Of course, inside isn't what really counts, despite what your momma told you: It's the outside that makes all the dime breezys holla back. Billy made sure he got the exterior down pat, with JDM styles that can make a grown man cry with envy. Surrounding the once-stock shell is a Chargespeed Japan body kit, complete with fenders, front lip, sides and rear lip, all of which were modeled to resemble a sense of D1 drifting. In the words of Benzino, "It makes you wanna holla!" Working the Van Gogh is Auto Explosion from Gardena, CA, layering the IS 300 with graphite grey pearl. The finishing touches were given to Ab at Legends Motorsports who not only did the graphics, but also has the shortest name in all of mankind.
Naturally, an exterior like this wouldn't be complete without the requisite wheels and suspension that every tuner must sport, regardless of sexual orientation, race or creed. Billy made sure he played his role by slapping on a set of 19-inch Work VS-KF wheels, eight inches wide in the front and nine inches wide in the back. These wheels are protected by the rubbery gooeyness from Falken, featuring a set of 452s that can make the most fickle rubber fetishist tickle with joy. Sitting behind the Work VS-KF is some Endless brakes that makes stopping short even easier than before. So you better watch, ladies, because stopping short just came back in style.
Inside is more JDM majorness that can be listed with the eyes closed. A set of BRIDE Gias seats makes asses around the world smile. The panels and the remaining upholstery are modified with BRIDE gradiation. All of these help complement the DEFI gauges, Nardi steering wheel and HKS limited shift knob. The rest of the interior amenities, just in case you're wondering after looking at the pictures, include a JDM Cusco two-point roll cage, Do Luck floor bar, Takata harnesses and a Power House automotive camera mount. Satisfied?
The one thing that Billy wants you to really know when looking at his car is that it was built with one thing in mind, aside from getting the hinas: the concept of speed. "I like speed!" Billy told us, "The wheel horsepower this engine can achieve just makes you want more and having a motor that can handle boost-well, the sky's the limit." In other words, IS 300s rock, 2JZ-GTE engines rock even more and the pain in your nose isn't a pimple, but rather a very large booger.
Fast Facts
'03 Lexus IS300
Owner: Billy Shea
Hometown: Chino Hills, CA
Daily Grind: Independent Contractor
Under The Hood: Toyota Supra 3.0L 2JZ-GTE motor; HKS camshafts, fuel injectors, fuel rail, air intake, Hi-Power exhaust, headers, adjustable cam gears, DLI ignition, S-Super series spark plugs, T04Z turbocharger, SSQV blow-off valve, GT2 wastegate, Type S intercooler and piping; Walbro 255 fuel pump; Toyota Aristo oil pan; Koyo radiator; ARC radiator overflow unit, oil catch can, oil cap, titanium air deflector, radiator cap
Drivetrain: 1JZ-GTE transmission; TRD 1.5 way LSD, ORC clutch and flywheel, custom reinforced driveshaft
Brains: HKS EVC boost controller; TEIN EDFC controller power 492.26 hp @ 4,000 rpm
Stiff Stuff: Tein Flex coilovers; TRD stabilizer bars, bushings; Cusco Type OS rear strut brace, trunk floor bar; Tom's chassis bars; Do Luc floor bar
Rollers: 19x8 Work VS-KF wheels with Falken 452 225/35-19 tires (f); 19x9 Work VS-F wheels with Falken 452 225/30-19 tires (r)
Outside: Chargespeed Japan D1 style bodykit; Graphite grey pearl paint
Stoppers: Endless brakes, pads, brake lines; Brembo slotted disks stainless brake line
Rollers: 19x10.5 (front) and 19x12.5 (rear) SSR VF-1 wheels; Pirelli P-ZERO 235/35R19 (front) and 305/30R19 (rear) tireinSIDE Bride seats, upholstery; custom gauge pod; DEFI gauges; Nardi Challenge steering wheel; HKS limited shift knob; Cusco 2-point rollcage; Takata harnesses and pads; Power House camera mount; DEFI control unit
ICE: Eclipse head unit; Alpine amplifiers, speakers, GPS navigation; Monster Cable wiring
Props: My sisters Emily and Natelie; my cousin Alan; Family and friends who have shown me nothing but support with the build; the Uchida family; Nick at Creative Car Audio and Motorsports; Sarkis and family at Dyno Xtreme; guys at Chargespeed; Estefan at Auto Explosion
www alpine-usa.com; brand-endless.com (Endless); brembo.com; hksusa.com; koyorad.com; mackinindustries.com (ARC); oguraclutch.co.jp; tein.com (Takata); versusmotorsports.com (Chargespeed)