“Killing the game.” It’s a phrase that is thrown around all too frequently. To be completely honest I can’t stand the phrase. It’s been whored out by scene-kids and insta-famers looking to toot about their eBay-special coilovers and ESM/XXR/Rota/Insert-other-lame-knock-off-wheel-brand-here ‘builds’ to try and stroke their ego. In the literal sense, there is no game in this car culture. There is no final level and no one is keeping score of the likes, favs, props, trophies etc. On the other hand, to call this lifestyle some of us eat, sleep, and breath a game is a slap to the face, a true testament to the lack of respect that plagues today’s modern car culture. However, in the hypothetical sense of if there was some sort of game going on, let me introduce you to the guy who is indeed killing it, Mr. Nax Whitmore.
When it comes to the US VIP scene, we’re certainly still in our budding years, despite having been around for awhile. The US scene has only recently begun to hit its stride. While some of the OG veterans have been in it for longer than some have had our driver’s licenses, the spotlight has only just begun to show upon our style of customizing Japan’s luxury sedans. Our style of VIP extends much further than coilovers/bags, BMW Style-95 wheels, and faux-VIP curtains and neck pads. Sorry kiddies, move along and let the grown-ups play because y’all aren’t ready for the big leagues. The OGs have spent years learning and perfecting their interpretation of this style of customization, and before eBay and internet hype can ruin it by over-saturation, they aim to set the record straight for what US VIP really is, and this LS430 comes out waving the flag for the US of A loud and proud.
Nax’s build has been in the making for the last four years, and it really shows because the level of customization, fit, and finish is just on a different level compared to all these e-famous cars. Pretty much everything on this car is custom, nothing just bolting on and saying, “good enough.” Also, every part of this car has been modified in some way, making it a complete car. I think one of the staples of US VIP style is making sure every part of the car; exterior, interior, engine, suspension, has been modified in some way. If one part was left too OEM, well it just doesn’t cut it for US VIP.
We’ll start with the obvious on Nax’s car here and take a look at the heavily modified exterior. With VIP-style, the exterior is a big focal point, and the more presence your car has, the better it is, and Nax’s car certainly demands attention wherever it goes. The extensive, metal wide-body plays a big role in that I’m sure. Both front fenders and rear quarters were cut and widened enough to make Kim Kardashian blush, even though the jury is still out on who spent more money on the cosmetic makeover. Of course, with custom metal work going on, the bumpers couldn’t be some, off-the-shelf items. The front bumper is an OEM unit that’s been mashed with a Traditional front lip, one-off custom lower grill, and transplanted LS600 fog lights. The bumper was also widened to match the radius line of the fenders so it flows better. Remember, it’s the details. The side-skirts are Admiration pieces that were also widened to match the lines of the fenders and quarters, and the rear bumper is another one-off piece with a custom diffuser that was made from scratch using BMW M5 fins. If that’s not custom enough for you, how about all four door handles being transplanted with full-functioning units from a R35 GT-R? Because this car has them, and from what Nax tells us, it was a b*tch to get them to work like they do on the R35. Oh, and let’s not forget the LED tail lights from a late-model LS430, the mirrors from a GS350, custom projector headlights using Q45 and M45 projectors, and Junction Produce 3pc trunk spoiler, all before being painted in healthy coats of pearl white of a 2014 Lexus GS-F Sport. Can you keep up, because I haven’t even started on the interior yet…
For a lot of VIP purists, if the interior doesn’t match the level of the exterior, well your car just doesn’t cut it as a full VIP car. Nax’s car certainly shows us the way as his luscious, red interior certainly matches the flair and extravagance of the exterior. If it isn’t covered in rich, red Italian leather, it’s covered in black suede, and there’s some wood-grain thrown in there for good measure. The seats, dash, and door cards all received the red leather treatment, all of which were finished with a Bugatti-inspired stitch pattern. The carpets, pillars, trunk, and headliner were all treated to black suede to finish off the upholstery. Of course, a full in-car stereo was added to the cabin, complete with TVs front and rear. To round out the interior, Garson products are scattered about, as well as a custom cubby for the e-level controller in the ash-tray, and all the interior lighting was swapped for LED units to bring it bang up to date.
