Jalopnik: Dekotora

Forget The Spoiler: Your Van Needs Bat Wings!

Murilee Martin — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 07:30:00 EDT

Yet more proof that nobody can outdo the Japanese when it comes to wild-ass vehicle modifications comes courtesy of this photo sent to us by reader Nathan. You got your Dekotoras, and now you got the BatVan! That means it's time for some Melt-Banana, so make the jump and crank up your speakers.

[Flickr]

Dekotora Driving Game Revealed For Nintendo Wii, Our Minds Officially Blown

Matt Hardigree — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 14:00:00 EST

Take our love for driving sims like the Gran Turismo series and combine it with our fixation with dekotora trucks and you get what we consider to be the most Jalopnik game of all time: Zenkoku Dekotora Matsuri. From what we can tell from the trailer, Japanese Elvis wants you to buy, customize and drive around in your own awesome dekotora. The driving dynamics don't seem to be outstanding, but the customization setup appears to go beyond merely choosing parts and colors. In the true dekotora tradition, users can use their own Wii painting skills to create an airbrushed dragon masterpiece.

We're not sure what the ultimate goal of the game is, but we're guessing it involves building the baddest dekotora and taking pictures of it around the city. Sounds like heaven to us. (Hat tip to PitchPitch!) [Wiiz.fr, GameTrailers.com]

Go Here For Inspiration On Your Audi A9

Ben Wojdyla — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 10:00:00 EST

No doubt after checking out the breakout styling superstar Audi A9 we saw yesterday, you're contemplating a similar transformation for your own boring commuter-mobile. Why not spice things up with wings, various pipes, lights, fiberglass and faux fur? It seems like the only logical thing to do. Setting aside the sarcasm for a moment, there's some truth to be found there. Maybe it's just because a little piece of us wants to see Dekotora-style cars running around and frightening old ladies and making little kids cry. [CarStylingTips.com]

Since You've Been Extra Good This Week: Pakistani Dekotora

Ben Wojdyla — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 14:30:00 EST

You know a meme has reached its defining moment when it transcends itself. Like a jukebox hero with stars in his eyes, these Pakistani Dekotora have reached for the mic of fate and while displaying mastery of the material, achieved their own awesome spin. These trucks are a result of nearly the same phenomenon which spawned the Japanese Dekotora: single guys, driving trucks, with nothing else to spend their money on.

Using all manner of detritus from paint to reflectors, sheets of steel, rugs, and forsaken bedazzlers, the trucks are fully decked out for all to see. There are even truck competitions, sponsored by fuel companies, in which owners can win free fuel. Because of the truck market in Pakistan, the vehicle of choice is usually an old Bedford or GMC, outfitted with a high cargo hold to maximize capacity. It also provides a supersized canvas to get crazy on. There's a pretty good write-up about the customs and traditions surrounding the style here, and as you can see, we dug our teeth into this one and went a little nutty with the gallery. We just can't get enough of that Hindu-Kush goodness.

Awesome Dekotora Photography Now in Book Form

Ben Wojdyla — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 11:00:00 EST

Photographer Masaru Tatsuki has done the world a great service and captured the majesty that is Dekotora in a book for all to own. In an interview with PingMag, Masura recalls how he spent nearly ten years living amongst the Dekotora truckers, getting ensconced in their culture, understanding their passions. It was after gaining this understanding that he could dedicate the culture, not just the trucks, to film. The result is a tribute to the art called Decotora. Transliteration differences aside, we're leering in the direction of Amazon US since they don't seem to be stocking this at the moment.

And Now To Revive an Old Meme - Dekochari

Ben Wojdyla — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 08:15:00 EST

We need to get back on track with lobbying the big boss to change the tagline to include our love of Dekotora. Right at the tail end of our last Dekotora obsession we caught a glimpse of the Dekochari, the bicycle version of the Dekotora. Pictures alone didn't convey the combination of the bizarre and the sublime like this video does. Set to what we'll describe as the sorrowful soundtrack played as a backdrop in the honor killing sequence of a Japanese Yakuza movie, the true art that is Dekochari is revealed. We're understandably miffed we didn't see any when we were there.

Project Car Hell: Pink Pig or Short Bus?

Murilee Martin — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 17:30:34 EDT

Our two contestants yesterday were pretty evenly matched, with the Turbo 2002 beating the KA24DE 510 by a nose. Today, it's time to really explore true project lunacy, with a couple of vehicles that would be sure to make your neighbors recoil in horror if they were to see either one being dragged into your driveway (trailing a shower of sparks and rusty parts). Vehicles that, in spite of their ungodly awfulness, have potential to be incredibly fun customized hoonwagons.

