It’s been a while since I visited a garage, so I went there again recently X-Point Import Co. in Chiba Prefecture.
I first met X-Point owner Masatsuga Chiba – Masa to his friends – in May, when I came across an FD3S Mazda RX-7 he had built and displayed at Wekfest Japan. We made plans to meet in Meguro City for a photo shoot with the owner of the RX-7, but the owner never showed up.
Yet all was not lost. I sat on the side of the road at Naka Meguro station and talked to Masa-san about cars. We scrolled through it Instagram feeds and photo albums, sharing cars we admired, owned or wished we did. Masa-san’s personal ride? A very tasty Honda S2000.
Then Masa-san showed me an EK Civic he had built. That’s when I knew I had to make the trip to Chiba to shoot – with the FD of course.
Tucked away on a quiet side street in a small industrial zone in rural Chiba, X-Point Import Co. typical of any small Japanese garage.
Donor cars sit next to half-finished projects, and customer cars patiently await completion.
Masa-san tells me he started the company in 2011, initially focusing on car radio and electronics, as well as importing tuning parts.
Around that time, USDM culture began to gain traction in Japan, and after a few trips to the United States, Masa became hooked. His first engine change? A K20A in his 1993 CB Accord – inspired by what was happening in the American scene.
In the time since, X-Point has made a name for itself by completing K-swaps and other USDM-inspired customizations. Although Honda is the most popular brand here, this Mitsubishi Eclipse was not out of place at all.
Currently, Masa-san is working on an EG Civic, which has been given a K20A and 6-speed gearbox from a JDM CL7 Accord Euro R.
But what I’m really here to see is the EK Civic. Straight on front and back it looks like any other European Championship hatchback, but look at it at a three-quarter angle or completely sideways and the party trick is revealed. Yes, this is a five-door EK Civic hatchback, which Honda obviously never made.
How do you create something like that? By starting with a four-door EK sedan – in this case a JDM Civic Ferio – and removing the entire rear end by cutting the C-pillar. Then you have to sacrifice an EK three-door hatchback for the rear and merge the two. The result is a car that really messes with your mind.
Under the hood is a USDM-spec D16Y8, complete with a tucked-away wiring harness from Rywire Motorsport Electronics. It has all the right parts: a Skunk2 intake manifold, PLM headers, an MPC D-series fuel rail and Hasport engine mounts to keep everything tight.
Why did Masa-san build it? Because he could. And maybe because he’s just a little crazy – in the best way possible.
Stay tuned for more information soon on two more X-Point Import Co. cars: the aforementioned FD RX-7 and a surprise entry…
Toby Thyer
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