
Kenmeri Skyline Surprise on Vancouver Island!
A few weeks ago, Dylan, Cole, and I made the trip over to Vancouver Island for what was supposed to be a laid-back few days reconnecting with our friends Ben from Garage Tanoshi and Adam from Moistboys. We expected good hangs and some cool cars, but we weren’t ready for what Ben had waiting for us.
As we rolled up to Ben’s property, he greeted us with his usual grin. Parked in the garage was something that immediately stopped us in our tracks: a JDM Nissan Skyline Kenmeri coupe. An extremely rare piece of Japanese automotive history. Ben told us his dad had just picked it up from the States after selling his R35 GT-R. Trading modern performance for classic soul is a bold move, but this paid off in a big way.
The Kenmeri had all the right pieces. Every line, every panel, every detail felt like a time capsule from one of the most iconic eras in Japanese car culture. Naturally, we spent the better part of the day hanging around Ben’s place, getting up close with the car and soaking it all in.
While we were there, Adam pulled out his Toyota Cresta, and we helped him test-fit a set of Colin Project real 3-piece XR4 Longchamps. Seeing those wheels sit under the Cresta's classic body lines sparked a ton of inspiration. It was the perfect pairing of era-correct styling and timeless design.
As the sun started to set, we took the cars out to grab some photos. With the Island scenery as the backdrop, the Kenmeri and Cresta looked right at home. The photos barely do justice to how cool it was to see these cars out in the wild.
Later that night, we walked around downtown Victoria and caught the build-up to Deuce Days, a massive hot rod show that was taking place the next morning. The streets were packed with old-school hot rods, custom builds, and the rumble of big V8s cruising past. It was a strange but perfect contrast to the Japanese classics we had been around all day. Two totally different worlds, both full of passion and personality.
Weekend trips like this are what it’s all about. Great people, amazing cars, and the kind of moments that stick with you. Big thanks to Ben and Adam for the hospitality and for keeping the car scene alive on the Island.