VIDEO: The Best JDM Cars of the 2025 SEMA Show

5. Larry Chen's Restored 1970 Datsun Series 1

Automotive photographer Larry Chen's very first project car, a 1970 Datsun Series 1, was on full display. Restoring a Series 1 is notoriously difficult, but this car has been completely overhauled.

The interior features updated plastics from Resurrected Classics and rare trim pieces from Skillard products. The suspension is a full Techno Toy Tuning setup combined with KW coilovers. Under the hood, the original engine has been swapped for a Nissan SR20 DET.

Right before SEMA, Zcar Garage performed an engine bay restoration, the suspension was brand new, and the undercarriage was dry ice blasted and re-undercoated. The car sits on a mismatched set of Watanabe wheels, intentionally chosen to showcase the brand's different styles. While it's never been on a dyno, the single-turbo SR20 is estimated to produce just under 300 horsepower. As Reeves noted, "It looks fast, and that's all that counts."

4. The 1,000-Horsepower, Honda-Swapped AE86 Corolla

Freddy from Auto Fashion introduced what he called a "blasphemous" build—a classic Toyota AE86 Corolla that has received a "transplant." The original engine is gone, and in its place is a heavily modified Honda K-series motor.

"A lot of people may not like it," Freddy admitted, "but we actually put a Honda motor in here."

The engine, originally a 2.4-liter, was stroked to 2.7 liters and fitted with a ported head, cams, and valves. The result is a highly responsive engine that produces close to a staggering 1,000 horsepower.

The interior is just as impressive, featuring classic Recaro Tomcat seats (no longer available) and a rare Greddy steering wheel from Japan. Every part of the interior, from the door panels to the dashboard, was custom-done by Auto Fashion.

3. Jun's LS-Swapped 300ZX (Z32)

Jun from Haruka Tokyo presented his widebody 300ZX (Z32). Originally, Jun planned to export the car to Japan to enjoy driving a left-hand-drive Z, but it has since been transformed into a SEMA beast.

The factory engine is gone, replaced by an LS3 V8. With a Haltech ECU managing the mechanicals, the car puts down 550 horsepower. The interior is all business, stripped out like a racing car with the original dashboard, a Prisma seat, and a 5-point harness. The car's aggressive stance comes from a "number one" Pandem (Rocket Bunny) widebody kit.

2. Trust Japan's 1985 Toyota Soarer

Trust Japan showcased a pristine 1985 Toyota Soarer, a car originally built for the Tokyo Auto Salon. This build was brought to SEMA to celebrate Japanese heritage.

While a 2JZ swap was considered, the team opted for something far rarer: a 6M engine, which was never offered in the United States. The engine is fitted with a stunning twin-turbo setup, a custom-made intake manifold, and an OS Giken limited-slip differential.

1. The JCCS 1977 Celica Liftback

Finally, Terry introduced a beautiful 1977 Celica liftback, a car with a special history. It is owned by Koji Yamaguchi, the organizer of the famous Japanese Classic Car Show (JCCS).

This Celica, which debuted at the JCCS 20th-anniversary event, was exhibited for the first time at the SEMA Armor booth. The two-year project was managed by Den's mechanic. The team tried to keep it as stock as possible, rebuilding the original 18RG engine with custom headers. The dashboard and seats were remanufactured, with the seats receiving custom covers just before the show. The build is finished with a Watanabe steering wheel and tires from Yokohama.