Japan's Best Resto-Mod Shop | Exploring Rocky Auto

Rocky Auto was among the first to drop modern engines into vintage Japanese cars. Famed for building some of the wildest S30 Fairlady Z & C10 Hakosukas not to mention Kenmeris, Watanabe-san can pretty much be considered as a bit of a pioneer in the Japanese restomod world.
Rocky has come a long way in the last few years, building replicas from the ground up and creating quite a niche. What always blows me away is the massive stock pile of cars that Watanabe has accumulated, stored away in multiple buildings. He thinks he has about 300 cars now but I’m sure it’s way more than that…
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[@lamararboleda6114]

Thanks for the years of bringing to light so much JDM culture! 🙌

[@dino_dc]

You bet!

[@_dizzysky]

lol, Watanabe san was stopping you from spilling the LFA secrets with those revs

[@ralphdeex6671]

Get excited when I see Dino DC pop up first thing in the morning. Car candy for breakfast!

[@dino_dc]

🫶🏼

[@lukasusilovic299]

By far the best car content on the net thank you so much Mr. Carbonare!!!!! One Love❤️

[@longrodlseries]

Met Watanabe San in 2010 at a Nostalgic 2 Days show and introduced myself to him and he was very nice and cool and humble. We had some language barriers but he was very interested in the car scene in the states as I was interested in what was going on in Japan. Glad he's still doing his thing and you are showcasing him and look forward to more videos on him and his work.

[@dino_dc]

He’s as humble as they come!

[@STARMANjacob]

YEEEAH, THANK YOU DINO! FINALLY THE BELOVED ROCKY AUTO !

[@lianbencosme5936]

This is the best car content in KZbin! Thanks Dino🙏

[@dino_dc]

Wow, thanks!

[@Ultrachris2k]

Dino with another snoop around behind the curtains of the JDM legendary temples that we all wish we could do ourselves, absolutely love these videos, and please keep them coming sir! What a champion!

[@dino_dc]

Absolutely 👍🏻

[@yasurowadada212]

日本から拝見しています！ こうやって日本が世界に誇るJDMを 紹介してくださるのは、 とても嬉しいです！

[@africanotaku5453]

20:21 I think I just fell in love with Watanabe san❤

[@nyeates3467]

absolutely mind numbing/melting how many cars and parts rocky auto has, absolutely insane!!!!! I LOVE IT!!!! that would be insane to be able to have time to walk around and look at all the gear they have!!!

[@Sticker-Happy]

I've always adored the way Watanabe san at Rocky Auto rebuilds cars, especially the S30, C10 and C110.

[@TasteofBlood]

Rocky Auto has gotta be my favorite shop in Japan.

[@edugj23]

Top notch work. And the operation is even bigger than I thought it was.

[@johnfrancisvillamor9882]

Wow! This place is a treasure trove. I just got back from Sapporo. Seen a lot of specialty shops and workshops. Must escape the wife (and her shopping) when I visit again. All the best Dino.

[@gedassulskis7901]

Firstly thanks for presenting all these years car culture that people love. Absolute treasure. Big thanks again. In all these years watching I've only see NISSAN S12 once you visited in museum. Just... Why is so unpopular. It existed, produced in in big numbers as coupe hatchback as sx or silvia or gazele but never see in car meets you visited or at the shops. Why such phenomenal ?

[@dino_dc]

Yep they are super rare, definitely not built in the same numbers off the generations that came after

[@DCPEvo]

Thanks for taking us to these amazing places we’ll never be able to get to. I wish these places could keep the cars out of the elements to keep them from further rotting away.

[@antoniodonato954]

Ancora un altro video stupendo sulla cultura automobilistica jdm.. stupende anche le immagini di copertura e le musiche. Grazie da un 40enne appassionato di auto e moto giapponesi da Sempre ❣💥💯

[@dino_dc]

Grazie e mi fanno sempre piacere messaggi del genere 🙏🏻

[@mrmoonlight9829]

Almost 10 years ago went to a Rocky Auto dealership in Nagoya, haven't been back since but definitely want to check out the cafe they run now

[@andreww8941]

What a place!!!!!! Dino you are the absolute man!

