on a JZX100, but it’s hard to argue with Ikeda-san’s choice of the classic Work Meister. The wheels measure 18×10 inches at the front and 18×12 inches at the rear, with 225/40R18 and 265/30R18 tires, respectively.
Of course, you’ll have a hard time fitting these sizes to a stock-bodied JZX100, but the exterior of this Mark II has been significantly modified.
The bumper and side skirts come from BN Sports, as do the ventilated hood and widened front fenders. The rear fenders have been custom modified by N-Style.
Apart from the more aggressive and widened body lines, the car is also highlighted by its unique gold paint and pinstripes which add a very unique touch. Ikeda-san is also a big fan of Spongebob, as evidenced by the decals on the front fenders and the rather unusual sunroof panel. Only in Japan…
Inside, the car remained quite road-friendly.
Or at least as user-friendly as possible while working around a single roll cage. Other interior changes include a pair of Bride Brix seats, a Nardi steering wheel, and Defi gauges. The result is a beautiful blend of style and functionality.
Is it the fastest, most extensively built, or most unusual JZX car on the market? No, but it is not obligatory.
If someone were to ask me why I have such an affinity for these Toyota sedans, a car like Ikeda-san’s would serve as the perfect evidence to support my point of view.
Mike Garrett
Instagram: japonifornie
Photos by Larry Chen
Instagram: larry_chen_foto