Sorry guys, between work and more work, we had some events in the past weekends that took up some time from updating here, without much waits, we’ll be launching the built documentary series of our demo JDM911..
.. in the mean time,
Our friends told us that they’ll vote this guy if he runs for the governator..
LOL, props to Brian for the art work & Eric/Dat for the love.
Words can hardly describe how I felt recently upon tire/wheel fitment for a project revamption that we’re currently working on; long story short, this was what happened:
Detail? We were trying to stretch a 275/30 on a 12.5″ wide wheel, and being that it has a step-lip barrel, the tire wouldn’t even grab to the edge and inflate air; here’s another shot zooming in..
Fail? Indeed, but rather than always post about fame and glory like some other sites/blogs, we don’t mind sharing the trial & error as our project consistantly progressed.
Big ups & thanks to AutoFashion and TWS (aka The Wheel Supply) for the help on execution as well as AutoTalent for much more support on this project that will be unveil soon.
While our next private label development project has been slowly in progress with brand/logo and sampling surrounding car-inspired products beside the usage of being car-related, I can’t see myself not being excited to see more similarities that’s just completely out of context. Last couple nights I was going through some archive of pics I’ve saved randomly from browsing online, and came across this pic I found from JTuned awhile ago from their oversea coverage of a carshow; it’s a full bathroom product-line… of all-things-carbon-fiber!
From toilet (base/seats/water chamber..etc) to the TP cover and the water sink with cabinet underneath it, everything’s carbon besides the handles!
Not many people has claim that they’ve literately shit on carbon fiber…
want a set in your bathroom?
YES PLEASE!!!
12 days has gone by as I’ve been busy prepping the next daily-blog series that will blow your mind, but it might take a bit longer to finish it; while I’m still working on that, here’s what I ran into from the future of Toyota’s upper-brand Lexus- a Hybrid… Bicycle!
Lexus’ newest hybrid concept proudly carries its moniker despite the complete lack of an engine…
however, it does have a 240-Watt electric motor powered by a 25.9-volt lithium battery pack, along with… pedals!
Though it managed to escape most attention up to this point, Lexus actually displayed a duo of hybrid electric bicycles at last year’s Tokyo Motor Show…
… and the Japanese automaker now tour the bike as part of its sponsorship of the Great British Bike Ride.
According to Lexus, the frame is constructed of carbon fiber (the same composite that makes up Valentino Rossi’s MotoGP bike, gushes Lexus):
… and uses an eight-speed internal gear system sourced from Shimano, in reference to the LS 600h’s eight-speed automatic…
with a choice of Eco or Power modes…
as with Lexus Hybrid Drive, there is an energy regeneration function that helps recharge the battery by capturing kinetic energy generated under braking.
The Lexus Hybrid Bicycle has all-wheel drive (OMG AWD!!! lol), by means of a belt system.
Too bad that there are no current plans for the Lexus Hybrid Bicycle to become a production model, so for any of us to get our hand on these nice handles, it won’t be possible till years to come and maybe decades..
To all our friends whom are into trendy bikes, want to build something like this as far as everything besides the AWD system & Hybrid motor? Honestly I think it’s possible for the carbon frame and the rest of the structure (wheel/tire..etc)… an idea for the next project I guess. 🙂
As I walk my way out of the museum, I saw one more creation that really inspired my belief in the future of transportation, as how technology can be so much more advanced than our current surroundings:
This “i-Unit” here, seems to be able to extend/detract its 4-legs-of-wheels that can make its controller sit or stand..
Another shot at it (lights up in different color), which shows how short the wheel-base is when the cotroller is standing tall:
The future beholds many possibilities when it comes to technology and transportation; and if God allows us human to live through year 2012, we shall see the future unholds with our own eyes.
I hope that you have enjoyed this virtual tour of the Nagoya Toyota Museum as much as I’ve did in person, and keep yourself tuned-in here as we got more interesting topics to share!
Maybe I’ve built up too much hype over this entry on the souvenir shop, but if there’s a reason for the lack of photos, that’s just because I was too busy shopping instead of taking photos!
