As Savant Young carefully wipes down his charcoal gray 1973 Mazda RX-3 inside the Vintage Japanese Motor Union clubhouse, he pauses to apologize for being so focused on his car. “It gets so dusty in here,” he explains, gesturing around the space that’s situated in a mural-lined industrial pocket of Boyle Heights. Young smooths a microfiber cloth across the hood, then leans in closely to inspect it. His meticulous attention to detail isn’t just about presentation. It reflects a deep, lifelong passion for cars.
“From the time I was 5, every Christmas I’d get racetrack sets and RC cars,” says Young, wearing a B-Sedan baseball cap. “It’s always been cars in my life.”
Though toys lit his spark, it was his uncles’ street-racing days, and the Japanese cars they drove, that ultimately shaped his taste. The RX-3 he’s polishing now, once featured on the TV series “Jay Leno’s Garage,” isn’t just a vintage gem. It’s the same model owned by one of his uncles, and the first one that caught his ear. “I liked it because it sounded racy,” he says.
What began as a childhood fascination eventually revved up into something much more. Young, 49, is the co-founder of Vintage Japanese Motor Union, a thriving community of car enthusiasts, dedicated to preserving and celebrating pre-1975 smog-exempt cars. Gatherings often draw hundreds of vintage cars that line the block like a retro film set. The VJMU clubhouse, a car lover’s paradise that blends a vintage aesthetic with the hands-on feel of a working auto shop, welcomes in anyone wanting to relax and hang out with other car folks.
Exposed brick walls are decorated with photos and retro posters of vintage cars and racetracks, as well as street signs, racing suits and brand memorabilia, from Michelin to Mazda. A miniature Goodyear blimp hangs from a steel beam. Car parts are cleverly woven into the decor, with vintage grills and steering wheels displayed as industrial artwork, while stacked tires serve as the base for glass-top tables…