Liberty Walk (LBWK) Explained: The Story and the Diecast to Collect
Who Wataru Kato and Liberty Walk are, what makes an LB-WORKS car, and the Mini GT and Hot Wheels LBWK models collectors chase.
Written by
Rarewaalt Team
Reading time
3 min
Updated
5 Oct 2026
Few names have changed modern car culture as much as Liberty Walk. Its bolt-on widebody kits — fender flares fixed with exposed rivets, cars slammed to the ground — turned supercars into street sculpture and inspired a whole generation of 1:64 collectors. On diecast boxes you will see it written as LBWK, LB-WORKS or LB-Silhouette WORKS.
Who is Liberty Walk?
Liberty Walk is a Japanese tuning company founded in 1993 by Wataru Kato, based in Aichi Prefecture near Nagoya. It began as a small car shop before Kato's widebody builds made it world-famous. Kato himself, with his trademark flat cap and moustache, has become as recognisable as the cars.
What makes an LB car instantly recognisable:
- Cut-and-bolt fender flares — the original fenders are cut and wide flares are bolted on, with the rivets left on show.
- Extreme stance — air suspension and deep-dish wheels push the car almost to the ground.
- Big wings and ducktails borrowed from racing.
- No car is too precious — LB famously cuts into Lamborghinis, Ferraris and McLarens that most owners would never touch.
LB-WORKS vs LB-Silhouette WORKS
| Line | What it is | Look |
|---|---|---|
| LB-WORKS | The core widebody kits for road cars | Riveted flares, low stance, wing |
| LB-Silhouette WORKS | Kits inspired by 1970s–80s Japanese "Super Silhouette" racing | Long noses, huge wings, race-car bodywork |
LBWK in 1:64: what to collect
Mini GT
Mini GT's LBWK line is one of the reasons the brand took off. Expect true-to-scale bodies with separate fender flares, rubber tyres and detailed liveries, on cars such as the Nissan GT-R (R35) and Lamborghini builds, plus LB-Silhouette racers. Many releases come in LHD and RHD versions, and chase variants are made in small numbers. Browse Mini GT on Rarewaalt.
Hot Wheels
Hot Wheels has licensed a run of Liberty Walk castings, mostly in its premium lines:
| Casting | First released |
|---|---|
| LB-WORKS Lamborghini Huracán Coupé | 2021 |
| LB-Silhouette WORKS GT Nissan 35GT-RR Ver.2 | 2021 |
| LB-ER34 Super Silhouette Nissan Skyline | 2022 |
| LB Super Silhouette Nissan Silvia (S15) | 2022 |
| Nissan Skyline 2000GT-R LBWK | 2022 |
| LB-WORKS McLaren 720S | 2025 |
The Nissan Skyline 2000GT-R LBWK is a favourite — a classic "Kenmeri" Skyline given the Liberty Walk treatment. See Hot Wheels on Rarewaalt.
How to spot a genuine LBWK release
- 1Official licence — genuine releases carry Liberty Walk or LB-WORKS branding on the box or card.
- 2Separate flare detail — premium models show the riveted flares as distinct parts or sharp printing, not a blurred moulding.
- 3Correct wheels and stance — compare with official photos; wrong wheels are a common sign of a custom or swap.
Read our full fake and reseal checklist before buying rare chases.
Frequently asked questions
What does LBWK stand for?
LBWK is short for Liberty Walk, often written as LB-WORKS on its body kits and licensed models.
Who founded Liberty Walk?
Wataru Kato founded Liberty Walk in Japan in 1993.
Which diecast brands make LBWK models?
Mini GT has the largest licensed LBWK range in 1:64, and Hot Wheels has released several LB-WORKS and LB-Silhouette WORKS castings since 2021.
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