Again once I first visited Japan in 2018, there was once a selected automotive and environment that sparked a deep pastime in a selected AE86 tuning store.

It was once one in every of my first occasions visiting Daikoku PA, and simply as we had been about to depart on the quiet weekday evening, a Trueno pulled in and parked up. Taking a look find it irresistible had come directly from an Assault meet at Tsukuba, Oda-san’s AE86 is the epitome of a circuit-spec Hachiroku in Japan.

Seeing time attack-spec AE86s on the monitor is already an enjoy, however in the street they have got an unrivalled presence. Oda-san had merely stopped in at Daikoku for a espresso and was once then proper again on his method, however ever since I’d been obsessive about the way in which he controlled to create a road-going race automotive to this excessive. He’s additionally no stranger to a Daikoku quit, as Dino captured Oda-san’s automotive virtually 14 years prior.

Speedy ahead 5 years from my stumble upon, I in finding myself residing in Japan, and getting the risk to try Oda-san’s store, Crystal Frame Yokohama (CBY).

Nestled away within the again streets of residential Yokohama, CBY is a one-man operation that only makes a speciality of AE86 tuning, specifically circuit vehicles. On arrival, I used to be met by way of Oda-san’s non-public Trueno being reversed out of the store; the exact same automotive I noticed again in 2018.

What units this store with the exception of others is the variability of labor and merchandise that comes from it. CBY no longer most effective develops mechanical portions, motors and tuning, however has additionally constructed out a spread of frame panels and kits, that at the moment are probably the most most well liked for AE86 homeowners and developers the world over. Oda-san does all of this himself, the usage of his non-public automotive to expand the portions, then developing moulds for each fiberglass and carbon kits.

Like most department stores right here in Japan, there’s a sense of organised chaos at Crystal Frame Yokohama. With area at this type of top rate, even vital operations like this one function out of across the similar of 4 double garages.

Tucked within the paint sales space sat a buyer’s Levin notchback, any other circuit-spec automotive receiving a complete refresh by way of Oda-san. In fact, the automobile already hosts quite a lot of CBY signatures, together with +50mm flares, carbon touches and a v-mounted radiator setup.

This very familiar-looking Trueno hatchback sat in any other nook of the store. You’ll realize that there isn’t a lot that differentiates this automotive from Oda-san’s non-public demo AE86, and this as a result of it’s no longer unusual for purchasers to request an identical builds. Oda-san informed me there are a handful of them out and about in Tokyo, additionally street-registered like his.

Just like some other Jap tuning store, there may be completely no scarcity of latest and used portions at CBY. You’ll in finding them stashed away on any spare last shelf or ground area.

As I discussed above, CBY actually is a one-stop-shop for anything else AE86. This house of the construction is devoted to machining and production of latest portions.

I may have spent all day within the store, however there was once one more reason for my talk over with. You don’t suppose I may just talk over with Crystal Frame Yokohama and no longer take a more in-depth have a look at Oda-san’s iconic AE86, did you? Keep tuned for that focus coming very quickly.

Alec Pender
Instagram: noplansco