Brochures, Foglights, Tires, and Non-Smoking Ashtray's?

More JDM/OEM stuff has been on eBay lately.

Needless to say, I'm stoked about that. However, I lost out on one of the items I had just seen via my Accessories brochure.

The optional "non-smoking" ashtray complete with red felt lining:



Sniped it to...but was a dollar short. (yeah I snipe. Shop VICTORIOUSLY)

Oh well.

A pair of OEM 91-93 foglights came up...so I'm going to try to attain those...



These would really be beneficial as I am currently rewiring my JDM headlights on my Project Daily Driver to work with my OEM foglight switch, but I don't have the wiring harness/connector to go with it. So if I can get those foglights with the switch/wiring, I could then wire them in together with the JDM fog's in my headlight assembly's.

Plus...91-93 OEM foglights are uber-rare and this is the first time I have ever seen them listed.

On to the tires. Finally...(well almost) I will soon have some hard earned tax money back from dear old Uncle Sam and will be able to put some new rubber on those 16" GS wheels that have been sitting in my room glaring at me for the past couple of months.

What kind of rubber? I'm thinking Falken Azenis via Discount Tires (via eBay) for around $300 shipped.






More on that later.

Oh, and I finally got around to getting my JDM brochures to a friend to scan them into a PDF file. And as soon as thats done...you faithful viewers get to see what few eye's have seen.

Until next time.....

Hyped/Bummed

"I can't be complacent with moderate success" ~Steve Berra

So I finally recieved my Honda "Accessories Catalogue" today in the mail and I'm stoked. Like I said earlier, this is a big step for Project Legend in that I have more source material to help with the finding of many sought after parts that are needed to attain the fruition of Project Legend.

However, money (at this juncture) is an even bigger step. And I'm stumbling because of my lack thereof.

Many of the parts/accessories listed in my newly attained catalogue; I already have.

But there are three listed on eBay right now that I do not. Nor do I have the money necessary to get them.

What are they?

They are the optional trunk storage tray, optional exhaust tip, and optional window visors:













Oh well. Who wants to lend me a cool couple hundo's?

Anybody?


Well, whatever. I started this post with a quote so I guess I'll end it with one.

"Just work hard. If you grind at it, it's either gonna work out or it's gonna fail and you're gonna figure something else out. Just continue to try, I guess." ~Keith Hugnagel

Accessorizing w/Honda

I recently acquired some more source material for Project Legend via a seller in Australia.



I believe this is the 1991 Accessories Brochure but I’m not going to be sure until I actually receive it in the mail. Basically, Honda’s “Access” division sells a whole bunch of optional stuff for each chassis it produces and this is a catalog/brochure highlighting such options.



I’ve only seen this brochure once or twice before on eBay and both times could not really afford it. This time I could though…but in the process I had to outbid a fellow acura-legend.com forum member who I greatly respect to do so. I felt bad about it as I didn’t realize it was him until after the auction had ended but we talked and I intend to scan the brochure and send him a copy via a PDF file or something.

This brochure is a great addition to my growing KA7 info/library as well as a great resource for my overseas connects and the like who help me in my search for such parts. Some of the stuff listed in the brochure I already have, but much of the stuff listed I do not. More on this when it actually arrives, which should be any day now. It has already taken a while though because, as I said before, is coming from Australia. Speaking of Australia, a friend of a friend of mine just moved out there and since he is somewhat knowledgeable in “car” dialogue, he has said that he would look out and research some parts for Project Legend for me and help me with acquiring of them.

Stay tuned for more blog’s soon. Project Legend continues……

My Visit to King Motorsports

On Friday, the 1st of February, 2008, I took it upon myself to drive out to King Motorsports in New Berlin, Wisconsin. As I said in a previous post, I had emailed Scott Zellner (CEO/President) earlier the week before about stopping by. Basically, because King Motorsports is the sole authorized North American Mugen distributor, I figured who else better to contact in regards to seeing and getting my hands on an actual Mugen Catalog from the early to mid nineties so that I could gain more info on parts for Project Legend.
He said he’d try to dig some up and when I arrived; and try he did. This is as close as he came though….

A 1998 Mugen Catalog with but one small pic of Mugen’s aero applied to a KA7….


