If you hear the identify ‘Yokohama port’ talked about, the very first thing that most likely involves thoughts are big-body Toyotas swinging throughout three-lane industrial roads within the early hours of the morning. The x100 chassis and avenue drifting at this location are virtually synonymous with each other, even because the tradition begins to fizzle as a result of a heightened police presence.
I used to be fortunate sufficient to spend a late Friday evening within the port areas of Yokohama with these three – a novel group of JZX100 Crestas.
Though not as common because the Chaser or Mark II, the Cresta has turn into my favorite of Toyota’s JZ-powered sedan line-up, particularly coming from Australia the place Chasers are commonplace. There’s simply one thing particular in regards to the Cresta and its avenue presence.
For these unfamiliar with the nuances between the varied X fashions, the Cresta falls below the X100 (1996-2000) chassis code, following the X90 (1992-1996), however earlier than the X110 (2000-2007). Every of those got here with a number of drivetrains, the preferred of which being the 1JZ-GTE and 2JZ-GTE.
We parked the vehicles up beneath the Yokohama Bay Bridge, an space that’s virtually fully empty as soon as the 5:00pm end-of-day bell rings. Nonetheless, as police tighten down on ‘anti-social driving’, it’s widespread to be moved on rapidly when hanging round these spots.
Every of those vehicles distinction each other in each styling and color, which made it a little bit of a problem to get a perfectly-lit shot of the three collectively, particularly within the poorly-lit port entry roads.
After tempting destiny hanging across the space for some time, we headed to one of many extra common spots used for drift. Though largely industrial, the few residents of those areas are identified to name the police at any signal of a loud exhaust or traction being damaged.
One step forward of this, an exhaust silencer and locking pliers are glovebox necessities.
While there was no drifting for us, a daily to the ports coincidentally got here previous and stopped to say hi there on his method to one other common avenue drift spot.
Diving into the person vehicles, Akira-san’s pink Cresta has much more to it than initially meets the attention.
The automotive has been fully restored and overhauled during the last two years, giving it the looks of a Cresta that has simply rolled off the Toyota manufacturing line in 1999 – however in a modified state.
The automotive is completed in Mazda Soul Pink Crystal Metallic, with a pinstripe down the aspect that ties all of it collectively properly. A BN Sports activities equipment paired with Yokohama AVS Mannequin 6 wheels throughout provides the Cresta a really early-2000s really feel, a time when JZXs dominated Japan’s avenue drift scene.
My favorite factor about this automotive is that Akira-san doesn’t simply park it up; his Cresta sees continuous drift time at circuits all year long. You’ll be able to learn the spec on the finish of this submit.
After parting methods with Akira-san, we parked up in Yokohama China City for a late-night meal at an area noodle spot. This gave me an opportunity to take a look at Alec-san’s silver automotive, which is a superb instance of a easy, however well-executed Cresta.
Alec’s automotive has additionally been resprayed, this time in Volvo Silver White. The Cresta at the moment wears a full Vertex equipment and Automobile Kouba +25mm entrance fenders to comfortably match the SSR SP1s.
Heading house, we grabbed some fast pictures of Jeff-san’s Honda Midnight Blue Beam Metallic Cresta. It grew to become rapidly obvious that these big-body Toyotas weren’t designed with tight Tokyo metropolis streets in thoughts.
Jeff’s automotive is on a full set of Work VS-KF wheels and has a comparatively in depth listing of undercarriage work completed to it, which you may also try within the specs under.
Drifting or no drifting, Friday nights on the Yokohama port are the perfect Friday nights.
Alex Pender
Instagram: noplansco
Akira-san’s 1999 JZX100 Toyota Cresta Roulant G
Engine: Manufacturing facility 2.5L 1JZ-GTE VVTi turbo, HPI Direct Suction Package with HKS Tremendous Energy Move air filter, HPI intercooler, Quantum VVT solenoid, A’PEXi Energy FC engine administration system, HPI Evolve radiator, GP Sports activities clutch fan, Night time Pager water bypass equipment, Blitz oil cooler, Kazama engine mounts
Driveline: Manufacturing facility R154 5-speed gearbox, Kazama transmission mount, Cusco LSD with 3.9:1 remaining drive
Suspension/Brakes: DG5 coilovers with 36kg/mm springs entrance & 24kg/mm springs rear, JZA80 Toyota Supra entrance brake callipers
Wheels/Tyres: AVS Mannequin 6 wheels, 18×10-inch +24 entrance/rear, 215/40R18 tyres entrance, 225/40R18 tyres rear
Exterior: BN Sports activities entrance lip, BN Sports activities aspect skirts, BN Sports activities rear bumper, Vanquish roof spoiler, Soul Pink Crystal Metallic paint
Inside: Bride bucket seat, Nardi Basic steering wheel
Alec-san’s 1996 JZX100 Toyota Cresta Roulant G
Engine: Manufacturing facility 2.5L 1JZ-GTE VVTi turbo, A’PEXi Energy FC engine administration system, Fluidampr crank pulley, aluminium radiator
Driveline: Manufacturing facility R154 5-speed gearbox,
Suspension: D-Max Tremendous Avenue coilovers with 22kg/mm springs entrance & 10kg/mm springs rear
Wheels: SSP Professor SP1 wheels, 18×9-inch +15 entrance, 18×10-inch +20 rear
Exterior: Vertex entrance bumper, Vertex aspect skirts, Vertex rear bumper, Automobile Kouba +25mm entrance fenders, Volvo Silver White paint
Inside: Bride Brix 1.5 driver’s seat, Nardi Basic steering wheel
Jeff-san’s 1997 JZX100 Toyota Cresta
Engine: Toyota Chaser Tourer V 2.5L 1JZ-GTE VVTi turbo, RSE titanium muffler, GP Sports activities fan blade, Fluidampr crank pulley
Driveline: Toyota Chaser Tourer V R154 5-speed gearbox, Kaaz 2-way LSD
Suspension: Entrance – Blitz coilover shock absorbers, 326Power 34kg/mm springs, 326Power helper springs, D-Max pillow & collar set for decrease brackets, SerialNine 25mm prolonged decrease arms, 1484 Shakotan knuckles, JZS161 outer tie rods, Kunny’z steering rack bushings, Skid Racing pressure rods, Rear – Blitz coilover shock absorbers, 326Power 20kg/mm springs, 326Power helper springs, D-Max pillow & collar set for decrease brackets
Wheels: Work VS-KF wheels, 18×9.5-inch +27 entrance, 18×10-inch +47 rear
Exterior: Zenki physique with kouki facelift, JZX100 Chaser entrance bumper, JZX100 Cresta Vertex aspect steps & rear bumper, JZX100 Automobile Kouba +25mm entrance fenders, Midnight Blue Beam Metallic paint
Inside: Bride Brix 1.5 seats, Nardi Basic steering wheel
Extra IAMTHESPEEDHUNTER posts
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