Japan's automotive industry is one of the largest in the world. It is home to many companies manufacturing cars, motorcycles, spare parts, and a lot more. For decades, Japan has been building cheap econoboxes as well as some of the most sought-after cars, they're not scared to try something new and see how it works out. Japan has some of the best, most interesting, and most fun cars on the planet.
On the other hand; some models that are becoming popular now, were looked down upon when they were first released. With a growing market for classic cars, collectors' interests keep on rising and so does the value of these earlier models. Collectors and car enthusiasts prefer stock models though. Who would want to invest big in JDM cars with questionable mods anyway?
10 Nissan 300ZX
The Nissan 300ZX is a sports car that was manufactured for the JDM and sold under the name Fairlady Z in Japan. Featuring a 3.0-liter Twin Turbo V6 engine making 283 horsepower with 378Nm of torque.
This 300ZX moves from 0-100 in 5.9 seconds. With styling on point, its performance also speaks for itself looking at its many awards.
9 Mazda RX-7
The RD Mazda RX-7 uses the somewhat infamous 13B Wankel engine, also known as a rotary. The RX-7 featured the world's first sequential twin-turbocharged setup, which helped the tiny machine produce a rather impressive 237 horsepower.
The aluminum body and front mid-engine layout make this machine very lightweight and well-balanced. If it wasn't for some reliability issues, it would've been the perfect sports car.
8 Honda/Acura NSX
Late Formula One world champion Ayrton Senna helped fine-tune the Honda/Acura NSX. The car was made from aluminum and in the middle sat a 3.0-liter V6 engine producing 270 horsepower and 210lb-ft of torque. Being a Honda, of course, it came with Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control (VTEC).
In 1990, the Car and Driver editors did a comparison test and called the NSX “the first Hero car with impeccable manners.” In 1994, they went on to write that the Car and Driver testers had unanimously voted that the NSX was their top choice for pure driving pleasure.
7 Toyota Supra
First manufactured in 1978, the Toyota Supra was derived from the Toyota Celica, starting out as a trim-level for the Celica model. The most attractive Mk4 Supra features a 3.0-liter twin-turbo I-6 engine that produces 320horsepower and 315 lb-ft of torque.
One of the most sought-after JDM cars, the Supra has been fetching quite impressive sums at auction blocks for some years now. Its value keeps on increasing as car enthusiasts with money are looking for one to add to their collections.
6 Mazda MX-5
The Mazda Miata is the world's best-selling sports car. Its low weight, front-engine, rear-wheel-drive is the perfect recipe for a fun car, which is why we're seeing prices of early examples rising steadily. The first model was fitted with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that produced 116 horsepower and 100 lb-ft of torque. There was also a 1.8-liter with 128 horsepower available.
According to Jeremy Clarkson “The MX-5 is perfect if you want a sports car, nothing on the road will give you better value or so much fun. The only reason I’m giving it five stars is that I can’t give it fourteen”. That speaks volumes of how good this little pocket rocket is, and explains why collectors are currently buying them.
5 Nissan 240SX
Because of fond memories of the original Datsun 240Z, Nissan launched the 240SX in 1989. With a 2.4-liter four-cylinder with 140 horsepower under the hood. It sold way more units in America more than they had anticipated.
Because it's so lightweight combined with rear-wheel-drive and a long wheelbase, the Nissan 240SX is very popular in drifting, which means a lot of them have been crashed. The ones that are still in great condition tend to fetch very decent amounts when they come up for sale.
4 Subaru Impreza 22B
Subaru built the Impreza 22B in 1998 to celebrate their 40th anniversary as well as three consecutive World Rally Championship titles. This wide-body version with a 2.2-liter turbocharged engine that produces 280 horsepower moves from 0-60mph in 5.3 seconds.
The Subaru Impreza 22B was also fitted with 17inch wheels and Bilstein suspension. With only 400 manufactured, the already high price tags will keep on increasing. Ownership of an Impreza 22B will be out of reach for most.
3 Mitsubishi 3000GT
The Mitsubishi 3000GT was powered by a twin-turbo 3.0L V6 engine that produced 320 horsepower. Fitted with electronically controlled suspension, all-wheel-drive, and four-wheel-steering, the 3000GT was very stable and comfortable.
Capable of accelerating from 0 to 60mph in 4.9s very impressive, however, the car may have been too advanced for its time with all the technology that was uncommon. Prone to serious issues, cheap cars are probably best avoided, and the expensive ones are being snatched up by collectors.
2 Toyota Celica GT-Four
Toyota Celica GT-Four was also known as the All Track Turbo for the North American market. The GT-Four series came in three generations; ST165 from 1986-1989, ST185 from 1989-1993, and ST205 from 1994-1999. All GT-Four models came with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder 3S-GTE engine that produced 190 horsepower in earlier models and increased to 252 horsepower in the ST205.
This high-performance version of the Celica is one of the most sought-after Japanese cars out there, and since it was pretty much a rally car for the road, it's easy to see why collectors want them.
1 Mitsubishi Eclipse
The Mitsubishi Eclipse was built alongside the Eagle Talon in a joint venture between Chrysler and Mitsubishi. Belonging to the second generation, it got a redesign in 1995. Its 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine could also be found under the hood of Mitsubishi's Evo.
The Eclipse was also available with all-wheel-drive, giving it plenty of grip whether for racing or just driving in bad weather. This is the Eclipse generation that starred in the original Fast and Furious movie.