The JDM Connection

The JDM Connection

Our society is one of fads; today’s en vogue is tomorrow’s mediocrity. The same status quo finds itself into the automotive universe via trends such as oversized exhaust tips, exaggerated wings, and spinning wheels. Some fall as meteorically as they had risen, others flame out in a blaze of glory. In either case, at one point; tomorrow’s punch line is today’s desire.

Once in a while a trend comes along and it transcends our collective view of cars, racing, and the automotive lifestyle. One such trend is the JDM craze that struck the United States in the early 2000s. What used to be body kits and clear corners gave way to lips and ambers. That’s right, thousands were being spent to make cars look like, well; the way the same car looks in Japan right off the show room floor. Purists went to extremes to convert their rides into JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) replicas with right hand drive conversions (Japanese cars have drivers sitting on the opposite side from American drivers), wheels, headlights, taillights, even windows.

So why the obsession you may ask; it boils down to homage. For those who pledge allegiance to their cars, may wish to honor its pure roots. Spending large amounts of money and time to track down, purchase, and install parts otherwise deemed normal in the vehicle’s country of origin. For others, it’s a “This is how much I know about this car” statement. Not many people know that a 1997 Honda Del Sol is available in Japan with a robotic arm that rises from the trunk to remove the car’s top. But the person who does know is the one who’s spent a small fortune sourcing the parts and converting the car here in the US. Or the 2003 Subaru WRX STi, who’s Japanese counterpart has different headlights which concentrates its beam of light to the driver’s side of the car illuminating the side of the car that one would drive closest to the curb with, since in Japan cars are driven on the opposite side.

This trend, if you can call it that. Has lasted through the years and has proven itself to be a viable sub culture to automotive enthusiasm from coast to coast. It is individualistic, and expressionistic; the makings of which are artistic in nature and not easily dismissed. And though our fiduciary commitments may not be JDM in nature, we salute the efforts and patronage of those whose homage was found deserving of a few words of homage itself.