Carlo Figueroa stood in front of the white Honda sports car holding a diecast replica.
It wasn’t a coincidence. Figueroa, 25, of Redlands, California, had come to the LA Auto Show on Saturday, Nov. 22, to see this vehicle.
“Here I’ve got a diecast model of the Honda NSX Type R, my dream car. I will own it one day. This is manifesting it,” he said, explaining that “ever since I was a kid, I just was enamored with the NSX.”
To call Figueroa, who comes to the show every year with his family, just a fan, might not do him justice. He grew up with Hondas, and his dad’s a “huge” Honda and Acura guy. His own set of wheels is a sleek black 2019 Honda Civic Type R, with a California license plate reading, “NSXNEXT.” He was happy to show a reporter some photos on his phone.
The NSX was in the Hall of Sparq, one of several special display areas at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Sparq is a California startup that’s promoting a vehicle diagnostics tool.
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Replica cars from the “Fast and Furious” movie and game franchise were also on display, including a pair of Nissans from “The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift.” Some of the actors connected to the series signed the dash on one: Noel Gugliemi (Hector), Cody Walker, brother of the late Paul Walker (Paul played Brian O’Conner) and Chad Lindberg (Jesse).
Genuine race cars were on display, too, including a 2018 McLaren MCL33.
In another area near the West Entrance, more rarities were on display in Showcase Hall on the fourth day of the show, including some very unique Porsches, Ferraris and even an SUV called the Rezvani Tank.
Near the entrance to Showcase Hall, Daniel Herrera, 41, discussed the name of a red 2015 Lamborghini Huracan with his son, Rogelio, 7, and then moved to look at a 2012 Ferrari 458 Italia. When he was asked by a reporter about his favorite car, Rogelio pointed to the yellow Ferrari.
He liked the color, the seats and the shape, he said.
The Herreras, who live the in Panaorama City neighborhood of Los Angeles, were having a father and son day on one of the elder Herrera’s days off from his job as a mail carrier.
The elder Herrera said he’s probably going to be looking for a new vehicle in the next year to replace the 2006 F-150 that he bought brand new about two decades ago. The replacement likely won’t be a sports car, however.
“I’m more of a truck guy,” he said.
Eric D. Lawrence is the senior car culture reporter at the Detroit Free Press. If you’ve got a tip or suggestion, contact him at elawrence@freepress.com. Become a subscriber. Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters.

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