In my last post, I covered the trackside action at Fuji Speedway – the heart of the annual Nismo Festival. But what did the 28,500 spectators arrive in this year? Let’s take a look.

Car parks at any car event in Japan are a guaranteed treasure trove of cool machinery, and the Nismo Festival is no exception, with enthusiasts arriving from every corner of the country to celebrate all things Nissan.

As you’d expect, the theme in Fuji Speedway’s expansive spectator car parks was unmistakably Nissan, ranging from humble kei cars to ultra-rare Silvia 270Rs. If there’s any place to catch a glimpse of Nissan’s heritage outside of the automaker’s Heritage Collection, this is it.

The moment I started walking towards the main car park, a bosozoku group of around 30 came roaring down the road, making everyone well aware of their presence.

The most common Nissan of the day by far was the R34 Skyline GT-R. There’s only one event where an R34 GT-R can blend in as easily as a Toyota Camry, and the Nismo Festival does that year after year.

There was one lone Toyota AE86 in the mix. Naturally, I had to grab a shot.

At the back of the car park, a Star Road-built S30 Fairlady Z was quietly tucked away. It’s always a treat to see these cars on the road, being driven as they should be. If only we could’ve sneaked a peek under the hood…

This beautiful C10 Hakosuka was hard to miss. You can’t beat the classic combination of RS Watanabe wheels on one of these JDM icons.

Another rare find was this R33 Skyline GT-R Autech. This limited-edition sedan, one of only 416 produced, featured the full R33 GT-R running gear and wider fenders custom-designed by Autech for the four-door body.

Plenty of ‘2 Number’ cars were also in attendance. For those unfamiliar, this refers to the two digits on the top of the licence plate. As these plates stopped being issued in the late ’90s, most of these cars are still single owners.

Despite the flood of R34s, only one Midnight Purple GT-R showed up. It would be fair to assume that a good number of these iconic cars have made their way to the USA by now.

It was cool to see this silver Silvia and R32 GT-R pairing. Two models from the same era – one a flagship and the other an entry-level sports car – both now highly sought after.

This S15 Silvia, featuring the rare Spec B orange interior, was another highlight.

While GT-Rs were undeniably the most common cars in the car parks, Silvias weren’t far behind. Interestingly, you don’t see many S13s around Tokyo these days, so seeing this many in one place was a rare treat.

Of the 18 Skyline GT-R LMs ever made, two were parked just 100 meters apart – both standing out in their own right.

‘AH3 Red’ is one of my favourite colours for the R32. There aren’t many of these on the road in Japan anymore.

This Sea Foam Green two-tone S13 was immaculate. Staying true to Nissan, it sits on R32 GT-R wheels.

Untouched S13 Silvias are practically non-existent these days, so stumbling upon this one nestled between an RPS13 180SX and an S14 was a highlight of the car park.

Car park exploration wasn’t just about me and my camera. Many other spectators took a few hot laps around the lot before locating their own cars.

One guy even set up camp for the day. Honestly, I can’t think of a better spot to watch the traffic go by.

Walking back to the main event, I was caught off guard by a 400R taxi cruising by. It’s safe to say it beats the usual Toyota Comfort!

And that wraps up coverage of this year’s Nismo Festival. If you ever get the chance to attend a packed event at Fuji Speedway, don’t forget to check out the spectator car parks – you won’t be disappointed.

Alec Pender
Instagram: noplansco