Ryota ‘‘crashking’’ yuasa.

Imagine selling your beloved drift car, exporting it out of the country, and never expecting to see it again. Then, two decades later, discovering it has been resurrected on the other side of the world. Not in the U.S., but on the small island of Ireland..

This is exactly what happened to Yuasa-san and his iconic Toyota AE86 sedan. The car made its debut at the Tokyo Auto Salon, in collaboration with Bride and BN Sports.

Yuasa-san showcased drifting skills in the D1GP series. His hard-charging style earned him the nickname "Crash King" because of how often he tore apart his BN Sports body kit during competitions.

After Yuasa-san sold the car, it ended up in Ireland, where it continued its life as a drift car for a few years before being totaled in a crash. The once-legendary AE86 was left abandoned in a backyard, seemingly forgotten.

That is, until Paddy stumbled upon the remains of this iconic drift car and decided to bring it back to life. While the car's shell was too damaged to ever see the road again, many of the original parts were salvaged. By 2021, the car was "finished" and restored to its former glory days.

Thanks to the internet and the help of Neil Sheehan, also known as Juiceboxforyou, a well-known AE86 enthusiast and YouTuber, Mr. Yuasa found out that his car had been revived. The two planned a reunion for this year's edition of the event.

And what a reunion it was! Yuasa-san was welcomed like an absolute hero, spending the day signing autographs and posing for photos with fellow car enthusiasts and fans.

The most emotional moment came when Yuasa-san signed the inside of the trunk lid of his old car just as he had done before selling it all those years ago.

Though Yuasa-san has since traded drifting for sailing, his passion for cars remains strong. It was a special moment to see him reunited with his old drift car, reminding everyone at the event of the legacy of the AE86 and its lasting impact on the global car culture.