VeilSide stands as the most iconic "styling magician" in the Japanese widebody tuning scene. The legendary journey of its founder, Hironao Yokomaku, alongside the global fame courtesy of the Fast & Furious franchise, have cemented the brand's cult status in JDM culture.
VeilSide did not start with widebody kits, but with pure speed. Founder Hironao Yokomaku started out working in a French restaurant at sixteen, but caught the automotive bug after a street duel against a tuned Nissan Bluebird. By eighteen, he was working at an automotive workshop, and at twenty-two, he ventured out on his own to set up Yokomaku Racing Service, focusing on engine tuning and drag racing with the S30 Fairlady Z. Between 1990 and 1999, he shattered several domestic Japanese records, including clocking a blistering 0-300 km/h in 13.72 seconds in an R-32 Skyline.
However, the frequent accidents associated with tuned cars made him realise the inherent risks of purely chasing top speed. He decided to pivot towards a philosophy of "turning heads without needing insane speeds", leading to the rebranding of the outfit to VeilSide—derived from "Yoko" (side) and "Maku" (curtain/veil). This strategic shift aligned perfectly with the boom of Japan's exterior styling and tuning culture in the 1990s.
VeilSide’s design philosophy stands in stark contrast to Liberty Walk’s "cut-and-rivet" look or Rocket Bunny’s "rounded overfenders". Drawing inspiration from the Batmobile, Yokomaku pursued an all-encompassing, ground-up aesthetic overhaul. Its bodykits typically replace over 80% of the factory body panels and even swap out front and rear light clusters, giving the car an unmistakable "supercar silhouette" far removed from its stock guise. The legendary Fortune series (most notably on the RX-7 FD3S) replaces the pop-up headlamps with fixed units, completely resculpts the front profile, widens the track by nearly 20 cm, and integrates a massive rear wing with dramatic side skirts for maximum visual drama.
This level of bespoke transformation demands meticulous craftsmanship. As VeilSide widebody kits are predominantly handcrafted, lead times can stretch up to several years. The pricing reflects this bespoke exclusivity: the FRP version of the VFS90R kit for the Supra A90 starts at around RM120,000, with the carbon-fibre variant commanding around RM150,000.
VeilSide's global renown was largely cemented by the Fast & Furious franchise. From the RX-7 C-II kit in the first instalment to the iconic Fortune RX-7 piloted by Han in Tokyo Drift, VeilSide became the definitive Hollywood representation of "JDM tuning aesthetics".
That exact Fortune RX-7 crossed the block at the 2025 Goodwood auction for USD 1,200,000 (approx. RM8,610,000), setting an all-time auction record for a Mazda RX-7. As one of only two surviving cars custom-built for hero close-up shots in the movie, it retains its original RE-Amemiya-rebuilt 13B rotary engine, alongside the screen-used Alpine sound system and NOS bottle setup in the cabin. The hammer price underscores VeilSide’s legendary status among pop-culture collectors worldwide.
At the 2026 Tokyo Auto Salon, VeilSide maintained its total transformation ethos while turning its attention to the more accessible Toyota GR86. The showcase car, dubbed the F86 GT, features the brand's signature widebody treatment, albeit with a cleaner, more refined design language compared to the radical RX-7 era. Notably, the rear trades the hallmark towering GT wing for a sleek ducktail spoiler, reflecting VeilSide’s adaptation to modern aesthetic preferences. Crucially, the kit is officially rated as "street legal", highlighting that road compliance was integrated right from the design phase.
Furthermore, VeilSide has also expanded its lineup to the Nissan Z (400Z). The FFZ400 kit revives the iconic orange-and-black livery from Han's RX-7 and is slated to appear as Han's signature ride in Fast & Furious 11, extending the brand’s storied legacy with the blockbuster franchise.
In the Japanese widebody landscape, VeilSide sets itself apart through its radical departure from the factory silhouette. While Liberty Walk champions exposed-rivet industrial aggression and Rocket Bunny delivers clean, muscular fender flares, VeilSide aims to resculpt the entire body into a bespoke machine that looks and feels like a ground-up supercar. This approach makes its designs undeniably polarising—some purists argue it erases original bodylines, while enthusiasts view it as automotive art that transcends the base vehicle. Regardless, VeilSide has proven over four decades that in the realm of JDM tuning, extreme styling can be an art form and a worthy pursuit in its own right.
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