[@dino_dc]

🫶🏼

[@Wisey_83]

Man. What a shop. And great video too as always mate.

[@AlteredCarbons]

i don't think i can say i been jaw dropped by a video in a while but this is some jaw dropping content...

[@dino_dc]

Thank you!

[@jeremiahshields7827]

What an amazing place. If I could, I'd love to move there just to apprentice beside that man.

[@blech71]

I absolutely love the subtle culture aspects of Japan that come through the videography of Dino’s vids. So amazing.

[@koolracerguy]

Wow! Another legend from Retro Car Kings!

[@dino_dc]

Indeed 😃

[@SergiosKolios]

Great video, that 240RS!! ❤ Keep up the great work, love the style of the video!

[@Trumpetmac]

Amazing video and awesome builder! When I got back into Datsuns Rocky Auto cars were some of the first I saw with a style I liked 👍

[@nickpappas4133]

Great tour, he certainly is a “hoarder “ but in a good way.

[@angeloah]

I have been thinking about this shop, wondering when you’d pop up and show us around. What a video, second view still dope. Thanks Dino.

[@dino_dc]

More to come!

[@RDSAlphard]

5:53 - That 2000GT has Prius engine & steering? 14:32 - That 2000GT convertible is BMW Z3 base, that explained all the Z3 donor car. 20:20 - The "LFA" seemingly has 350Z rear wheels & rear brakes, the gauge seems like 350Z item too.

[@ring_the_dinkster6921]

learned alot! I have heard the name Watenabe thrown around but I never knew who or what he does. very impressive to say the least. great vid dino

[@dino_dc]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@heinrichwilliams2056]

Amazing! Thanks for the great content Dino

[@marknethanelmichael7516]

Nice video DC ✌🏻. Very amazing Watanabe-san car collections 👌

[@glennmartin2403]

Thanks for this - always been a fan of Rocky Auto so this is fascinating content!

[@dino_dc]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@hwy5830]

Thank you for the tour of JDM legends! Rocky Auto is doing a great job in restoring classics! Just subscribed to your channel! Keep up the great works! Looking forward to more great videos! 👍

[@dino_dc]

Thanks for the sub!

[@damtan6286]

I really wanted for him to build my car but I'm scared to find out about the cost...

[@davidklauer3422]

The guy’s a total badass Wish I could hop over and see him sometime

[@neilowen9468]

Thank you, Dino! Another awesome shop tour! Can’t wait for more. 🙏🤙

[@CorpseExplosion]

Glad to see you back on your punishing release schedule! Lovely editing and drone shots at the start, that's a nice addition.

[@dino_dc]

Much appreciated!

[@sehemunzuri]

Much love for these episodes, You're doing a very great work Dino and the Team!

[@dino_dc]

Thanks a ton!

[@hungryalien]

this is the type of content we love and sets you apart from the rest. thanks dino-san!

[@dino_dc]

🫶🏼

[@leonjacobs7717]

Your videos are therapeutic.

[@dino_dc]

Thank you 🙏🏻

[@leonjacobs7717]

@@dino_dc I'm in shock that u responded to me . 1993 in NYC I was 6 years old. The first car I fell in love with was my dad's 1976 bmw 2002. Lol . Would love to communicate with you more. I love grandprix history n I love JDM. Blessings 🙏

[@JPD617]

Great video! To top it off, smooth soundtrack 🙂.

[@emilianosc335]

Great video again, hopefully you'll get material for a few more videos from it, so many interesting cars....!👍

[@Rev.Happy.]

Did restoration work at a shop here in the us but god would I kill to get into a place that did mostly old jdm cars

[@gafrers]

Fantastic tour and interview. Some great Gems in his collection.

[@keanukealoha1529]

❤❤❤❤❤❤ love hearing someone speak passionately in their language

[@rcc8506]

Awesome video. Thanks

[@fleuriejeanpierre]

The scenery and old skylines in the background looks like a video game bro. So sick.

