Starting off
Ryan and I(@cxde) have been friends for going on a decade now, if not longer, and to say he is one of the most genuine people I know would be an understatement. So, to be able to represent and show off his car is an immense honor. I’ve watched many stages of this car unfold over the last eight years. This version of his S14 is hands down my favorite, so getting it in front of my camera for Road Blitz was a no-brainer. Funny enough this was our first ever one-on-one shoot together but most definitely will not be our last!
The journey to now
I’ve seen Ryan go through many cars, so this isn’t his first rodeo. From his first S13, his infamous LS400, this current S14, a G35S, a Tunda, a Golf R, and an IS350 F Sport, he’s a seasoned modifier. His old LS400 was known very well for being wide, loud, low, and the perfect shade of brown. That vehicle was featured on The Smoking Tire with Matt Farah while at GRIDLIFE back in 2016. Though differing from his initial reason of purchasing the S14, and not wanting to daily the LS400 he got the 6MT G35S that ended up becoming more of a track inspired vehicle, and ended up being the gateway for all things blue!
Soon after came the whole “I need another daily” spiel that all of us car enthusiasts know all too well, and so a Blazing Blue Pearl Tundra was added to the garage. He knew the S14 needed to follow suit, so it went under the knife for a color change. Soon after that a Mk7.5 Lapiz Blue Golf R became his daily, but now, a testament to his hard work he daily drives his 2024 IS350 F-Sport finished in Ultrasonic Blue Mica 2.0. Ryan’s color is definitely blue, and I can not even begin to see him in another color. Although if we do, we know everything else will be getting a color change!
THE car, THE build
Initially the S14 was purchased while in college to act as a daily while his full- metal wide body LS400 was being built. Being owned by someone in the Atlanta drift scene it was taken to many events at the Old Turner field parking lot, and was the perfect causal drifters daily, having a stock KA with AC, some coilovers, and a Kaaz 2-way. He fell in love with the way the car drove right off the bat. But slowly he started making it his own, adding a Car Modify Wonder Glare kit and SR20DET was first on the list. Soon after came an angle kit, Origin Type 3 over fenders, the roll cage, and other supporting mods.
Two years later, after some transmission and ECU problems, a Haltech 1500, CD00A, and Z running gear got it to the desired point of reliability. Its current form is rocking a Vertex Ridge full 8-piece kit, M Sports blue carbon hood, Professor Aero Eyelids, Dmax roof and trunk wings all painted the legendary shade of blue, Bayside Blue off the R34. His wheel and suspension includes a set of Fortune Auto 500 coilovers, too many alignment components to type out, and Chrome Advan TC3 18×9 +25 in the front and Chrome Advan GT 19×10.5 +15 out back. Not counting the other 3 pairs of drift spares he’s got.
Interior is just as important as the exterior, boasting a Thrash Racing FIA halo style driver seat and non-halo FIA passenger seat, some Yashio Factory 4-point harnesses, ShirtsTuckedIn Nardi collaboration wheel, OkeyDoke custom horn button, and many other accessories.
Engine wise he’s built essentially a bulletproof S14A Kouki SR20DET making a conservative, and reliable, 330whp/300wtq. Typing out a full build list for this car would take ages, so I’ll let the photos speak for themselves, and include a more in-depth build sheet at the end of this article.
Wrap up
Ryan’s vision for this car is to blur the line of show car and drift car, all while having that 2000s D1 Grand Prix vibe. I feel he’s hit that goal pretty spot on and I’m excited to see just where else this car goes. Whether he’s parked at a Cars & Coffee, a car show, or sliding around a drift event, this car always gets the attention that it deserves.
The dedication and passion Ryan has for drift culture, the car scene, and all his friends speaks volumes in today’s society. Hopefully this won’t be the last article we see of Ryan, or his cars!
