After moving on from the S13, I couldn’t stop thinking about living out the 4-door, Japanese dream of a JZX100. I always liked chasers, but adored the look of a JZX100 Mark 2. The front end has such class, and the S2 rear taillight with the lower-mounted number plate is simply perfection.

I began my hunt locally, and in Japan itself, even paid an importer a deposit to start looking for me; however, nothing was ticking all my boxes. I wanted an S1 Tourer V, with an S2 rear end, preferably manual, and any colour except white, which I know is a bit sacrilege due to everyone loving white JZX’s.

Out of pure chance while playing a game of CounterStrike, I got a message from a friend who knew I was looking for exactly the above with a marketplace link; it was posted 5 minutes earlier. Immediately, I knew it was the one and messaged the owner to tee up a virtual inspection as he was in Perth. Within 30 minutes of a FaceTime call, I had sent him payment for the car and started organising transport for the car to get over to Melbourne

It arrived, and it really didn’t need much, the car already had a nice front-mount intercooler setup and a beefy sounding exhaust which had that perfect 1JZ note, manual, S1 interior with all the carbon trims in fantastic condition.

Alongside ShockWorks coilovers, adjustable arms and more, the car felt amazing.

The car had clearly been slammed in it’s past life and fit some large wheels due to the rear arches having lots of room for wheels, and the car had been resprayed - this didn’t bother me as I planned to do the same.

The car hit the road pretty quickly, and I got stuck into making it my own, temporarily purchased some SSR SP3’s just to roll around on and enjoy, while looking for triple chrome VSKF. 

2 pairs individually popped up, and I jumped on them as soon as I could, much to my wallet's dismay; in unreal factory specs they were something like 18x10+12 and 18x9.5+10 (my memory might not be 100% accurate on those numbers).

The car had some downtime due to random things breaking like a MAF and Alternator and for some reason those parts took ages to come in for this car, which was a bit of a null to the excitement of ownership as I felt like it just sat there for a decent period of time.

I got some Kabuki Ganador mirrors, a Vertex front lip, and the car was coming together; then, just like the last S13, I received the invite for Black Label, I hadn’t owned the car very long, but it was already coming together quicker than I expected.

Black Label, as always was awesome, being in a different car was also interesting for me, as I hadn’t owned it that long, but alike the S13, I was very proud to display it in its form at the time.

This car had it all: comfort, style, sound. It drove beautifully and was awesome to load up with a car-full of people and cruise.

Similarly to the S13, my fondest memories simply were going on a drive with my wife, friends, or to the pub and just enjoying it with others.

So why is this post titled the “short-lived” JZX100 Mark 2?

While this car was awesome and ticked so many boxes, there was a voice in my head that knew I had hit my limit with this car in terms of styling. When it came to S13, I could look at multiple different front bumpers and tell you what they are, who has one on their car; I basically have a database of Silvia pictures and knowledge on my computer and saved pictures. When it came to a JZX, my knowledge was very little, and I didn’t adore the history it had like I did an S13.

I put it up for an expression of interest on my Instagram, and got messaged by a friend of mine within 5 - 10 minutes; he came around that night, and essentially the rest is history.

Typically I would end the story there, when the car leaves my possession, but that passion I lacked was clearly alive in my friend Andy. He got the car and got to work straight away, within a few weeks the car was sporting in-dash Defi Guages, a Bride Zeta, the rest of a Vertex Kit (skirts and rear bar), all S2 cluster, Tourer V tails, a new manifold and all.

He really did the rest of the car, a justice I didn’t have the passion for. Prior to owning the JZX100, he had a JZX110 for so many years, so he knew what he was getting himself into.

I am glad to have experienced the JZX, and am almost more glad to see it in such capable hands and when I see it at an event, I get to appreciate it and reminisce all over again.