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These heavily modified cars were spotted on the roads of Japan. Believed to be of 'Bosozoku' style, their engines are starkly enhanced together with their exterior looks.
Bosozoku refers to Japan's motorcycle gangs which started in the 1950s. Back then, the gangs were made up of members, who were always under the age of 20, from lower class families who were dissatisfied with the government and their place in society.
The more dedicated Bosozoku members moved on to become low ranking members of the Japanese mafia (Yakuza) after their twentieth birthday.
In the 1980s and 1990s, Bosozoku became infamous for illegally modifying their bikes and wreaking havoc on Japan's roads. They drove recklessly, weaving in traffic and broke all the speed limits traffic regulations.
According to Tofugu.com, members were also known to gather in the hundreds and drive slowly though suburbs, blocking traffic and waving Japanese flags while creating an uproar with their illegally modified mufflers.
The website reported that membership of the Bosozoku fell from 42,510 in 1982 to an all time low of 9,064 in 2011. New laws passed in 2004 gave the police more power to arrest groups of reckless bikers.
With more arrests and prosecutions being carried out, the Bosozoku started becoming less brazen in their ways.
As a result, membership fell and some even started driving dinky little scooters instead of the heavily motorized motorbikes that became synonymous with the classic Bosozoku image.
Nevertheless, the Bosozoku style was adapted to cars as well, and youngsters now still heavily modify their cars. While some seem serious, boasting large exhausts, modified engines and aero kits that seem to expand the vehicles, others' intentions have been called into question.
Some are criticised for their designs as netizens say that the modifications sometimes do not improve the functionality of the car and can even make the vehicle more dangerous to drive.
In an email to citizen journalism website Stomp, 'Mariachi' said: "Some of these cars don't even make any sense in terms of dynamics of physics. Why race with a car that has an exhaust pipe that extends out a few metres behind the car?"
Decide for yourself by clicking through the thumbnails below:
Japanese modified cars: Stylish or outrageous
Click on thumbnail to view. Story continues after photos.
(Photos: Pinktentacle.com) |
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dassa@sph.com.sg
 
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