Checking out ImportExpo ’24

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Weather is getting colder. Many of the ‘official’ parking lot meet-ups have had their season ending shows. Rather than putting their cars away for winter storage, gearheads brought them out the International Centre on Airport Rd for a Saturday night show.

What an incredible display! As the name implies, there were certainly plenty of Subaru and Honda ‘imports’ at the show. But to have your ride admitted into this display, it better have proper stance, aftermarket wheels, a body kit and a custom paint job (or wrap).

Aside from the usual ‘tuner’ cars there was an early VW Beetle on air ride, a right-hand-drive Suzuki Cappuccino roadster and a three-wheeled Polaris Slingshot.

Like Filmore in ‘Cars‘ said, you’ve got to respect the classics, man. But in the import world, that doesn’t mean leaving vehicles stock. Why not replace the tired engine in that ’89 Golf with something newer and faster! Who cares about originality.

Even that most refined of imports, the Rolls-Royce, isn’t left stock. This one called The Godfather has been slammed on air suspension and been given big wheels and low profile tires. Nothing is sacred.

ImportExpo is one of the best attended indoor shows on the calendar, and there was a award for nearly every niche in this community; like Best BMW and Sleekest Subaru. The competition is tough. Just slapping a wing and some underglow on your Corolla won’t qualify.

JDM cars that were never available in Canada are really popular. They’re the forbidden fruit of the import car scene. Right-hand drive makes a car just that much cooler.

Besides the CSCS Time Attack racecars and ‘Initial D‘ reproduction Toyota AE86, there were some marquee cars at ImportExpo.

Japanese custom shop Liberty Walk brought a fat-fender BMW 6-Series with a pop-art aesthetic. There was even a Lamborghini with a colour-shifting wrap and Prazis air suspension, because stock isn’t good enough even on exotic Italian imports.

Near and dear to Demaras Racing’s heart was this 2005 Subaru WRX STi, a road-going reproduction of the famous World Rally Championship car.

Of course, the livery that car is the same as on the No. 12 Can-Jam Motorsports Formula 1200 race car. That World Rally Blue paint with yellow deals just screams ‘motorsports’.

It’s great to see that import cars from the 90s are finally starting to get some recognition. Can’t be many left in good shape, as vehicles like the Honda Civic DX were just commuter cars driven into the ground, not held as prized possessions.

The famous Porsche-tuner from Japan RWB displayed three of its 911 wide-body cars. The RWB acronym Rauh-Welt Begriff is German for “Rough World Concept” which embodies a bold aesthetics and track-ready performance in a distinct style.

Some of the customs were just so wild that you just had to stare at them, like this late 70’s Datsun 280Z with a late-model Nissan GTR engine. Air ride suspension, a rear diffuser and massive fender flares covering huge Toyo tires make this one incredible car.

Even though this was ImportExpo, some domestics did make it in the door. A red 1976 Corvette with neon underglow shared floor space with a 1968 Oldsmobile 4-door sedan with jacked-up rear suspension, making it look like the drag car it wished it was. There was even a low-rider on Dayton wire wheels and hydraulics that looked as out of place as a Honda at a hot rod show.

Overall a great event. The show was a one day event from 5PM to 10PM leaving plenty of time to fire up these cars and cruise through the city on an autumn Saturday night.

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