[@user-zg6sl9oo6d]

Thank you, beautiful content! Kamran

[@mjl.9-19]

Exactly what I wish for... to see these old school JDM stock/restored/remod/survivor cars. My kind of heaven.

[@SnirAharon]

this is really cool. Can't wait to see more about the 3000GT

[@dino_dc]

Coming up soon!

[@FRENETIC11]

22:51 Look at that place, the scenery.. makes you wanna take anything under that roof and just drive.

[@starlxrd868]

XOTWOD

[@andrewcollins7355]

Between there and R31 House I think most of those Autech 32's have been harvested

[@Daniel-RunToRoyal]

I just spit my coffee out!! The LFA has what in it?!?! Jeeeez, this guy is crazy.

[@rjung_ch]

Japan sure has so many gems! Cheers 👍💪✌

[@DanielGarcia-zq5rl]

Dino da GOAT 🐐

[@davidklauer3422]

Getting there Dino 100k next stop Need to catch up with Larry soon

[@GTRJASON77]

@ 2:52 is that a Tommy Kaira bumper behind you 👀 I have a Japan copy for my R32 Thanks for the wicked video!!!

[@dmach83]

Mate thank you for sharing and creating these channel and content ……..

[@dino_dc]

Glad you like them!

[@STARMANjacob]

looking forward to more 3000 GT content 🤞

[@HighOnThunder]

Ferrari cease and decist letter in 3... 2... 1... Can't wait for the replica 2000 GT episode though!

[@codqsKING]

This is what many American resto mod “jdm” shops try so hard to replicate with little success. The Japanese lack of ego + rich experience, passion & knowledge of their own history is unmatched

[@BrentWoodward]

Been waiting for this one! Please do Jun Auto 🙏

[@MikeyGTR]

Lovely content! Any chance we will get an AutoGallery Yokohama episode soon?

[@Cleetores74]

Woah, woah, woah… a 2000gt?!?!!!

[@KamikazeBRockets]

Legend

[@andreleroux484]

Arigato Dino

[@jamesrichards5601]

Super cool place, thanks for sharing Dino! Also 20:10 is that a real LFA chassis or a different chassis with an LFA conversion? :O

[@dino_dc]

LFA!

[@adamgilesconcoursdelegance9302]

So happy you will be covering rocky 2000gt in depth…I’ve been following this car for a while but I don’t read Japanese 🥲👌💪

[@culturallylivinnatives]

🤘🏾⚡️JDM FOREVER

[@sidbobby3233]

😎🙏👊👍✌many thanks frm the 🇬🇧

[@ayiebadrul2468]

I from malaysia.. Nice u video.. Good job.. #SPEEDHUNTER

[@starlxrd868]

you should visit r31 house

[@dino_dc]

You must have seen the story I did on it for Speedhunters!

[@user-gr6bl5ur6w]

What happens with the rest of the cars? I hope he at least parts them out. And arent these r32s rare and he is slaying the remnants of them?

[@takumifujiwara13954]

Wait, so is that a legit LFA? With VR38 swap?

[@dino_dc]

Yep

[@meowtrox1234]

How long does he take to finish a project?

[@dino_dc]

Think it depends on budget too…

[@nicocarloferrer5510]

👍

[@Diffwrecker]

He just buys the Skylines to rob the running gear out of them for the Datsuns 😅

[@fredericoespinoza]

Fair enough you want to take the engine out of the autechs, but letting them rot outside and go into disrepair is so freaking wasteful. Why not strip the engine and what you need, then sell them off or recycle them.? Save space outside and have the engines on a pallet. Am I the only one thinking this way or? I dunno. Rocky auto do amazing work, but man have abit of sympathy.

[@dino_dc]

Pretty sure that’s what he’s doing. If you see a car there it means it still has the engine in it. He used to have 10 times more of those skylines back in the day

[@mindjal19]

😮.

[@robjonson629]

then you go to a meet and realise the mclaren and lambo guys pay less than your "jdm legend"

[@YourMom-yf9uq]

Wow never been this early, looking forward to it!

[@AutaSupercar]