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Kazuhiko “Smokey” Nagata remains connected to Top Secret: the company’s official profile lists him as CEO, and its news page shows activity through September 2026. Public sources establish that much, but do not provide a detailed current update on his private life or day-to-day work.
Nagata founded Top Secret in 1991 after working as a mechanic at Toyota and joining Trust, the company behind GReddy. He became internationally known after an illegal 1998 high-speed run on England’s A1(M), and Top Secret remains an active tuning business.
From Toyota mechanic to Top Secret founder
Nagata has said he worked as a mechanic at Toyota as a teenager before joining Trust. He wanted to focus on top-speed tuning. In an interview with DSPORT, he explained that the name “TOP SECRET” came from doing personal projects after hours at Trust and that it was the obvious name when he was ready to start his own shop.
Top Secret’s official history says Nagata established the company in 1991 after leaving Trust. The available sources support this career outline; they do not substantiate the detailed claims about his upbringing, engineering philosophy, or Toyota test-driver work sometimes repeated online.
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What happened on the A1(M) in 1998?
On November 4, 1998, at about 4 a.m., Nagata attempted to reach 200 mph in a gold Toyota Supra on the A1(M) in England. The run was illegal and dangerous. Top Gear reports a peak of 194 mph and says Nagata was arrested and later banned from driving in the UK for 10 years. Top Secret’s company history gives a logger reading of 317 km/h for the incident; these are source-specific figures, so they should not be treated as identical measurements.
Top Gear’s account describes the A1(M) Supra as RB-engined at the time. The event brought Nagata and Top Secret international attention, but it should be remembered as an illegal public-road incident, not a model for high-speed testing.
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The A1(M) Supra and the later V12 Supra
The gold Supra associated with the 1998 UK run and Nagata’s later V12 Supra were different builds. The later project used a Toyota Century 5.0-litre V12 with twin HKS turbochargers, according to Top Gear. The magazine reported a speed of 358.22 km/h at the Nardò Ring and a later 370 km/h run on the Aqua-Line; DSPORT separately records Nagata recalling a Nardò speed of about 358 km/h. These are reported historical figures, not public-road recommendations.
In a 2020 interview with Top Gear, Nagata also spoke of an ambition to reach 400 km/h in an R35 GT-R. That was an ambition he stated in 2020, not evidence that the target was achieved.
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Is Smokey Nagata still running Top Secret?
Top Secret’s official company profile lists Nagata as CEO. The company’s news page includes announcements and releases through September 29, 2026, evidence that the business remains active. A visitor notice published in 2025 asks visitors not to distract Nagata while he is working, while emphasizing that Top Secret is a professional tuning shop rather than a tourist attraction.
Those sources support saying Nagata remains publicly associated with the company. They do not establish details about his health, family, wealth, private life, or exact daily responsibilities, so claims on those subjects would go beyond the available evidence.
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FAQ
Is Smokey Nagata still alive?
The dossier contains no report of his death. Top Secret’s official profile lists him as CEO, and its 2025 visitor notice refers to him working at the shop. These sources support that he remains connected to the business, but do not provide a comprehensive personal update.
What happened to Smokey Nagata after the A1(M) run?
Top Gear reports that he was arrested and later banned from driving in the UK for 10 years. The incident helped make him and Top Secret known internationally. The company remains active, with announcements published through September 2026.
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- Brand new box
- Real rubber tires.
- Detailed interior, exterior, engine compartment.
- Has opening hood.
- Made of diecast metal with some plastic parts.
Was the A1(M) Supra the V12 Supra?
No. Top Gear describes the gold Supra used for the 1998 A1(M) run as RB-engined at the time. The Toyota Century V12-powered Supra was a separate, later project.
How fast did Smokey Nagata go on the A1(M)?
Top Gear reports a peak of 194 mph. Top Secret’s official history gives a logger reading of 317 km/h. Because these are different source accounts, they should be attributed separately rather than presented as one agreed measurement.
Does Smokey Nagata still run Top Secret?
Top Secret’s official profile lists Nagata as CEO, and the company was still publishing news and product releases in 2026. The public sources do not describe his exact day-to-day role.
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