This official Mugen pic is one that’s already widely available via the internet however and did not do much to further my knowledge of Mugen’s offerings for my chassis past what I already pretty much knew. However, Scott said that there were a few other places that he could check for me in order to help me out. Basically, because King Motorsports was still in process of transitioning to a new facility, they still had much of their older stuff in there previous location. He also said that before around 1996, Mugen’s catalogs were specific to individual chassis’ instead of an all-vehicle encompassing main catalog that they had since transitioned to. Furthermore, he said that he DISTINCTLY remembered what the one for the KA7 chassis looked like and said he would do his best on tracking it down for me.

Beyond that, he went on to tell me what I already knew in that because my chassis is so old, the only way that I was going to find the Mugen parts that I so desired for it, or JDM parts in general; I was pretty much limited to JDM connects searching for them via junkyards in Japan or via eBay offerings.

Scott also said that because Japan’s economy is run the way it is, most residents would spend about the same amount of money that they would on a new car as they would an older model because of taxes. So not a whole lot of people are driving around in older cars like the KA7 chassis, and if they are, they probably aren’t interested in Mugen parts for it as they are ridiculously hard to find for them even in Japan. They would more likely be more interested in V.I.P. styling it than using Mugen parts to modify them.

The day wasn’t a complete loss though. While I was there I made some rather “large” purchases of some Mugen license plate bolts



and an extra fancy cell phone strap that I am instead using as a key fob because it looks ridiculous hanging off of my Blackjack and scratches the screen.




Awesome? Yes. I know. I also got to look at some of Mugen’s NR wheels up close and personal and am strongly considering them for Project Legend….



More on wheels in my next post.

a.k.a. "bippu"

About this time a couple of years ago…or maybe even a little bit before, I started to see a few magazine spreads and article in the U.S. Auto Magazines featuring “V.I.P.” styled cars. Mostly Lexus and Infiniti’s. The majority of these articles and spreads seemed to involve the word/company “Junction Produce” in them. Intrigued, I proceeded to research this type of styling as well as investigate the company Junction Produce itself. Simply put, it was inspiring.

Well, some of it at least. Despite similarities to U.S. “dub” styled cars and SUV’s that we Americans seem to enjoy so much, a lot of what I saw was new and unique to anything that I had ever seen before. Many of the featured cars that I saw exuded so much class already , that they really did not need to be modded all that much anyways. Therefore, the majority of the additional mods to the cars are somewhat subtle to the untrained eye but exhibit functionality as well as visual appeal.

What does all this have to do with Project Legend? Well…seeing as how my car is also a luxury sedan….and of Japanese origin…..I intend to incorporate some of the V.I.P. styling cues in regard to the interior of my car as well as other aspects and involved in the build.

At some point in my blogging, I’ll get to work on a list of different URL’s that I’ve used, but for now…check
http://www.junction-produce.co.jp/english/
for more info on them and there offerings to the V.I.P. culture/market.

Besides that, here’s some other stuff that I’ve found online…….


First off, let me say that the first quote is a re-edit from…
http://www.highsocietyvip.com/vipstyle.html
so go there if you want to see the original version. Its almost word for word except for some grammatical changes and the incorporation of photo’s. Secondly, the other quotes were taken from two guys featured in C16 Magazine. If you want to check that out, go to…
http://www.c16mag.com/
where you can digitally download there issues. I recommend it.

So, here we go, some really good info on all things VIP……

VIP Style Cars

History:
VIP cars stated approximately thirteen or fourteen years ago in Japan. However, they were not known as VIP cars. Originally, VIP cars came from a team named Black Cockroach in Wakayama Prefecture. That team's cars were published in the national car magazine for the first time in Japan. The Black Cockroach had black Cima, Cedric, Celsior and Crown, which were very unique and exemplified the owner's personalities. Many have VIP cars tied to the Japanese mafia, better known as the Yakuza, to the beginnings of the VIP scene in Japan. Afterwards, a team named VIP Company evolved that belonged to Mr. Taketomi, the eventual owner of Junction Produce, a leader in VIP styling in Japan. It was popular in Osaka Sooner and later, Sendai city in Miyagi prefecture. The popularity of VIP cars spread to Sendai city and Young Auto magazine, which brought Chibaragi, a name of remodeling cars, to the public.

