Last month we brought you part 1 of the top tuner shops in the world. This month we go through part 2 bringing you some of the best of Japan to the builders of some of today’s fastest Lamborghinis and without forgetting that one company who unfortunately lost their founder to a kidnapping.
Top Secret
Top Secret has been at the head of Japanese tuning for years. Their unmistakable signature gold paint is just the icing on cake for their wild high-power builds. Rumor has it Nagata-san will be bringing their twin-turbo V12 Supra to America soon to compete in the Texas mile. They attempted to bring it in last May, but it did not clear US customs in time for the event. We can’t wait to see how it does against some of the American powerhouses.
Heffner Performance
Speaking of American powerhouses, Heffner is a name that comes to mind early and often. Based in Sarasota Florida, Heffner is responsible for putting thousands of ponies on the streets. Their passion for speed has lead them to strap twin-turbo systems onto some of the worlds fastest production supercars, including the Lamborghini Murcielago, Ford GT, and Ferrari 458.
Gemballa
Just a short drive from Stuttgart Germany, where Porsche’s are born, Gemballa is the house where modern Porsches come alive, holding many lap records at the famed Nurburgring as proof of their superiority. From aero to engine tuning, Gemballa provides the best in aftermarket parts for modern Porsches and rumor has it they are flirting with McLarens now. Following the mysterious death of founder Uwe Gemballa in South Africa in 2010, the Porsche world was unsure of the fate of Gemballa. CEO Andreas Schwarz, solidifying their position in the market and restoring the faith in their customers and fans, officially revived Gemballa a few months later.
Underground Racing
A list of top ten tuning shops without Underground Racing would be incomplete. Best known for their 250mph breaking Lamborghini Gallardo, Underground’s facility is a truly sick laboratory of speed fit for Dr. Frankenstein himself. Not only do their builds perform, every part that is bolted to one of their cars is a work of art in itself. Of course, everything comes with a price. Most Underground kits start under $60,000 and go well into the six-figures depending on your horsepower goals. We say it’s worth every penny.
RWB
What do you get when you mix pure Japanese style with classic Porsches? Rauh-Welt Begriff. Translating from German to “Rough World”, tuner Nakai-san started RWB originally as a car club in Japan. A true one-man operation, Nakai-san hand builds each car that comes out of the RWB garage. Nakai-san himself can best say what separates RWB from the rest – “It’s not just about the specs of the parts I used. It’s the theory and idea behind WHY I did it.” Although some argue RWB cars look too much alike, they share their form because of the functional purpose. They get our vote for the best classic Porsche tuners in the world, hands down.
There you have it folks, the best of the best all different from one another. What do you guys think? What are your best 5?
