This fresh take on Japan’s diddy off-roader is sure to be divisive. Here’s a closer look at the new DAMD Suzuki Jimny body kits.
The Tokyo Auto Salon is one of the highlights of the modified car culture calendar. Think of it as being Japan’s version of SEMA. However, even before TAS 2024 has got underway, a styling specialist called DAMD has already lifted the lid on a couple of its display cars for this year’s show. Yep, what you’re looking at is a set of Suzuki Jimny body kits based on the Lancia Delta HF Integrale Evo and the Renault 5 Turbo. Because why not, I guess…
Now, to give you some context, DAMD are no strangers to quirky kei car mods. A quick glance at their website will reveal that, in addition to more serious options for common tuner cars, there’s plenty of light-hearted fun on offer for vehicles in the kei sector. For instance, you can give your Wagon R a Chevy Astro van facelift, or convert your Lapin into a Renault 4 doppelganger. In fact, there are other Jimny options available too, such as a G-Wagon conversion, and the unfortunately-named “Little D” Defender styling kit. Joining the roster for 2024 is the ‘Little Δ’ (Delta) and the ‘Little 5’…
Nerdy point: As these kits are for the wide-arched Jimny Sierra, not the regular Jimny, they aren’t technically kei cars. But they are still small.
DAMD Little Delta
The overarching theme for DAMD’s Jimny display cars at this year’s Tokyo Auto Salon is “European Masterpiece”, so a tribute to the world’s most successful rally car of all time seems rather fitting. The Lancia Delta HF Integrale Evo is one of the most iconic hot hatches ever built, not only for its prowess on the World Rally stage, but for its butch bravado too. The DAMD Little Δ has captured that character very well, in my eyes. The four headlights and prominent grille design are pure Lancia Delta, as is the upright rear wing. It should go without saying that the bumpers and wide arches aren’t exactly standard Jimny equipment either.
Fittingly, the Little Δ is wearing a set of OZ Racing alloys; a timeless Italian rally design, reworked by OZ for 2024. They’re present on the DAMD Little 5 too, as you can see below. Before we move on to the faux Renault though, I just want to add this line from the official Little Δ press release:
“Cut through the wind and dash through any road. The legendary styling of the hot hatch that captivated the world is fused with a full-fledged off-roader. I remember those days when I was in love again.”
Gotta love bizarre Japanese translations…
DAMD Little 5
As obvious as the Lancia Delta references are in the Little Δ’s styling cues, the DAMD Little 5 is an adorably effective homage to the Renault 5 Turbo. The square headlights and reworked bumper give it that familiar French face, but my favorite part of this design is the comical Non Turbo graphic on the door. Once you spend a little while scrolling around DAMD’s online presence, it becomes clear that they’ve got a great sense of automotive humor. But then, to create something like this in the first place, you’d need to.
The ‘Defaced’ Hiace
Those little Suzuki scamps aren’t all that DAMD intends to bring to Tokyo Auto Salon this year. In total, they’re set to bring along nine demo display cars, some of which are understandably under wraps for now. However, another of the already-unveiled projects is this, the DAMD Deface.
This self-deprecating model name is a play on the combination of ‘Defender’ and ‘Hiace’, which is about all you need to know to understand what the design brief was with this one.
The Fuzz
Finally, there’s a pair of ‘Fuzz’-branded Daihatsu Atrai kei vans. Above is the Fuzz Wagon, which sports a weathered, retro American aesthetic, while the Fuzz Deckvan below is a wannabe overlanding pickup.
If there’s one thing that we’ve learned about DAMD today, it’s that they’re a company with range…
