Some motor enthusiasts find their greatest pleasures from disassembling an entire car to its shell, then rebuilding it into a different, often times more powerful and capable animal. This tradition led to some of the best innovations and concepts in the car industry. Every day, friends and family meet up in shops and garages and unite to turn some wrenches and work on a project car.
A project car is typically cheap to acquire and has readily available parts. Classic cars from Japan offer great and affordable options as project cars since almost anyone who doesn’t mind oily hands can work on them. Here are 10 of the best classic JDM cars that are easy to turn into project cars.
10 Nissan 240SX
The Nissan 240SX was the poster car for drifting in both Japan and North America after it launched. It rolled off the production line as a sports coupe. Its front engine that drives power to the rear wheels on a lightweight package makes this car an excellent car for gearheads.
Its high tunability, excellent reliability, and affordability make it one of the most attractive options for a project car. Anyone can easily convert a 240SX into a serious drifter, and plenty of mods are easily available.
9 Toyota Corolla AE86
It's forgivable for anyone to think that the Toyota AE86 is just any normal Japanese car, but it’s evolved into a true legend. The car wasn’t meant for fame, but it earned this status. The AE86 came in two versions: the Corolla Levin, and Sprinter Trueno which were a coupe and lift-back.
Getting the right AE86 parts can turn it into one of the best project cars to get. Toyota Engineers put their everything into this car, and it gives back to the owner immensely.
8 Toyota Supra Mk4
The Supra is a powerful, car that stretches the limits of what a car’s tunability is possible. Its seriously overbuilt engine that makes 320 HP is capable of making what modern supercars dream of.
An MK4’s aero characteristics coupled with an excellent power-to-weight ratio make it an incredible beast whenever you tap the gas pedal. The aftermarket has an immense variety of parts to enhance the performance and looks of this Japanese legend into a cool project car.
7 Mitsubishi GTO (3000GT)
The Mitsubishi GTO is either an all-wheel drive or front-wheel driven grand touring automobile. It is immensely fun to drive and stays true to its character as a performance sportscar. This car is popular among fanatics obsessed with going quicker since its platform allows for many mods to enhance performance.
Some people in the community refer to this car as the forgotten supercar because of its adequate 3.0L V6 and ability to negotiate corners accurately.
6 Lexus LS400
Perhaps one of the most reliable cars of its time. You can pick up an old one with a decent maintenance history and chances are everything will be working perfectly. Its robust mechanicals and durability make this car an excellent pick for anyone looking for a project car.
Its 4.0L engine delivers an unexpectedly fast and thrilling drive for this luxury and comfortable sedan. The good thing about an LS400 build is that you can get them for cheap, and there are plenty of configurations available for anyone looking to add a few or multiple tweaks to enhance their car.
5 Second Generation Mazda RX-7
Known as the FC, the RX-7 was powered by a rotary engine (13B) that was either naturally aspirated or turbocharged. The RX-7 was rolled out over three generations, but it’s the second generation that will be more affordable to get than the third.
Some popular mods for this car include an engine swap and a proper sports transmission because of the highly capable chassis. The car can be easily used for drifting, and you can also fit a V8 under the hood to generate bonkers power.
4 J80 Toyota Land Cruiser
A J80 Toyota Land Cruiser is a superbly reliable SUV for great overland fun. It excels off-road owing to its exceptional suspension. The J80 is an excellent slate to build on, as you can increase power in its strong motor and add utility for off-road or even camping.
Its eye-catching shape and tone make it worthy of consideration and are among its best features. But even then, it can outperform more recent cars such as the 2022 Honda CRV in many categories, while being built like a tank.
3 EG Honda Civic
The EG is the fifth generation of Honda Civic and was designed with enhanced dimensions for better aerodynamics than the previous generations. It is the ultimate sports car addition to any collection due to its lightweight of just 2,300 lbs and good power-to-weight ratio thanks to its 170-hp engine.
That power means it completes 0-60 mph in 7 seconds. This low displacement engine proves that 1.6L can also be as capable as bigger counterparts. You also get numerous tuning options to increase the horses and better that sprint time.
2 Datsun 240Z
Working on this beautiful classic is extremely easy. Any gearhead has their heart racing once they spot this gem. Mods can be done from the powertrain to the exterior, and even the small bits and pieces, to turn heads wherever it goes.
Impressive handling will make this car a joy to drive, but modern additions to the suspension could see it get to be a formidable track weapon. Increasing power on this vehicle that weighs just 2,300 lbs. while adding better suspension are just some of the many mods ideas that 240Z fans do to make it lightning fast.
1 First Generation Mazda Miata
A first-generation Mazda Miata is one of the most beloved cars in the tuning world because of how simple it is to work on. You can perform plenty of customizations on this sports coupe depending on your goal, and most of them will be cost and time effective.
Simply use sports-graded air intakes, and you instantly have noticeable power from the little car. Also, there are tons of parts and support from the tuning community for the Miata.