Helping this big-body sedan sit on the ground is a full air suspension setup, pieced together using Airtekk struts which are fed by a 10-gallon tank in the trunk and two Viar compressors. Air management is handled by Accuair’s e-level system which lets Nax have three pre-set heights at the touch of a button, as well as full control over the air suspension if need be. Custom arms front and rear help dial in the camber to get those gorgeous Luxury Abstract wheels tucking underneath the bulbous fenders. The Grassor-C wheels measure up at 20×10 up front and a massive 20×12.5 in the rear ensuring this LS certainly has some junk in its trunk, and in more than just one way. Being framed by the massive rollers is an equally massive set of brakes from none other than Futura Designs. These guys are synonymous with the US VIP scene, their bespoke big-brake kits gracing most, high end VIP builds here in the US. The 8-piston front, and 6-piston rear calipers are finished in a matching white and red finish that go perfectly with the rest of the car. As I’ve said before, it’s all the details that count, and when you have all this custom body work, custom wheels, and custom interior, having stock brakes just isn’t going to cut it. Nax certainly has all his bases covered.
That leaves one area that hasn’t been covered, and that’s the engine bay. Even though the motor is basically stock, that doesn’t mean Nax left the bay well alone. Despite having plans to add a Tom’s supercharger to the engine, he went ahead and had the bay detailed to match the rest of the car, with most of the engine plastics receiving generous coats of the same pearl white paint. One neat little custom touch is the see-through air-box to let show-goers and judges see the Tom’s air-filter residing inside. It’s something simple, but a modification that shows that even the engine bay, which is usually not seen for VIP cars, is still on the same level as the rest of the car.
That, my friends, is how you, “kill the game.” A well executed, and well planned build, Nax’s LS430 comes out swinging for the US on a global level for VIP tuning, and letting the rest of the world know how we do it over here. With Japan and Thailand certainly up there, it is very exciting to see a car of this caliber coming from the US. As I said earlier, VIP tuning is still in its foundation years in the US, as it becomes more mainstream. No doubt about it, we’re going to have plenty of insta-famous ‘builds’ that are going to kill whatever imaginary game these kids are playing these days, but those won’t be the cars that will be remembered five years from now when some new fad will be the thing to do. To some, this whole car thing is a passing fad. That’s why the scene is so saturated these days, these kids are just partaking in what’s hip and cool. Cars are cool right now. In a few years, to the general public, they won’t be. Only the OGs, and the people that genuinely love building cars will remain, and this LS430 will be remembered as one of the cars that really put US VIP on the map, nationally and worldwide. Only a real enthusiast can build a car with that kind of impact. Take notes everyone, because the bar has now been set. It’s time everyone steps their game up…
Wheels/Tires/Suspension:
LuxuryAbstract wheels, 20×10 and 20×12.5
Futura Big Brakes
Acuair Elevel management
Airtekk struts only
Exterior:
Q45 and m45 retro projectors.
Junction Produce 3pc wing
Admiration sides
Traditional front lip molded to Oem bumper
Custom made rear lip and diffuser to Oem bumper
All metal widen fenders
Ls600h fogs custom fitted
Traditional roof spoiler
Gtr R35 door handles
gs350H mirrors custom fitted
Traditional emblemless grille
2014 gs fsport Pearl White
Interior:
Full Italian Red leather seats and dash (bugatti inspired stitching)
full Best sonic dash kit with Navy over ride.
Black suede headliner.
Garson DAD ac vent louvers.
Garson DAD crown shift knob.
Garson DAD steering wheel emblem.
Pioneer avic z2 indash.
Custom 7 inch Headrest tvs
Engine/Others:
Custom painted engine covers.
Toms Red Air Filter.
Custom paint Air tank.
Custom painted JL audio Amp.
JL audio 12″ w7 Sub
Custom suede wrap trunk.