When the name “Port of Yokohama” is mentioned, the first thing that might come to your mind is the big Toyota vehicles swaying on the three-lane industrial road in the early morning. X100 chassis and street drift are pretty much synonymous with each other at this location, even if that culture is starting to fade due to police reinforcements.
I was lucky enough to be able to spend a late night in Yokohama’s port area with three unique JZX100 Crestas.
While not as popular as the Chaser or Mark II, the Cresta has become my favorite of Toyota’s line of JZ-powered sedans, especially from Australia, where Chasers are common. There is something special about Cresta and its street presence.
For those unfamiliar with the nuances between the various X models, the Cresta belongs to the X100 (1996-2000) chassis code, after the X90 (1992-1996), but before the X110 (2000-2007). Each of these is available with multiple drivetrains, the most popular of which are the 1JZ-GTE and 2JZ-GTE.
We parked under the Yokohama Bay Bridge and the area was almost empty when the closing bell rang at 5:00pm. However, as police step up their crackdown on “anti-social driving”, it is common to leave quickly while staying in these places.
Each of these cars contrasted with each other in styling and color, making it a bit of a challenge to put the three cars together for a perfectly lit shot, especially on the poorly lit port passage.
After wandering around the area for a while, we headed to one of the most popular whitewater rafting spots. Although primarily an industrial area, the few residents of these areas have been known to call the police at any exhaust sound or sign of traction damage.
Before that, exhaust mufflers and locking pliers were glove box must-haves.
While we didn’t go rafting, by coincidence a frequent port visitor stopped by to say hello on his way to another popular street rafting spot.
Digging deeper into individual cars, there is much more to Akira-san’s red Cresta than initially seen.
The car has been completely restored and overhauled over the past two years, making it look like a 1999 Cresta that just rolled off the Toyota production line, but in a modified state.
The car is finished in Mazda Soul Red Crystal Metallic with a thin stripe on the side to tie it all together nicely. The BN Sports kit paired with Yokohama AVS Model 6 wheels gave the Cresta a feel of the early 2000s, when JZXs dominated the Japanese street drift scene.
My favorite thing about this car is that Akira-san doesn’t just park it; his Cresta sees non-stop drift times on the track all year round. You can read the specification at the end of this article.
After parting ways with Akira-san, we stopped at a local noodle restaurant in Yokohama’s Chinatown for a late-night snack. This gave me the opportunity to check out Alec-san’s silver car, a simple but well-made example of Cresta.
Alec’s car was also repainted, this time in Volvo Silver. Cresta is currently equipped with a complete Vertex kit and Car Kouba +25mm front fender to comfortably fit the SSR SP1.
On the way home we snapped a few photos of Jeff-san’s Honda Midnight Blue Beam Metallic Cresta. It quickly became apparent that these big Toyotas weren’t designed with the narrow streets of Tokyo city in mind.
Jeff’s car was fitted with a full set of Work VS-KF wheels and had a relatively extensive chassis worklist, which you can also check out in the specs below.
Floating or not, Friday nights at the Port of Yokohama are the best Friday nights.
Alex Pender
Instagram: Noplansco
Akira-san’s 1999 JZX100 Toyota Cresta Roulant G
engine: Factory 2.5L 1JZ-GTE VVTi turbo, HPI Direct Suction Kit with HKS Super Power Flow air filter, HPI intercooler, Quantum VVT solenoid, A’PEXi Power FC engine management system, HPI Evolve radiator, GP Sports clutch fan, Night Pager water Bypass Kit, Blitz Oil Cooler, Kazama Engine Mount
Motion transfer system: Factory R154 5-speed gearbox, Kazama gearbox mounts, Cusco LSD with 3.9:1 final drives
Suspension/Brakes: DG5 shock absorber, front spring 36kg/mm, rear spring 24kg/mm, JZA80 Toyota Supra front brake calipers
Wheels/Tires: AVS Model 6 wheels, 18×10 inches +24 front/rear, 215/40R18 tires front, 225/40R18 tires rear
External: BN Sports Front Lip, BN Sports Side Skirts, BN Sports Rear Bumper, Vanquish Roof Spoiler, Soul Red Crystal Metallic
Internal: Bridal Bucket Seats, Nardi Classic Steering Wheel
Alec-san’s 1996 JZX100 Toyota Cresta Roulant G
engine: Factory 2.5L 1JZ-GTE VVTi Turbo Engine, A’PEXi Power FC Engine Management System, Fluidampr Crank Pulley, Aluminum Radiator
Motion transfer system: Factory R154 5-speed gearbox,
pause: D-Max Super Street shock absorber, front spring 22kg/mm, rear spring 10kg/mm
wheel: SSP Professor SP1 wheels, 18×9 inches+15 front wheels, 18×10 inches+20 rear wheels
External: Vertex Front Bumper, Vertex Side Skirts, Vertex Rear Bumper, Car Kouba +25mm Front Fender, Volvo Silver White Paint
Internal: Bride Brix 1.5 driver’s seat, Nardi Classic steering wheel
Jeff-san’s 1997 JZX100 Toyota Cresta
engine: Toyota Chaser Tourer V 2.5L 1JZ-GTE VVTi turbo, RSE Titanium muffler, GP Sports fan blades, Fluidampr crank pulley
Motion transfer system: Toyota Chaser Tourer V R154 5-speed gearbox, Kaaz 2-way LSD
pause: Front – Blitz shock absorber, 326Power 34kg/mm spring, 326Power assist spring, D-Max pillow and lower bracket collar, SerialNine 25mm lower arm extension, 1484 Shakotan knuckle, JZS161 outer tie rod, Kunny’z Steering rack bushing, Skid Racing tie rod, rear – Blitz shock absorber, 326Power 20kg/mm spring, 326Power assist spring, D-Max pillow and lower bracket collar
wheel: Working VS-KF wheels, 18×9.5 inches+27 front wheels, 18×10 inches+47 rear wheels
External: Zenki Body with kouki facelift, JZX100 Chaser Front Bumper, JZX100 Cresta Vertex Side Steps and Rear Bumper, JZX100 Car Kouba +25mm Front Fender, Midnight Blue Beam Metallic
Internal: Bride Brix 1.5 seats, Nardi Classic steering wheel
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