Skyline GT-R, Supra, RX-7: JDM Import Secrets from Japanese Auctions
About this episode
Dive into the world of JDM cars with expert Muhammad Azim, who shares insights from his extensive experience in Japanese car auctions. Discover the secrets behind importing iconic models like the Skyline GT-R, Supra, and RX-7, and learn why Japanese cars are revered for their quality and care. The hosts engage in lively discussions about the unique characteristics of JDM vehicles, the nuances of the import process, and the cultural significance of car ownership in Japan. With personal anecdotes and practical advice, this episode is a treasure trove for anyone interested in JDM imports.
Click here to share your favorite car, car story or any automotive trivia!
Ever wondered how right-hand-drive icons like the Toyota Supra, Nissan Skyline GT-R, Mazda RX-7 and Acura Integra actually make it from Japanese auctions to American driveways? In this episode of To All the Cars I've Loved Before, hosts Doug and Christian welcome Mohammad Azeem, revealing insider secrets of JDM importing business.
From navigating USS Auctions in Tokyo to handling 25-year import regulations, shipping logistics, and building customer trust in specialty automotive import markets, Mohammad's expertise reveals the intersection of automotive passion and international business success. Learn about JDM market trends, challenges of international automotive commerce, and why certain Japanese domestic market vehicles command premium prices in North America.
Check out Mohammad's favorite episode is "Iron Curtain Automotive Adventures: Wartburg 353 Restoration & Ford Probe GT Autobahn Drive" https://www.buzzsprout.com/2316026/episodes/16245536-iron-curtain-automotive-adventures-wartburg-353-restoration-ford-probe-gt-autobahn-drive
Perfect for JDM enthusiasts, automotive entrepreneurs, import/export professionals, and anyone fascinated by Japanese car culture business. Whether you dream of owning a Skyline GT-R, Supra, or rare JDM model, understanding the import process reveals the dedication required to bring automotive dreams from Japan to your garage.
*** Your Favorite Automotive Podcast - Now Arriving Weekly!!! ***
Listen on your favorite platform and visit https://carsloved.com for full episodes, our automotive blog, Guest Road Trip Playlist and our new CAR-ousel of Memories photo archive.
Don't Forget to Rate & Review to keep the engines of automotive storytelling—and personal restoration—running strong.
JDM parts
"...if you can search in Google, JDM parts dealer in in your state, you will find some some people..."
JDM means parts made for cars sold in Japan. These parts are often special and can make cars perform better or look cooler. People look for them to upgrade their vehicles.
JDM stands for Japanese Domestic Market, referring to vehicles and parts made specifically for the Japanese market. JDM parts are often sought after for their quality and performance enhancements, especially among car enthusiasts.
JDM cars
"...this episode is going to be about JDM cars. And with us today, we have Muhammad Azim."
JDM cars are cars that were built for Japan and may have special features that you can't find in cars made for other countries. They are often sought after by car lovers because they can be different and exciting.
JDM stands for Japanese Domestic Market, referring to vehicles that are specifically made for the Japanese market. These cars often have unique features and specifications that differ from their international counterparts, making them popular among enthusiasts for their performance and rarity.
Toyota Vitz
"...your very first car was a 2016 Toyota Vitz manual. If you would tell our tell our listeners how you got the car..."
The Toyota Vitz is a small car that's easy to drive and park, making it great for city use. It's known for being dependable and fuel-efficient.
The Toyota Vitz is a subcompact car known for its reliability and efficiency. It is popular in various markets, especially in Japan, where it is often used as a city car.
Toyota Yaris
"...in North America, it's Yaris and they're in Japan."
The Toyota Yaris is a small car that is great for city driving and getting good gas mileage. It's known for being reliable and easy to park.
The Toyota Yaris is a subcompact car known for its fuel efficiency and practicality. It is popular in various markets, including North America and Japan, where it is often available in different configurations and trims.
Honda Insight
"...And then they sent another Yaris, sorry, Honda Insight, which was hybrid. And Honda Insight is, by the way, in America also with the same on the inside."
