Speed Forme Brings New Style To Two Japanese Legends
Japanese classics refreshed and restyled for the modern era"Restomod" is a fairly new word in the vocabulary of many import enthusiasts. The concept behind restomod is restoring an old vehicle to near-showroom condition while also updating its more dated aspects with modern components. So instead of merely bringing an old car back to life and making it look as it did in a brochure 40 years ago, you'd also be altering it to your liking with custom-fabricated and/or off-the-shelf aftermarket parts. This has been a popular phenomenon in the domestic car world, but has recently come to fruition in the last couple of years within the tuner community. Instead of starting new projects with vehicles off the dealer lot, many Japanese and Euro enthusiasts are restoring the cars they came to love when they were younger, bringing them back to the days of yesteryear in hopes of creating something they've always wanted but might not have been able to afford back then. Keep digging deeper and you'll realize that restmodding (is that a word yet?) has been a process that has long existed in Japan. Platforms like the '70s-era Fairlady Zs and C10 Hakosuka Skylines are revered in the Land of the Rising Sun. Some are traditionally modded while others are more on the wild side; however, in the middle are pristine restomod classics like this duo from Speed Forme.
Located 45 minutes outside of Osaka, Speed Forme is an aero parts brand that caters specifically to the S30 chassis. The company is relatively new to the market and is a subdivision of a body, paint, and restoration shop that has been operating for nearly two decades known uniquely by the name "Motors By Shape." This orange 260Z serves as their primary demo car along with another Z, painted a dark green and wearing the same aero setup that debuted at this year's Tokyo Auto Salon. The '71 Skyline is Speed Forme's first Hakosuka project owned by a customer affectionately known simply as Mr. Shibaike.
"Our goal was to develop modern aero parts that create a new style and feel for older vehicles," explains Makoto Kawauchi, owner of Motors By Shape. "We wanted aero products that convey a feeling of motion and speed while still retaining that feeling of nostalgia."
