ImportExpo – Washington Convention Center

ImportExpo – Washington Convention Center

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.

P1069558 Enhanced NR

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.

P1070187

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.

P1071027 Enhanced NR
P1071342 Enhanced NR

P1070049 Enhanced NR

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.
P1069575 Enhanced NRP1069634 Enhanced NRP1069660 Enhanced NRP1069691 Enhanced NRP1069696 Enhanced NRP1069759 Enhanced NRP1069781 Enhanced NRP1069792 Enhanced NRP1069814 Enhanced NRP1069831 Enhanced NRP1069832 Enhanced NRP1069861 Enhanced NRP1069894 Enhanced NRP1070062 Enhanced NRP1070072 Enhanced NRP1070081 Enhanced NRP1070087 Enhanced NRP1070097 Enhanced NRP1070123 Enhanced NRP1070137 Enhanced NRP1070174P1070219 Enhanced NRP1070271 Enhanced NRP1070373 Enhanced NRP1070378 Enhanced NRP1070417 Enhanced NRP1070436 Enhanced NRP1070459 Enhanced NRP1070488 Enhanced NRP1070519 Enhanced NRP1070546 Enhanced NRP1070556 Enhanced NRP1070579 Enhanced NRP1070612 Enhanced NRP1070649 Enhanced NRP1070768 Enhanced NRP1070859 Enhanced NRP1070867 Enhanced NRP1070888 Enhanced NRP1070921 Enhanced NRP1070982 Enhanced NRP1070991 Enhanced NRP1071002 Enhanced NRP1071019 Enhanced NRP1071062 Enhanced NRP1071065 Enhanced NRP1071083 Enhanced NRP1071122 Enhanced NRP1071132 Enhanced NRP1071155 Enhanced NRP1071315 Enhanced NRP1071342 Enhanced NRP1071366 Enhanced NRP1081553 Enhanced NRP1081561 Enhanced NRP1081601 Enhanced NRP1081624 Enhanced NRP1081655 Enhanced NRP1081661 Enhanced NRP1081669 Enhanced NRP1081750 Enhanced NRP1081931 Enhanced NRP1081944 Enhanced NRP1081966 Enhanced NR

Related Articles

IMPORTEXPO - Charlotte IMPORTEXPO - Charlotte
Event Coverage supplied by Chris Gosda (@photosbycg13) In the Carolinas, you never know what the weather will bring in the first part of the year....
Celica and MR2 to Return? Celica and MR2 to Return?
Story By Lee BailieStop me if you’ve heard this one already—but yes, rumor has it that Toyota is contemplating bringing the Celica and MR2 sports...
Southrn Fresh 12 Southrn Fresh 12
Story and Photography by Merrick Harding (@merrick_media) On Saturday, March 8, car enthusiasts from all over gathered at Jim R. Miller Park in...
2025 Tunerevo - Miami 2025 Tunerevo - Miami
Photography by Jay Martinez (@jmartinez21) TunerEvo is a show like no other. Regardless of where they hold the event, they somehow always manage to...
Walking the walk: Talking the Brap Brap Brap Walking the walk: Talking the Brap Brap Brap
As a car journalist, I spend my days writing about and reviewing other people’s builds – their visions, their stories. I analyze, critique, and...
VIDEO: The History of Car Modification and Culture VIDEO: The History of Car Modification and Culture
We wrote an article earlier this year detailing the history of automotive modification as best we could. It started with the bootleggers of the 1920s...