This Importer Fits JDM Cars With Custom Gameboy Speedometers

Japanese domestic market (JDM) cars are only becoming more popular here in the USA, as more and more of the most desirable models from the past become available to import under the federal government's 25-year import rule. Most of them come with one potentially annoying drawback, though: the lack of a speedometer in miles per hour.

Now, however, one JDM importer has come up with a clever, built-to-order speedo solution — and it involves reusing old Nintendo Gameboys.

Dylan Beckerman is the founder of Granite State Imports, a New Hampshire-based business that specializes in bringing JDM cars to America. He also happens to enjoy DIY projects, so marrying that with his JDM business made perfect sense. Beckerman creates his video game-based speedometers to order, based on what customers want.

"I had seen it done online somewhere about a year ago. There’s been a couple of YouTube tutorials done on it since," he tells Road and Track.

It's simple: the buyer picks their favorite Gameboy shell, and Beckerman does the rest. The final product comes with a micro-USB cable for power, and also shows the direction of travel via integrated GPS. A suction-cup window mount keeps it in place while on the move.

He doesn't take all of the credit for this idea though. "Most notably, WayBeforeTheFame (Nicholas Jiminez) on YouTube is the gentleman who made them popular among the kei car community. I met Nick at the port while picking up imported JDM cars, built a great friendship, and we have both experienced the kei/RHD community in New England and beyond explode over the past few years."

Beckerman sells the Gameboy speedometers for $99 a piece (provided the shell isn't super-rare) and requires at least a two-week lead time. As a bonus, you even get one of these snazzy speedos for free with the purchase of any JDM car from GSI.

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