JDM is an acronym which stands for Japan Domestic Market auto parts. More and more hot rod customizers are importing JDM cars to soup up engines, turbocharge cylinders, and get more power out of street-ready vehicles. With JDM customization, even workaday road mobiles like the Honda Civic can attain speeds of 170 mph and race through half a mile in 18 seconds.

Japan Domestic Market accessories began infiltrating the U.S. market in the 1980s. Critics of the accessories derided JDM engines as 'rice burners.' Today, no one denigrates JDM. Indeed, the Hollywood blockbuster 'The Fast and The Furious' featured a number of JDM souped-up cars. From racetracks in Pomona to drag strips in Middle America, engineers are all searching for ways to incorporate JDM components into their vehicles.

The poster child of JDM is a Nissan model called the Skyline GT-R. This rocketship on four wheels was featured in a very popular PlayStation 2 game called Gran Turismo 3. Although the Skyline GT-R's exterior isn't particularly noteworthy, the engine contains superchargers which can produce up to 450 horsepower. Other impressive JDM performance vehicles include the Mazda Speed Protege, the Toyota Supra, and the Nissan 240-SX.

Factory manufacturers have tried to copy the customized JDM model. However, these copycat hot rods don't hold a candle to the customized, individually fabricated models that tear up racetracks and drag strips. You can also get JDM accessories such as a sound bar, soft top, entry step, flares, and many other visually stunning and aggressive components.