One other yr of Tokyo Auto Salon means one other lap of the depths of the Makuhari Messe parking heaps – the unofficial TAS automobile meet.

TAS reigns as the head occasion of Japanese automobile tradition, drawing greater than 200,000 guests to the Chiba Conference Middle annually. With that form of foot visitors, it is no shock that the parking heaps cover some actual gems. So, let’s check out what I discovered throughout my Friday go to to Tokyo Auto Salon 2025.

Proper close to the doorway I used to be greeted by this – guerrilla advertising and marketing at its greatest. And it labored. Somebody took it upon themselves to ‘repair’ the G87 M2, addressing the overly adventurous grille design with a extra conventional BMW look. If I needed to guess who’s behind this, it could be ADRO, a Korean-based physique equipment firm making waves within the BMW aftermarket world. They’d a big sales space inside TAS, so it solely is sensible to drop one other automobile within the car parking zone. I am to see if I am proper, and if that’s the case, hopefully a redesign of the rear bumper can also be within the works.

Somewhat additional, Dino and I parked our automobiles and crashed this FL5 Honda Civic Sort R.

Yet another spot subsequent to it sat one other blue FL5 subsequent to what you may contemplate its European rival, an Audi RS 3 in the same shade.

Identical to the present, there was no scarcity of perspective within the parking heaps, with every little thing from pickup vans to GT-Rs sitting on the pavement.

It is also price noting that perspective right here in Japan does not simply imply a set of wheels and luggage. House owners all the time go the additional mile to construct a whole automobile. For instance, try the huge Brembo brakes on this Lexus.

It was laborious to overlook this Mitsuoka Orochi, which took up two parking areas. The Orochi is a kind of quirky early 2000s Japanese creations that’s typically missed. Powered by a 3.3L Toyota V6, you can name it an alternate tackle the Honda NSX method.

Subsequent to it, occupying only one house, was a pristine Nissan Sil80 (Silvia-faced 180SX), sitting on SSR mesh wheels and sporting a basic B-Wave wing – an genuine nod to ’90s Japanese road drift tradition.

Mazda RX-7s appeared to dominate the car parking zone, with FCs and FDs nearly all over the place you appeared. Listed here are just some of those I noticed.

There have been additionally loads of Porsches scattered across the place, together with this stunning blue 993.

AE86s got here in all shapes and varieties. It was nice to see a FK’s Manufacturing facility Trueno hatch within the wild. FK is understood for its distinctive buildings and colours, and this one is not any exception.

Nissan’s presence within the parking heaps was virtually stronger than at its stand within the Makuhari Messe. GT-Rs and Silvias of each technology crammed the areas, with no scarcity of selection.

Entrance and heart – and doubtless one of many first automobiles to reach at TAS – was this stunning Datsun 510 1600 SSS on Hayashi Racing wheels.

There have been a couple of Honda NSXs which have retained their manufacturing facility aesthetics – for essentially the most half.

RE Amemiya made its presence felt each contained in the present and out within the parking heaps with this Mazda RX-8.

It was good to see a superbly completed 180SX Sort-X sitting properly on RAYS Gram Lights wheels.

Staying with the Nissan theme, this C10 Skyline GT-X attracted loads of consideration as crowds handed by.

Then there was this JZ-powered Toyota duo. Seeing a Toyota Chaser and a Supra aspect by aspect emphasised how related their sizes and proportions are – the ‘four-door Supra’ moniker appears fairly spot on.

Many readers will acknowledge John’s Toyota Corona GT. After a yr of driving, he handled his AT141 to some new bodywork and paint, and it actually seems the half.

With John was an NA2 Honda NSX-R – a uncommon sight within the wild. That is no shock given their exorbitant value tags lately.

One contestant was so keen to begin tinkering with the elements he picked up on the present that he could not even wait till he obtained house to begin becoming them!

Here is a polarizing mixture for you: a track-focused FD Mazda RX-7 paired with an awesomely constructed Honda StepWagon. I’ve seen this van earlier than, and it is as wild as they arrive with scissor doorways and an enormous sound system.

Liberty Stroll has additionally made its mark on the automobile parks. A whole Lamborghini Aventador, together with Huracán and a Lexus LC, all with Liberty Stroll branding, turned heads and stopped visitors.

I wasn’t the one one admiring the treasures of the parking heaps. Any seasoned TAS contestant is aware of that the present actually begins earlier than you even enter the gates.

Identical to some other Japanese automobile occasion, the parking heaps supply an actual perception into Japanese automobile tradition. Whereas TAS showcases the glitz and glamor of Japanese automotive life, you may’t have one with out the opposite. Because of this, for those who ever attend the Tokyo Auto Salon, I extremely advocate dedicating at the very least half of your day to cruising the assorted parking heaps. You by no means know what you’ll discover.

Alec Pender
Instagram: noplansco