The year 2004 had such a variety of feature vehicles in early PASMAG, and you guys really seemed to enjoy the previous 5 Vehicles from PASMAG in 2004, so we wanted to double up on our appreciation for that year with another look back at five additional feature vehicles that once graced our printed pages. Fair warning, while we may look down on some style eras with hindsight, it's important to remember that many of these modifications and styles we consider to be extreme or "too much" paved the way for a lot of the aftermarket automotive world we know and love today.
See the previous 5 Vehicles from PASMAG in 2004 here.
This is an ongoing series. We wanted to take some opportunities to dig into the PASMAG archives - all 25 years of it - as part of our 25th anniversary celebrations, and isolate certain eras to appreciate, evaluate, or even reminisce. Enjoy an extra five vehicles from 2004 while we dwell on this iconic era.
Note: This era is part of some of the "great data loss" in PASMAG history, so I'm writing about these cars without context. All I have is the photos and whatever historical context I can dig up online, or from PASMAG staff.
1. Oscar Ramos' Top Secret IS300
Oscar Ramos built one of the most iconic Lexus IS300s of the decade in the form of his Altezza-conversion. A Top Secret built Beams 3S-GE with a top mount turbo and polished everything adorns the engine bay where the factory JZ once sat, with a Top Secret badge on the front of the valve cover to make sure you know what you're looking at. Altezza front grille and a handful of tastefully aggressive exterior modifications let you know from afar that this Lexus was all business.
2. Leslie Durst's Drag CRX
At the height of '90s and early 2000s drag racing, the CRX was one of the most desireable platforms for FWD enthusiasts to go fast. Leslie Durst's CRX is a prime example of the potential of this tiny platform. Light weight, versatile, and with a wide variety of aftermarket options available, the CRX was capable of some impressive quarter-mile times back in the day.
3. Karz Electronics BMW 330i
Simple, stylish, and sorted. These are the hallmarks of the Karz Electronics BMW 330i. AC Schnitzer bits decorate every area of the car from inside to out, including some killer classic AC Schnitzer Type 3 wheels in a 3-piece variety. As you might imagine from a Karz Electronics car, there is no shortage of mobile electronics, entertainment, and audio equipment involved here as well.
4. Silver Surfer S15 Silvia
An S15 Silvia with Nitrous Express? Alright. We don't know exactly how long this SR20DET lasted, but we bet it was really fun when it was working. A top-mount turbo, polished intake manifold, and properly sorted engine bay made this S15 stand out as ahead of the curve during this time, especially when it was probably one of very few built to this level in 2004. Of course, as per the era, you can expect a serious sound system in the trunk.
5. Andrew Rubio's 350Z
Just look at those tires! This 350Z was clearly set up for one thing and one thing only - drag racing. The tell-tale cutouts with air vents in the front bumper tell a story on their own. If the exterior didn't tell you everything, the interior surely does.
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