Shop Talk: Fizz Autosports

Road trips to a different city are always chaotic but the awesome friends in Chicago have made us feel welcomed, so on that note we thank you! Another location we wanted to visit was Fizz Autosports. Hearing that they are now in their new location we were excited to see some of the cars that were being prepped for Wekfest. If our visit to Touge Factory was any indication for what’s to come we were all in for a treat. Fizz has a special connection with us since it originally was a NYC shop based in Queens. Ask any OG and they will remember it. Ming, the current owner of Fizz Autosports continues the tradition of supplying enthusiasts with hard to find JDM parts from literally any shop from Japan. He has since expanded into VIP cars and currently provides service from upholstery to bodywork and paint.

I’ve been a fan of VIP builds ever since picking up my first issue of VIPCAR years ago. Fizz has been able to outfit many of the usual VIP platforms with authentic parts from Japan. Upon arriving on the premises we saw that it was a packed house, most of which were cars from the Royal Republic Crew. WHITE, WHITE, WHITE, WHITE in various hues were all we could see.

The imported Aristo stole our attention while it was sitting on the rack as Jessie detailed and dressed the wheels. Laced on a set of AME Shallen wheels and a complete Black Pearl kit, the authentic V300 separates itself from any stateside GS300/GS400/GS430. I’m a huge fan of this kind of wheel fitment since it doesn’t have excessive camber while maintaining an aggressive look. I’m not sure if anyone wants to ride around on a 3 inch section of their cambered wheel. Fortune Minds out in FL would be proud of the presence of the car in Chicago. the 160/161 came with electronic-shift push buttons on the steering wheel and I loved that Jessie added the Nardi along with the paddle shifters.

I’ve always been a fan of comparing the same chassis side by side where both are done differently and this was the case with Steve’s imported Aristo alongside Jesse’s. Clearly, the front end has been swapped with the UZS186 Crown Majesta with a KBreak kit. There was so much subtle bodywork done to the car in addition to the high radius fenders to accommodate the camber and wheels. Painting the grill and lower grill black adds just the perfect amount of contrast to the amount of white the car was sporting. Steve definitely did his homework when it comes to  having a vision for his VIP build.

Next up was the F50 Cima which was being washed. Sporting a classic and conservative poke fitment, the large wheel wells engulfed the massive wheels and literally dwarfed its size. With the full Dolce kit, the F50 has a proper mix of sport and luxury. I’m hoping to achieve a similar fitment for my own LS build.

A taste for widebodies runs in the family with Cindy as with Steve (they are siblings). Her AMG C63 also sports a custom wide body with a beautiful set of KBreak Hybreed Cross Nines furnished by Fizz. Yes the bumper is molded. You will see the car more intimately during our encounter on the streets of Chicago.

Arriving at Fizz, I expected to just see Japanese cars but I was so utterly wrong. Here are some Donks which we loved. There! I said it, I love donks. Somehow within the car community once someone associates themselves with a type of style of modifying cars others tend to never expect you from going outside of your comfort zone. It’s rather important we expand our repertoire and try and appreciate different styles because we often learn from how others do things from bodywork to suspension components. I thought authentic forged wheels were expensive, but I had no clue how expensive these massive Donk wheels were. I mean excessively expensive. I think what I appreciate most about these cars is the paint and bodywork. There is a certain air of VIPness to these American rides.

And a Lotus with the famed Celica engine owned by a mechanic at Fizz.

Out back in the lot you could find some treasures like this pickup with its massive blower.

Then you had this oddity. Based off the two-seater MR2, the Serbian-made Zoragy had us curious. Almost a throw back to the classic Veilside Fortune cars from the 90’s.

I’m Thai so immediately I noticed some familiar artifacts from almost every Buddhist Thai home, shrines, their king and lucky money. I was told the previous owner was Thai and the new owner along with Ming decided to just keeps some of the relics.

Ming’s own El Grand front converted Quest is also a unique ride. White cars for all! Here is Edo contemplating our next meal.

Before leaving we snooped around the the massive shop to find some classic American rides in the back. Bel Airs, Impalas, Thunderbirds and Chevelles run the gamut.

After seeing how massive the facilities at Fizz have now become, we were envious of the folks in Chicago to have a shop that can address their every car need. Our visit shows the range of cars that visit Fizz on a regular basis. Businesses often throw around the words premium or premiere but in the case of Fizz Autosports -Premiere Auto Service, their name truly reflects what they are able to offer. We are excited as Fizz grows into their new space and we wanted to thank Fizz for opening their shop to us. We wish you the very best in your new space.