The name alone on The Pink Pig should be enough. Just think, for a lousy $500 you could have a '64 Jeep-based, Toyota-powered, custom-bodied ice cream truck. An ice cream truck! Now, imagine it after you've swapped the Toyota engine for a big diesel with smokestack exhaust, an interior done in Tijuana's cheapest Hot Pink shag carpeting, and huge radiation-symbol emblems on the sides (done in rhinestones, of course). You could play Ice Cream Truck music through the PA... backwards and at half speed. Oh, it would be great for rattling the squares, all right, but the Pink Pig isn't really, you know, running. Not only that, it has electrical-system woes. Most likely it has all sorts of one-of-a-kind handmade components, requiring vast amounts of fabrication when even minor fixes are called for. Come on, though- you could be the Radioactive Ice Cream Man!

Old school buses are among the all-time favorites for weird vehicles that get taken on with some crazy project in mind and then never finished; they're cheap, iconic, and a real pain to find parts for. This 1957 Ford B500 bus is a classic example; it's already been subjected to some sort of half-assed RV conversion, including wood stove and mahogany door. But that stuff won't matter to you, not once you've created your own Dekotora School Bus! Once the interior has been totally Hello Kitty Disco-ized (including far too many rotating disco balls), you'd be able to cover the exterior with every imaginable 18-wheeler marker light, chrome air horn, and antenna; with a Ford 390 engine you'd simply need to put Cherry Bombs on it for that "Safety First" sound. And just five hundred bucks! It hasn't run in nine years (and was burning oil back then), but the seller is quick to add that the 4-speed transmission is in excellent shape.

(Don't worry, we'll get back to regular cars with this series, but there's no way I was ignoring the Pink Pig!

Jeepney Alert On eBay!

Murilee Martin — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 19:00:01 EDT

Maybe you've toyed with the idea of building a Dekotora, but who among us has actually contemplated owning a genuine Manila-style Jeepney? It just seemed such a distant, unattainable dream... until now![eBay]

This one is as authentic as they come, being based on a '42 Willys Jeep and built by famed Jeepney builder Sarao. Sure, it sports some logos from previous owners (including Tombstone Pizza), and the Buick V6 drivetrain isn't something Dugout Doug would have recognized upon his return to the islands, but those are just minor details that shouldn't deter a true Jeepney Man. Starting bid is 15 grand and the auction ends tomorrow.

Jeepney: The Filipino Dekotora!

Ray Wert — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 18:00:00 EDT

So what's a country to do with a mess load of Jeeps left by an occupying liberating army? Why, they decorate them with chrome and retrofit them to hold a few extra passengers. Enter the Jeepney, a Filipino tradition. Or at least it's been a tradition for the past 60 or so years. Yay, America! [via VBS.tv: Part I, Part II]

In Russia, Dragon-Truck Makes Ass Haul You!

Ray Wert — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 12:15:00 EDT

I know folks love the Japan-love for lighting and trinketing up trucks. But you can keep your wimpy decorated Dekotora because this Russian heavy hauler's the hands down ~~meanest~~ coolest looking truck I've ever seen. If we saw this truck-o-saur following us down the highway, we'd haul ass out of its way as quickly as possible. One more picture after the jump. – Ray Wert

Dragon Tank Truck [EnglishRussia.com]

Related:
Question of the Day: Donk or Dekotora? [internal]

Hangin' at the Dekostora

Davey G. Johnson — Tue, 29 May 2007 19:30:00 EDT

Japanese chain Autobacs is legendary for carrying all kinds of wacky-ass crap for cars. We lurves us some Autobacs, but we've just stumbled across a store that may be even better. From what we've gleaned from this video, Shop Jet carries everything one needs to turn one's everyday Hino or Fuso into a cerebrum-fucking, soul-searing dekotora. It may well be the best store ever invented. Is there a Los Angeles franchise up for bids? Also, we want dude's helmet. Lock On! – Davey G. Johnson

It Is Good, Densely: Blast Running's Dekotora Madness

Mike Bumbeck — Wed, 23 May 2007 17:30:00 EDT

As far as we can tell this is the opening sequence from a Dekotora driving game called Blast Running. Computerized translation produced the description for the video, which in turn became the headline for this post. Dekotora driving games evidently continue on for Playstation. We're saving up our pennies for Dekotora Art Truck Battle 3, and hoping to become top wheeler in time to master the as yet still mysterious PS3 version. – Mike Bumbeck

Shanghai'd! Jalopnik Visits the PRC!

