The restomod trend—combining modern powertrains with classic vehicles—has been rapidly growing in popularity, extending to a wide variety of cars including muscle cars, Porsches, Mercedes SLs, the Ford Mustang and Bronco, and the always-popular Land Rover Defender.
While several Japanese restomod shops have existed for some time, such as the renowned Rocky Auto in Okazaki, operated by Yoshiya Watanabe, Japanese restomods on American soil have typically been rare. However, this is beginning to change.
Masaharu Kuji and Katsu Takahashi, who are based in Japan, are partners in a developing business venture.
They initially began their work in the 1980s by producing performance-car videos for the Japanese market under the names Best Motoring and Hot Version.
Prior to YouTube, their videos were distributed as VHS magazines and sold in Japanese bookstores, Kuji explained. “Then we moved on to DVD and to streaming media,” he added.
Their videos, which began reaching U.S. audiences in the early 2000s with English commentary, played a key role in popularizing drifting in America. However, Kuji noted that the videos were often pirated online.
Throughout their work with Japanese performance tuners, Kuji and Takahashi came up with new ideas. “After being in video production, we were looking for a new venture to go into,” Kuji said.
“Katsu and I were talking about the cars we like, and what we would want to drive. And that led to our thinking about building our own cars.”
In 2019, Built by Legends (BBL) was established, creating restomods from the iconic 1989 to 2002 Nissan Skyline GT-R, encompassing the R32, R33, and R34 variants.
The Skyline originally featured a 2.6-liter engine producing around 280 hp, but BBL, in collaboration with its tuner partner Mine’s (based in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture), has boosted this output to a remarkable 650 twin-turbo horsepower.
These GT-Rs are all right-hand drive and were never sold in the U.S. as new cars. However, because most of them are now over 25 years old, they can be imported without modification.
Since 2021, all five of the BBL Skylines completed have been imported, with the first one finding a home in Texas.
The BBL team made the decision not to build a pure racing car, but instead to create a modernized version of the Skyline that offers a refined interior made with Ultrasuede, features such as infotainment and air conditioning, and a smooth, comfortable ride.
BBL’s approach bears some similarities to Los Angeles–based Singer Vehicle Design, which specializes in “reimagining” Porsche 964 911s with classic bodywork, high-performance engines, luxurious bespoke interiors, and prices starting at $475,000.
Recently, Singer has shifted focus from naturally aspirated engines to the more expensive DLS Turbo models, which start at $750,000.
Singers have also appreciated in value, with some pre-owned models selling for over $1 million. Kuji acknowledged that Singer served as an inspiration.
“Singer is incredible, one of the best restomod companies,” Kuji said. “We’re not trying to imitate Singer, but we admire what they do. We were able to visit and had a great tour of their facility. And they shared their expertise.”
At the SEMA show in Las Vegas this November, BBL showcased a Bayside Blue R34 GT-R, the second one they built.
Kuji described it as “a spectacular urban street fighter prized for its nimble handling, perfectly balanced power, and lightweight engineering.”
The BBL R34 is powered by Mine’s MB7 engine, which uses a 24U N1 block paired with a six-speed, heavy-duty Getrag manual transmission.
Additional specifications include Mine’s VX-ROM ECU system, a carbon air intake duct, and a fuel delivery pipe. Garage Yoshida, which also supplies parts for GT-Rs, is responsible for the frame alignment, ensuring each car is perfectly straight.
The brakes are from AP Racing, featuring six-piston units in the front and four-piston units in the rear, with Brembo brakes also being used.
Ohlins dampers are part of the suspension setup, and heat and sound insulation are installed. Each build typically takes about a year to complete, from commissioning to delivery.
According to Kuji, “We like to keep the cars reasonable to drive, and 650 horsepower is more than enough for a driver to feel the performance.
The Skylines need to serve as daily drivers and be durable. We redo the engine, suspension, brakes, and definitely the interiors—most Japanese cars from the 1990s and 2000s came with plastic interiors, and we can do better.”
BBL has stated that it does not perform formal performance testing on its cars, meaning it doesn’t make any extravagant claims regarding acceleration times, but there’s no doubt that they perform impressively.
An original R34 Skyline could reach 60 mph in 4.6 seconds, according to FastestLaps.com.
Well-restored Skyline GT-Rs now routinely fetch over $300,000, and finding suitable examples for restomod work in Japan is becoming increasingly difficult.
“Their popularity has increased significantly over the last six or seven years,” Takahashi explained.
The surge in demand might be partly due to the Fast and Furious franchise, as well as video games. Customers can either source their own GT-Rs or have BBL acquire one on their behalf.
The cost for modifications generally ranges from $350,000 to $450,000 (excluding the donor car), depending on the engine specifications and the model.
BBL cars can be shipped anywhere globally, but the United States remains the primary market.
Another BBL partner is Toprank International Vehicle Importers, based in California. This company specializes in importing and selling Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) cars to American buyers.
Toprank handles all the necessary import paperwork and ensures the vehicles can be legally registered in the U.S.
Among their offerings are several Skyline GT-Rs, with prices ranging from $63,995 to $195,000, including a highly sought-after 1999 V-Spec model.
The BBL cars, no matter how much they deviate from the original design, still retain the fast and furious spirit of the Skyline.
“Our team always ensures that the end result does not significantly change the aspects of Skyline driving that so many enthusiasts have long enjoyed,” Kuji explained.
At least one Skyline GT-R has undergone a left-hand-drive conversion—a complex task—but BBL is choosing not to pursue this route.
“Although we’ve received a few requests,” Kuji said, “we are staying away from the conversion due to various constraints.”Looking to the future, BBL is expanding into the world of Honda Civics.
Two projects are currently underway: the first is a fifth-generation EG6 Civic, which serves as the development mule and project car, while the second is a sixth-generation EK9 Type R, commissioned by a customer and expected to be completed in the first half of 2025.
Additionally, BBL is working on simpler restorations of Skyline GT-Rs in collaboration with Garage Yoshida.
The future seems full of opportunities for BBL, as there are numerous JDM cars that would make excellent candidates for restomods. Just imagine a Toyota MR2 with 600 horsepower!