Veilside
Encyclopedia
Veilside Company Limited (officially stylized as VeilSide) is an aftermarket automotive
company which initially sold suspension
and engine tuning
parts, and now sells interior as well as body parts
for aerodynamic and aesthetic enhancement of the vehicle.
The name is derived from the owner's name, Yokomaku Hiranao. "Yoko" means "side" and "maku" means "veil", which were then conjoined to form the company's name "VeilSide".
near the Tsukuba Circuit
race course, the company first started its business in 1990. It initially focused on performance tuning
, and at the 1991 Tokyo Auto Salon
VeilSide took the Grand Prize in the Tuned Car category. Hirano was influenced by the 1960s Batmobile
and made his designs along those lines. In 1994, the Supra Combat design was released which earned the Grand prize at the Tokyo Auto Salon in the Complete Car category.
In July 1995, VeilSide received the Ministry of Transportation's authorization for the production, distribution, and selling of a range of aero parts
. Following this acceptance, VeilSide began to produce a full range of products. Their aerodynamic parts catalogue was originally based on Japanese models such as the Toyota Supra
and Subaru Impreza
, although they have since extended their portfolio to include American and European models. VeilSide produces a bodykit called "Fortune" which replaces all body panels except the roof. It is currently available for the Mazda RX-7 FD3S, Toyota Supra Mark IV, Acura NSX, Toyota MRS, and the Nissan Skyline V35/V37. The Fortune kit ranges from $4,500 USD for the MRS to $11,000 for the RX-7. The Fortune kit also turns Nissan Skylines into Infiniti G
models. VeilSide manufactures aerodynamic wing mirrors and GT-style wing spoilers and also its own line of clothing.
The company made its own wheels available under the brand name of VeilSide Andrew Racing Wheels. Many of their factory cars from the late nineties featured these wheels. As of January, 2006 VeilSide's website lists all three designs—Andrew Evolution V (18 inch and 19 inch), Andrew Golt Dish (18 inch), and Andrew Dish (18 inch)—as discontinued.
Despite being famous for its body kits, the company also provide an engine tuning service and sometime uses their cars to compete in time attack
, drag racing
and drifting
events such as D1 Grand Prix
.
(2001), 2 Fast 2 Furious
(2003), The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift
(2006), Fast & Furious (2009), Fast Five (2011).
Aftermarket (automotive)
The automotive aftermarket is the secondary market of the automotive industry, concerned with the manufacturing, remanufacturing, distribution, retailing, and installation of all vehicle parts, chemicals, tools, equipment and accessories for light and heavy vehicles, after the sale of the...
company which initially sold suspension
Suspension (vehicle)
Suspension is the term given to the system of springs, shock absorbers and linkages that connects a vehicle to its wheels. Suspension systems serve a dual purpose — contributing to the car's roadholding/handling and braking for good active safety and driving pleasure, and keeping vehicle occupants...
and engine tuning
Engine tuning
Engine tuning is the adjustment, modification or design of internal combustion engines to yield optimal performance, to increase an engine's power output, economy, or durability....
parts, and now sells interior as well as body parts
Body kit
A body kit or bodykit is a collection of exterior modifications to a car, typically composed of front and rear bumpers, side skirts, spoilers,paint jobs, and sometimes front and rear side guards and roof scoops. There are many companies that offer alternatives to the original factory appearance of...
for aerodynamic and aesthetic enhancement of the vehicle.
The name is derived from the owner's name, Yokomaku Hiranao. "Yoko" means "side" and "maku" means "veil", which were then conjoined to form the company's name "VeilSide".
History
Based in JapanJapan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
near the Tsukuba Circuit
Tsukuba Circuit
The Tsukuba Circuit is a motorsport race track located in Shimotsuma, a neighboring city of Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. It is long, has 32 pits and the longest straight is long. There is a small chicane corner that is used for motorcycle racing only and increases the total length to...
race course, the company first started its business in 1990. It initially focused on performance tuning
Engine tuning
Engine tuning is the adjustment, modification or design of internal combustion engines to yield optimal performance, to increase an engine's power output, economy, or durability....
, and at the 1991 Tokyo Auto Salon
Tokyo Auto Salon
The is an annual auto show held in January at the Makuhari Messe, Chiba City, Japan for Performance and custom dress-up parts and technology display. Hosted by the Nippon Auto Parts Aftermarket Committee ....
