3. Leaving the Car for a Day and Completion the Next Day

End of Day 1!

Since I had to pick up my daughter from kindergarten, I ended my visit for the day and headed home. However, if time allowed, I honestly wanted to observe more of the process.

I was amazed to learn how meticulously the body cover to protect my beloved car was made, and I wanted to see how it would progress to completion.

When I conveyed this to Mr. Nakagawa, he said:

“Yes, the initial measurement takes about 5 minutes, so some customers want to watch for a while longer afterward. They often express surprise with ‘Wow!’ and ‘I see!’ but we’re just proceeding with our usual process, so I’m not quite sure what surprises them so much… (laughs)”

He added, “We’re about to start the remake, so tomorrow you’ll see a beautifully fitted body cover. Please look forward to it.” When I offered to hand over the Panamera’s keys, he said:

“Oh, you can take the keys with you.”

“Really? Isn’t it customary to leave the car keys in such situations?” I asked, to which he replied:

“Since there are times when contractors and external people come and go, we don’t keep the keys to prevent any unforeseen incidents. Some customers worry that ‘the alarm might go off if the locked car is shaken,’ but we assure them that we won’t move the car at all, so it’s fine.”

I felt that their attention to detail in handling cars exceeded that of the owners themselves. This level of care is reflected in their body cover creation. (Just don’t forget to bring the car keys the next day, though! (laughs)

So, I drove home in the loaner Daihatsu Move, and the next morning at 11 AM, I headed back to Nakabayashi Kogyo, excited to see what had been created.

Finally Completed!

I parked the loaner car in the parking space in front of Nakabayashi Kogyo, opened the door slowly, and…

“Wow, it’s completed!!”

Indeed, the slight tension and sag present in the sample from the previous day were gone, and the fit had improved.

In the previous day’s sample, the wheel area was quite visible, but the completed product covered it well.

Here’s a comparison between the first day’s sample (970 pattern) and the completed product.

To the average person, including myself, the difference might not be noticeable, but Mr. Nakagawa sees it as completely different. Upon closer inspection, the “before” looks a bit tight around the bonnet and bumper, but the “after” has improved in those areas, making the Panamera look more comfortable (laughs).

Additionally, the mirror area is designed with some leeway so that even if the mirrors are accidentally left open when the body cover is put on, it won’t cause any stress.

Sometimes, customers request a tighter fit because they think a snug body cover looks cooler, but Nakabayashi Kogyo, which prioritizes “protecting the car” and functionality, politely declines such requests.

Afterward, I thought I would take this body cover home, but actually…

They will recreate it with the chosen fabric type (I opted for the one with fleece!) and options like fasteners, and send the completed first cover to my home later. (Worth 52,600 yen)

That’s very generous!

If You Want to Protect Your Beloved Car

As mentioned earlier, we already use Nakabayashi Kogyo’s body covers at home, and my husband says:

“Since we started using Nakabayashi Kogyo’s body cover, the car doesn’t get dirty at all. Even during storms like this year’s typhoon, it hasn’t come off, and it’s easy to put on and take off, lightweight, and durable. The frequency of car washes has decreased to one-fifth or one-tenth. I was initially worried about the thin fleece, but there haven’t been any noticeable scratches. It’s well thought out. The cover gets dirty, but without it, all that dirt and dust would be on the car body, and the thought of washing it every time is terrifying. Basically, it’s best not to wash the car. After all, washing is what causes the most scratches.”

Initially, I thought, “Wow, a car body cover costs 40,000 to 50,000 yen! That’s expensive!” But considering the meticulous craftsmanship and the fact that each cover is handmade, 30,000 to 60,000 yen seems… almost too cheap.

After all, a Porsche option that simply embosses the Porsche crest on the front and rear headrests costs 74,000 yen… (laughs)

I couldn’t help but ask Mr. Nakagawa, “Isn’t it too cheap? Maybe you should consider raising the price a bit…”

“We pride ourselves on offering high cost-effectiveness with this quality at this price range. In fact, we haven’t changed the price in five years… However, some people still say it’s expensive. That’s why we want to clearly communicate our process and philosophy so that customers can understand and be satisfied with the price.”

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Currently, Nakabayashi Kogyo, a long-established body cover manufacturer, is experiencing a surge in orders and popularity for bringing in cars, with a waiting period of several months. After observing their meticulous process, I understand why they are so popular.

If you want to keep your beloved car in pristine condition, why not check out Nakabayashi Kogyo’s website?

Thank you, Mr. Nakagawa, for this wonderful experience!