Scattered throughout Japan is a legendary chain of shops that carry marvel and pleasure to all who go to.
‘Up Storage’ reads boldly in blue and crimson over yellow, a reputation well-known to JDM fanatics. However for individuals who suppose manga is a few new American political time period, a go to to Up Storage appears like visiting eBay Motors in the true world.
Consider it as eBay circa 2008, again when real bargains might nonetheless be discovered. That’s as a result of Up Storage isn’t your common components store. All the pieces right here is used – wheels, bumpers, headlights, exhausts, and extra. Better of all, no two Up Garages are the identical. So, in case you’re keen to spend the day hopping from department to department, you’re sure to seek out many fascinating components at a fraction of their authentic price.
Buying at Up Storage is a simple strategy to modify your Japanese automotive on a price range, particularly in case you drive one thing standard like a Toyota 86 or Honda Civic. However not everybody desires that simple possibility regardless of how tempting it’s. Take Kazuma Hara, for instance. Whereas visiting his native Up Storage might make his life a lot easier, Hara-san prefers a problem.
“While you get your first automotive, all you need 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 automotive or the identical components as everybody else. Generally it’s higher to take a harder route.”
And so, he selected one thing removed from the mainstream – a JW3 Honda Immediately.
For those who’ve by no means seen one earlier than, the Immediately seems a bit like a shrunken EG Civic. That’s no accident; the mannequin was certainly one of Honda’s kei automotive choices by means of the Nineteen Eighties and ’90s, adhering to Japan’s strict mini-car laws: a 660cc engine and a size underneath 11.2 toes (together with restrictions on width and top).
Hara-san’s love for the Immediately didn’t begin with the automotive you see right here. 5 years earlier, when Hara-san was simply 15 and nonetheless in class, he started racing with one other JW3 chassis.
It could appear to be an obscure alternative, however these automobiles are low cost, mild (solely 650kg), and ideal for honing your race craft. Actually, 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 day by day driver. And certain sufficient, one other JW3 Immediately – this one – quickly joined his secure.
“I do know these automobiles very effectively from racing, so it appeared like an apparent alternative as soon as I had my driving license,” he explains. “The issue is there are lots 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 Immediately.
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 might use.
Inside, Hara-san has taken the same path to his outdated race automotive, stripping the inside and constructing a customized roll cage within the rear. He additionally seam-welded the physique for further power and bolstered the engine mounts.
And who doesn’t love a giant 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 realize,” Hara-san says. “I’ve all the time beloved the Japanese Touring Automotive Championship (JTCC) and from an early age, whereas racing, I all the time wished to make my automotive feel and appear like a racing model. There are quite a lot of Integra and Civics modified in the same manner already in Japan, so I didn’t need to simply copy this look and be like others. That’s why I wished to do it on the JW3 Immediately.”
His favorite JTCC-era automotive, the 1997 Kool Jaccs Honda Accord, can be the inspiration for his Immediately’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 Immediately is that it is just offered in Japan, so it’s already very distinctive earlier than you begin customising it,” Hara-san explains. “I might have purchased a Civic, received many components off the shelf and constructed the automotive in a short time. However it could not have given me the identical feeling, particularly when seeing comparable automobiles that not make you are feeling distinctive. The entire work on my JW3 Immediately has been performed on my own and in my spare time. To drive jogs my memory of racing once I was youthful, and I hope that feeling by no means goes away.”
Mark Riccioni
Instagram: mark_scenemedia
Twitter: markriccioni
mark@speedhunters.com