Before naming VIP Car, those cars including racing, motorcycle gang and remodeled racing cars were called a Haiso car (high society salon cars), a Kowamote car (coercive atmosphere car) and an Oshidashi car (push car). The Young Auto established a corner of the customizing scene by restyling luxury cars. They coined the nam VIP CLUB when the owners displayed their remodeled luxury cars. These cars would become what we know as VIP.

The VIP scene, eventually lead to the establishment of VIP Car Magazine., a company and magazine that was started by a publisher from Young Auto Magazine. VIP Car Magazine showed remodeled luxury cars and called them VIP Cars. The VIP Car magazine has been distributed for ten years, mainly in Japan. In Osaka, there is a VIP company team, which dressed up VIP cars. This company was started by Mr. Taketormi and he was a pioneer who first drove the popularity of VIP cars approximately fourteen years ago.

Traditional Definition:
VIP car is very simple. Usually pronounced V-I-P (vee-eye-pee) and meaning Very Important Person, the true pronunciation is VIP, or “bippu,” where it's pronounced like a word. Cars that fit into the VIP category are predominantly rear wheel drive Japanese luxury platforms such as the Celsior, CIMA, Cedric/Gloria, and Crown, just to name a few. These cars are usually the more expensive models and are usually purchased by the more affluent car owners. It's not a VIP Car unless it starts with one of these cars. Many VIP purists will not consider any other platforms as VIP, even though other cars can take the styling cues from the larger VIP sedans. This is commonly known as VIP Styling.

VIP Characteristics:

VIP cars can loosely be translated to “Low and Wide”. Many have argued that VIP cars can include European and even American cars. These can be considered VIP Style as long as they follow in the VIP guidelines, but they will never be VIP Platforms. Some general characteristics of VIP Style are:

• Large/wide wheels (many times with big lips and low offsets) that are flush to the fender



• Stretched tires in order to tuck the wheels under the fenders


• Low stance via adjustable suspension or air ride


• Substantial body kits to achieve the “Wide” look


• Custom body work to accentuate the “Wide” look


• Custom video and audio components and installations


• Wood grain interiors with additional trays and extensions on the dash


• Custom seats and mats


• Additional and upgraded internal and external lighting


• Louder exhausts with larger tips



• Engine/performance work (though not as popular)


VIP Culture:
When VIP car enthusiasts in Japan build their car, they immerse themselves in the culture of VIP Car. Accessories like Noburi Flags, clothing, lighters, teddy bears, fans, and every accessory that a company makes are purchased and proudly displayed. Many automotive events and gatherings in Japan are steeped in the tradition of the VIP culture. Simple gatherings of enthusiasts can turn into major events. As usual in the Japanese culture, the cars are the stars, but socializing and even food are main attractions. VIP Car has a sense of pride within the Japanese community on its luxury vehicles.

VIP Styling:

VIP styling is taking the aspects that were started in Japan with the VIP Cars and merging them onto cars that aren't really considered VIP car platforms. Some platforms that are gaining popularity are the K-cars (Vitz, Scion, and other econo-box cars), vans (Odyssey and Previas) and many other vehicles (G35, IS300, 300Zs) that have been heavily influenced by the VIP Style. That also has trickled into our US market with the larger cars like the Chrysler 300C and Dodge Magnum.. European cars can also be influenced by the VIP cars, and have been gaining popularity in the US.

US Market for VIP:
Where does this all fit into the US market? With companies who's operations are based here are now trying to define the VIP market as Bentleys, Benz's, and other high end Euro cars, it basically leaves out the cars where it all began, the Lexus GS and LS, and the Infiniti M and Q series. Yes, the US automobile market may not have the choice of Japanese luxury cars found in Japan but we make due with what we are provided. However the view of VIP Car or VIP Style Cars is being EXTREMELY skewed in the US and leaves the hardcore VIP Car enthusiast with a sour taste in its mouth. VIP Car starts with the platform first. 350Zs, G35s, Scions, Accords, and other cars are defining the VIP Style Car… “VIP Style Cars” was mainly a term devised to help define the difference from a VIP Car platform and a car accessorized with VIP styling. Whether you own a VIP Car or own a VIP Style Car… Yes, we will have to define our own definition of VIP Style Cars but we can't stray too far from the foundation of it all. There will be those of us who will stick to our VIP Car platforms and those who will decide that their Scion fits the platform as well. Both sides are correct in that matter. What is wrong is to decide that our VIP Car platforms are not acceptable platforms of VIP here in the US.”

