What’s next? That’s the question I always ask myself when I’m confronted with a variety of different takes on a scene that was so simple and easy to identify when it began. Since those early days, VIP has exploded – that’s pretty much the only way you can describe it.
Imagine a grenade fragmenting into little pieces, well, in VIP circles those little pieces represent different ways to interpret the style. And that said, it’s so much fun walking through rows of parked cars at a show like StanceNation Japan to see what people are getting up to.
Experimentation is good, it helps push and evolve a scene as the industry supports it with a continual development of new parts and processes. If I had to choose just one VIP car from the StanceNation Tokyo show that stood out the most to me, it was this candy red Crown Royal Saloon. Despite being a vehicle choice for the Japanese Police and Highway Patrol, I felt it really was the perfect example of what VIP can be today.
Nothing was overdone. Instead, everything that needed to be modified was done so in an almost elegant way, making it look right without you even noticing it. The smoothed grille, custom headlight and fog light projectors, and flowing bumper are all style upgrades, but the intercooler tells you that performance hasn’t been ignored on this build either.
Then there was the way the car sat. Onikyan is a thing we can debate to death, but you have to admit that it gives undeniable presence to a VIP car. If you remind yourself that these cars are built for the sole purpose of attracting looks and challenging people’s judgement of style, then you just go with it. If you’re going to get critical and tell me the 15 degrees of negative camber is pointless and downright dangerous, in all politeness all I can say is doh! Don’t you think the owners know that? They don’t care, this is what they like to do, and I don’t mind that at all.
A lot of work was put into getting the fenders to blister gently outwards in an attempt to contain the stretched sidewalls of the tyres, and the rear bumper sports custom modifications on its lower section too.
And it’s finished off with a trio of pipes!
I even thought the spoiler was a cool addition.
It’s not something you really see on VIP sedans, but I think this car warrants it.
The K-Break Hybreed Fivesta wheels are a nice addition; simple enough to provide an old school VIP look, but sporting an almost exaggerated deep dish that keeps them contemporary. Add a rising sun flag on the side mirror and you have bippu perfection!
Dino Dalle Carbonare
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Do you speak Japanese Dino?
I would be interested in an editorial about SH's attitude towards vehicle safety.
You aren't the first here to justify safety compromises for the sake of style. For example, I've seen a number of SH featured cars with harness setups that are downright wrong. Not to mention the recent Takata scandal. Also, open-face vs full-face helmets.
For the record, I'm sure I would vehemently disagree with you but would interested nonetheless.
VIP style is awesome. Especially with big sedans like the Ls and crowns
VIP style is awesome.
So is function.
rook56
It's a bit of a tricky situation. SH hasn't been around all that long, its a bit of a stretch to suggest cars featured on the site are heavily influenced by previous cars.
Basically what you're suggesting is that SH is responsible for the safety of amateur car builders in some way? Maybe i've read you wrong.
But then this begs the question.
What do you suggest they do? Not feature the cars people are building that are less safe than a standard car?
I reckon just build your own car right and not worry about it too much, you are 100% right there is some pretty bad engineering out there in tuner world
Candy redeilicious...
ADimitriRoumeliotis rook56 My comment was primarily to say that it would be a good debate to read in general. I would genuinely like to know what SH's position is as well.
My own views are pretty clear but I wasn't meaning to play the blame game. I'll save that for the SH editorial.
I think majority of the people on this site forget why we like cars in the first place and are too focused on bashing what they personally dont approve of.
VincentFontenot People are free to say whatever they want. We are free to show you whatever happens in the vastness that is global car culture. This is what some people do to some cars in Japan. It's weird and interesting. We just show you what they are up to. We didn't come up with the style...think of us as a fly on the wall. If you aren't interested or don't want to see it don't click on the post and expand the story. Pretty simple
jbfromsiliconvalley It's all good as I say!
rook56 Justify? Like I said on a reply above, we show you what's happening - the fly on the wall approach. That's what some people do to some cars in Japan. It's interesting and gets people scratching their heads. Each to their own. The Japanese are great at this sort of thing, they enjoy what they like and others don't judge them. They don't go out on public roads and drive like imbeciles to show off to people. They are responsible which is more than can be said for some of the behaviour that I've seen in other countries from "car guys."
Which would you rather have? Are you offended by low cars with lots of negative camber? Really? Then you miss the point. These guys are out to have fun with their cars in whatever way they please. Respect each other and get on with the thing that you feel is interested.
You are right though. We need a post on this. It will get people talking, and talking is important, it's better than bashing
abezzegh87 uh?
Nice one Dino, "If you’re going to get critical and tell me the 15 degrees of negative camber is pointless and downright dangerous, in all politeness all I can say is doh! Don’t you think the owners know that? They don’t care, this is what they like to do..."
That's JUST it, the owners DO know that.
I can't help but think that hater's hate stems from jealousy that the owners of stanced cars have spent a lot of cash doing a purely stylistic mod. Whilst said hater is stuck with a mk4 daily that is bone stock save for a performance filter and some dreams.