Davey G. Johnson — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 19:00:00 EDT

After a rather mind-numbing trip that took roughly 16 hours longer than expected, we are here, esconced comfortably on the 81st floor of the Jin Mao Tower. Construction and bad air abound here in Shanghai, but that will not deter Los Lone Jalopnik from his appointed rounds. Plus, the Huangpu River is rife with what appear to be the Chinese version of dekotora. We think we're half in love with the place already; we're know we're totally in love with the crazy-deluxe shower in our hotel room. – Davey G. Johnson

Disclosure: Audi paid for our flight, our food and drink, lodging and transport to events

Question of the Day: Donk or Dekotora?

Davey G. Johnson — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 19:15:00 EDT

Okay...it's clobberin' time. Are you gonna roll on 30s, with possible Dada-esque corporate sponsorship all over ya box? Or are you gonna take Hetfield's advice and hit the lights? Mob up or convoy? How would you, dear reader, rather roll through West Oakland cranking a bootleg of Tim Armstrong and Matt Freeman of Rancid's unreleased Downfall record? Head nods mandatory. Just don't break ya neck. – Davey G. Johnson

Super Extra Dekotora! Mad Donkage, Broseph! [Internal]

Mitsubishi Delica Space Gear SUPER EXCEED!

Mike Bumbeck — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 11:28:09 EST

No, really. We don't make this stuff up. The third generation of the mighty Delica boasted a turbodiesel powerplant and 4WD. This capability along with plenty of mirrors, lights, nerf bars, ladders, and roof racks transcended the Delica beyond mere space wagon and into super classification. The Super Exceed was also offered as the Royal Exceed, and the Delica was even rebadged as a Mazda Bongo. The Delica is now in its fifth generation, and being sold under the not nearly as exciting Delica D:5 moniker. As Hello Kitty shows us in the video, the Delica remains both cavernous and versatile.

Mitsubishi Delica D:5 Presented by Hello Kitty [Mitsubishi Motors Japan]

Question of the Day: What's on Your Dekotora?

Davey G. Johnson — Sun, 28 Jan 2007 05:22:31 EST

Never let it be said that Jalopnik does not love the dekotora. Combining big-truck badassness with Mobile Suit space-ageosity and pachinko-parlor chintz, the decorated trucks are simply some of the most outrageous custom vehicles ever made. We, naturally, would start with a Mitsubishi Fuso Super Great in cement-mixer form, featuring a carbon-fiber, high-RPM drum embedded with LEDs that — when spooled up to around 2,000 RPM — would display an image of Cliff Burton at 3:50 in this video, which is surely one of the most purely rocking moments ever acted out by any rocker, ever. We would then prowl the streets of Hayward, California at night blaring The Misfits' Walk Among Us at exceptionally high volume. We would also mount a neon-impregnated Lucite replica of a Rickenbacker 4001 bass on the grille. And that's only the beginning. But enough about us. How would you build a dekotora? – Davey G. Johnson

HINO! FUSO! SUPER LITE-BRITE AMUSEMENT! DEKOTORA!

Davey G. Johnson — Wed, 27 Dec 2006 11:15:00 EST

Nothing brightens a weary, dreary, ho-hum drizzly Sacramento morning like the dulcet tones of "It's a Small World" accompanied by a blinking, winking outrageous display of lights attached to a Mitsubishi Fuso Super Great or similar. Please press play. Won't you press play? – Davey G. Johnson

Not Deckchair, Dekochari!

Davey G. Johnson — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 08:00:00 EST

We were talking to Antonio tonight; he wanted advice on buying a cheap van he could tow a Toyota with. We suggested a Chevrolet, as parts are cheap and plentiful. We then suggested he do it up dekotora style. Imagine a cross between a Japanese custom van and a '70s sin bin. How can you lose? So, as Los Jalops are wont to, we then got to obsessing and ran across Japan's dekochari subculture. Dekochari are sort of like Chicano lowrider bikes. Only much, much weirder. – Davey G. Johnson

Pimp My Bike [Planeta Rosa]

BJ and the Kuma-chan: Japanese Dekotora-Truck Movie Intro

Mike Spinelli — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 14:40:38 EST

Paukert from Winding Road must have some idea what complete Japancakes we are, especially for 1970s-era media artifacts. Since Uncle Bumbeck is busy in LA, it falls to me to cue up this clip, which is an intro to one of Nihon's spate of trucker movies, which coincided with the faddish fondness for big rigs in the US during the same period. According to Pink Tentacle, it's a Norifumi Suzuki joint, Torakku Yaro, a 10-part series from the 1970s that sparked Japan's boom in dekotora trucks. Meow. – Mike Spinelli

[via Winding Road]

Dekotora photo galleries [Pink Tentacle]

Related:
Japan's Art Trucks at Night [internal]