Here are some insightful quotes by two stateside progressive VIP builders; Kelvin Tohar & Binh Tran.

"My Definition of VIP can be broken down into four words: Luxury, Elegance, Style, and Practicality. Luxury: for what the car is - enhancing the already luxurious platforms these sedans are known for. Elegance: regarding the classy smooth lines these cars have. All modifications including the body kits made for these sedans should enhance and compliment the stock body lines. Style: for the culture aspect of the VIP/Auto luxury movement found both in Japan and the States. Practicality: for the drivabilitiy of these cars - who wants to build another car that they can’t daily drive? I know I don’t.” But…” I may have to trim the quarter panels to accommodate the aggressive offsets of some bigger wheels."

"That’s pretty much it: clean, simple, and everything fits like it should, almost like factory parts, but nicer."

"Convenience and comfort—you can’t beat it."

"With the interior, we tried to keep it very simple and clean to compliment the outside, keeping with the VIP theme."

So basically that’s it. With Project Legend, I intend to incorporate a lot of the VIP styling found in cars from different makes, models, and manufacturers. While I don’t intend to make it completely VIP, much of what was said ties into what I am trying to accomplish in the process of my build.


P.S. The King Motorsports post is coming soon.....and I've got stuff to show for it!

Pronounced MOOOOO-Gen. Not like "vue"

It means endless....and has two kanji symbols and a whole hell of a lot to do with Honda.

There is but one name....and that is the name MUGEN.

There is but one North American sole licensed distributer.... KING MOTORSPORTS....and I've spoken with Scott at King today and have arranged for a meeting this coming Thursday.

More on this and other things Mugen soon.

Project Legend has been snowed in as of late. But that doesn't mean that I'm not plotting power moves and biding my time like an evil genious....because I am.

Redifining JDM

Just a little copy paste job from some online reading I've been doing. Dudes right on the money with pretty much everything he says.


"REDEFINING JDM: A LOOK TO THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE."

The Real JDM is a monthly column written by Ben Schaffer of Bespoke Ventures. Bespoke Ventures operates a number of JDM related businesses including: Bulletproof Automotive, Top Secret III, Ings+1 USA, VARIS USA, HyperRev USA and Bespoke VIP. Visit www.bespokeventures.com for more information.

"The meaning of the acronym JDM over the past decade has evolved and morphed. Although 10 years ago it was relatively uncommon to hear people using the acronym JDM, today JDM has become a word on its own. A word commonly used by car enthusiasts, found on magazine covers, used within the names of hundreds of registered business corporations and also comprising the title and focus of this column. While Japanese tuning parts are fascinating to discuss monthly, this month we’ll reflect on what JDM means on a more universal level.

Technically JDM stands for Japanese Domestic Market. It has been used for many decades as a label for goods sold specifically to Japanese based residents within the country of Japan. Its origin has truly nothing to do with the automotive aftermarket, and applies to any and all items that could be sold. A little more than a decade ago, JDM started being mentioned more in conversation amongst aftermarket enthusiasts. What started as an acronym to describe Japanese market parts, gradually became something that was more comfortable and commonly used to describe a wider range of things. First it was used to describe cars like a JDM right-hand drive Civic. Then it was used to describe OEM tuning parts like one-piece JDM Prelude headlights. Later it was used to describe aftermarket parts like JDM RE Amemiya GT wings. After that it was used to describe aftermarket parts officially sold in America like Toda camshafts. Then it jumped to the next level, JDM became a basis for a style, no longer limited to items sold only within Japan. For example, paint colors like hot pink, wheel colors like matte black, reverse vinyl graphics, and other related styles all became labeled as JDM, regardless of where they were built or sold.
What we find today is no longer the acronym JDM but the evolved word JDM. The reason is simply because the definition of Japanese Domestic Market has not kept up with the use and common meaning of the scene today. JDM as a word encompasses and defines something far more massive than it was originally intended. As this reality relates to enthusiasts, I often find people arguing over the definition of the word JDM. For example, are GReddy parts JDM anymore? They are sold officially in America so technically no if using the original definition. In some cases Japanese branded parts are not made in Japan, but are sold only in Japan, is that JDM? By definition yes, but some would argue not. Is a color JDM? By old standards no but by new standards yes, it can be.

