Story & Photography by Gus Rodriguez
One thing about this show—it goes late, wrapping up around 9 PM. Held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in DC, I rolled in this time with the Brothers Garage crew, and they brought out some seriously cool cars.
ImportExpo always delivers, especially since it’s local and well-positioned between Virginia and Maryland. This year, I was genuinely surprised by the massive turnout—it gave off Gatlinburg-style energy with how packed it was. I could barely snap any photos. The DJ kept the vibe high all night, playing bangers that had people dancing and singing along. It honestly felt more like a party that just happened to be filled with amazing builds.
Speaking of builds, there were some real standouts. For starters, I caught a Liberty Walk MK5 Supra in person for the first time—and it wasn’t wrapped. It was fully painted, and it looked incredible. Then there was a 350Z sporting a rare Top Secret body kit, which you almost never see in person. I also spotted a clean 1994 Toyota 4x4 with a VVTi engine; I couldn’t confirm, but I’d bet it was a swap from a Lexus IS. Another highlight was a Lexus IS300 running a 2JZ swap, pushing 800 horsepower on low boost and a wild 1,100 horsepower on high boost. Absolute monster.
The only minor hiccup came during load-in. Moving from the garage to the main show floor was a bit chaotic, and our group got separated in the process. The staff seemed a little overwhelmed, which made directions a bit unclear. That said, once everything got moving, things settled quickly and the rest of the event ran smoothly.
ImportExpo brought the heat—cars, people, energy—it had it all. Can’t wait to hit the next one.
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