We all know the amazing muscle cars such as the Mopar Plymouths and Chargers that were dominating the American streets in the '70s. However, the decade was also a true golden age for the Japanese auto industry as they have produced numerous cars that have remained iconic to this day.
From sinuous lines to boxy looks, during those years, you could see some sick cars on Japan's streets. But were they fast? Let's look at the fastest vehicles available on the Japanese market during that decade.
10 Datsun 510 - 100 MPH
The 510 was sold to markets outside of Japan with the name 1600. The car was in production from 1968 to 1973 and it looks simply beautiful. The most powerful version of this Datsun was powered by a 1.8-liter inline four-cylinder that produced a respectable 96 horsepower.
This car throughout the years has become a true icon thanks to its unique boxy look. The Japanese automaker found inspiration by BMW and its new Neue Klasse 1600 when creating the fantastic 510. The Japanese brand understood that in order to find success it had to build a car with great handling that was also very affordable to the public.
9 Isuzu Coupé - 112 MPH
This car is another absolute beauty and it is not a surprise as it was the brainchild of legendary designer Giorgetto Giugiaro. The car was such a success that it was in production, almost unchanged, from 1968 all the way until 1981.
This sports car is one of the first-ever models to also offer a diesel option. The most powerful version was powered by a 2.0-liter that produced 135 horsepower. This car is also the first-ever to have electronic fuel injection, changing forever the automotive industry.
8 Mazda RX-3 - 115 MPH
This car was marketed as the Savanna in Japan and exported with the name RX-3 for international markets. The most powerful trim in Japan was powered by a 1.6-liter inline-four engine that produced 99 horsepower. However, incredibly, the American market got a more powerful engine that produced 125 horsepower.
It is undeniable that the beautiful look of the car combined with its unique rotary engine, which has become the company signature feature, made Mazda a very popular brand around the world. This car is truly stunning. One in excellent conditions can now be worth almost $100,000.
7 Mitsubishi Galant Colt GTO - 115 MPH
This car was launched for the first time at the 1969 Tokyo Motor Show and it was in production until 1977. The name was eventually revived in the 90s for another generation of the GTO. The most powerful version of this rather good-looking car was powered by a 2.0-liter inline-four cylinder that produced 113 horsepower.
This car is considered one of the finest vehicles produced in the 1970s by the Japanese industry. It is quite rare to find a Galant Colt GTO outside of the Japan as the company decided not to export a lot of units abroad.
6 Toyota Celica GT - 115 MPH
It was first introduced in 1970 at the Tokyo Motor Show and it was in production until 1977. The car is referred to as the Japanese Mustang as it has a strikingly similar design to Ford's product. The car was powered by a 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder that produced 115 horsepower.
This car was also used by Toyota in 1973 to win the fourth round of the European Touring Car Championship at the Nürburgring in Germany. This racing version however had a lot more power as it boasted 233 horsepower.
5 Mazda RX-7 - 120 MPH
This car has seen a lot of generations but the first one was introduced in 1978. It was powered by a 1.1-liter rotary engine that produced 100 horsepower. This car was introduced as a successor of the legendary RX-3 which was in production for the majority of the decade.
The Japanese brand created the RX-7 in order to compete especially in the American market with the Porsche 924 and the Datsun 280z. The first version of this car was marketed at a price below $7,000, making it an attractive option for buyers looking for a cheap sports car.
4 Datsun 2000 Fairlady Sports 124 MPH
This cute 2-seater was actually a very fun sports car. It was in production from 1959 to 1970 and it was one of the fastest cars built in Japan. The third and last generation was powered by a mighty 2.0-liter inline-four cylinder engine that produced 148 horsepower.
The car weighed only 950 kg, which combined with that power made it an absolute pleasure to drive. At the time this vehicle was considered an absolute bargain for a sports car as it was inexpensive to buy and to maintain.
3 Datsun 240z - 126 MPH
This model is without a shadow of A doubt the most recognizable and iconic car ever produced by the automaker. It was powered by a 2.4-liter inline-six-cylinder that produced 151 horsepower.
This car is absolutely fantastic to look at. The original name of the car was Fairlady 240z in Japan. However, the company decided to shorten it to 240z for the western markets as that name did not reflect the true spirit of the sports car. From 1971 to 1973, Datsun sold almost 150,000 units in the United States as the car was widely appreciated by the public.
2 Toyota 2000GT - 128 MPH
This could possibly be the most beautiful car designed by Toyota. The 2000GT was in production from 1968 until the end of 1970 and only 351 models were made. The car was powered by a superb 2.3-liter engine that produced 148 horsepower.
The 2000GT was the first-ever supercar produced by the Japanese automaker. It was so beautiful that it also appeared as a James Bond car driven by legendary actor Sean Connery. This car was so fast that to this day is still considered one of the best sports cars ever produced by the Japanese automotive industry.
1 Nissan Skyline GT-R KPGC10 - 130 MPH
This is the start of a dynasty and like its successors, it was absolutely stunning. The iconic boxy look was powered by a 2.0-liter inline-six-cylinder that produced 160 horsepower. The car was first presented in 1969 and it was in production until 1972.
This is one of the rarest cars ever produced by Nissan as only 1,945 units were produced. The Skyline was a true beast as it was very powerful and lightweight which made it incredibly fun to drive. The nickname of the car is 'Hakosuka' which stands for box-shaped Skyline.