The Honda Insight is a type of car that uses both a regular engine and an electric motor to save fuel and reduce emissions. It's designed to be more environmentally friendly than traditional cars.
The Honda Insight is a hybrid vehicle that combines a gasoline engine with an electric motor to improve fuel efficiency. It was one of the first hybrid cars introduced in the U.S. market, offering a compact design and eco-friendly performance.
Honda Civic
"...it's kind of a sporty civic. Yeah. In America, right? Yeah."
The Honda Civic is a small car that many people like because it is dependable and gets good gas mileage. It comes in different styles, such as a four-door or two-door version.
The Honda Civic is a popular compact car known for its reliability, fuel efficiency, and sporty design. It has been a staple in the automotive market for decades and is available in various body styles, including sedan, coupe, and hatchback.
Honda Integra
"It's a Tegra, it's a non Type R and it's but it is manual shift, but it's a two engine."
The Honda Integra is a small car made by Honda, popular for its sporty look and good performance. There are different versions, including a high-performance one called the Type R.
The Honda Integra is a compact car that was produced by Honda, known for its sporty design and performance. The Type R variant is particularly famous for its high performance, but this mention refers to a non-Type R model.
manual transmission
"...but it is manual shift, but it's a two engine. One of the greatest engine Honda has ever produced."
A manual transmission is a way to change gears in a car by using a stick and a pedal. It gives drivers more control over how the car drives compared to automatic cars that shift gears on their own.
A manual transmission is a type of transmission that requires the driver to manually shift gears using a clutch pedal and gear stick. It offers more control over the vehicle's performance compared to automatic transmissions.
K20 engine
"One of the greatest engine Honda has ever produced. And that's a DC to you said, right?"
The K20 engine is a type of four-cylinder engine made by Honda. It's known for being powerful and reliable, which makes it popular in many of their cars.
The K20 engine is a series of four-cylinder engines produced by Honda, known for their high-revving nature and performance capabilities. It has been widely praised for its reliability and power output, making it a favorite among car enthusiasts.
1JZ-GTE engine
"...they just love one JZ GTE engine. It comes in three cars, Mark two, Crown,..."
The 1JZ-GTE engine is a powerful engine made by Toyota that many people use for racing and drifting because it is strong and reliable.
The 1JZ-GTE is a turbocharged inline-six engine produced by Toyota, known for its reliability and performance, making it popular among car enthusiasts, especially in the drifting and racing communities.
Toyota Crown
"...It comes in three cars, Mark two, Crown,..."
The Toyota Crown is a big, comfortable car that has been around for a long time. Some versions have powerful engines that make them fun to drive.
The Toyota Crown is a full-size luxury sedan that has been in production for decades, known for its comfort and performance. Some variants are equipped with the 1JZ-GTE engine, appealing to enthusiasts.
Toyota Mark II
"...It comes in three cars, Mark two, Crown,..."
The Toyota Mark II is a car that many people in Japan liked. It often has powerful engines that make it good for racing.
The Toyota Mark II is a mid-size car that was popular in Japan, often equipped with performance-oriented engines like the 1JZ-GTE, making it a favorite among car enthusiasts for modifications and racing.
2JZ GTE
"One of them is one JZ GTE. And the second one is to JZ GTE, which comes in the Supra."
The 2JZ GTE is a powerful engine made by Toyota that many car enthusiasts love. It's known for being reliable and can be modified to produce a lot of horsepower.
The 2JZ GTE is a turbocharged inline-six engine produced by Toyota, known for its robust performance and tuning potential. It's famously used in the Toyota Supra, particularly in the fourth generation (A80).
Toyota Supra
"And the second one is to JZ GTE, which comes in the Supra."
The Toyota Supra is a fast sports car that people really admire. The version with the 2JZ GTE engine is particularly famous for its speed and ability to be customized.
The Toyota Supra is a sports car that gained fame for its performance and tuning capabilities, especially the fourth generation (A80) which features the 2JZ GTE engine. It's considered a legendary car among enthusiasts.
