Ask us how easy it is to find really outstanding cars in Japan, and well generally reply with an unenthusiastic laugh. It really isnt that easy at all. For one thing, its not like Southern California where these hot rods of the new millennium can be found in abundance on any local junior college parking lot. My experience has shown that its much more common to see step wagons and cute school girls walking around than it is to see your favorite Japanese super car cruise by. We narrowly missed Tsuyoshi Nishimuras NSX-R the last time we were in Osaka, and had it not been for our cover photographer, Wes Allison, and his sharp eyes, we probably would never have known that this car even existed. Flipping through the pages of Option2, Wes noticed that Tsuyoshis car looked liked it had been built by Signal Auto and since we were their guests at the time, we inquired about its location. Turns out it was a locals car and from that point we knew that we had to have it. Well, we got it.
With the hard part (finding a nice car in Japan) out of the way, the next challenge was to find out some info about this car. Since were total buffoons who dont make the owners fill out a tech sheet on site, we had to wait until we were back home to get the full scoop. It turns out that Tsuyoshi works at his parents sushi shop in the city of Mie. Interestingnow we have a place to raid for food scraps whenever we visit the area again. He also told us that his love affair with the NSX goes back all the way to when he was just a high school student. Tsuyoshi says, My loveable NSXI remember that it made me crazy when I first saw one, not only for its price, but because of the way it looked. A lot of time passed by and all I wanted was to just get inside of it. Gradually, the price became a little bit cheaper and I was able to get one by the time I was 23. Life isnt fair when someone whos my age can buy an NSX. Im going to quit Super Street and open my own sushi restaurant now.
Tsuyoshi started slowly with minimal modifications, like changing the stock muffler for a Taitec S Enduro racing muffler and swapping out the wheels for a set of Enkei RP-01s. He soon found that modifying his car would become extremely addicting even though he bought the car strictly for fun. He also wasnt so sure of what parts were available in the aftermarket so he thought he would try and fabricate things on his own. In the past, lightweight body kits werent readily available for the NSX so he decided to focus on creating one of his own.
From his experience with using fiberglass to repair his motorcycles fender, he thought it would be a good idea if he learned more about FRP to make a body kit. After many failed attempts, time, work, and money, Tsuyoshi finally created one to his liking and named it Flat Light Kits. He also began to work with carbon fiber and is now using both materials for the rear under panels, side skirts, and rear wing as his original pieces. Alternatively, Tsuyoshi also used a few aftermarket goodiesSignal provided the carbon fiber mirrors; the hood was replaced with one from Advance Staff and the rear wing is a Taitec GT500, adding new perspective to the NSX.
Recently, the Flat Lights brand was authorized as a specified part for the Japan Super N1 Enduro class and have shown up on racing cars in the event under the brand name Pop! Nishimura. Not bad for a guy who worked without any real prior knowledge of fabricating fiberglass and carbon fiber. Signal Auto painted the car with its traditional peach-orange color and added their sideline graphics.
Finally succeeding with the exterior work, Tsuyoshi felt it was time to get even more serious with the engine and suspension tuning. Again, he decided it would be best if he developed parts on his own and did so by tuning his own ECU and adding his own air filter.
The drivetrain has been outfitted with an OS Giken clutch and Super Lock differential. With these minimal enhancements, Tsuyoshis final horsepower figures come out to 320 hp on the NSX-R motor. He was also able to create his own coilover shocks, but he used a set of Swift springs to achieve a more comfortable ride and height. The brake pads were upgraded with a set of PFCs up front and Endless CC-Ms on the rear. The drivers cabin sees little in terms of upgrade as there really is no use for it in such a fine automobile, but there is a pair of Sparco seats and an ultra-trick Stack ST8100 gauge cluster on the dash. The center console is a Tsuyoshi-inspired piece, utilizing carbon fiber, an S2000 push-start button, and a host of switcheswhat they all do exactly, we dont know. We were too busy eating ume shiso and natto sushi while Signal was explaining it all.
As I sit at my desk trying to figure out what words will complete this story, I think to myself, What else can you say about it? Im still in awe; Tsuyoshis car is a masterpiece. It makes those who dont own one of these to want one even more. Velvet ropes should be placed around it while its parked, along with a box for donations. When it dies, it should be left to science and frozen in carbonite, like Han Solo, to pay off our debt to Jabba the Hut. What else can you say about it? You decide.