Over the decades, Japan has produced some of the most well-loved vehicles on Earth, selling tens of millions of cars and birthing nameplates that even the most casual car fan will recognize. They've also produced some of the best cars to modify, which is one reason why project car culture is such a big part of life there. Sadly, many JDM classics are now insanely expensive to buy, as collectors are realizing the value of these cars and are willing to pay massive amounts for them.

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It means buying a Supra or a mint-condition RX-7 is now pretty much out of the question for the average project car buyer. All is not lost though, as there's still plenty of JDM classics out there that won't break the bank and still make amazing project cars. It doesn't matter if it's a slammed sedan build or an off-road minivan, there are cars on the market that can be picked up for peanuts but still look as good as the icons.

10 Honda Civic

The Civic is one of the best-selling hatchbacks ever, sporting a winning combination of reliability, practicality, and build quality. That last one is the main reason it's so popular with modders, as it means the Civic can easily be built on.

The appeal of the Civic stretches right across the modding community, with countless home-built Hondas on the streets. But, there are also projects from wide-body royalty like Kei Miura, the CEO of Pandem.

9 Mazda Miata

Another classic model, the Miata, or MX-5 as it's called in some places, has all the right ingredients to be a great project car. The light body and simple construction make it easy to work on, and it handles brilliantly straight from the factory too.

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Slammed and static builds are common, but there's also plenty of race-spec Miatas, in fact, there are even several Miata-only racing championships around the world. Whether a builder wants function or form, it's hard to go wrong with a Miata.

8 Nissan Cima

A big-body sedan that was only available in Japan, the Cima is very much an underrated model, at least in the US. Many Cimas are now old enough to be imported under the 25-year rule, and they come with a V8 block stock.

That means there's ample opportunity to tune the car for more power, but most owners choose to lower the car in the Japanese "VIP" style. Either way, it's got stereotypical old-school looks, an imposing presence, and best of all it can be picked up for around $10,000 including shipping to the US.

7 Toyota Celica

The Celica is a nameplate with a long and varied story itself, with the Supra originally being a Celica variant. Most older Celicas have now risen in price beyond what the average buyer can afford, but seventh-generation models are still cheap.

They make great-looking modded cars, and there's also a lot of aftermarket parts and kits available, so builders will have plenty of choices. There's been no direct successor to the Celica since production stopped in 2006, so not only is the car cool, it's a symbol of a unique point in Toyota's history.

6 Lexus LS400

Lexus' LS sedans are insanely reliable cars, with reports of older examples happily pushing past half a million miles on the odometer. With reliability like that, it's easy to find a used car in good condition, and right now they're still cheap too.

That bulletproof build quality means more power can be added easily, but it's equally cool to put the car on coil overs and go for the low and slow approach. The interior of these old Lexuses is also very comfortable, which means owners will be able to cruise in style and complete comfort.

5 Honda Accord (CB7)

The humble Honda Accord is probably more associated with being a cheap beater than a project car. But, it turns out that it only takes a few modifications to get an old Accord looking sharp.

They're so popular that there's plenty of used examples about them, so finding one for sale should be as easy as pie. Fourth-generation CB7s are generally dirt cheap, but they also offer that old-school JDM look when modded right. But really, any old Accord can make a great project car.

4 Suzuki Samurai

Suzuki's mini off-roader is loved all over the globe for its all-terrain capabilities and diminutive size, and good reason. Used cars are cheap, they're generally reliable, and they can be fitted with all sorts of aftermarket parts to customize them to their owners' tastes.

That could be anything from fitting a mild lift kit to a full-on rock-crawling conversion, but either way, the Samurai is a good car for the job. For those who prefer their JDM builds to be more at home off tarmac than on it, why not opt for a classic Suzuki.

3 Nissan Gloria (Y33)

The Y33 Gloria is a model from the peak of sedan fever when everyone wanted something with a three-box design and SUVs were just a niche section of the market. It's the tenth generation of the sedan and was produced from 1995-1999.

Like many of Nissan's more obscure models, it was aimed squarely at the Japanese market, and most models were sold there. Engine-wise, most Y33s came with a 2.0L-3.0L V6, but a few versions were sold with the RB25DET that was shared with the R33 Skyline.

2 Subaru Forester

Imprezas are still cool, but given how many modified examples are on the roads, it's hard to make an Impreza build stand out. The solution to that is to buy a Forester, which is just as fun to drive but sports its own retro charm.

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Old Foresters aren't expensive, but it's worth being extra careful to buy a used one in good condition. Thanks to their practical and durable nature, many Foresters will have had a hard life, but there's still plenty in good condition that can be picked up cheap.

1 Mitsubishi Delica

One of the weirder but undoubtedly genius car combinations to come out of Japan was the off-road minivan, specifically the Mitsubishi Delica. It combines the practicality of an MPV with the go-anywhere capability of a lifted SUV, and it's got fanbases everywhere from New Zealand to the UK.

For now, examples of these little vans are still cheap, but it's been hotly tipped as one of the next JDM models that will shoot up in value. So, anyone looking to get their own slice of the overland van life should be quick, before prices begin to skyrocket.

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