BLACK, SNAKESKIN, DIAMONDS: Markutsu’s NSX history
January 13, 2010 2:12 pm
Remember the pic I posted of Shun Akutsu’s Advan NSX drifting at Tsukuba Circuit? Well, he came over the other day for a little party we had at the house, and I heard about a bit of the history behind his unusual choice in drift car.
Now there’s a perfect example of early 90s Japanese men’s fashion.
A few years later, and the car was looking a bit more hardcore than before.
“Sorry, I was just being an idiot in this photo.” he said.
A few more years, and he was invited to display his car at the Tokyo Auto Salon on the Drift Tengoku stand. Every year, the magazine’s editor Kawasaki-san picks out a bunch of cars to show on the stand that aren’t necessarily the best drift cars, but are the most interesting, or are representative of a new style.
Those Model 5s look great.
Much like another rebel in an expensive black car, Rauh Welt’s Nakai-san, Shun likes to regularly change the graphics and image of his car. Here it is with the crown graphics at Fuji Speedway.
The first time I saw the car was at Ebisu Circuit at the 2007 Spring Drift Matsuri. He was doing some awesome sanpatsu drifts down the front straight of Higashi Course, so I decided to grab my camera. Just as I was doing so, this happened.
Here’s what the car looks like as of this week. He’s switched back to the old Advan scheme, but with more accurate spacing in the stripes.
The snorkel isn’t really what you’d call functional, but it does actually feed some air down to the engine’s bellmouths. The whole front bumper section is carbon fibre too.
The Liverpool logo has been there for a while, but snakeskin and rhinestones? Yesssssss. Something so right about it. If you have “Kickstart My Heart” handy on iTunes, play it and look at this picture.
Shun actually likes to go by the nickname “Mark” now too. Why, you ask? Because his other daily driver is a Mark II, as seen in this picture. Mark Akutsu. Mark II. Get it?
I was kind of surprised when he showed up to the house in the NSX considering it’s not the easiest thing to park in the small space we have. I asked if he drove it to work too.
He shook his head.
“No, I ride a bicycle.”
Tags: Honda, NSX, Shun AkutsuCategorised in: Profiles プロフィル
This post was written by Alexi
16 Comments
is that matte black vinyl covering part of the headlights? looks quite funky. also digging the updated front end!
as for the rhinestones though haha… are they actually stuck on or are they part of the graphics? it’s difficult to tell… either way they’re certainly… unique 🙂
my only suggestion would be to paint the front bumper to match the wings
Rad. I’m feelin’ that he has had the car for so long.
This car has been through so many awesome changes, i love each one.
Owning a car for almost 2 decades. Thats some dedication to a car right there 🙂
love the car. love its history and the pictures even more!
He’s running gold RGs on one side and gunmetal Model 5s on the other? The gunmetal colour goes better with the Advan colours, and aw, no more flip-up headlamps 🙁
man .. no that ride’s got some history behind it
i’ve seen those rims on an Kansai EVO IX, they look real cool ! >:D
and Kickstart My Heart is a real ass-kickin’ song too ;D love it ..
wow thats awesome
I was subscribed to his youtube channel without realizing who it really was
i really like the look of the car at the tokyo auto salon
Gold on the driver’s side for the ladies 🙂 Crown graphics with the Model 5’s was my favorite, great history.
i have that photo from TAS from a while ago nownever even had the slightest clue it was this car the things you learn
The top picture looks like a phone card! That is awesome…
The second picture looks like a “Happy New Year” postcard that everyone in Japan sends to each other which makes the picture even more awesome!
The first 2 pic is awesome!
I think i remember seeing it in a Drift Battle Magazine or something with the gold dragon vinyls, sliding at Nikko.
Definetly a cool choice of car.
good song choice!
That’s such a cool car!
Advan paint scheme on a Mark II? That guy is my hero.