Uploaded August 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
For the first time ever, cameras have been allowed inside the legendary Watanabe Wheels factory in Japan, a place that has remained completely undocumented until now. With a 2 year waitlist and a reputation as one of the most iconic wheel makers in the world, Watanabe has built a legacy of hand crafted perfection. Every year, just 9,000 wheels are cast, shaped, and finished entirely by hand, continuing a tradition that has never been compromised by mass production. In this rare look behind closed doors, Larry Chen reveals the secret process that makes Watanabe wheels so coveted, from the molten metal pours to the meticulous finishing touches, and why enthusiasts around the world are willing to wait years for a single set.
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For the first time ever, cameras have been allowed inside the legendary Watanabe Wheels factory in Japan, a place that has remained completely undocumented until now. With a 2 year waitlist and a reputation as one of the most iconic wheel makers in the world, Watanabe has built a legacy of hand crafted perfection. Every year, just 9,000 wheels are cast, shaped, and finished entirely by hand, continuing a tradition that has never been compromised by mass production. In this rare look behind closed doors, Larry Chen reveals the secret process that makes Watanabe wheels so coveted, from the molten metal pours to the meticulous finishing touches, and why enthusiasts around the world are willing to wait years for a single set.
Presented by Xpel: xpel.com - Use code HAGERTY20 for 20% off Car care
Sell your car on Hagerty Marketplace: hagerty.sjv.io/dOVdmM
-It's free to auction your car
-Sellers keep 100% of the sale price
-Dedicated support from Hagerty before, during, and after your auction
-We respond quickly to all new vehicle submissions
Subscribe to our channel and turn on notifications! bit.ly/HagertyYouTube
Visit our website for an insurance quote, to join Hagerty Drivers Club, and for daily automotive news, cars stories, reviews, and opinion: hagerty.com
Stay up to date by signing up for our email newsletters here: hagerty.com/media/newsletter
Follow us on social media:
Facebook | facebook.com/Hagerty
Instagram | instagram.com/Hagerty
Twitter | twitter.com/Hagerty
If you love cars, you belong with us. Hagerty Drivers Club is the world’s largest community for automotive enthusiasts. Members enjoy valuable automotive discounts, exclusive events and experiences, roadside service created specifically for collector vehicles, and a subscription to the bimonthly Hagerty Drivers Club magazine. Join Hagerty Drivers Club here: hagerty.com/drivers-club
Like what you see? Watch our other series including:
Redline Rebuilds | Time-lapse engine rebuilds from start to finish bit.ly/RedlineRebuild
Barn Find Hunter | Tom Cotter searches the country for abandoned cars bit.ly/BarnFIndHunter
Jason Cammisa on the Icons | The definitive car review
bit.ly/JasonCammisaICONS
Revelations | Untold Stories About Automotive Legends with Jason Cammisa
bit.ly/JasonCammisaRevelations
The Driver's Seat with Henry Catchpole
bit.ly/HenryCatchpole
Contact us:
Suggestions and feedback - videoquestions@hagerty.com
Press inquiries - press@hagerty.com
Partnership requests - partnerships@hagerty.com
