Naito Auto Engineering is an almost mythical name in the West, known for its jaw-dropping restoration and customisation of classic cars from European marques with an astonishing level of precision and artistry.
One-Of-One is a new documentary telling the 50-year history of Naito Auto Engineering – founded in the aftermath of WWII by Shinichi Naito, a self-taught mechanic who had worked on Japanese bombers during wartime. After watching American GIs race their imported cars on the airfields, Shinichi opened his own auto shop. When his son, Masao, took over the business, he turned the small mechanic shop into a top-end automotive company whose services are coveted the world over – one able to choose their customers at their own discretion.
Cut to the present, with Masao’s retirement on the horizon, will his sons take his place and carry the business forward?
The documentary is a glimpse behind the scenes of a remarkable company and its secret workshop, of beautiful cars often against incredible backdrops – from the lights of inner city Tokyo, out onto winding mountain passes and the Shuto Expressway. Digital technology plays little role in the engineering here – its a lot of manual tools in what looks like a particularly cramped workshop – but that’s part of the point: its a documentary as much about the family of engineers as it is about what they’re working on.
Directed by Ben Bertucci, it captures the soul of Naito Auto Engineering and is a wonderful way to spend 90 minutes.
One of One premieres on Amazon Prime, Apple TV+, Google Play, and Vudu on 1 September 2025.
A coffee table book is also on the way, delving deeper into unseen moments in and out of the workshop, offering a richer, more intimate look into the Naito family across 250-pages.
AloJapan.com