In short, there is no right or wrong answer for what is JDM. It will mean different things to different people. In a sense, it means the same thing as “cool” except with a cultural twist to it. Nobody can define cool, as it relates to Japanese car tuning culture, it is simply always up for debate.

I have a personal connection with the word JDM, as an enthusiast, entrepreneur and a col¬umnist. I’d like to share with you, my suggested redefinition of JDM as I believe it to be. This redefinition of JDM serves as a backbone for what The Real JDM stands for, what I stand for and it is ultimately my motivation and passion behind virtually everything that I do.

THE REDEFINITION OF JDM
JDM is a mentality, an attitude, a culture, a desire, and a philosophy:

JDM IS INNOVATION.
Through a no expense spared, no shortcuts taken mentality, Japanese manufacturers consistently innovate with new performance and style, often trickled down from JGTC technology and applied to street cars. Over the past decade, countless new trends and successful applications have been created and popularized by JDM innovation. This is thanks in part to two factors, one is the Japanese culture’s famous attention to quality and detail. The second factor is that Japan’s market is perfect for high-end products because the cost of car ownership is prohibitively expensive and as a result the average car owner is more accepting of paying top dollar for tuning parts.

JDM IS AN ATTITUDE.
I and certainly many other JDM enthusiasts have a tendency to be early adopters. What this means is that we scour the world for underground activities, lifestyles and products that are refreshing, unique, exciting and that we relate to. Everything from skateboarding, hiphop and of course JDM starts from the underground and works its way up. JDM is lead by those who look for the next exciting thing, apply it to their lives and set the trends for the world. It is not uncommon for those into JDM tuning to also be into underground fashion like A Bathing Ape, underground music like mashup remix projects of DJ Danger Mouse/Jay-Z, and underground collectables like Kubrick vinyl figurines.
JDM IS A CULTURE.
Much like how rap has started as a music and grown into a lifestyle and culture, JDM has also. Ten years ago it was unlikely for a white emcee to get on stage and freestyle and it was also unlikely for white enthusiasts to represent JDM tuning in hotspots like the Los Angeles scene. Hiphop started out as nearly all black and JDM started out as nearly all Asian, yet both have evolved into cultures that are accepting of people of all backgrounds, so long as they properly rep¬resent the culture to the fullest. JDM parts are our producer/DJ, enthusiasts are our MCs, drifters are our B-Boys, and vinyl graphics are our graffiti. Ultimately just like any culture, there is a glue that binds and JDM enthusiasts can relate to each other regardless of their language and background. A drift car ripping up the perfect line sideways means “dope” in any language, nothing else need be said.

JDM IS A DESIRE.
JDM is pursuit of the ultimate car using the latest in innovation, technology, style, craftsmanship and exotic materials. Any enthusiast true to themselves will understand and accept that no project is ever truly finished and perfect. There is a shared struggle and desire that can’t be quenched or overcome and it’s result is the continued push of innovation from both the project cars that enthusiasts develop and the new products that they inspire and create.

JDM IS PHILOSOPHY.
JDM encompasses all of the above beliefs and also carries with it some of the culture that Japan has embedded into minds of JDM fans. In Japan there is a rivalry between drivers, teams, shops and enthusiasts but in the end everyone is friends sharing in the same joy and there’s no violence or long term bad blood. Also biting styles is strongly discouraged, everyone is pulling themselves up by innovation, work and skill, not by stealing the formula of their competition. There is a strong sense of respect, honor and responsibility with an understanding that a culture is a tight knit community which has the ability to grow and improve or be destroyed depend¬ing on the attitude and action of its members.

I’ll wrap this up saying that JDM is not a trend or fad like some tend to say. As long as there is innovation and style in our scene, there will be always be JDM. Although JDM carries the word Japan within its meaning, the future of JDM is not dependant solely on Japanese manufacturing. It is true that for the past decade and still continuing to this day Japan is leading the new development and design of ground breaking products. Yet the staples of the JDM scene do not hinge on Japan as a manufacturing location. It is already true and it will continue to be that products representing JDM interests can be originated and produced by anyone from any country. For example, Top Secret who is considered JDM uses on all of their cars: sus¬pension made in Holland, fuel cells made in America, and steering wheels and brakes both made in Italy. The day may come when Japan is no longer the top innovator within the scene, and when that day comes the word JDM may need a refreshed identity. Regardless of what we call it, the underlying beliefs that hold the evolving JDM culture together today will never disappear.”