When it comes to JDM style and flare, much can easily get lost in translation. For instance, the Japanese have a habit of abbreviating two words, then combining the two abbreviations to make a completely new word. So you end up totally confused if you're scouring the Yahoo! Japan Auctions trying to replace your exhaust manifold and have no clue that what you should be searching for is what's called an Eki-Mani.
Usually, finding something like an after-cat is as easy as picking up your favorite car magazine, reading a few reviews and making a phone call to order your parts. For decades, the Japanese have continued to raise the bar of tuning standards, so it's only natural for us to look to them when it comes to building the type of performance vehicles that get us excited.
For a select group of enthusiasts it means doing a lot more research, endless email strings and countless international phone calls and even several hours of road trips to an out-of-the-way shop to get the last of a limited edition or an ultra-rare part. These rare and hard-to-come-by parts are essential if you want to pull off the ultimate tasteful vehicle in a style that's seldom done well. This month we were able to find two vehicles that not only meet but exceed every standard of JDM style.
Shaun Stranahan and Charles Cha both decided that their Evolution MRs had to be absolutely flawless when it came to JDM style. Because both owners share a passion for the JDM school of thought and wanted the best for their cars, it's no wonder they share a few of the same parts.
The interiors of the cars had to have the hallmarks of Japanese perfection, so only parts from the top names in the tuning world would do. For example, only Takata Racing harnesses could be trusted to keep the drivers planted in the special-order Bride carbon-Kevlar LoMax buckets chosen by Charles. His car also sports a Ralliart center roll bar and rearview mirror, including the cute little Ralliart charm hanging from it-make sure you pick yours up when you visit the gift shop at Ralliart in Japan, because that's the only place they sell it. Shaun, on the other hand, opted for the Bride Japan seat. If you thought you knew everything JDM and have never heard of the Bride Japan, don't feel too bad. It's actually a special-edition Bride Vorga, and there were only 100 of them made.
On the outside, these great minds again thought alike. The U.S. rear bumpers had to go because they wouldn't be able to fit the Kansai rear carbon diffusers and exhaust heat shields made for the JDM EVO bumpers. Naturally, a set was put on the next boat just to make sure the parts had perfect fitment. Stillway engine dampeners and Mitsubishi JDM batteries are fitted on both vehicles as well, but that's where the similarities end and the cars start to take on personalities of their own.
The JDM battery can actually be considered a modification, even though it's an OEM part. According to Charles, this is a "summer cell" battery and is slightly smaller than the U.S. OEM batteries we have. (Never mind how you get one shipped halfway around the world and through customs.) Yet it was necessary for Charles because the intercooler piping and carbon intake from Monster Sports, the only one in the States, wouldn't fit otherwise.
The ARC Street Spec intercooler is just as rare, also the only one in the U.S. It feeds air from a Tomei ARMS M7960 turbine, which Tomei says is the largest bolt-on turbo for the EVO, having the potential to make more than 400 hp. As you can imagine, it moves a lot of air. To handle all the spent gases, Charles decided on a 70mm (2.7-inch) Amuse exhaust that weighs just 4.5 kg (10 lbs).
In fact, you start to notice a theme with Charles' car. The limited production 17x9 Forged Monster Sport wheels are the only set stateside, and the Monster Sports carbon wing is not only the first one in the U.S. but is the last one ever produced.
By Jon Gandy
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