Year: | 1999 |
Make: | Toyota |
Model: | Chaser |
Mileage: | 71,500km |
Transmission: | 5-Speed Manual |
Fuel Type: | Gasoline |
Drivetrain: | RWD |
Engine: | Turbocharged 2,500cc straight-six engine |
Exterior Color: | White |
VIN Number: | JZX100-01**** |
Among the best, best, best ever, ever, drift cars on this planet are the Toyota X-body, mid-size sedans that came with the 1JZ-GTE stock turbo motor. (Earlier versions came with twin turbos, while the later, post ’96 engines, came with a single turbo set up.)
We are talking here about the top end Toyota Cresta, the Toyota Mark II, and the Toyota Chaser, like this white hot unit here that we are exporting now from Japan to a very happy drift car driver in the UK.
Although there were six generations of the Toyota X-body cars, it’s only the last three generations, X80, X90, and X100 that are of interest to serious drifters who want to import a drift car from Japan. Why is this? Two basic reasons: these last three generations have the strongest bodies (especially the X100), and they come with that superb-for-drift 1JZ-GTE motor. And why is this motor so all fired great? 1) It has a very solid iron block. Immensely strong. 2) It’s a straight six with strong, smooth, early power delivery and mega grunt. 3) But it’s a short stroke engine and it’s more responsive and revy than you usually get with a medium to big straight six. (Look at the tachometer in the photos here: 7,000rpm red line.) 4) It’s stock turbo and made to take lots of boost. You’re not going to burst this engine easily. 5) There are lots of power tuning options available. (On a side note, a fellow I know here in Japan who has a JZX100 Chaser has got it boosted now to 550ps (dynoed). He drifts it regularly at Fuji Speedway. The car is quite reliable and is road licensed. He even drives it to work sometimes, although he does admit that some of the drift track mods do make the car less than ideal for long drives or tight spots downtown; specifically the four-point racing harness means that he has less freedom of body movement to look around, lean forward, shoulder check, and so on compared to what he would have with a road standard, extendable, 3-point shoulder/lap belt.)
But it’s not just the strong body and bullet proof motor that make the Chaser a King of Drift, it’s how the two come together. The JZ series motors are somewhat on the heavy side, and that makes the Chaser and its stable mates a bit nose heavy. JUST WHAT YOU WHAT IN A PERFECT DRIFT CAR. The 1480 kilograms of the JZX100 are distributed 840kg on the front axle and 640kg on the rear axle. (I’ve had some laughs watching guys at Fuji Speedway trying to drift supremely well-balanced pure sports cars that have 50/50 weight distributions. Pu-leeeeze! They are not made for this sport, the sport of drifting.)
Once you’ve got that basic nose-heavy, rear wheel drive package, the path to the perfect drift car is paved with modifications. Because the JZX100 is such a classic layout and such a solid build it is easy to work on and easy to modify, and in your tuning work you are supported by a large selection of aftermarket parts, especially parts for suspension tuning such as springs and shocks (here you can go the mix and match route, sourcing your springs and shocks separately, or you can go the suspension kit route, where the aftermarket tuning parts maker has already made what he thinks are the best, most suitable springs and shocks and put them together in a kit for the target car). Other aftermarket suspension parts that you’ll find easily for the Chaser and its stable mates are stabilizer bars and tower strut bars, harder bushes and specially made upper mounts.
But it’s that 1JZ motor in the Chaser that makes it the car that every drifter wants when it comes time to modify. Everything is there: I’ve seen some pretty monstrous aftermarket turbos on these Chasers at Fuji Speedway, along with equally monstrous intercoolers. Special intake piping, braided fuel lines, full throat blow-off valves, and high capacity radiators make some of these 1JZ motors works of art, in my mind. And then there is what you can’t see in a highly power-moded motor: the aftermarket pistons, conrods, cranks and cams, valve springs and cam pulleys. You can put all these things together in your own work-of-art, super powerful 1JZ drift car engine. And you can be sure that the whole ensemble will hold together because that immensely strong straight six iron block is the living heart of this motor. It is when power modding a drift car engine that the phrase “over-engineered” becomes a complement, not a criticism.
To learn more about Japanese drift cars have a look at some of the articles on our main Japan Car Direct site here, and to learn more about the Chaser’s “sister ship”, the Toyota Mark II, have a look on our Japan Car Direct blog here.
Yes, the Chaser was built strong and powerful, back when Toyota used to do that sort of thing, before all the cost cuts and eco designs. Will cars like these ever come back? I doubt it. Am I gonna cry me eyes out over it? No way, because these X-bodies last forever. Parts availability is good and here in Japan at the used car auctions, and at the specialist dealers that we work with, we are finding many good units for export to the UK, the EU, and the USA. And as far as these JZX100 series Chasers and Marks IIs go, in August next year they will become 25 years old and thus easy to export to the USA. YEAH!
