By
Sam Du, Photography by Super Street Staff
What you are about to read is a true story. No animals (or Super Street employees) were harmed in the making of this feature.
Guess which J-pop star this is?
As soon as we walked through the doors of this year’s Tokyo Auto Salon, we were immediately greeted with this ’94 Toyota Celsior—you know the car as the Lexus LS400. Quite frankly, this Celsior was one of the finest VIP examples our eyes have laid on with a Century front-end swap, custom widebody, impeccable wheel fitment, air-ride and a baller interior. It had to be in the mag so we tracked down the owner Kiyoshi Mizuno and scheduled an appointment after the show.
Fast-forward a few days later and we rendezvoused with Mizuno-san at K-Break headquarters in Osaka. While we waited for the car to be washed, Sean discovered a quiet underpass one block away that would serve as the perfect location for photos. When the Celsior was ready, we had the owner position it on the road and our cameras snapped away.
We didn’t think anyone would be bothered, especially since the occasional passing car could still get around us. But on the far end of the road was a love hotel with a manager that looked on behind his desk. It soon became apparent that he was displeased with what us dumb Americans were doing.
Mizuno-san’s efforts landed him an award at Toyko Auto Salon!
Back home, most people would simply tell us to leave if they had a problem with our shoot. But in Japan, it’s sort of a big deal and a sign of disrespect to cause even the smallest distraction. So the hotel manager’s first reaction was to phone the police. Then to be polite, he walked out and explained to our acting guardian Tetsu that the police were already on their way. We all stood clueless as Tetsu tried to reason with the man. Then with the most concerned look on his face, Tetsu tells us that we have to leave immediately or we’re going to jail!
Hastily, we pack up our gear and make our way back to K-Break. As we pull into parking lot, a couple patrol bikes pass us by with their lights on. We hurry into the showroom feeling relieved, under the impression that we dodged a close one. But the Osaka police weren’t idiots and figured the stunning Celsior that just pulled into K-Break had to be the culprit. They circled around and Tetsu walked outside to meet them. For about five minutes (which felt like an hour), we see Tetsu debating with the officer, before he finally climbed back on his bike and left.
Now here’s a warning for anyone travelling to Japan—the police don’t mess around. The laws are rarely bent and the authorities don’t really care if you’re a tourist. We’re lucky to have Tetsu on our side. In fact, if it weren’t for Tetsu mediating, you wouldn’t be reading this magazine today! After the ordeal, we managed to get our heads back in place and interviewed Mizuno-san about his ride.
With the help of Bee Dragon and K-Break, nearly everything on the sedan was modified over the project’s three-year lifespan. From the overall fit and finish of the pulled rear fenders to the difficult Century front-end swap were spectacular. Everything flowed together seamlessly and the new front-end was trimmed and installed to look like factory. And for those who aren’t familiar with the Century, it’s the larger luxury sedan sold only in Japan with a V12 option. You typically wouldn’t see them on the road except as limos (see Tetsu’s Tales 2/12).
For a proper drop, Mizuno-san pieced together his own air suspension kit. But to get the car low enough, he cut and rebuilt the bottom floor of the car. So when the air suspension was set all the way down, there wouldn’t be any obstacles in the way.
The sedan has gone through several wheels but now sported K-Break’s newest Hybreed Cross Nine design. To tuck the tire tread under all four fenders, massive stretching was performed on all four tires along with plenty of negative camber to bend the wheels inward.