If there’s one thing I love more than circuit-driven street cars, it’s street-driven circuit cars. Cars like Yosuke-san’s Ferrari 360 Modena.
I’ve always been captivated by street-driven Porsche Cup cars and machines like Yosuke-san’s Ferrari. Sure, a few creature comfort features are nice in a street car – especially if you often find yourself regularly stuck in traffic – but Yosuke, much like myself, doesn’t subscribe to that mindset.
At first glance, Yosuke-san’s 360 could almost be mistaken for a slightly toned-down version of Ferrari’s Corse Clienti 360 Modena. Surprisingly, though, this chassis began life as a standard road car.
Over almost a decade, Yosuke has crafted his own rendition of a street-driven GTC race car, and wow, does it look the part. Of all the cars I have shot in Japan, this Ferrari is easily a favourite. The sheer number of photos I took is a testament to that.
My story with Yosuke-san’s 360 began a couple of years back, when wandering the streets of Osaka’s Nipponbashi area, I heard what sounded like an F1 car approaching from three blocks away. Of course, it was one of those rare moments I didn’t have my camera handy. But after exchanging contact details with Yosuke, I knew I’d have to return to the Kansai region for a shoot.
Finally, two years later, on a hot summer Osaka night, I met Yosuke-san in the same place where I first saw his car. With the 360’s straight-through Power Craft exhaust, his arrival was far from quiet.
Looking at the car, it’s abundantly clear this isn’t just another Sunday-driven 360. The factory front bumper has been replaced with a GTC-styled version, which does a lot for the look, especially when paired with Challenge Stradale suspension that lowers the car by about an inch.
Yosuke has also swapped the rear tail-light garnish for a carbon fibre variant, aligning it with the 360 GT styling. Topping it all off is an aggressive carbon GT wing, a polarising addition that perfectly ties together Kansai and GT aesthetics.
As we cruised through Osaka, we made several stops, and no matter where we parked, the car drew attention like nothing I’ve shot before. The street presence of this 360 is simply undeniable.
But beyond its styling, one of the best features of Yosuke-san’s 360 is the gated manual transmission nestled in the centre console. While the 360 offered a manual option, Challenge cars only came with the F1 automatic variant. While some Challenge owners have swapped their F1 autos for manual gearboxes, Yosuke had the benefit of starting with one.
Every detail matters: the mirrors have been swapped for CS exclusives, the headlights tinted yellow, front and rear latches replaced with pins, and tow hooks added, all enhancing that track-focused look.
What originally drew me to Yosuke-san’s 360 wasn’t just the circuit style but the wheels. RAYS Volk Racing TE37s have graced nearly every make and model, from Daihatsu kei cars to vintage Datsuns and modern Porsches. Their timeless design never misses the mark. But as the Ferrari 360 enters the realm of classics, seeing a set used this way is refreshing and quintessentially Japanese. Behind the TEs sit massive AP Racing 6-pot calipers, brakes often found on GT cars.
Inside, the racing theme continues. The wheel has been upgraded to a 350mm OMP Velocita Superleggero, but the interior highlight is undoubtedly the Bride seats.
The driver’s side features a Bride carbon/Kevlar Xero seat, while the passenger side boasts a more reserved Bride carbon recliner. The cherry on top is the old school ‘Loop Crazy’ and other Osaka Kanjo Loop-derived stickers, hinting at Yosuke’s driving history.
Leaving the city behind, we hit that Loop. Following Yosuke-san in a chase car was an unforgettable experience. The V8’s roar was reminiscent of early 2000s F1 cars, both in sound and intensity and left my ears ringing long after.
After the run around Osaka, we found ourselves at a bayside parking area, soaking in the sights and sounds of a car that will always hold a special place in my heart.
For many, Yosuke’s modifications might be controversial. But, for me, this 360 encapsulates everything I love about cars – especially those in Japan that look the part and are driven to match.
Alec Pender
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