SP Rides: ‘Doo’-ing It Anime Style
BY MICHAEL KITCHENS
Name: Robert Makoa Doo
Age: 25
Occupation: Full-time student, former Infantryman
Hobbies: Cars, weightlifting, anime
Year/Make/Model: 2015 Subaru BRZ (Series.Blue)
Color: White with Ghost Blue and Rainbow Chrome Pearls over a custom freehand airbrushed itasha (anime) livery.
Engine: Greddy Big MAF intake, MXP ( headers, overpipe, front pipe) MXP RS Competition exhaust.
Exterior: Wide Body kit — Rally Backer (full 16p.), Top1 Motors v2 front splitter, Avest Japan side mirrors, Seibon CF hood, Aerojacket 1-piece ducktail cf trunk.
Interior: Stitching and Material — Series Blue Special edition blue leather, Plastidip Gloss white w/blue pearl trip, Raceseng Slammer shift knob, Custom blue Bride trunk liner with LEDs, anime-themed apparel
Suspension: Fortune Auto 500 series with Swift springs, Cusco tower brace
Wheels/Tires: Work Wheels Japan Meister M1R Custom 3-Piece 18-inch, Falken Azenis, Stancenation lugnuts
Shout out and thanks: Diphawaii and Aklkgrafix for the one-of-a-kind automotive coating; GX Auto for wide body installation; Tokyo Auto for interior and suspension installation; Platinum Automotive for exhaust installation; my club, FT86 Hawaii, for continued support; and Street Attack Racing for use of facilities.
Robert Makoa Doo is a car enthusiast who has spent many nights drooling over automobiles rarely seen in this country. Whether through video games such as the “Need for Speed” series, or online photos of cars decked out in anime fashion, he has a passion for doing something a bit different with his rides.
Doo is a fan of the legendary lineage of the Hachiroku — otherwise known as the 1986 Toyota Corolla. A few years ago, there was a joint Subaru-Toyota project that sought to replicate the small, nimble front engine and rear-drive concept that so clearly defined many of Toyota’s legendary sports cars. The end result was the “86” line of production vehicles. Among this line is the Subaru-badged BRZ. Essentially, the BRZ is an 86 powered by the horizontally opposed boxter engine design, but with minor differences to the exterior, interior, chassis and suspension.
Doo chose the Subaru BRZ over the FR-S, and for good reason. Series.Blue line is a special model that was limited to 1,000 units. Additionally, the 86 has a huge aftermarket, a fact that made his choice all the more enticing. Since purchasing the car, Doo has slowly built it into the neck-snapping anime that it is.
The first thing you’ll notice about this ride is the airbrushed anime character “Hestia” from “Danjon ni Deai o Motomeru no wa Machigatteiru Darō ka?”. Itasha, which means “painted car,” is a style known in Japan that centers on primarily cute anime characters emblazoned across the bodies of their vehicles. Hestia certainly fits the bill and was hand-painted by Aklkgrafix over a custom dip of white with ghost blue and rainbow chrome pearls done up by Dipawaii.
What makes the paint so glorious is the fact that it’s wrapped around a sumptuous 16-piece Rally Backer wide body kit installed by GX Auto. This kit is extravagant, with blister overfenders in the front and rear, intricate side skirts and a rear bumper that is simply aggressive. Also added is a delicious Top1 Motors v2 front splitter, Avest Japan side mirrors, a Seibon carbon fiber hood and one sweet Aerojacket 1-piece ducktail trunk.
Performance-wise, the car has a bundle of goodies to give it some go. The engine features a Greddy Big MAF intake, MXP headers, overpipe, front pipe, and cat-back exhaust. The handling is improved thanks to the coilover/aircup combination, and the stunning Work Meister M1R 3-piece wheels are hand-dipped as well and fit the theme perfectly.
The anime influence continues with wrapped trim as well as sticker-bombed pieces. Blue-bride fabric is used for the shift boot and e-brake, and fits in line with the custom plexi-glass install and air system. Hestia is on full blast in the trunk as well.
The car has been a learning experience for Doo. It’s the first car he’s ever extensively modded, and he doesn’t regret his decision to modify it. And as far as he’s concerned, he won’t change any of his modifications until the paint falls off.
