It was all about custom builds, shiny exteriors, and all-around attitude when the world’s No. 1 customised car show returned to Kuala Lumpur for the third year running.
Held from Aug 8-10 at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC), around 100,000 people attended the three-day show to check out unique, iconic builds from Japan.
Wherever you looked, there was a showstopper.
Top Secret Japan’s 1,072-horsepower VR32 Stealth Nissan GT-R, the only one of its kind in the world, built by Smokey Nagata; the world-famous Liberty Walk Ferrari F40, displayed outside Japan for the very first time; the Toyota Sprinter Trueno AE86, made famous by the manga “Initial D”; and Aylezo’s Ginetta LMP2 Le Mans prototype sports car, which costs RM40,000 to rent for just one hour.
Vintage car fans were thrilled to spot a 1962 Cadillac Coupe DeVille, while loyal Malaysians loved the sight of a fiercely revamped third-generation Myvi by Crazyshot.
People also waited in line to purchase popular, limited-edition die-cast models, and get autographs from Japanese automotive legends.
The crowd gathered around Smokey Nagata, the notorious speed chaser, who hit 317 km/h on a UK highway in 1998 in his gold Toyota Supra, a record that still stands as the highest officially recorded speed on a British public road.
Also present was Wataru Kato, founder of Japanese tuning company Liberty Walk, known for popularising dramatic widebody kits.
Only in its third year being held outside Japan, the show retained the core qualities and vibe of the original, but also carried a distinctly Malaysian identity.
FMT Lifestyle spoke with Malaysian race car driver Zen Low, who rose from humble beginnings in Sarawak to compete on some of the biggest race tracks in the world.
When asked about his biggest accomplishments, Low spoke about his performance in 2017: “I came in third in the Asia Pacific Ferrari Challenge in Mugello, Italy.
“When I got onto the podium I looked to the left, mat salleh. I looked to the right, another mat salleh. I was the only Asian up there, and that was a very proud moment for me.”
Low added: “I started as a gentleman driver and my goal was to race for three years. But I managed to carry on for more than a decade.”
As an international GT racing driver, Low revealed that he’s had several near-death experiences on the track.
“The scariest one was during the Sepang 12-hour endurance race. The fuel rig broke and several hundred litres of fuel came down over me, and since the engine was hot, I became engulfed in flames. I thought that was the day I died,” he said.
Low explained that, fortunately, the fire was put out. Today, he’s found a new passion – building drift cars and modifying others, like his latest restomod, a 40-year-old Porsche 944 Turbo.
FMT Lifestyle also caught up with Hiroshi Tamura, the man behind the modern Nissan GT-R, and even he was blown away by Malaysians’ love for cars.
“It’s my first time at Tokyo Auto Salon KL, and everyone here has a big passion. Not just being a car lover, but with such deep knowledge as well,” he said
Looking around the event space, there were smiles all around.
Chen Ern Khai, 21, who arrived in his wheelchair, shared: “This is my first time here.” “I’ve always been really interested in cars, and having some truly epic names around is what drew me to come. I was most excited to see Smokey Nagata’s golden GT-R and Supras, as well as the retro cars.”
And the fun continued as families gathered to watch remote car racing, collectors went wild for Hot Wheels, and intricate dioramas caught everyone’s eye.
The show was made even more exciting with an auto styling competition, judged by a special panel of Japanese tuners.
Malaysian artist extraordinaire Zameer Pentbrush from Kuala Terengganu also performed a live demonstration, adding personality to a car with his signature brushstrokes.
So whether you came for the dream rides, the automotive legends, or just the roaring atmosphere, Tokyo Auto Salon KL proved its where Malaysia’s car passion truly comes alive.
For more information on Tokyo Auto Salon KL, go to their website and follow them on Facebook, Instagram and Tik-Tok.
