The cavernous exhibit halls of Makuhari Messe were electric, overflowing with an outrageous sea of automotive fantasy. Vivid colors and gleaming chrome fought for attention under the constant barrage of camera flashes going off left and right.
Tokyo Auto Salon 2018 was here, and it was more brilliantly overwhelming than ever. Photographers were everywhere. I was one of them.
The best cars of Tokyo Auto Salon 2018
Ken Block’s Ford Mustang
I’d seen Ken Block’s 1965 Ford Mustang Hoonicorn RTR high-powered gymkhana car on YouTube. His driving skills blew me away. If I could pick a car to drive around Tokyo, I’d pick his. I’d just need his driving skills too.
Bentley Speed 8 Grand Touring Prototype
Tokyo Auto Salon 2018 had some power. My favorite, and this choice surprised me, was the legendary Bentley Speed 8 Grand Touring Prototype. It’s a beast built for one thing: speed.
This low-slung, closed-cockpit race car with an enormous rear wing was a magnet for photographers. It proved that pure engineering can be as breathtaking as custom creations.
GX61 Cresta and Bosozoku style
One of the most striking things about daily life in Japan is how few older vehicles you see on the roads. That’s what makes their presence at TAS so special. Here, they are reborn, kitted out, and looking ready to race.
My eyes were immediately drawn to a GX61 Cresta that was completely off the scales. The red and white paintwork was so startling you couldn’t look away.
Everything about it was big: the homemade rear wing was huge, and the overfenders were so immense you had to wonder if they were legal. It reminded me of an encounter I once had with some bosozoku in Nagoya one night many years ago.
TAS gives visitors an experience
One moment you’re peering into a campervan with a polished wood interior fit for a luxury hotel; the next, you’re shielding your eyes from a Mercedes completely encrusted in thousands of Swarovski crystals glittering under the hall lights.
It’s this excess that solidifies its reputation as Japan’s bigger, bolder answer to the American SEMA Show.
Who buys and drives these magnificent beasts? I rarely see them in my part of Tokyo.
But standing there, in the middle of the hall, you realize it doesn’t matter. Visitors just want to see something incredible, and on that front, the builders of these classics succeeded spectacularly.
Model photography at TAS
It wouldn’t be Tokyo Auto Salon without the human element, and the promotional models are a core part of the show’s identity. It’s a deliberate and effective strategy.
Stunning models in elaborate outfits can draw a crowd to their car even in this sea of automotive wonders. When the girls take their positions, they are instantly met by a wall of cameras and smartphones.
While many outfits are designed to be as loud as the cars they represent, one company in 2018 played the game differently. In a masterful stroke of marketing, Toyo Tires chose elegance over extravagance.
Their car companions, dressed in beautiful kimonos with fur stoles, stood next to Ken Block’s 1965 Ford Mustang Hoonicorn RTR. Amidst all the noise and provocation, they stood out by being different. The girls put a Japanese twist on American muscle.
Is Tokyo Auto Salon worth it?
Tokyo Auto Salon (official website) doesn’t change much year to year, but that’s its strength. The event is a reliable pilgrimage for anyone who believes a car can be a canvas for outrageous art. It’s loud, it’s crowded, and it’s unapologetically over-the-top.
Are you ready to see more? I’ve made [Tokyo Auto Salon Photo Guide] which has all the information you need to know.
