John Lei from Texas sent me pics of his 350Z sitting on some AME Circlar Spec R’s in BBF finish. The B’s don’t stand for “blinding bling” either.

He went mo’ aggro than usual on the fitment, 19×9+10 on the front and 19×10+0 on the rear. Fat lips like the Pharcyde.

High pad fronts clear Z Brembo no problem.

I like AME’s centercaps cause they’re secured with 5 bolts, rather than pop in style on other brands (that makes it easier to fall out or get stolen). His wheels stay on the car via a set of Kics Project R40 lug nuts in Neo Chrome finish.

Besides his Z, he’s also got a stupid clean Starion, which he also repainted a similar color (Fiji Blue). I’ve always loved Starions for their body lines (i.e fenders) and their wheel fitment. You can go super gangster wide and low offset on these things, which when paired with the fenders equals a killer combo.

Blake from Fighters Garage sent me pics of his G35 w/ very aggressive wheel fitment using AME Circlar Spec R’s in limited Matte Black finish.

Smoove. Wheel specs are 19×10 +6 in the front and 19×10 -13 in the rear. Tire size is 245/35/19 all around, lowered on Tanabe DF210 springs.

He only had to roll the rear fender, but definitely not for the weak hearted. Do your research before buying wheels, but like they say, “if it don’t rub, it don’t fit!”

Some may disagree, but Minivans/MPVs can be cool. Just not most of the minivans offered in the US. Because Japan has way cooler minivans, AME, to say the least, pretty much owns this market segment with their Shallen series. Let me add that it’s a huge segment. I would love to see cooler MPVs roaming around in the US. Seriously, doesn’t this Alphard on Schrifts (the old Japanese naming for the CX) look cleaner than the average SUV on blinged out dubs? Someone please grey market one here. Alphards are fresh. Check out interior pics of the Royal Lounge Hybrid edition Alphard that Toyota Modellista designed HERE. Nice.

A collaboration of Practicality and Style. On a sidenote, this is the first year within the past 7 years that AME has decided not to create a new Shallen design instead helping to round out the AME line with the new TM-02, a much needed sports wheel. (And although there has been some talk recently about it being the new RPF1 on steroids, you really can’t compare the two. The RPF1 is another timeless wheel, but the technology of the TM02 exceeds it by 4 or 5 generations. More on this later.) In anycase, the throwing around of ideas for the next Shallen design should begin soon in order for a release sometime in 2009.

Minivans done right stateside? Until more cool looking minivans are released, saying that a Super Ultra Niche might exist could be considered a far-fetched understatement. I may have just lost half of our audience..

Thanks to Prashant, I got ahold of Brenden, the owner of the black Z.

Elson recently sent me these..can someone help me get ahold of the owner?

I truly miss Dom’s posts. It created a balance to Original Made. Total opposites in every respect which created a much needed balance. My posts will consist of stuff like this. Who is this? 1320? Like No Other? Revision?

All I know is that Hawaii is killing it. If someone can get ahold of the owner, e-mail me. These pics are super nice and I am hoping to acquire high-res versions.

Months and months of planning will soon reach fruition in early 2008. Our first sample set for the S15 just arrived. Here’s a sneak peak.

What’s interesting is that Japanese branded wheels (and other Japanese products) were marketed primarily for the Japanese Domestic Market with overseas markets being considered secondary. As the economy weakened in Japan, U.S. became the focus as the first targeted market outside of the motherland. Since the markets and business cultures are quite different, Japanese companies went about this in various methods slowly, but surely showing their true colors.

Some companies waited to pull the rug out from underneath their U.S. liaison as soon as sufficient brand recognition was established (usually by their U.S. liaison) before cutting out the middleman (their U.S. liaison) and setting up shop themselves. Other companies compromised quality, but cashed in quickly adapting to the marketplace combining their brand mystique with U.S. adapted, affordable pricing (which usually meant branded as Japanese, but made elsewhere and of less quality). And even other companies had the right intention, but due to misfortune, didn’t meet the right people and simply faltered. And finally, a handful of companies realized that trust, relationships and long-term growth were the key and slowly went about their way. Then of course, there is the Volk Racing TE37 phenomenon which is in a class all its own. Uncompromised quality, exceptional design, great marketing, impeccable timing and a bit of luck created a certain magic..coupled with a price point that screams, “You play by our rules. Take it or leave it.”. The TE is a timeless wheel. The market is very saturated and confused right now so I don’t see another TE37 phenomenon occurring for a long time, if ever, in the United States or anywhere else. But enough about the TE37. After quite a bit of ranting and raving, Kyoho has decided to take our advice on design (and we’re grateful) as well as an unexpected yet interesting chance by debuting the TM-02 overseas prior to Japan. More information (on the TM-02) to come soon..

This is probably the first set of FS01s on an S14. Glad it’s Mark’s. I’m feelin’ this.

You seriously must at least take a gander at these. I’m telling you..they are being slept on right about now. Ridiculous staggered-ness with the offset negativity in an SBC coat. Peep these on the only vehicle, from what I hear, being displayed in the Dunlop Booth at SEMA.

Some more stuff for our wheel gallery. Shallen FX in Matte Black. I believe this is a 20×10 +15 Super Low Disk.

Peep the details.

Not bad for an RX350.. 1st set of 22″ AME [MF x Black] Gracers stateside on 255/30 Falken FK452s. Wald Kit. HF approved. Another inch (or 2) drop would be nice though. At least it’s lower (barely) than Mr. Choi’s EVO. I can probably park underneath him. [”Where’s your car John?” Kent looks up, “Oh, there it is. We can do pull ups on your exhaust piping.” (Inside Joke)]

A while back we dropped some pics of the Hyper Silver FS-01’s on a white Z33, but we didn’t get a chance to do the Bronze or Sapphire Blacks. So for those who needed to visualize the hotness, check it out! To your left you’ll see the Sapphire Blacks in 18×9+25 (F) + 18×10+25 (R) fitment.

Bronze on Red. Always classic, but always (Mannie) Fr-fr-fresh. This gives you cats sitting on the fence the visual motivation to see how hot the FS-01’s can make your car look.

Oh damn. Random bonus feature! This one going out to Dom.
Marie Digby singing Linkin Park “What I’ve Done.”
Always easy on the eyes and ears.

I’m on a posting spree. And you know thissssssss, man!

For the offset aficionado. 99 Infiniti Q45 from the Aloha state courtesy of Mikey of Like No Other.

A better view to highlight the aggressiveness. Some prefer the tucked stance. Others prefer the lip-barely-past-fender stance. Diamond Cut LX’s this time combined with the latter stance. Definitely a plus for the VIP sector.