Beginning in the late 1960s, Japanese car brands have slowly made a name for themselves as unique, stylish, and powerful. Starting with Honda in the late 1960s, the S600, while not specifically a sports car, was sporty enough to get the public excited for sleeker cars with more under the hood.
Likewise, Toyota began developing branded sports cars in 1967. The iconic 2000GT paved the way for a slew of incredible vehicles that took over roads and tracks worldwide. Each company has a legacy that it upholds today as they dedicate resources to produce ever more incredible sports cars. We can't wait to see what each makes next.
10 Honda S800
The Honda built off the success of the S600. While the S600 wasn't precisely a sports car, it fueled the desire to build a dedicated sports car for the Honda brand, and in 1965 what the world got was the S800.
The S800 featured a 791cc inline-four that could put down 70 horsepower. Despite the relatively small horsepower rating, the S800 was Honda's first 100 MPH car. The smaller engine also did wonders for the gas mileage typically not seen in sports cars, even for the 1960s at 35 MPG!
9 Toyota 2000GT
To kick things off for Toyota, the JDM company developed the 2000GT in partnership with Yamaha. This collaboration worked out quite well in Toyota's favor, as the 2000GT made its first appearance in 1965 to an eager public.
The Toyota 2000GT didn't hit production until 1967. When it finally hit the streets, it did so with a massive (for the time) 2.0L inline-six. Though not as large as some crazy V8s found in American muscle cars, the inline-six was good for 148 horsepower and a top speed of 130 MPH.
8 Honda CRX Si
Honda's CRX gets a lot of hate, but the upgraded Si is worth a second look. First produced in 1985, the CRX Si is a perfect example of what Honda does to their basic economy cars. It was a small, sporty two-seater with a front-wheel drive set up with a solid 27 MPG rating.
For the Honda CRX Si, a 1.5L direct-injection four-cylinder engine was used. It made around 105 horsepower, but the U.S. version saw the significantly weaker 93 horsepower version. It wasn't mind-blowing fast but could still put on a great show on the road with a top speed of 112 MPH.
7 Toyota Supra
When looking at a list of iconic JDM sports cars, the Supra is one of the coolest. It was so cool that Toyota had to bring it back! Toyota first used the Supra name back in 1978. Over the decades, they slowly upgraded to the twin-turbo version, which is absolutely amazing.
The Toyota Supra Twin Turbo could pump out an astounding 320 horsepower to the rear wheels. Though the speed was limited to only 155 MPH, everyone knows it can go much faster. The modern version puts out 382 horsepower from a BMW engine. To purists' chagrin, it still is a fantastic vehicle.
6 Honda Civic Del Sol
Honda does tiny two-seaters well. That includes the Civic Del Sol, which was a super-light, two-seat Targa top convertible. And by super-light, we mean 2,300 lbs light. Just like every other Civic, the Del Sol is front-wheel drive and comes with a five-speed manual transmission.
The Honda Civic Del Sol's VTEC engine was good for 160 horsepower. At that rating, the Del Sol achieved a greater horsepower per cylinder ratio than the Mustang GT 5.0. Take that, muscle cars! This Civic knew how to play, and it's a shame the trim isn't offered today.
5 Toyota MR2
A direct competitor to the MX-5 came out of the mid-80s. That competitor is the Toyota MR2. The mid-engine, rear-wheel car first appeared in 1984. The MR2 continued a legacy of fantastic Toyota sports cars that stretched well into the new millennium.
Before the not-as-good Spyder, the MR2 had a variety of engines, from a 200 horsepower 2.0L four-cylinder to a turbocharged version not available in the U.S that could push 240 horsepower. The MR2 is a small two-seater, and like the MX-5 Miata, carved out a space in gearheads' hearts worldwide.
4 Honda NSX
Perhaps the most excellent JDM car to ever exist is the Honda NSX first-generation. It set the stage for great cars to come from Japan. Branded as an Acura in North America, the NSX did see several high-performance variants available only in Japan, but many of these have since been imported to the U.S.
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The Honda NSX inspired Gordon Murray to produce the F1 supercar. One of the most fantastic JDM cars ever made sported a 290 horsepower V6 engine. Further, the NSX enjoyed a successful motorsport career and inspired a modern second-gen slated to be discontinued.
3 Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD
Toyota continued to make successful sports cars through the 1990s, including the Celica Turbo 4WD. As the name suggests, the Celica 4WD was indeed a four-wheel drive car, which is virtually unheard of, even today!
The Celica Turbo 4WD was heavily influenced by rally racing and quickly became one of Toyota's most successful WRC cars throughout the 90s. It featured a 2.0L turbocharged engine that produces 200 horsepower and 200 lb-ft of torque. Also, the Celica Turbo 4WD had a five-speed manual transmission for genuine sports car fun.
2 Honda Civic Type-R
Toyota created the peak of turbocharged four-cylinder hatchback cars with the Civic Type-R. It takes the title "hot hatch" to the extreme, and, more impressive still, it is a front-wheel drive car.
The peak comes in the form of a 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder engine that pumps out an impressive 306 horsepower. The Type-R also set the Nürburgring record for FWD cars in April 2017. Since then, the record has been broken, but the 2022 has the goal of completing a sub 7:40 lap.
1 Toyota GR 86/ Supra/ Yaris/ Camry
Not to be outdone, Toyota ramped up investing in their Gazoo Racing department. They have taken the time to upgrade several of Toyota's bland vehicles and even sports cars specifically for the racetrack. It is quickly becoming what STI is to Subaru, a performance-minded powerhouse.
The models that sport the GR treatment include the boring Camry and Yaris, as well as the 86 and Supra. Each of these upgraded sports cars features power upgrades, track-inspired suspension upgrades, and naturally, GR badging everywhere imaginable. Regardless, the GR treatment proves that sports cars are alive and well. The future looks bright!