Japan plays a significant role in the automotive industry, and it did not start yesterday. There is a big part of the world that believes that Japan produces some of the best cars in the world. High-quality vehicles the world has seen from as early as the 1970s. While the Japanese heritage and style in car production have been imitated by some of the most renowned automotive carmakers in the world, there is the originality that cannot be duplicated. The beauty of the Japanese automotive. The sleek and attractive cars of the 50s, 60s, and 70s.
Some of these classics from the Japanese carmakers are as good as gold, and we would choose them over any muscle car any day. Some are still on our roads today, while others we just wish we could bring them back. Here are 10 Japanese classics we would drive over a muscle car any day.
10 1964 Datsun Roadster
The Datsun Roadster, also known as Datsun Sports, or Datsun Fairlady, has secured an irreplaceable spot in the Japanese Classic car category thanks to its classy and sleek design as well as the attractive sport styling. The first Roadster was introduced to the market in the 1960s.
Datsun produced this Faierlady as a competitor to some of the best European cars in the same class. The SP311, as the Roadster was called in America, made its first debut in 1965, and came with some exciting redesigns that included an independent front suspension and an R16 in-line four 95 horsepower engine. The Datsun Roadster remains to be a lovely classic that any car enthusiast would choose over any muscle car today.
9 1970 Toyota TE27 Corolla
The Toyota TE27 Corolla is a serious must-have for any serious classic car collector. It was compact and agile. It was also a fast vehicle that came with a 1.6L in-line-four engine. The exports and Japanese Domestic Market trims shared the same displacement but had different power outputs.
The JDM Corolla offered 10kW more power than the export model. The Toyota TE27 Corolla established a name for itself all over the world. And it still is a darling to many who know what it could do.
8 Toyota 2000GT
The Toyota 2000GT was the first Japanese supercar, and it changed the global image of both the Japanese and Toyota in the car making industry. Only 351 units were produced in three years.
The 2000gt had an appearance of a Hollywood film car – it was the equivalent of Jaguar E-Pace, though its value was a bit high. Its performance was tamed, but it was good. At least for the era. The Toyota 2000GT was by far the fastest Toyota production vehicle of that time.
7 Datsun 510
The Datsun 510 is a beautiful car and a trendy ride among the American JDM enthusiasts. The original 510 was not a performance car; it was actually a car that was popular among the cash strapped people in the 1960s – a regular cheap compact sedan.
The lightweight body and rear-wheel drive and independent rear suspension transformed the ordinary car into a performance vehicle in the same category as Alfa Romeo Giulia Ti. The base trim had a 1.6L engine that produced 96 horsepower. The performance version of the Datsun 510 had a 1.8L engine with twin-barrel carburetors.
6 Honda Beat
Small size engine cars have enormous benefits for carmakers, especially in japan. One of the main benefits is the money they bring in since they are cheap and easy to maintain. It gets more interesting if it is a miniature roadster. One of those cars is the mid-engine Honda Beat. It is a beautiful car and worth collecting. If you choose to buy one, be sure to inspect it thoroughly, the spare parts are hard to find.
5 1986 Mitsubishi Starion ESI-RI
The Mitsubishi Starion ESI-RI was among the first Japanese cars to integrate electronic fuel injection with a turbocharged system. It featured two variants of narrow and wide-body designs that adhered to the strict Japanese displacement guidelines.
In 1984, the Mitsubishi Starion ESI-RI was badged as the Conquest for participating Dodge and Plymouth Dealerships. With a five-speed manual transmission and 150 horsepower engine, the Starion ESI-RI produced such a thrilling riding experience that shone a spotlight around it – making it one of the most sought after Japanese classics.
4 1971 Toyota Celica RA20
Toyota Celica RA20 is a great example of non-aging car design. Looking at it today, it looks just as sleek as in 1971. And the 1972 model is just an imitation of the original design. From the exterior to the interior, the Toyota Celica RA20 is the perfect display of the contemporary American design.
The 1971 model had a 2T-G 1.6L and 18R 2.0L 4-cylinder units coupled with a five-speed manual transmission. The Celica RA20 is still a great piece that can serve you way better than the traditional American muscle car.
3 Nissan 240Z
The Nissan 240Z was produced in 1969, specifically for the American market. Nissan built this car to compete with Toyota 2000GT, and it did a nice job of doing that. During the first production year, the Nissan 240Z sold 45,000 units thanks to its excellent reliability score.
The car was built with a 2.4L six-cylinder engine that cranked out 161 horsepower. As Nissan continues to manufacture new 240Z models, the 1969 classic is still increasing in value.
2 Mazda 1500/1800 Luce
Mazda entered the American car market in 1970 with the 1500/1800 Luce as their biggest brand. The sedan was not fast nor powerful; its small engine produced only 98 horsepower. What sold the Mazda 1500/1800 Luce is the perfect Italian design. And it was not famous only in America; this was the first Mazda model to receive worldwide popularity.
The elegant, sleek Italian look made people turn a blind eye to its poor performance and slow speed. The 1500/1800 Luce is still one of the best and beautiful Japanese classics in the market today.
1 1976 Toyota Cressida
Toyota Cressida is what is commonly known as Toyota Corona Mark II today. The Cressida was the largest sedan produced by Toyota at this time, and unlike many other sedans of the time, Cressida had a wide range of engines with larger displacement.
The American model was offered with a 2.5L carbureted engine, which was replaced with a fuel-injected engine in 1978. Cressida offered some interesting standard features, which included air conditioning, stereo with amplifier, power steering, among other creative features. The 1976 model Cressida is a true Japanese classic with more to offer than many muscle cars today.
Sources: Auto Express, Hiconsumption, Buzz Drives, Heritage Car Insurance, Motor-Junkie, Hemmings