No one would step up and tell someone that their dreadlocks look shit, or their platform sneakers are pointless and dangerous. A car is an extension of one's personality.
VIP is awesome, stance is awesome, lifted V8 trucks are awesome, it's all awesome as it's all so different.
abezzegh87 Haha wow..ignorance is bliss i guess
takahashitothetop Oh man..
abezzegh87 google is your friend. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VIP_style
i understand the whole stylistic point and look people go with these builds, but when you see anything cambered to hell and being driven on the road, that shit is just unsafe, sure, you can drive it, you can handle it down the road, but good luck when you hit a washboard or need to perform an emergency maneuver.
speedhunters_dino rook56 "They don't go out on public roads and drive like imbeciles to show off to people. "
I dunno Dino, during my first stint in Japan (98-2003) street drifting was in it's zenith as well as heads-up street drags AND Wangan/toll road battling. I myself participated in many late-night back road duels with local Japanese hot shoes.
I hear from friends who are still there, that although it's tapered off, all of the above is alive and well if you know where to go.
GuyWithJeep Generally, emergency maneuvers are needed because someone was traveling too fast for conditions. In nearly any incident one can dream up, driving more slowly or giving more following distance will solve most problems that could arise from having a car setup this way. Mechanical/structural part failure is another story entirely.
GuyWithJeep and I guess raising the centre of gravity of a vehicle, like the Jeep in your icon, is safe when performing an emergency maneuver ? Elk Test ..
abezzegh87 Big, luxury Japanese sedans, dropped with lots of camber are known has VIP.
I like how if I don't like something it is because I have missed some point. Like you have had some epiphany that I cannot imagine. "Its JDM, yo!".
Ironically you missed my point. I was suggesting a broader safety discussion across a range of topics including this.
Anyway, why do you have a comments section if you just want people approving? A like button does the job just fine.
abezzegh87 My reply was simply to explain that this scene has always been known as "VIP". Whether you like name or not is neither really here nor there. it's a generally recognized label for a pretty well known style of customization with a large following.
@Dave GuyWithJeep BUUUUUUUUUUUUUURN!
I would like to address the question of what's next... Fair to say that it's all pretty much been done before, right?
So what can VIP do to keep things fresh? Here are some of my ideas, that aren't revolutionary by any means, but would be nice to see more of IMO...
- Application of body parts from various manufacturers (ex: e39 M5 side mirrors on an LS430 for example, MANY, MANY possibilities with this)
- Smaller wheels. Yes, smaller wheels. 17", super wide, deep dish with a Bosozoku tire stretch (you would have to fit smaller brakes, but I would love to see this!!)
- Wheel fans/aero covers (as seen on old school BBS)
- "traditional" exhaust stemming out the back or sides (3,4,5,6 tips exhausts) should be eliminated all together. This is something that I feel should be "tucked" or hidden away somehow
- Single windshield wiper blade, standing in the center position would be nice
- Removal of front or rear bumpers, and dress up of what's underneath. Exposure.
- More French'd headlights (extreme yellow w/ yellow fogs)
- VIP exterior with complete "race" GT interior... completely gutted interior with VIP accents... Not sure how to paint that picture for you guys.....
I think it's time for things to get mashed up a bit... There will always be that good 'ol VIP style, but things need to change... Car culture is an ongoing evolution, after all.
Thoughts-- ideas??
So is the car driven this low? Sorry for the question but if it has some sort of adjustable suspension then that would change the camber. Car sure is low looking. I'm ok with the car. Not my cup of tea though.
Option86 1990's Max Power meets Boso meets VIP?
abezzegh87 These are VIP in Japan, big luxo-barges from their own country done in their own way. Bro-stance didn't even exist in any other country when these guys were doing this in Japan. Ugh.
donkyyyyyy Oh yea, it is driven that low. There are air suspensions, they are dynamic and can change ride height via remote control.
dadecode speedhunters_dino rook56 You can find those same guys in every country that has cars. Its called the underground car culture. If you know where to go.
I'm sure you've seen the videos of our (USA) wonderful Mustang drivers leaving meets. Prime example of what not to do, and I have yet to see a video from a car meet in Japan where people are doing that. Same with our cambered fools, there was a recent vid or 2 of guys skipping around on the freeway with -15 camber, wrecking from the freeway bumps. Japan's roads are much smoother and they can actually get to the meet and back without dying.
There's a difference between being in the culture and ruining it.
abezzegh87 It evolved from Yakuza drivers modifying their Japanese sedans to look nicer and meaner than the euro-barges. Hence why they aren't BMWs.
P.S. Just because someone has an S-class or 7-series does not make then nor their cars VIP. In fact, that assumption is the main reason people dislike the owners of your real VIP cars sir.
dadecode speedhunters_dino rook56 As did I. My point is that would never happen in public, during the day, for the sole reason to show off. When they do it, it's all well choreographed and kept as safe as can be (considering what they are doing) And yes it still happens of course
rook56 Not at all, I know exactly what you were getting at, that's why I concur with you that were should have a discussion on this through an editorial. What is obvious though is that you still don't get my point, I don't justify anything by saying it's Japanese therefore it's cool and good and everyone should like it and emulate it. I was just saying, if you don't like it...don't get overly upset about it...people don't care, nobody is going to like everything all of the time. We are here to present to you what happens in any scene and in any country.