VeilSide took the Grand Prize in the Tuned Car category. Hirano was influenced by the 1960s Batmobile
Batmobile
The Batmobile is the automobile of DC Comics superhero Batman. The car has evolved along with the character from comic books to television and films. Kept in the Batcave, which it accesses through a hidden entrance, the Batmobile is a gadget-laden vehicle used by Batman in his crime-fighting...
and made his designs along those lines. In 1994, the Supra Combat design was released which earned the Grand prize at the Tokyo Auto Salon in the Complete Car category.
In July 1995, VeilSide received the Ministry of Transportation's authorization for the production, distribution, and selling of a range of aero parts
Body kit
A body kit or bodykit is a collection of exterior modifications to a car, typically composed of front and rear bumpers, side skirts, spoilers,paint jobs, and sometimes front and rear side guards and roof scoops. There are many companies that offer alternatives to the original factory appearance of...
. Following this acceptance, VeilSide began to produce a full range of products. Their aerodynamic parts catalogue was originally based on Japanese models such as the Toyota Supra
Toyota Supra
The Toyota Supra is a sports car/grand tourer that was produced by Toyota Motor Company from 1979 to 2002. The styling of the Toyota Supra was derived from the Toyota Celica, but it was both longer and wider. Starting in mid-1986, the Supra became its own model and was no longer based on the Celica...
and Subaru Impreza
Subaru Impreza
Introduced in November 1993, the Impreza was offered in either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive versions and as a four-door sedan/saloon or five-door station wagon/estate. According to a Motor Trend article written March 1992 on page 26, the name of Subaru's new compact was, initially, to be...
, although they have since extended their portfolio to include American and European models. VeilSide produces a bodykit called "Fortune" which replaces all body panels except the roof. It is currently available for the Mazda RX-7 FD3S, Toyota Supra Mark IV, Acura NSX, Toyota MRS, and the Nissan Skyline V35/V37. The Fortune kit ranges from $4,500 USD for the MRS to $11,000 for the RX-7. The Fortune kit also turns Nissan Skylines into Infiniti G
Infiniti G
The Infiniti G is a compact executive/entry-level luxury car produced by Nissan's luxury brand Infiniti. The first two generations of the Infiniti G were sedans based on the Nissan Primera. Beginning with its third generation , the Infiniti G have been rebadged versions of the Nissan Skyline line...
models. VeilSide manufactures aerodynamic wing mirrors and GT-style wing spoilers and also its own line of clothing.
The company made its own wheels available under the brand name of VeilSide Andrew Racing Wheels. Many of their factory cars from the late nineties featured these wheels. As of January, 2006 VeilSide's website lists all three designs—Andrew Evolution V (18 inch and 19 inch), Andrew Golt Dish (18 inch), and Andrew Dish (18 inch)—as discontinued.
Despite being famous for its body kits, the company also provide an engine tuning service and sometime uses their cars to compete in time attack
Time attack
A time attack is another term for time trial. The term is commonly used in Japan for individual time trial events for motor vehicles that involves a vehicle running around the circuit in lieu of a qualifying lap and the term is widely adopted outside the country for tuner event and...
, drag racing
Drag racing
Drag racing is a competition in which specially prepared automobiles or motorcycles compete two at a time to be the first to cross a set finish line, from a standing start, in a straight line, over a measured distance, most commonly a ¼-mile straight track....
and drifting
Drifting (motorsport)
Drifting refers to a driving technique and to a motorsport where the driver intentionally over steers, causing loss of traction in the rear wheels through turns, while maintaining vehicle control and a high exit speed...
events such as D1 Grand Prix
D1 Grand Prix
The , abbreviated as D1GP and subtitled Professional Drift, is a production car drifting series from Japan. After several years of hosting amateur drifting contests, Option magazine & Tokyo Auto Salon founder Daijiro Inada, and drifting legend Keiichi Tsuchiya hosted a professional level drifting...
.
Notable uses
Their products have been featured in movies such as The Fast and the FuriousThe Fast and the Furious (2001 film)
The Fast and the Furious is a 2001 street racing action film starring Paul Walker, Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez and Jordana Brewster. Directed by Rob Cohen, The Fast and the Furious was the first mainstream film to feature the Asian automotive import scene in North America. It is the first film...
(2001), 2 Fast 2 Furious
2 Fast 2 Furious
2 Fast 2 Furious is a 2003 street racing action film directed by John Singleton. It is the second film in The Fast and the Furious film series following The Fast and the Furious . It stars Paul Walker, Tyrese Gibson, Eva Mendes, Devon Aoki, and Chris Bridges; and was directed by John Singleton. The...
(2003), The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift
The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift
The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift is a 2006 street racing action film directed by Justin Lin. It is the third installment in the The Fast and the Furious film series and currently the sixth in terms of series chronology...
(2006), Fast & Furious (2009), Fast Five (2011).