Just look at how many collectables there were here:
here:
and here:
I promised Ryan that I’d take a pic of this with his favorite pick (unfortunately he was not able to bring it back due to its size being too large to fit into his luggage):
Remember that candy-red JGTC-style Supra die-cast from the not-for-sale section of the souvenir shop here? Well, it’s actually a limited replica of the winer from the 2007 Japan Hobby Show, which only 100 were produced; how did I get my hands on it when it’s not-for-sale? …
… The picture above was taken behind the wall of one vendor booth @ the Tokyo Auto Salon which we later visited after the short trip to Nagoya, call it the ‘secret-stash’ that the seller put away upon special request; the seller was kind enough to show it to me after I described him something I really wanted to acquired from the Nagoya trip but couldn’t, and after much chit-chat, he decided to sell it to me for an unbelievable price. It sure was nice to enjoy the hospitality of the industry there in an odd way if you call it. 🙂
Want to see more of that goodies? Hang on that thought and let me tease you more! j/k.
Call it a childhood memory, but before I walked into the souvenir shop, I bumped into a few display cases that I just have to show you guys; to start it off, here’s a miniature Lego build that is base on the building/surroundings of the Nagoya Toyota Museum:
Then this one here has probably the best TOMY’s collection that some of you may still remember as a kid:
All the products were put together so well into a miniature city that had the streets connected with shops/stores/buildings around the roads..
.. also a highway system ..
I’d be so stoked if I had these when I was a kid!
Also, here’s another display case with more upscale model build-ups that would probably suit the skill-set of a teenager:
Besides the buildings/surroundings in this display case, the cars are still TOMY’s; and If you pay close attention to the background, you’ll see the treasures within the souvenir shop..
One more tease..
Up Next :: The Souvenir Shop of the Nagoya Toyota Museum!
As we are coming to an end of the entire museum tour, we were able to enjoy the most out of what’s before the exit sign- the souvenior shop!
WAIT HOLD UP, yes, before that, lets check out what the museum has in its stash first, which are pretty much the display-walls surrounding the mini-cafe for its guests like this one here:
^that one wall above features some of my favorite pieces of the collection; and Toyota is just so detail that they even put up a human-figure to show you its scale:
the lineup starts with this concept HPX:
then the concept 4500GT:
also the concept EX-III:
the rest of them were just not my cup of tea, so instead of taking a pic for each individual die-cast, I just took some pics of the walls, like this one here:
and this one here:
then finally this “movie-theme” collection here:
So, you ready for the souvenior shop? Here’s a peek of what’s there..
^that Supra die-cast was actually an “not-for-sale” item, but somehow some way I actually got my hand on it; and if you have been to my buddy Ryan’s shop then you would’ve probably seen them already!
Before I show you the private die-cast collection this museum has, here are some interesting display cases around the infamous Toyota sports cars.
Here’s an interesting display case that I spotted which shows how a Celica was made from the start; from the initial designer room, to the clay-model making, then prototype parts..
.. it continues on with serveral vehicle simulations and measurements here and there:
Then some road-testings were done before it rolls off the production:
Before I walked off that section of display cases, I’ve suprised myself a bit when I ran into this..
A close-up here, you can see some initial drawings/designs of the legendary JZA80 Supra:
Further zoom-in..
and let me leave you a tease for the next entry on the museum’s private die-cast collections..
Get ready for some die-cast actions in the next few entries!
While walking through the museum, I also spend some time to look at the side-things in detail, one of them was the memorabilia throughout the building.
And this one here was one of my favorite memorabilia wall:
It really brings you back in time on top of just the cars and back-drops; next to the wall above, are cases of some hand-built models:
Then it just tops this old-time-feel off when they had these vintage cameras besides all-things-car-related..
..also with some of these radio and record machine:
There was also a room with a dome-ceiling that was full of… either awards or hood-mascots?
Back on topic, this theme-room probably gather the most easy-to-relate memorabilia to you readers here form the 70’s/80’s or maybe even the 60’s?
another shot of that wall..
vintage toys..
close-up on the toys..
.. as well as vintage collectables:
some of the above walls were surrounded around this car here..
Yup, the good ol’ days eh?
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