It was 9pm at the parking garage of a shopping center in South Jakarta, Indonesia. The shopping center was supposed to close in less than an hour, but the parking lot filled up and modified trams rolled in en masse.
During my recent visit to my home country, I made it a point to fill my weekends with all kinds of automotive events. While major exhibitions such as the Indonesia Modification and Lifestyle Expo (IMX) are a great way to see the latest builds, it’s the smaller, more informal gatherings that capture the true essence of local car culture.
This nighttime encounter had been on my radar long before my trip to Indonesia. A group of local enthusiasts known simply as ‘The Crew’ have been organizing these open gatherings regularly for a while now, and when I heard something was happening during my last weekend in Jakarta, I was more than ready to check it out.
Upon arrival I was met by a long line of vehicles waiting to enter – a great sign. All I could think about was getting out of the car and taking pictures. After a short wait I found a parking spot and didn’t waste any time with my camera.
However, it didn’t take me long to realize that a cramped parking garage full of idling cars – many of them older models without catalytic converters – would produce a lot of exhaust fumes. The sound of engines running echoed through the building, amplified by the concrete walls. Still, the atmosphere was electric, with people excited to see everything from simple Toyota Kijangs to the occasional Lamborghini Aventador entering.
Honda Civics are a staple of any car competition, but I was surprised by the variety of generations that showed up. There was almost every version of the Civic there that night, except the very first and newest 11th generation models.
It was cool to see so many enthusiasts keeping the older models, like the second generation Civic, alive. In a country where the latest performance cars are out of reach for many, it is clear that the love for cars – no matter how common they are – runs deep in Indonesia. You have to respect that.
One car that caught my attention was a bright yellow Daihatsu Terios. At first it seemed a bit much, but after a few passes in front of my lens the eccentricity grew on me.
Just like in Malaysia, the A31 Nissan Cefiro is often seen in Indonesia as an alternative to the Nissan Skyline. Unlike the Skyline, the Cefiro was officially sold here and does not have the same high price tag on the used market. This particular Cefiro was nicely modified with an RB25DET Neo engine from an ER34 Skyline, an Autech body kit and a BNR32 GT-R Dark Blue Pearl respray. SSR Hasemi wheels completed the car’s sleek yet aggressive appearance.
But the real highlight of the evening was the Nissan 180SX from Stancelab. I saw it SME 2024 and didn’t expect it to show up here, but the BN Sports-equipped RPS13 is no garage queen. You see it regularly on the road and it is one of the cleanest, most polished S-chassis cars on the streets of Jakarta.
The meeting continued well past midnight, after which many attendees drove to a location in North Jakarta via the metro highway.
Evenings like these serve as a reminder of the ‘culture’ in car culture. Wherever you are in the world, it’s the people who bring it to life. I am grateful that I experienced that in Jakarta and that I made new friends during my stay.
Steve Edward
Instagram: stevedore
Additional photography by Amirul Tarsanto
Instagram: amirulmettustel
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