So it turns out, when you spend the better part of 16 years purchasing, collecting, and stashing rare wheels, parts, and memorabilia, it’ll amount to quite the collection. But it wasn’t until Dan had all of his wheels in one place that he realized just how extensive the hoard really was.
For years, Dan’s collection of mostly Japanese wheels was always more folklore than fact. You’d hear passing comments on rooms full of RAYS Volk Racing TE37s, or multiple cars’ worth of Impuls. During my recent trip back home to Australia, I saw that Dan had laid all his wheels out, so I had to go and see it for myself.
Stashed away in a small warehouse in Sydney is not the first place you’d expect to find a scene like this, but here we find what could be best described as a sea of rare golden-era Japanese wheels. From F1 spares to possibly the largest collection of Dome memorabilia in the world, Dan has a little bit of everything from Japan, spanning the 1970s through to the 2000s. In between digging through old boxes and wading through wheels, I had the chance to chat with Dan about his hobby-turned-museum.
AP: When did you start purchasing and collecting parts from Japan?
Dan: In 2010, during my first trip to Japan. I had looked online beforehand, but only when visiting the country was I properly introduced to Yahoo! Auctions and shown how to use it by my now cousin-in-law, who lives in Japan.
AP: What drew you into even looking in the first place? What is it that you love about Japanese wheels and parts so much?
Dan: That’s a difficult question to answer. I don’t think anyone in the world collects or takes as much pride in collecting as the Japanese collectors and enthusiasts do. Once I bought an old magazine/parts catalogue, it was over.
AP: What was it about wheels in particular?
Dan: I could not believe how many different designs, variations, and options there were. My first set of wheels was Impul Hoshino D-01 Silhouettes in 14×6.5-inch +8 and 14×7-inch +5, which I won on eBay Australia. Once I began researching them and realised how wide they came and the different variations, I became obsessed.
AP: After all this time, in your opinion, what do you think is the coolest part in your collection?
Dan: That’s another difficult question to answer. I’m a Toyota nerd, so the rear wheel from a Toyota 7 is most likely the rarest piece I have in the collection. The NOS [new old stock] set of Dome W-1s would be a close second, but there are so many wheels and parts with amazing histories that it’s hard to pick just one.
AP: Are there wheels or parts you don’t own, but would love to?
Dan: Definitely. I still check online multiple times a day for certain things. I’m still holding out hope one day I’ll find a pair of 13×9-inch -25 (A Type) Casablanca Mesh wheels with matte lips in 4×114.3mm. A pair of Speed Star F.6s would be great, too.
AP: There’s one part of the collection here that is a bit different from the rest. Tell us about your RAYS wheel obsession. Why TE37s?
Dan: In high school, I was obsessed with AE86s and old Land Cruisers. I remember looking at the RAYS website and seeing Japanese HJ61s with bronze TE37Xs and Katsuhiro Ueo’s AE86 on white TE37s and TE37 Gravels, and it really stuck with me. Years later, when I realised that I’d missed the boat in owning a new set of TE37s in 14×7-inch -0, I spent a significant amount of time and effort organising a group buy. It was incredibly stressful, but in the end, I’m glad I did it. However, while waiting for it to eventuate, I located three OG sets, which I don’t think I will ever sell.
AP: Was there a specific car, magazine, or shop that influenced your taste early on?
Dan: I think it started with buying an old CARTOP or Holiday Auto yearly parts catalogue on Yahoo! Auctions. When I saw the photos in the auction listing, I couldn’t believe how many wheels there were. I think I have every year of those catalogues now; they are an incredible resource.
AP: Do you collect based on brand legacy, rarity, condition, or personal nostalgia?
Dan: I’d say all of those are factors, but the major factor would be rarity.
AP: Where do you find most of your pieces? Auctions? Old shops? Word of mouth?
Dan: Most were purchased via auctions, or by friends in person in Japan, and some were even purchased on my own visits to Japan. Back in the late 2000s and early 2010s, there were an insane number of cool wheels available on Yahoo! Auctions.
