Forget the powerful Nissan Skyline GT-Rs and the wide Lamborghini Miuras – what we really want is more bizarre boulder cars.
There’s something irresistibly fun about small vehicles designed to look like supercars. They are guaranteed to put a smile on your face every time.
I’m talking specifically about game boulder car creations such as this Honda Today from 1988, with gull-wing doors and a 12A rotary engine change, built by RE Amemiya and Bomex. I’m not sure why we don’t see more unique ones boulder projects in this direction – perhaps something because of the costs.
Nevertheless, in Japan you can still find some pretty cool little cars that have been transformed into alter egos of themselves. Here are my top three boulder builds of Tokyo Auto Salon 2025.
First up are these two elevated micro machines, which I’m grouping together because I couldn’t decide which one I liked more.
The first is a Mitsubishi EK Cross EV. While it is still just a front-wheel drive electric car boulder car, the high lift and the artwork with Osaka Castle next to the Tokyo Skytree more than compensated for the drivetrain’s shortcomings.
A few stalls further I found another EK Cross, this time with an even more extreme lift kit. You’ve got a commanding driving position in this thing, although I’m not sure how well it can go over boulders with that low-slung electric motor between the axles. Still, it gets top marks for ambition.
Next we have the ‘NS660’, the most affordable NSX available. As the name suggests, it is based on the Honda 660.
My neighbor has one and recently fitted it with an NC1 NSX style front bumper, but seeing one dressed in a complete body kit that mirrors the original NA1/2 NSX takes it to another level.
Finally, the ‘Coperche’ 811 GT-K – and what a name! This Daihatsu Copen dressed as a Porsche 911 GT3 from StanceMagic is a work of art. The Copen was only available as a soft top, so it’s brilliant to see it transform into a beautifully crafted hardtop coupe. The widened arches and original Porsche lamps complete the look perfectly.
The original 660cc engine has been replaced with a 1.3L NA unit from another Daihatsu, giving it some extra power. The white license plates indicate leaving the yellow plate boulder class.
As a bonus, and to bring the 1988 RE Amemiya Honda Today full circle, this Mazda Carol is still under construction. With its wide-body conversion and rotary swap, it looks incredibly promising.
Toby Thyer
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