Lost photos: Japfest 2017 PT2 - Juiceboxforyou

Let’s get stuck right back into our walk around Japfest 2017. I can’t stress how good this event was, it’s a clear indication that we are out of the dark times. The car scene is booming once again.

For the amount of rally-inspired, Imprezas I’m always fond of seeing a street focused example.

This just gets better and better, good man Jake, it’s nice to see the evolution of this X100 chassis.

Another awesome Evo VI on some beefy Enkei Tarmacs, pretty sure its a Makinen also.

Another car that keeps changing is this Kanjo inspired EM1 coupe, great seeing it take shape.

This was EG6 perfection, I had to come back a few times for a second look, those white P1s against that blue is a hard combo to beat.

Another Kanjo inspired beauty, the Hiro area was holding it down for the Irish Honda scene.

I couldn’t get over the number of cars I thought were either dead or long gone, another beauty of an R33 GTR that I thought was long gone.

Yonny’s EK9 is another solid Civic with its freshly fitted Type C’s in bronze.

A very timeless Spec R Silvia.

Racing Hart CP035R’s are one of the best-looking wheels for a Honda. Everything about this DC2 was hitting the spot.

It’s nice to see the Honda scene mature over the last ten years. Anyone who is still in the game had all the right parts under their car. The amount of EG’s DC2’s DC5’s and EK’s wearing proper parts was astonishing.

Ciaran’s car is always a treat. We featured this car many moons ago.

I love seeing this 34 fronted Stagea. If road tax wasn’t an issue id happily own one of these beauties as a daily driver. I’ve always been very fond of that front end conversion.

Everything about this DC5 was hitting the spot, the wide fenders, wide TE37’s the sneaky intercooler pipes. Id love to know more about this car. Like I said, most of the Hondas on show were doing everything right. Most of the guys who are into them these days have been around for a long time and really appreciate executing a proper car.

This EK4 is great, loved seeing it rip it up at the recent Honda Track day.

Not enough of these in the country, the X110 Mark two is a stunning looking car.

Another very original looking Z20 soarer. I’ve seen quite a few of these in recent times. I was under the impression we had no more than five of these in Ireland.

Love this Chaser on Rays F-zero challenge wheels.

You can’t beat the Goodline look.

Another 33GTR, id expect prices for these to get out of hand over the coming years. This one was sitting pretty one some TE37 SL’s.

The Euro turbo wheel choice on this EP71 Starlet works. Another awesome eighties Turbo nugget.

To think this is already a somewhat dated styling take on the Civic chassis goes to show just how quick trends move in the car scene. Everyone has moved onto the track orientated look over the last few years both in the US and Japan. I hope this EG remains the same as I do feel its a great ambassador for the USDM influenced look. Its one of the best examples of this trend and still looks 10/10.

Hard to beat a proper little EP91 like this. A car we seldom see on the roads these days.

This 34 on volk GT-C wheels was awesome. 

Did I mention how good the Honda’s were this year?

Pretty much all the Hondas on display were top notch builds.

Another racing hart beauty. The EG has aged incredibly well.

Love where Robbie has taken this Verrossa, this just gets better and better.

This little March/Micra was wild, a very unexpected little machine that stood out amongst the rest, or maybe im a little biased!

I’ve always had a little bit of a soft spot for these and got a kick out of the amount of effort someone has put in here, the MKII’s, Mulhullond rear wing, the air intake headlamp, 10/10 for effort. Would love to know more about this.

The rarest colour for the AE111, I loved this thing, a little rough around the edges but packed unusual goodies, it was even sporting a cage, always had a soft spot for these cars.

I had seen this a few times on Instagram, the GTX01 are a great wheel I’m surprised they have not caught on, I believe this is the first car in Ireland to wear a set.

Always nice to see cars being saved, this is the original cruise s15 which almost got completely killed many years ago. The new owner has lost the pink paint job and gone for something similar, this kit is so damn cool.

How cool is this orange KE sitting on meaty 14-inch Watanabe wheels?

I have no words for this.

I was not expecting to see this under the hood of an Evo. Looks like a tight squeeze.

The Zero seven four boys from Donegal had a nice selection varied Japanese metal. We have to make our way up to them in the new year. Ive always wanted to visit Donegal and am embarrassed to admitI’vee never been.

Always been a big fan of the cars Rori builds.  Hes had this ER34 for quite some time now and its great to see the progression.

This is one of the best looking 180sx in Ireland. If you check our feature section we have a nice little article on this S body.

I decided to go for another look around to see if there were cars that we missed. There is so much to take in at this show, its literally all the best cars in the country. When the weather is on your side its one of the best car events in Ireland.

The best colour combination for the EK9?

The GC Impreza has aged incredibly well. These have become quite a popular import over the last few years. The Sparcos are a great choice for this.

I love everything about this Kouki S14, the front bumper and lip, the wheel choice.

There are not enough Ferio’s around anymore. I used to lust for one of these big-time back in the day. Honda put out some epic cars in the ’90s. Why they ever felt the need to put the B16A into a saloon is beyond me. Let’s just be thankful they were a lot more experimental back then.

Another cool K11 on display, rocking a sort of Kanjo-esque livery.

Sandy’s Wagon was such an amazing machine. I really wish I did a vlog episode on this car before it was broken for parts. There is an upcioming fearture going live on this beauty over the coming weeks. I shot this car right before we really started doing the vlogs and its a shame as it would have made for a great episode.

I love the contrast between these two RX8’s.

Engine bay lust with Amanda. If my bay comes even close to this ill be a happy man.

This car won “best retro” on the day. A well-deserved prize for one of the most epic AE86 saves on Irish shores.

Ah, there she is. Bringing the car in this condition to Japfest was incredibly amusing. In a sea of well maintained, highly polished diamonds, this little turd attracted a considerable amount of attention all day long, most people were confused.

On either side of my car, you had some of the best Japnese metal Ireland had to offer. Hopefully, someday the Trueno will be back and looking as good as the rest.

I’ll leave this coverage here with the Reubenator machine. This was an interesting year, usually, I would go unnoticed cruising around the crowd snapping photos of cars and chatting with faces I remember. This year I could hardly leave the 86 as for the first time ever, I had brought my own car and people wanted to know what the deal was with the build. Any chance we got to pull away and check what made it to the event further proved just how resilient the Irish car scene is. In a land that makes it almost impossible to own and drive a modified car, the Japanese car scene is booming once again. The quality of cars has risen tenfold in the last few years and I’m excited to see what shows up next year. Be sure to tune into the Vlogs as we eventually make our way to this episode. – Neil