E3 Spark Plugs

A lot of us old-heads are hitting the age where we’ve become hyper-nostalgic about stuff… like car forums & the time we spent bullsh¡tting on them (see my article on that here). And even though that era is in the rear-view mirror… you still come across isolated scenarios that give you flashbacks & flickers of hope. Meeting Graham Walker, the owner of this Toyota Aristo V300 Vertex Edition, proved to be one such instance.

Aristo V300 vertex Edition

Except, Graham Walker isn’t an exactly what you’d call an “old-head”… 

In fact, he’s only 25. Therefore one could argue – he missed out on what many consider to be the glory days of the tuning scene. BUT – a conversation with Graham would have you thinking otherwise. (Is “big old-head energy” a thing?) Because unlike the majority of 20-somethings in the car scene these days, he’s building cars his way… for himself. NOT for likes, views & followers. And the way he talks about his Aristo – is reminiscent of the bygone forum era. It’s not about chasing clout, going viral, or the next big TikTok trend. For Graham, it’s all about chasing a feeling. A feeling that can be traced back to his childhood.

E3 Spark Plugs

Aristo V300 VIP

Graham was first introduced to the S160 Aristo / Lexus back in 2008…

At the ripe young age of… 8… when he had a classmate that moved to the US from Kanagawa, Japan. They became quick friends, and through that friendship, Graham came to learn of the Toyota Aristo from playing the older Tokyo Xtreme Racer games (amongst other titles from that era). Yes – the US did get a version of the Aristo here in the states, known as the Lexus GS300/400. BUT – the US version lacked the key components that made the Aristo… cool. You know – the renowned 2JZ-GTE power plant and the beefy A430E transmission for starters. Plus, there was just something about seeing a fancy Lexus with the steering wheel on the wrong side that was cool to Graham. So from that point forward, his fate was sealed. It not only sparked his love for the Aristo, but for big-body Japanese saloons as a whole. Chasers, Laurels, Cressidas, Crowns… anything that had a VIP vibe to it. But ultimately, the Aristo was the one he would eventually come to seek out.

Aristo V300

Aristo V300

So in 2023… 

At the still somewhat ripe young age of 23, Graham fulfilled his Tokyo Xtreme Racer wet-dream & bought his right-hand-drive Toyota Aristo – a black-on-black-on-blackwood 1997 Toyota Aristo V300 Vertex Edition. Now full disclosure, when he bought the car, it already had a few mods. A Silkblac front lip, Artisian Spirits replica side skirts & rear bumper, and some 19″ Work Euroline SL wheels. It basically had the whole “clean VIP” aesthetic going on, inherit with big Japanese cars of the era. And while there was nothing wrong with this look, Graham was more interested in making it his own. As such, the car has undergone some changes during his ownership. Admittedly, the Aristo doesn’t sport a huge mod list. Instead, it features some tasteful, carefully selected parts that work in unison to create a car that’s bold, yet understated at the same time.

Gramlight wheels

Aristo V300 Vertex Edition

The aforementioned aero bits have since been replaced with… 

With a full Vertex aero kit. And the Aristo now wears a set of period-correct 18″ Work VS-ZF’s (in 18×9.5 & 18×10.5). These give the car a bit more of a “luxury sport” look when compared to its previous setup. A set of Great Meteor tail lights and a Swagg Badge JAF badge have been added to tie the exterior together. The Aristo’s stance is courtesy of a set of KTS Beta coilovers. And they’ve been meticulously dialed-in to offer not only an aggressive stance, but also enough comfort to keep the car road-worthy. Speaking of comfy, there’s also a set of L-Tide neckpads up front that pay homage to the car’s VIP-roots. Additional interior modifications include a TOM’s gauge cluster paired with an Apex-i boost gauge. And… that’s really about it. 

Aristo V300 slammed

Graham says he has plenty more in store for his Aristo… 

Including some uber-rare Veilside body components. And of course – mo’ powa for the almighty 2JZ. But for now, it’s refreshing to see a (by all accounts) younger car enthusiast building a car for all the right reasons. I mean sure, he could’ve slapped on a 326 Power wing, wrapped it some over-the-top color, slapped on some super wide/low offset wheels with oni-camber, and gotten way more attention on the ‘gram. But instead – Graham stuck to his roots, and did what *HE* wanted without listening to the internet’s trendy opinions. And to me, that alone is worthy of some good ol’ fashioned S3 Mag love. Not to mention, the styling of this car will continue to age like fine wine… outliving most of the cringy fads running rampant in today’s car scene. Keep it clean, keep it genuine, and stay RAD y’all!  <3

Article by Josh Guillot

Photos by Ian McDonnell & Josh Turner

 

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