Mazda RX-7
"like the RX seven, right? FD RX seven, which is also famous from the Furious."
The Mazda RX-7 is a sports car famous for its unique engine type called a rotary engine. The FD model is the version made from the early 1990s to early 2000s and is loved by car enthusiasts for its speed and handling.
The Mazda RX-7 is a lightweight sports car known for its rotary engine and agile handling. The FD generation, produced from 1992 to 2002, is particularly celebrated for its performance and design.
pop up headlights
"...It had a sunroof and pop up headlights. It was real world drive."
Pop up headlights are headlights that can hide away into the car when they're not needed. They were popular in many cool sports cars because they make the car look smoother.
Pop up headlights are a type of car headlight design that retracts into the body of the vehicle when not in use. This design was popular in sports cars during the 1970s to 1990s for its sleek appearance.
JDM car policy
"So someone told me that there is a JDM car policy here that you can import 25 years old car in USA."
JDM means cars that were made for Japan. There's a rule that lets you bring cars into the U.S. if they are at least 25 years old, so you can get older Japanese cars here legally.
JDM stands for Japanese Domestic Market, referring to vehicles made specifically for the Japanese market. The JDM car policy allows cars that are 25 years or older to be imported into the USA, which means classic Japanese cars can be legally brought into the country.
Roro shipment
"One is the container shipment and one is the Roro shipment. Roro means roll on roll off."
Roro shipment is a way to move cars by driving them onto a ship. It's like parking your car in a garage, but the garage is on a boat that takes the cars to another place.
Roro shipment, short for 'roll on roll off', is a method of transporting vehicles where they are driven directly onto a ship and secured for transport. This method is commonly used for shipping cars and other wheeled cargo.
DeLorean
"I remember when Doug bought his DeLorean a few years ago. He I think he went to Chicago and checked it out and all this good stuff."
The DeLorean is a unique car famous for its shiny metal body and doors that open upwards. It became really popular because of the movies where it was used as a time machine.
The DeLorean is a sports car manufactured by the DeLorean Motor Company, known for its distinctive stainless steel body and gull-wing doors. It gained iconic status due to its appearance in the 'Back to the Future' film series.
Delorean DMC-12
"...t's a good point. I remember when Doug bought his DeLorean a few years ago. He I think he went to Chicago an..."
The DeLorean DMC-12 is a unique car that has shiny metal sides and doors that open up like wings. It became really famous because it was used in the 'Back to the Future' movies, making it a favorite among fans of classic cars.
The DeLorean DMC-12 is an iconic sports car known for its distinctive stainless steel body and gullwing doors. It became a cultural phenomenon after being featured in the 'Back to the Future' movies, which helped cement its status as a classic car.
Nissan 300
"...ry. And by the by the way, Mohammed, I own a 1990 Nissan 300 ZX or not non fair. Lady Z. But that was my dream..."
The Nissan 300 ZX is a sporty car that looks great and drives fast. The 1990 version is especially loved because it combines good speed with a comfortable ride.
The Nissan 300 ZX is a sports car that was part of the Z-car family, known for its performance and sleek design. The 1990 model is particularly cherished for its balance of power and comfort, making it a favorite among driving enthusiasts.
left hand drive
"...they were left hand drive, of course. There are a lot of the parts are interchangeable,..."
Left hand drive means the steering wheel is on the left side of the car, which is how cars are set up in countries where people drive on the right side of the road.
Left hand drive (LHD) refers to vehicles designed for driving on the right side of the road, where the steering wheel is located on the left side of the vehicle. This is common in countries like the United States.
right hand drive
"...certainly things that are unique to left hand drive, right hand drive,..."
Right hand drive means the steering wheel is on the right side of the car, which is how cars are set up in countries where people drive on the left side of the road.
Right hand drive (RHD) refers to vehicles designed for driving on the left side of the road, where the steering wheel is located on the right side of the vehicle. This is common in countries like the United Kingdom.
Nissan Skylines
"...OK, so when I came here and I when I imported the Skylines, then my car eventually became the R34 Skyline."