AP: After all these years of sourcing and buying, what is the most interesting story you’ve got?
Dan: While road-tripping through Japan in 2014, I used Google Maps dotted with pins I’d added using old phone numbers from magazines, creating a list of stops and places of interest. While travelling from Tokyo to Osaka in a Toyota Passo, we stopped at a shop that specialised in old cars, but most specifically GT-Rs and early Zs. We spoke via a translator app with the shop owner, and he was very kind to show us around the place. While discussing wheels, I had asked if the owner had any for sale; he offered to take us to his other warehouse. This warehouse was huge, and it was mind-blowing inside with Z432 and multiple S20-powered GT-Rs. He allowed us to look around, and then took us up to a mezzanine full of parts and wheels, many of which were in very wide sizes. I found a pair of wide 13-inch [Hayashi] Streets, and a pair of what appeared to be three-piece Streets, and asked how much. I bought them both for a very reasonable price and still have both pairs today.
AP: What do you think is your most significant piece?
Dan: I think it has to come back to the Toyota 7 rear wheel again, but to name a few significant pieces. Toyota 7 rear wheel; Riverside/Superstar dealer display wheels; SSR/Impul Super Silhouette wheels; gold 14×14-inch Crossfever dealer display wheels; Denso Sard JGTC wheel; TOM’S 89C Le Mans wheel; NOS Dome W-1s.
AP: What’s the most you’ve ever paid for a set, and did it feel justified?
Dan: The most I’ve paid for a set would be the 13×8-inch and 13×9-inch TOSCO sets. One of those sets was almost ¥400,000.
AP: Have you ever lost out on a deal you still think about?
Dan: Oh man, I don’t think I’ll ever forget about the NOS set of 13×8-inch TOSCOs in boxes that I saw in person in Japan at a swap meet. They were ¥400,000 from memory, but at the time, I couldn’t justify it. A few months later, they appeared for sale online, but the seller ended the auction early, as I’m guessing he decided to keep them
AP: How do you authenticate rare wheels?
Dan: When I started purchasing wheels, there were very few replica/fake wheels on Yahoo! Auctions. Years of looking at the auctions every day and familiarising myself with casting marks and identifying features definitely help now. One of the most confusing wheels to authenticate is the TRD TOSCO, which almost deserves an entire article. You have to be very careful when buying these in 13×8-inch with ‘TRD’ stampings.
AP: Which brands do you think deserve more respect?
Dan: TOSCO. I think many people don’t realise all the parts they made and how early they were making them.
AP: How many sets of wheels do you currently own?
Dan: Over 100 sets at the moment.
AP: What would you never sell, regardless of price?
Dan: If someone offered an absurd amount for the collection or a particular set of wheels, I’d definitely think about it. But some wheels just cannot be replaced. I think most of the display/race wheels I have are not ones I would ever let go of.
AP: What’s your dream pairing: wheel and chassis combo?
Dan: Another tough question, but blue Porsche 959, Forged Mag TE37.
AP: Tell me more about Dome. What is so special about this part of your collection?
Dan: When I first saw a photo of the Dome Zero, I was blown away. Then, while researching the company and the brand, I couldn’t believe how cool they were, and what they were responsible for developing. Everything Dome did was cool, the logos, the designs – it’s all so rad. I was lucky enough to see the Dome Zero P2 in person at a small exhibition in Japan, where they even had the original drawings and a huge range of memorabilia. I spent hours just looking over everything.
AP: Do you plan to downsize your collection, museum it, or keep expanding? What’s next?
Dan: I’m currently in the process of sorting through the entire collection. I want to consolidate what I’ve collected over the years and decide what I’ll use on my own cars and what I want to display. I have a collection of old Toyotas, and I’d love them to be at the stage where I can hop in and enjoy them. I still buy parts/wheels when I find things of interest.
Massive thanks to Dan for allowing me into his treasure trove for the afternoon. I can’t wait to revisit his collection soon and potentially see the amazing space he can make with it.
Amazing. Been a follower of Dan on Instagram for a long time and it’s cool to get this closer look at his collection!