For me, 2023 has to this point been an incredible time full of modified automobiles.
Final month, I travelled to Japan to attend Tokyo Auto Salon and hit up a few different occasions, together with the well-known RWB New Yr Occasion. I already miss Japan a lot, however on the identical time I’ve been wanting ahead to getting concerned with the local-to-me Indonesian scene. The primary main occasion on the calendar was the 2023 Bandung JDM Fest, hosted by my good pals at HPT Motorsport.
The occasion was held on the Bandung Conference Heart within the West Java metropolis of Bandung, and was cut up between indoor and outside sections. Because it was raining after I arrived, I made a decision to take a look at the indoor facet first, and was immediately greeted by a diversified vary of Japanese automobiles.
Indonesia has so many distinctive autos and fascinating builds occurring, lots of which nobody is aware of about till an occasion like this comes round.
The Honda NSX is the dream automotive of many, however they’re not often seen in Indonesia. So being within the firm of three examples in a single place at one time was fairly a sight. The black instance is totally inventory, and parked subsequent to it was an all-original JZA80 Toyota Supra. How typically do you see ’90s-era Japanese efficiency icons introduced like this?!
After I noticed this construct I did a double take and needed to ask myself ‘did Honda make a EK Civic station wagon?’ The reply is not any, however they did manufacture an Orthia wagon solely for the Japanese home market, and people automobiles can settle for an EK Civic entrance finish conversion. This explicit Orthia not solely options such a facelift, but additionally a DOHC VTEC B-series engine. I really like wagons, so this was superior to see.
How a couple of 2022 Nismo GT-R parked up subsequent to a HKS GT1000-turbo-kitted and Varis-wide-bodied 2008 Nissan GT-R? Choose your poison…
It’s loopy to assume that the R35 GT-R has been in manufacturing for such a very long time, however in a means that’s an excellent factor as a lot aftermarket assist has been constructed for the mannequin during the last decade-plus.
I couldn’t move by this Honda Civic Estilo with out grabbing a number of pictures. Don’t let the child blue exterior idiot you, this one’s operating an AWD conversion, K24 engine swap and a sequential gearbox.
The rain didn’t actually cease, however I took my probabilities and headed exterior on the venue for the opposite half of JDM Fest. As anticipated, there was a lot to see.
The Bandung modified automotive scene is thought for its love of JDM fashions, and with that comes lots of people operating Subaru Impreza WRX STIs and Mitsubishi Lancer Evolutions. I even picked up my first automotive, a Subaru STI, on this metropolis.
Talking of STIs, this blue Bugeye had a ton of aftermarket elements fitted, plus a constructed engine with nitrous as well. It received the ‘Finest Sedan’ award, so I took the chance to seize a number of pictures after the occasion. Examine these out within the large gallery chapter on the finish of the submit.
This Nissan Juke, with its DTM-style wide-body package, full roll cage and serious-looking engine bay additionally piqued my curiosity. These items are slightly odd in inventory type not to mention modified, however bizarre automobiles are very charming to me.
Studying about uncommon and unknown automobiles is rapidly turning into certainly one of my favourite issues in regards to the Indonesian scene. It’s made me grow to be extra conscious of fashions that may not be appreciated by anybody aside from these who personal them, case-in-point this AWD Toyota Corolla GT-i 16 carry again from the late ’80s/early ’90s.
Indonesia additionally has a powerful 4×4/off-road scene, so I’m at all times pleased to see a bunch of those autos come out when there’s an occasion occurring.
And did I point out kei compacts and vans?!
The 2023 Bandung JDM Fest was a fantastic factor for the Indonesian efficiency and customized Japanese automotive scene. It drew out among the most fascinating automobiles I’ve seen shortly and, better of all, received me super-motivated to discover extra of the tradition surrounding them.
Take a look at the gallery under for lots extra from this occasion, together with the aforementioned Bugeye STI.
Rick Muda
Instagram: ardskellig
Gallery
