The Four-Door Life At LZ Fest

Sometimes you can be so close to something, without realising what you’re looking at.

If there was one thing more prevalent at Ireland’s recent LZ Fest than the rain, it was a simply stunning amount of saloon cars, or sedans as our North American friends call them.

The thing is, I don’t think I had ever really noticed just popular they had become here until the wonderful Jordan Butters pointed it out. Naturally enough, I ignored him (as I recommend everyone does), until later in the day when I had the realisation that there were actually quite a lot of them about the Mondello Park paddock.

2022 LZ Fest Four Doors Speedhunters by Paddy McGrath-1

As a descendant of a family with a predilection for saloon-type cars, the sudden awareness that I’m not alone in my appreciation for them was quite comforting.

My initial love for four-door models came about courtesy of BMW’s E39 M5, but the (almost) complete takeover of Irish car culture by Japanese imports throughout the last 20 years has created an even larger pool of cool, fast saloon cars to learn about and appreciate.

2022 LZ Fest Four Doors Speedhunters by Paddy McGrath-2

There’s something so brilliantly understated about a 500+hp modified saloon car that was once some boring business person’s pride and joy. It’s amazing what a tickle of boost and a locking rear differential can do to a car’s character.

2022 LZ Fest Four Doors Speedhunters by Paddy McGrath-5

Whether your own tastes have you gravitating towards the Chasers, Crestas, Crowns and Mark IIs of the world, or if you lean more towards Laurels, Skylines, Presidents and Celsiors, there was something for you at LZ Fest.

Some of you will recognise Reuben’s Advan-liveried Laurel from a past feature, and will notice the addition of a new (and so far, unpainted) kit.

2022 LZ Fest Four Doors Speedhunters by Paddy McGrath-6

Another past feature car from the Juicebox stable is still going strong. Eamonn’s HCR32 Skyline continues to be used as intended, when it’s not holding me up by crawling over speed-bumps…

2022 LZ Fest Four Doors Speedhunters by Paddy McGrath-7

It would be amiss of me to talk about saloons, and not include at least one German example. I previously was never a big fan of the E34, but they have grown on me something mighty over the last few years.

2022 LZ Fest Four Doors Speedhunters by Paddy McGrath-8

The Chaser has always been the most popular of the JZX platform cars in Ireland, and in particular the JZX100 variant. It has, however, led to nearly all JZX100s and JZX90s being referred to as ‘Chasers’ here, regardless if they actually are or not. I reckon most owners have just given up correcting people at this stage.

2022 LZ Fest Four Doors Speedhunters by Paddy McGrath-9

The JZX81 remains my personal favourite of the lot, ever since watching a High Performance Imports DVD featuring Tezuka-san doing practice runs at Mizunami in his 2JZ-powered Mark II. This is what my JDM dreams are made of – a Mark II and some gourmet chicken and chips.

2022 LZ Fest Four Doors Speedhunters by Paddy McGrath-10

Is it strange that a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI feels sort of out place here? Despite being a four-door, Lancer Evos were purpose-built performance cars from the factory, where as the big luxury sedans very much weren’t, at their inception at least.

2022 LZ Fest Four Doors Speedhunters by Paddy McGrath-12

Here’s another Mark II, but with a much more aggressive styling package than the black example on RAYS Volk Racing TE37s at the start of the feature.

Major bonus points for the tri-colour Speedhunters sticker in the rear window (no, I don’t have any left, sorry).

2022 LZ Fest Four Doors Speedhunters by Paddy McGrath-18

This Toyota Crown of a vintage era was another standout of the event. If you needed an example of how the correct ride height and wheels can make a car, this is it.

When you think of four-door cars, Skylines maybe don’t come to mind straight away, but the R32 and R34 examples are among some of the finest saloon shapes to ever come out of Japan. The ER34 in particular, with the right kit and wheels, is a timeless looking car.

2022 LZ Fest Four Doors Speedhunters by Paddy McGrath-24

The often-derided-in-Ireland Toyota Altezza is rarely as good as this. I’ve seen this car a few times over the course of the year, and I really wish other local Altezza owners would take note, rather than limiter-bashing their cars in first gear around a traffic cone.

2022 LZ Fest Four Doors Speedhunters by Paddy McGrath-35

Tri-spokes on a Mk1 Escort? While ATS wheels are very much a German brand, I can’t help but get some solid JDM vibes from them. I think my mind has been corrupted by Super Advan Racing Version 2s.

2022 LZ Fest Four Doors Speedhunters by Paddy McGrath-26

I can’t recall ever seeing a non-Cosworth Sierra of this calibre before. It’s wonderful seeing people put their own style onto previously unloved examples.

2022 LZ Fest Four Doors Speedhunters by Paddy McGrath-21

This aggressive JZX90 was another high point of a standout selection of cars on a very wet afternoon.

2022 LZ Fest Four Doors Speedhunters by Paddy McGrath-39

I know for sure I’m missing a few really good cars (I have an awful tendency to sometimes salivate over a car and then completely forget to take a picture), so my apologies to anyone else who was rocking the four-door life at LZ Fest if you were overlooked here.

I’ll leave a gallery below with a few more examples, while I go to bed and lie awake at night praying I haven’t mislabelled a JZX…

Paddy McGrath
Instagram: pmcgphotos
Twitter: pmcgphotos
paddy@speedhunters.com

ADVERTISEMENT

Comments



Comments are closed.

12 comments

by Oldest
by Best by Newest by Oldest
1

Man I really need to go to LZ Fest
Some of the coolest cars right here!

2

"I reckon most owners have just given up correcting people at this stage.": oh i can relate on that topic but for the VW Jetta; not only this but i for myself started calling it Golf Jetta.

Author3

My Golf is consistently called a Passat.

4

What is that silver wagon in Mugen wheels in the first shot?

6

Looks to be a Honda Stream.

7

You'll find plenty more four-dour disciples here in Australia mate!

Author8

I wouldn't expect any less from my Aussie brothers & sisters!

9

Four doors or no doors amiright fellas?? #Saloongoons

10

4 doors 4 life (L)

11

i can’t be the only one who thinks the R34 sedan body is kind of awkward? to my eyes that car was clearly meant to be a coupe from the beginning, a reversal of the usual arrangement. the R32 translates much better as a sedan, i think.

12

Some lovely cars here - though it looks like they're keeping URAS in business on their own with all those kits!

OFFICIAL SPEEDHUNTERS SUPPLIERS