Scattered throughout Japan is a legendary chain of shops that carry surprise and pleasure to all who go to.
‘Up Storage’ reads boldly in blue and pink over yellow, a reputation well-known to JDM fanatics. However for many who assume manga is a few new American political time period, a go to to Up Storage looks like visiting eBay Motors in the actual world.
Consider it as eBay circa 2008, again when real bargains may nonetheless be discovered. That’s as a result of Up Storage isn’t your common components store. Every thing right here is used – wheels, bumpers, headlights, exhausts, and extra. Better of all, no two Up Garages are the identical. So, when you’re prepared to spend the day hopping from department to department, you’re certain to search out many attention-grabbing components at a fraction of their authentic value.
Buying at Up Storage is a simple option to modify your Japanese automobile on a funds, particularly when you drive one thing well-liked like a Toyota 86 or Honda Civic. However not everybody needs that simple choice regardless of how tempting it’s. Take Kazuma Hara, for instance. Whereas visiting his native Up Storage may make his life a lot easier, Hara-san prefers a problem.
“While you get your first automobile, all you wish to do is drive to a storage and begin shopping for tuning components,” Hara-san says. “However if you wish to stand out, you may’t use the identical automobile or the identical components as everybody else. Typically it’s higher to take a tougher route.”
And so, he selected one thing removed from the mainstream – a JW3 Honda As we speak.
In case you’ve by no means seen one earlier than, the As we speak seems to be a bit like a shrunken EG Civic. That’s no accident; the mannequin was considered one of Honda’s kei automobile choices by way of the Nineteen Eighties and ’90s, adhering to Japan’s strict mini-car laws: a 660cc engine and a size beneath 11.2 ft (together with restrictions on width and top).
Hara-san’s love for the As we speak didn’t begin with the automobile you see right here. 5 years earlier, when Hara-san was simply 15 and nonetheless at school, he started racing with one other JW3 chassis.
It might seem to be an obscure alternative, however these vehicles are low cost, gentle (solely 650kg), and ideal for honing your race craft. In truth, they’re even a sensible choice for time assault racing, as Dino found in 2023.
Having raced for a number of years earlier than incomes his driving license, Hara-san now wanted a each day driver. And certain sufficient, one other JW3 As we speak – this one – quickly joined his secure.
“I do know these vehicles very nicely from racing, so it appeared like an apparent alternative as soon as I had my driving license,” he explains. “The issue is there are quite a bit fewer components than a Civic or Integra, so if you wish to create one thing distinctive, you’re typically required to do it your self.”
What Hara-san found from speaking with different JW3 house owners is that some components – just like the engine – are shared with the Honda Beat. This data paved the way in which for Hara-san so as to add extra performance-orientated components together with an E07A (MTREC) Beat engine which – though remaining 656cc – has a better rev restrict and extra peak energy than the same variation fitted within the As we speak.
Engine displacement was elevated by a whisper to 700cc and a JB1 Honda Life 4-speed guide transmission with shorter gear ratios was fitted alongside. Then, Hara-san turned his consideration to the consumption and exhaust.
Three Keihin Flat CR (FCR) carburettors with alloy consumption trumpets are fed by the now-removed passenger headlight, whereas an SS Works exhaust system was one of many few off-the-shelf components Hara-san may use.
Inside, Hara-san has taken the same path to his outdated race automobile, stripping the inside and constructing a customized roll cage within the rear. He additionally seam-welded the physique for additional power and strengthened the engine mounts.
And who doesn’t love an enormous ol’ Stack gauge within the centre of the sprint? Finishing the inside is a Ciena bucket seat with a Sabelt harness belt, a Momo steering wheel, and a full-size spare wheel within the again.
As for wheels, Hara-san runs a number of units, together with 14-inch Mugen MR5s wrapped in Dunlop Direzza semi-slicks.
“For the outside, I had a really particular look I wished to attain,” Hara-san says. “I’ve at all times cherished the Japanese Touring Automobile Championship (JTCC) and from an early age, whereas racing, I at all times wished to make my automobile appear and feel like a racing model. There are a whole lot of Integra and Civics modified in the same approach already in Japan, so I didn’t wish to simply copy this look and be like others. That’s why I wished to do it on the JW3 As we speak.”
His favorite JTCC-era automobile, the 1997 Kool Jaccs Honda Accord, could be the inspiration for his As we speak’s livery. However this isn’t a vinyl wrap – Hara-san painted the inexperienced, gold, and white himself, with a good friend making the stickers to finish the JTCC look in ‘micro’ kind.
“What I like concerning the JW3 As we speak is that it’s only bought in Japan, so it’s already very distinctive earlier than you begin customising it,” Hara-san explains. “I may have purchased a Civic, received many components off the shelf and constructed the automobile in a short time. However it will not have given me the identical feeling, particularly when seeing comparable vehicles that not make you’re feeling distinctive. All the work on my JW3 As we speak has been executed on my own and in my spare time. To drive jogs my memory of racing after I was youthful, and I hope that feeling by no means goes away.”
Mark Riccioni
Instagram: mark_scenemedia
Twitter: markriccioni
mark@speedhunters.com