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Matthew at JCD is the man. I’ve now imported three of my own cars through him. JCD was able to accommodate my unique needs, everything from short turn around inspections,... read moreMatthew at JCD is the man. I’ve now imported three of my own cars through him. JCD was able to accommodate my unique needs, everything from short turn around inspections, expert opinions on bidding, arranging quick turn shipping, and handling of docs. I have no reservations sending more tens of thousands of dollars for future imports. At the end of the day, they really wanted to make me a happy customer. read less
I highly recommend Japan Car Direct. They help you find exactly what you are looking for and are with you throughout the entire process. Import was seamless. Mike was great... read moreI highly recommend Japan Car Direct. They help you find exactly what you are looking for and are with you throughout the entire process. Import was seamless. Mike was great to work with. Highly recommend the team at JCD. read less
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The process is painless end to end and I was well looked after by Mike. Definitely recommend Japan Car Direct for the auction and shipping service. read less
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Great experience. Extremely easy process and Kept me well informed. Highly recommend them if looking to purchase a vehicle from Japan.
It's hard to say anything that hasn't been said from other reviewers! This was my first experience importing a vehicle. Mike Nguyen was super patient with me and my indecisiveness.... read moreIt's hard to say anything that hasn't been said from other reviewers! This was my first experience importing a vehicle. Mike Nguyen was super patient with me and my indecisiveness. He was very quick to respond, and very informative on all my questions. He helped my sort through options until landing a 1kz-te Land Cruiser Prado. It ended up being in better condition than I was anticipating, and was able to drive it 5 hours home from port without a single issue. Cannot recommend Japan Car Direct enough! read less
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The... read moreI used Japan Car Direct's services to import a Nissan Silvia from Japan to Australia. Mike was very helpful from start to finish and definitely made the process stress free.
The detailed videos where Mike would translate and explain the Japanese auction sheets and inspections provided great clarification so I knew exactly what I was getting with my car. I have to also commend Mike's swiftness when it came to replying to emails and phone calls, he would always reply near on instantly and even outside of normal business hours just to ensure I was never left in the dark through the bidding and shipping preparation processes.
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Just picked up my car that I bought through JCD. I was a complete newbie about buying a car overseas and Mathew was kind enough to basically hold my... read moreJust picked up my car that I bought through JCD. I was a complete newbie about buying a car overseas and Mathew was kind enough to basically hold my hand and help me through the process. It seems pretty daunting at first but if I can do it anybody can. Highly recommend JCD! read less
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Taylor at JCD has been incredibly helpful in my search for a couple of unique rigs from overseas -- We've scored one, and are looking forward to finding another.
Taylor's professinoalism,... read moreTaylor at JCD has been incredibly helpful in my search for a couple of unique rigs from overseas -- We've scored one, and are looking forward to finding another.
Taylor's professinoalism, promptness, clarity of communication has been amazing. He's helped answer a miultitude of questions, and everything went without incident (aside from impacts from Ukraine).f
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Can't fault these guys - this was the first time I've bought a car at any auction, let alone one in Japan. The support from Yoshiro was brilliant, very patient... read moreCan't fault these guys - this was the first time I've bought a car at any auction, let alone one in Japan. The support from Yoshiro was brilliant, very patient with me and ensured that I only bid on cars worth having. The car I have bought far exceeds expectations in every way and the whole process of purchase and shipping was all taken care of - top marks and thank you read less
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So pleased with our companies new Japanese mini-truck import. Japan Car Direct made it all too easy. We made a few first-timer mistakes on the paperwork but the next import... read moreSo pleased with our companies new Japanese mini-truck import. Japan Car Direct made it all too easy. We made a few first-timer mistakes on the paperwork but the next import will be even smoother. Looking forward to the next experience. read less
MARKNADEN Studio
4/08/2022
Great dependable business! Highly recommended! Thank you Mathew for all your hard work!
Yoshiro and the folks over at JapanCarDirect are the best! They were super helpful with my first time importing a vehicle to the US and were quick to answer all... read moreYoshiro and the folks over at JapanCarDirect are the best! They were super helpful with my first time importing a vehicle to the US and were quick to answer all of the first-time questions I had about the process. The vehicle I got was exactly as I expected based on the pre-bidding inspection that they organized and I am beyond thrilled with my new (to me) little van. I'll definitely be working with them again for the next vehicle I look to import read less
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