- DAMD unveiled retro kits for Honda Freed and Stepwgn minivans.
- Reverse restomod look adds vintage lights, grilles, bumpers.
- Optional extras include chrome wheels, roof racks, wood trim.
Update: Following the unveiling of the Freed-based Isolator, DAMD has released its second new Honda offering for the Tokyo Auto Salon, this time based on the Stepwgn. This one’s called the Resonator, and it too draws inspiration from classic American vans. We’ve included all the details in the story below.
Face-swapping kits are becoming a minor obsession in Japan’s tuning scene, giving everyday JDM models a strangely appealing twist. Local company DAMD has just applied the reverse restomod treatment to the Honda Freed and Stepwgn, giving them squared-off faces inspired by the chunky American minivans of the 1980s.
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Starting with the Freed-based kit, it’s already on sale and it’s called the Isolator. While the bulk of the transformation is focused on the front end, the result is striking enough to render the original Honda Freed almost unrecognizable.
If you squint, you might catch a hint of the original Chevrolet Astro or its GMC Safari van siblings from 1985. The Freed’s new headlights, available with optional LED bulbs, are now recessed into a blocky black grille that adds depth and visual weight.
Below that sits a retro-styled bumper with narrow cooling intakes and a protruding chin. To complete the set, a flat, custom hood cover gives the whole front a slab-faced attitude.
Interestingly, DAMD has managed to bolt on the new styling without altering the front fenders or reshaping the original bodywork. The old headlight cutouts are disguised with color-matched inserts, further masked with optional wood-look decals that lean into the retro vibe. Around back, the tail section remains boxy and upright, just as Honda designed it.
More: Mugen Unleashes Aero Fury On Honda Freed Minivan
The Isolator kit is compatible with both the standard Freed Air and the slightly more adventurous Freed Crosstar, which stands out with its extra body cladding. If you’re going for the full look, DAMD also offers a roof rack and beefier tires for the Crosstar version.
A set of new 15-inch steel wheels has been developed to tie everything together with a more utilitarian look.
Mechanically, nothing changes. The Freed’s e:HEV self-charging hybrid setup continues to pair a 1.5-liter petrol engine with two electric motors in either front- or all-wheel-drive layouts. One important note: DAMD’s Isolator kit isn’t compatible with the gasoline-only version of the Freed.
DAMD Isolator
What Does it Cost?
The Damd Isolator will be exhibited at the Tokyo Auto Salon, but the upgrades are already available to order online or at one of the authorized dealerships in Japan.
The unpainted face kit starts at ¥327,800 (equal to around $2,100 at current exchange rates). Options include an LED upgrade for ¥29,700 ($190), a basket-type roof rack for ¥64,900 ($420), wood-style decals for ¥63,800 ($410), and a black bumper sticker for ¥6,380 ($40).
Finally, the 15-inch wheels and tire sets will be released in 2026, and can be optionally combined with Blitz Damper ZZ-R coilovers.
Want A Bigger Mininvan? Try The Resonator
DAMD is best known for its work on small vehicles, but some longtime customers now have families and want something roomier. In response, the tuner has modified the Honda Stepwgn and given it a new name, the Resonator.
DAMD Resonator
As with the Isolator, the design draws inspiration from classic American vans. The updated front end features quad halogen headlights (with LEDs coming later), separate indicators, a much larger grille, a flatter hood cover, and a protruding bumper finished in unpainted plastic.
More: Japan’s Honda Step WGN Transformed Into A Stylish Camper
While the rest of the bodywork remains untouched, the Stepwgn’s appliance-like surfacing and Cadillac-style vertical taillights suit the new retro-inspired front. To push the vintage look further, DAMD will offer woodgrain decals and black stickers that mimic side moldings. Optional extras include the chrome disc wheels shown here, along with amber-colored position lights mounted on the roof.
The kit installs without any cutting or modifications and retains the original Honda emblem, including the ADAS sensors. Nothing changes beneath the surface, so the minivan can still be equipped with either the turbocharged 1.5-liter engine or the 2.0-liter e:HEV hybrid powertrain, both sending power to the front wheels.
The Resonator kit is expected to go on sale in spring 2026, with pricing to be announced later. A demo car will be on display at the Tokyo Auto Salon, but you can also get a closer look in the official video below.