I can respect all the work time and money put into the car but i just cant grasp the appeal of the camber at such a rediculis angle, i love camber but like anything to much looks like poo, that being said as my opinion and knowing opinions are like b holes and everyone has one. Love the paint work and all the little details
Bro vip cars in Japan means static only, you won't find any bags here.
I like the fact that SPEEDHUNTERS hits every area of car culture and I like to keep an open mind to all of it. I really like the VIP car scene I wish you guys did more coverage of it but theres so much out there. My car has a lot of VIP influences.
I was gonna mention that.. Yes, true Japanese VIP is static. Bags are used in other countries.
I'm sorry...who wrote the definition on VIP around here?
Nice care, but I would go and call it VIP, more like a stepped on bug with that silly camber.
When I hear/think of VIP I envision, Cadillac, Bentley, Rolls Royce....see where I'm going???
Nice ride and will give points on the time taken, but I can't seriously call this VIP of any degree.
kphillips9936 It's the VIP scene, not a VIP car as such. It doesn't relate to LUXURY euro cars, it's the way they are modified that makes them a VIP style car.
Option86
A lot of the ideas you have made points of, has already been done before in the vip scene in japan. The popular king of sedan festival is covered pretty well, and I'm sure you can find pictures of cars from that festival by searching the web.
Option86 I don't think that's what it means to French a headlight. The term is actually about smoothing and recessing things that would normally stick out - like headlights on old cars. That being said, yellow lights would be a cool look on these cars. (Though I'm sure it's been done.)
Yeah VIP's can have all the camber in the world, it looks spot on. Plus replacements parts must be quite available if theyre built for the police. Double winning
@ericlastname Yea like I said in my first post, my ideas aren't anything new-- just stuff I would like to see more of in the VIP community, nowadays.
Preludacris You are correct on that, but technically, I'm not wrong... The euro car community has a different application for the term entirely: Until 1993 all cars in France were required to have yellow headlights. This tradition started during World War II so that the French civilian cars would stand out form enemy vehicles. The Government enacted a law on the 3rd of November, 1936 stating that all vehicles put into production in 1937 are required to have yellow headlights. The French also argued that the yellow was overall better on the road and produced less glare in rain and fog.
The Euro car community calls yellow headlights "French'd" with good reason.
D1RGE dadecode speedhunters_dino rook56 Believe me, it's the same everywhere.
Also I should add - a lot of the silly accidents that happen in the US are because having ANY type of driving fun in a car is near criminal nowadays. Burnout in an empty parking lot...ticket and suspended licence. doughnuts and drift practice in an empty lot or industrial area late at night; same as before if not jail.
In short the average car enthusiast in the US has next to no basic car control skill. Which is ironic. Because high hp cars are (relatively) stupidly cheap and easily accessible. Yet easy access to tracks, driving schools, and just basic car control experience is far and few between.
When I was in Japan, all you needed to get a feel for extreme driving was a decent car, a vacant area, a tank of gas, and for it to be after 9pm. That's it. Literally anywhere big enough for a car to drive and devoid of traffic or people and you are free to have at it to your hearts content. And it shows in the drivers there. Most Japanese car enthusiast can do a competent burn-out. They can generally do competent E-brake turns, power-slides, rudimentary drifting, and definitely can handle driving a car at speed on the highway and on country roads. Not so much in the US.
speedhunters_dino dadecode rook56 I feel ya, although I knew a few Japanese guys who's ride out on a toll road at high speed day or night, or bust out a random intersection drift (in a Mazda Sentia no less) with not a care in the world to who was around or what time of day it was.
Some guys just don't care. Japan - for cultural reasons - tends to have a lot less of those A-type expressiveness.
@Dave GuyWithJeep thats why I've increased the wheelbase, wider and longer, and im not running on a 1/4 of my tire patch, no issues with washboards. as for the elk test, I hit it straight on
VincentFontenot That's a very cool car! Keeping an open mind is important. And you are right about VIP, there is much out there and I should probably devote more time to it as it's really getting big even up here in Kanto
kphillips9936 VIP as in the Japanese VIP scene. Search for the VIP tag on here to see what we are talking about. The cars you are taking about we usually refer to as luxury
Option86 Preludacris Today I learned! That's a cool piece of history.
speedhunters_dino kphillips9936 Overall this look is just ridiculous to me.
A Frenched headlight is where the light is recessed into the body, as on a 1949 Mercury.
pure dumbass....and SH just keeps pushing this crap like it's a cool thing.....
I have noticed a lot of people confusing wings and spoilers, even by people that sell the things!
If it mounted away from the bodywork and air can pass underneath, it is likely a wing. This can be confirmed by checking the cross section wings (airfoils), typically have a rounded leading edge and a sharp trailing edge.
If it is attached to the rear deck and air does not pass below - like on the rear of a current NASCAR cup car, it is a spoiler.
The featured car has a wing, not a spoiler.
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