So a top tip when you go to Tokyo Auto Salon is to head to the parking area located along side Makuhari Messe. With an area almost as large as the convention centre itself; when you’re out to take a breeze of cold air – this is where you want to be! Why? Because the parking area is an Auto Salon of its own..
Tokyo Auto Salon attracts all kinds of cults and enthusiasts; and knowing fully well that Japan is the land of JDM, you can expect all sorts of rides hiding along the parking bays during the show, in fact if you’re lucky, even gatherings are held at the parking spaces as well.
When we’re there; our aimless stroll took us in the direction of the car park opposite Makuhari Messe on Day 1 and what a refreshing change of pace seeing countless JDMs that is accounted as rare back home sitting in the car park; breathing the cold fresh air.
First kill – a four-door Skyline Hakosuka. Fan boys will know the kind of presence this car brings and you can only imagine the excitement it carried for us on our little walk. Strategically parked next to a 4-door R34; we got the opportunity to see how the car has evolved over 30 years apart.
Although not as cool as the 2-door variant – the saloon has its own place in our hearts; looking absolutely majectic and understand where the GT-R status started life at. No, this is not a GT-R however.
Not too far along; we also found a rather legendary Mitsubishi Evo VI Tommi Mäkinen edition in almost bone stock condition. Looking stupendously pristine and bringing goose bumps to pedestrians on the side. One of the childhood dream.
Or if you are in the boxer clan; then this might just turn you on. A Subaru Impreza WRX STI Type-R GC8 is one of the rarest JDMs around and here it was; sitting in all its glory in the car park.
Or how about an Mazda RX-7 Spirit R? Just leave you in awe on this one…
A Mercedes limo might not be something you’d want to see on this post but we thought this combo of S65 AMG Bi-Turbo is pretty cool. Its the top of the range S-class and it is pretty rare due to its massive price tag. I guess the owners also enjoys a spot of JDM dose at Tokyo Auto Salon.
On our way out; there was also this Celica GT-Four which we thought was pretty cool. Its not uberly rare but its rallying history still stands as one of the most interesting.
Moving back towards Makuhari Messe and heading to the main parking lot; it was positive that majority of the crowd is faced towards the other side. So far; we’ve discovered that the parking lot is most definitely a show on its own.. and many would overlook this fact. Secondly; it was just to confirm ourselves that Japan is the place where we’d want to be. It just like the mecca of cars.
No – this is not a gymkhana site. Its the parking lot and well, this Evo IV all dressed in its rally clothing certainly looked the part with the scene around it. Whilst others were busy doing the whole stance look; this guy here decided to take a different path. Hipster.
No kidding though. The stance scene was imminent in the car park and they do look good standing still. But the issue is when they start driving. Nevertheless, this is a car park.. so they were great showstoppers!
We apologise right here to the readers because we have yet to answer you the age old question of “Where are the GT-Rs!?”.. In the sea of cars at the car park; it is difficult for you not to come across almost every range of Skylines. To our surprise, the count of R32s were a lot higher than other models and hey.. no one is going to complain on that right?
It was just countless encounters of GT-R V-Specs around; we wish Malaysia could be more like this. This black R32 GT-R V-Spec is one of the cleanest found. We wish we could take it out for a drive around the ribbon of Wangan..
How about this R32 GT-R V-Spec sitting on LM-GT4s? A white on white theme certainly unleashes the inner angel of this Godzilla.
Its always an occasion when we get to see an NSX. A sight like this doesn’t come around very often, but we came across it twice. The rivalry between NSX and GT-R.
Its a matter of which do you prefer here. Mid-engine rear wheel drive or the beefy RB26 on all-wheel drive setup. Tough choice isn’t it? To be honest, we’d be more than happy either way…
GT86 and BRZs has also became a fashionable substance; whilst simultaneously representing a proper drivers car in the domestic market. We certainly enjoyed how every BRZ-86 were different from one another, and it showcased the creative styling of the Japanese.
We thought this very 86 was the coolest amongst all. Go ahead with the Monster livery theme; it was also a serious modified ride with a full roll cage setup and titanium exhausts sprouting out at the back. We can’t tell whats under the hood but one can imagine the beauty within.
While bone stock 86s were everywhere – we found this Volkswagen Kombi within the sea of cars at the car park. Oddly enough; a rather unlikely encounter. A lot more scarce than an R32 GT-R here..
We also found this AE86 Trueno that gave us a little wink. Naturally.. our cameras winked back at it.
American cars are also really popular in the crowd. We kept coming across 300Cs and Dodge Chargers which were slammed hard to the ground and cleaned up to the roof. Its the diversity that gets us; we really enjoy how the Japanese appreciate all kinds of cars.. and still enjoys the modification scene.
Not a usual sight anywhere. American vs JDM.
Even Knight Rider came to visit Tokyo Auto Salon! – humour aside, this is an excellent replica of the Knight Rider Pontiac Firebird, the Knight Industries Two Thousand or more famously known as K.I.T.T.
From a distance we heard the sound of loud, grumpy V8s pointing in the direction of the ‘buses only’ car park. A surprise to discover that it was all head by a group of American SUVs in the likes of Hummers and Dodge Rams.
Their sheer size forced them to be separated from the crowd and in with the much larger buses to fit them in the parking spaces. We thought that was pretty hilarious yet cool.
These things are just as wide as the buses parked next to it. How can they be parked in the ‘car’ park when they’re twice the size of a normal car right?
From a far sight – we thought we saw a 240Z. But upon closer inspection, we discovered that we were conned. Its an S15.. with the head of a 240Z. We think it looks like an angry bird. Different for sure!
Supercars are not common in the car park scene – so when it makes an appearance, it certainly is a head turner. This Ferrari 430 Spider had aftermarket wheels fitted which proved an aggressive styling.
This trio of BMW Ms are done up more differently than we have ever seen before. We really enjoyed the stance of this E46 M3 here. 
As we head back towards the convention centre to end our day’s work as car spotters; we came across a rare breed of R33 GT-R. Its not entirely famous however it was made in limited numbers in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of Nissan.
The 4-door R33 never came in GT-R form and this collaboration between Autech and Nismo brought to life the only 4-door GT-R of its time. Although conversions are vastly executed, its never the same as ones specially tuned from factory. We never thought we could come across this rare breed of R33 GT-R but we were lucky to came across it indeed!
Subaru boxers are surprisingly not so popular over in the car park. But this latest instalment of the Impreza S206 is probably one of the best spotting encounters at the car park of TAS14. Only 300 were made and this Nürburgring Challenge Pack counts for only 100 units of the 300.
We will end this feature on a note – that if you visit Tokyo Auto Salon, it is a MUST to also visit the parking lot for a sport of car spotting. You’ll never know what you could find and its an unforgettable experience that you’ll very much enjoy and appreciate.
We came home with a lot of memories from Japan but one that we really enjoyed and remember forever is the first time we step foot in the carpark. Its a show on its own and if not better than Tokyo Auto Salon itself; its just as epic in its own ways.
We will be dropping a load of pictures for your viewing pleasure in the gallery below. Please enjoy it and there are more beauties and rare breed of cars within the files.
