It’s been a while since I’ve visited a garage, so recently, I took a trip to X-Point Import Co. in Chiba Prefecture.
I first met X-Point’s owner Masatsuga Chiba – Masa to his friends – back in May, when I stumbled upon an FD3S Mazda RX-7 he had built and showed at Wekfest Japan. We made plans to meet up in Meguro City for a photo shoot with the RX-7’s owner, but said owner never showed up.
All wasn’t lost, though. I sat by the roadside near Naka Meguro Station and chatted with Masa-san about cars. We scrolled through 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 was the moment I knew I had to make the trip to Chiba and shoot it – along with the FD, of course.
Tucked away down a quiet side street in a small industrial zone in the Chiba countryside, X-Point Import Co. is typical of any small Japanese garage.
Donor cars rub shoulders with half-finished projects, and customer vehicles patiently await completion.
Masa-san tells me he started the business back in 2011, initially focusing on car audio and electronics, and importing tuning parts.
Around that time, USDM culture was gaining traction in Japan, and after a few trips to the United States, Masa got hooked. His first engine swap? A K20A into his 1993 CB Accord – inspired by what was happening in the US scene.
In the time since, X-Point has made a name for itself completing K-swaps and other USDM-inspired modifications. While Honda is the most popular brand here, this Mitsubishi Eclipse wasn’t at all out of place.
Right now, Masa-san is working on an EG Civic, which has received a K20A and 6-speed transmission from a JDM CL7 Accord Euro R.
But what I’m really here to see is the EK Civic. Straight-on front and rear, it looks like any other EK hatchback, but catch it at a three-quarter angle or completely side-on, and its party trick reveals itself. Yep, this is a five-door EK Civic hatchback, which, of course, Honda never made.
How do you create such a thing? By starting with a four-door EK sedan – a JDM Civic Ferio in this case – and removing the entire rear section by slicing down the C-pillar. Then, you need to sacrifice an EK 3-door hatchback for its rear end and join the two together. The result is a car that really messes with your mind.
Under the hood is a USDM-spec D16Y8, complete with a tucked wiring harness from Rywire Motorsport Electronics. It’s got all the right bits: a Skunk2 intake manifold, PLM headers, an MPC D-Series fuel rail, and Hasport motor mounts to keep everything tight.
So 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 features on two more X-Point Import Co. cars soon: the previously mentioned FD RX-7 and a surprise entry…
Toby Thyer
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