Toprank Turns 10 — Thank You for the Ride - Nissan Skyline GT-R s and GTR Information

Toprank Motorworks: A Decade of Driven Passion

10 Years of Trust, Community, and JDM Legends

On June 5th, 2015, Yaska Kosuge officially launched Toprank Motorworks in the United States. It began as a vision—a dream to bring the best of Japan’s performance car culture to the U.S. legally, honestly, and with deep respect for the vehicles and the people who love them.

Today, ten years later, Toprank has become more than just a company. It’s a community of enthusiasts, a hub for collectors, and a home for dreamers who waited 25 years to own that one car that made their hearts race.

But none of it would’ve been possible without you.

🧱 Before Toprank: MotoRex, IVI, and the Path to Legal JDM

The Toprank story in the U.S. has roots in the early 2000s, with MotoRex and the push to legalize Nissan Skylines under “Show or Display” exemptions. It was the Wild West of JDM importing—and it laid the foundation.

Sean Morris, who had firsthand experience navigating that world, would go on to establish International Vehicle Importers (IVI)—continuing the mission of bringing over Skylines, Supras, RX-7s, and more under the 25-Year Rule. In 2014, Brian Jannusch joined Sean, helping to expand operations, connect with customers, and represent what responsible importing should look like.

Together, they built trust. One customer at a time. One car at a time.

✈️ 2016: The Partnership That Changed Everything

In 2016, Sean and Brian joined forces with Yaska Kosuge and Toprank Japan, combining decades of knowledge, a global supply network, and an unwavering commitment to doing things right.

It was a turning point—and the start of something bigger.

🏢 From a Hangar to a Full-Fledged Operation

Our first U.S. location was a hangar in Long Beach, where Skylines, RX-7s, and Kei cars were packed together in tight rows—each one carefully selected, legally imported, and prepared for its new home.

Then came Cypress, where we expanded with a proper retail facility, growing our team and connecting face-to-face with buyers who had waited years for their dream car. Many of them didn’t just buy cars—they became friends, ambassadors, and repeat customers.

Today, we’re proud to also operate out of Long Beach again, now with a dedicated workshop capable of everything from compliance work to maintenance, tuning, restoration, and race support.

🙌 Thank You to Our Community

To everyone who trusted us with their dream car—thank you.
To every customer who came back for a second (or eighth) import—thank you.
To the fans who supported us at events, commented on videos, or followed the journey—thank you.
To the mechanics, office staff, photographers, shippers, and shop techs who keep things moving every day—we couldn’t do any of this without you.

Your trust, patience, feedback, and passion shaped Toprank into what it is today. You helped us grow—organically, authentically, and with integrity.

🏁 What We’ve Built Together

Over the past 10 years, we’ve had the privilege of:

Importing thousands of JDM vehicles legally and cleanly
Restoring and maintaining icons like the R32, R33, and R34 GT-R
Building cars that showed up in movies, YouTube channels, racetracks, and garages across the world
Hosting events like R’s Day and participating in JCCS, SEMA, and countless grassroots gatherings

But the real highlight? Seeing your joy behind the wheel.