The Nissan Skyline is a type of car that is known for being fast and cool, especially the R34 model. It's popular among people who love cars because it has a lot of power and special features that make it fun to drive.
The Nissan Skyline is a line of cars that gained significant fame for its performance and technology, especially in the realm of motorsports. The R34 Skyline, in particular, is celebrated for its powerful engine and advanced features, making it a sought-after model among car enthusiasts and collectors.
RB engine
"I just do the test drive of all these Skylines. RB, I mean, R32, R33, and now I'll be importing R34."
The RB engine is a type of engine made by Nissan that is popular in their sports cars. It's known for being powerful and can be modified to go even faster.
The RB engine series is a line of inline-six engines produced by Nissan, known for their performance and tuning potential. These engines are commonly found in various models of the Skyline and are favored by enthusiasts for their robustness and ability to handle high horsepower.
Acura Integra
"...the Integra, a late 90s Integra. I had a three two TL, the same vintage, but talk a little bit about that car Integra..."
The Acura Integra is a small car that many people liked for its fun driving experience, especially in the 1990s. It's often seen as a cool car among car fans.
The Acura Integra is a compact car that was produced by Acura from 1985 to 2001. It is known for its sporty performance and was popular among enthusiasts, especially in the late 90s.
Acura TL
"...I had a three two TL, the same vintage, but talk a little bit about that car Integra and do you like to go to cars and coffee..."
The Acura TL is a comfortable and stylish car that was made by Acura from the late 1990s to the late 2000s. It's a popular choice for those looking for a luxury sedan.
The Acura TL is a mid-size luxury sedan that was produced by Acura from 1996 to 2008. It is known for its blend of performance, comfort, and technology.
BaT
"Someone told me that you should go to the B80, bring a trailer and cars, cars forbid there are some other websites."
BaT is a website where people can buy and sell classic cars through online auctions. It's a popular place for car lovers to find unique vehicles.
BaT, short for Bring a Trailer, is a well-known platform for buying and selling classic cars through online auctions. It has a strong community of car enthusiasts and collectors.
Bring a Trailer
"Someone told me that you should go to the B80, bring a trailer and cars, cars forbid there are some other websites."
Bring a Trailer is a website where you can sell special cars by auctioning them to interested buyers. It's popular for classic and unique vehicles.
Bring a Trailer is an online auction platform that specializes in classic and enthusiast cars. It allows sellers to list their vehicles for auction, attracting buyers who are interested in unique automotive offerings.
Nissan Pao
"in Nissan Pal, PAO, really neat little car that you don't see many of them."
The Nissan Pao is a small, uniquely designed car from the late 1980s. It's not very common, which makes it special among car enthusiasts.
The Nissan Pao is a retro-styled compact car produced by Nissan in the late 1980s. It's known for its unique design and is part of the Nissan's 'Figaro' series, which includes other quirky models.
Honda Beats
"...on't see many of them. I actually have seen a few Honda beats in the US. But yeah, that's how I found them on F..."
The Honda Beat is a tiny, fun car that is really light and easy to drive. It's not very common, especially outside of Japan, but people who have seen it often think it's really cool.
The Honda Beat is a small, lightweight sports car that was produced in the early 1990s and is part of the kei car category in Japan. Its compact size and fun driving experience make it a rare gem among car enthusiasts, especially in markets outside Japan.
Nissan Pal
"...I'll be in touch with you about the Nissan Pal. I haven't forgotten."
The Nissan Pal is a car made by Nissan that is designed for families. It has a lot of room inside for people and their belongings, making it a good choice for trips or daily use.
The Nissan Pal is a model from Nissan, known for its practicality and features aimed at family use. It's designed to offer a comfortable ride with ample space for passengers and cargo.
Request an Explanation
Heard something you'd like explained? We'll add it to this episode.
Sign in to request explanations for terms you heard.
Want to learn more?
Browse our glossary for plain-English explanations of automotive terms, jargon, and concepts.
Help improve this episode
See something that's not quite right? Our annotations are AI-generated and can sometimes miss the mark. Click the flag icon on any annotation to suggest a correction.