Make: Scion

Year: 2013

Model: FRS

Mileage: 60,000

Horsepower: 230

Backstory:  

James Bennett has a thing for building cars. He’s built everything from a BMW roadster to a Porsche 911. Usually, after he’s done with the build, he’ll sell them and move on to the next project. Bennett got into building cars after joining the local car club of Jade Motorsports, which has turned national. “I just got into working and tinkering on cars,” says Bennett. He joined this car club back in 1997 when there were just a few members, and he’s been with them ever since. He handles their sponsorships and website. He has always been into cars since he came out of the womb.

Before getting his hands on a 2013 Scion FRS, he owned a 2003 Infiniti M45 as his project car. It had JDM parts. He eventually got bored of driving it. It just wasn’t fun to drive anymore. To satisfy his roadster need, Bennett had his sights set on the FRS. When asked why he didn’t get a BRZ instead, he said the BRZ came with extras that he didn’t need. All he needed was the body of the car since he was going to build it up himself. The FRS was also more closely related to the JDM Toyota aspect of things.

When he was getting the FRS, he walked into the dealership and told them he wanted solid white with no bells and whistles. It took about four to five months to find the right one. “Mine is special because it’s not over the top, it’s not wide body. It’s more of a functional update on the car. It’s got unique stuff in it like seats from an Evo, the brakes on it. A buddy of mine had an Evo, that’s where I got the seats.” He also snatched the Evo brake calipers to fit onto his ride as well.

He moved to the Sunshine State from New Jersey. He currently lives in Randall Park along with his wife and baby daughter. He says the Scion will be his last project car for a while until his daughter is grown up and out of school.

For Bennett, cars have brought a lot of opportunity in his life. He used to work for Valvoline and got to travel the country attending the different Hot Import Nights shows over the years. When Scion started their SEMA Tuner Challenge, they invited his club, Jade Motorsports, to be one of the first car clubs to join in. They got to build a Scion xA and bring it to SEMA to compete in a competition with other clubs. They were even flown out to the first Hot Import Nights in Puerto Rico. They put all of their cars on a boat and transported them over to Puerto Rico before flying there themselves. Additionally, the crew was featured in the second The Fast and the Furious movie. He was quite thrilled to be featured as an extra in the movie.

Mods:

Exterior

• C-West Toyota 86 Front Half Spoiler
• C-West Toyota 86 Side Step
• C-West Toyota 86 Rear Half Spoiler
• C-West Neo GT Carbon Wing
• Nissan GTR Kae Accents Painted on Kit/Hood/Wing
• Seibon TA Style Carbon Fiber Hood – Painted
• Spyder Red LED Tail Lights
• 10 Series OEM LED and HID Headlights
• Real Carbon Fiber Side Mirror Caps
• JDM Toyota Front and Rear Badges
• TRD Aero Fender Fins
• JDM Toyota Clear Side Markers
• Beat-Sonic JDM Shark Fin Antenna
• LED Exterior Lighting

Interior

• EvoX Recaro Seats Custom Fit to Planted Technology Seat Bases
• DCT Motorsports Carbon Fiber D Shaped Steering Wheel
• Yospeed Billet Custom Center Console Plaque
• Yospeed Billet Custom Door Sills
• Custom Suede with Red Stitching Shifter Boot
• Custom Suede with Red Stitching E-Brake Boot
• Real Carbon Fiber Gauge Bezel
• Real Carbon Fiber Radio and Dash Panels
• Real Carbon Fiber AC Rings
• Real Carbon Fiber Door Handles
• Real Carbon Fiber Gauge Cover
• Toyota Airbag Emblem
• JDM Toyota Trunk Matt
• LED Lighting

I.C.E.

• Pioneer App Radio4 with Beatsonic Harness and Dash Kit
• Beatsonic Backup Camera

Engine/Drivetrain

• Stage 2 Ecutek Tune with RaceRom by HRI Tuning
• Ecutek Bluetooth Vehicle Interface
• Takeda Stage-2 PRO 5R Intake System
• MXP Stainless Steel Catback Exhaust with Titanium Tips
• MXP Unequal Length Headers
• Motiv Concepts Test Pipe
• Grimspeed 86 Oil Cap
• Grimspeed Stainless Pulley Cover
• TRD Radiator Cap
• TRD Battery Clamp
• Optima Yellow Top Battery
• Titanium Dress Up Bolts Engine Bay Kit
• Modelista Wrinkle Red Engine Cover
• Motul ECO-lite 0W20 Synthetic Motor Oil
• Motul GEAR 300 Oil for Transmission and Differential
• Kics Magnetic Oil Drain Plug
• Project Mu Magnetic Oil Filter
• Gimmick Motorsports Hood Dampers

Street Wheels/Tires

• Advan TCIII 18×9.5 Custom Painted
• Toyo T1 Sport 255/35/18
• Kics R40 Neo Chrome Lugs and Locks

Brakes

• 12.6 Inch Project Mu Club Racer Slotted Brake Rotors Front
• 12.4 Project Mu Club Racer Brake Slotted Rotors Rear
• Brembo 4 Piston EVO X Brake Caliper Custom Painted Teal
• Brembo 2 Piston EVO X Brake Caliper Custom Painted Teal
• Project Mu NS400 Club Racer Brake Pads
• Custom Caliper Mounts to adapt EVOX Calipers
• Stoptech Stainless Steel Brake Lines

Suspension

• Tein Flex Z Coilovers
• GTSPEC Front Strut Tower Brace
• GTSPEC 3 Point Front Strut Tower Support Brace
• GTSPEC Rear Adjustable Camber Arms
• GTSPEC Rear Adjustable Toe Arms
• GTSPEC Rear Trailing Arms
• GTSPEC Rear Subframe Reinforcement Panel
• GTSPEC Front 4 Point Ladder Brace
• GTSPEC Rear Lower T Brace
• Whiteline Adj Rear Sway Bar & Drop Links
• Whiteline Adj Front Sway Bar & Drop Links
• Whiteline Front Gearbox Positive Shift Kit Bushing
• Whiteline Front Steering Rack and Pinion Mount Bushing
• Whiteline Rear Crossmember Mount Bushing Insert

Future Mods:

As for future modifications, he plans on adding an 85 Flex Fuel. He hopes to eventually supercharge it as well.

Catch Bennett and his “Project 86” in the neighborhood. He attends Cars & Coffee Central Florida. His Instagram handle is @jade_86_wbj. Follow his club’s social media on Instagram @jademotorsports. For the Facebook page, visit Facebook.com/jademotorsports or go to the website at www.jademotorsports.com.