The 1980s saw the birth of some of the most desirable Japanese sports cars. From the humble, but ground-breaking, Mazda Miata NA to the dominating Nissan Skyline GTR-R32, Japan really started to come into its own during this decade. Often balancing technological advancements with legendarily reliable powertrains and benefitting from an economic boom, Japanese performance cars of this era are fast-appreciating modern classics.
However, there are still some performance bargains to be had even today. Whether the cars on this list weren't taken to at the time of launch, or whether they haven't been appreciated by people, these Japanese performance cars are available for next to nothing in comparison to the most revered cars of the same era.
10 Mazda RX-7 FB ($8,000)
The first generation of the Mazda RX-7 was actually released in the 1978, but there were many updates to the car in the '80s, and production of this generation lasted until 1985. Interestingly, the first generation never receives the same accolades as the later RX-7 generations, especially the JDM-classic third generation. The FB featured Mazda's revolutionary rotary engine (in either 1.1 or 1.3-liter form) and showed how fun a rotary car could be, especially with 50/50 weight distribution and a lightweight driving feel.
As the FB is so underrated, the price to buy one is cheap. As the later generations of the RX-7 have long been lusted over by gearheads, the FB has been forgotten and left behind. As such, for $8,000, enthusiasts can enter the RX-7 market cheaply, assured that the car is a fantastic motor that can challenge sports cars like the Porsche 924.
9 Toyota Supra A70 ($18,000)
The Toyota Supra A70 has also been a bit of an underrated car in the Supra lineup. When comparing it to the iconic MkIV and MkV editions of the car, it is easy to see how the MkIII (A70) has been overshadowed. The first editions of the A70 launched in 1986 came with a naturally aspirated engine that produced 200 bhp, but then in 1987, the addition of a turbocharger boosted power to 232 bhp. Both figures were impressive, but the A70 was heavy at 3,792 lb (for the automatic version), affecting its genuine status as a sports car.
While it may not have been as iconic as the later generations, the A70 is still a cool JDM classic. Paying around $18,000 for one of these Supras is a great price considering the nameplate and the usual Toyota build-quality that makes this a usual modern classic.
8 Nissan 300ZX Z31 ($13,000)
While the Nissan 300ZX Z31 has often been considered the weak relative of the Z33 350Z, it is actually a formidable car. Many didn't like the appearance of the car, with the sharp looks rarely winning over any enthusiasts. The car looked like it was a long way from the stunning 240Z. The Nissan 300ZX Z31 proved that looks weren't everything with a powerful yet refined V6 engine that produced 205 bhp.
Despite not being the most loved Nissan, the 300ZX Z31 is a capable sports car, and despite being overshadowed by other sports cars of the period, we think it is still worth owning one. Not only are they reasonably cheap, costing around $13,000, but the car also is fun to drive and the styling now has a retro charm to it.
7 Datsun 280ZX Turbo ($16,600)
The Turbo Datsun 280ZX was released in 1981, updating the beloved Datsun Z line with more luxury and power. The 280ZX Turbo is reliable and the 180 bhp produced by the engine was decent, and the addition of the 2.8-liter was a nice improvement over the 2.0-liter one.
While some consider that Datsun 280ZX Turbo to be more of a grand tourer, with its increased size, weight, and luxury features, it is still a good performance car thanks to a top speed of 130 mph. The car may not be the most loved Datsun, and while it may not be catered towards the gearhead, we think that $16,600 for a classic car that definitely packs a punch is worthwhile.
6 Toyota MR2 W20 ($15,000)
The W20 Toyota MR2 came right at the end of the 1980s in 1989. It was pushing into the '90s in terms of its mature styling and more refinement than the previous W10. The standard MR2 in North America came with a 2.2-liter 5S-FE engine which produced 130 bhp which was more than that of the W10 model. Sadly though, the handling wasn't as on point with the W20, and there were issues with snap oversteer in early examples.
As such, the W20 never received the same cult followings as the original MR2 did. There is interest growing toward the car, but not to the same level. Later models in the '90s fixed problems with the handling, but the early '89 models are much cheaper. As such, an average price is around $15,000, which is brilliant considering that many believe that there will be increased interest in the W20 models in the coming years.
5 Honda CRX ($10,000)
The Mk2 Honda CRX, known as the SiR generation of the car, was released in 1987. It received many updates from the original CRX, including extracting 130 bhp from the 1.6-liter 16V engine (which could be tuned nicely too). The car was definitely a hot hatch and it appealed to consumers because of its neat handling. However, it never fully took off with enthusiasts because driving it in a straight line wasn't the easiest thanks to its lightweight construction.
However, despite there being problems with the car, the CRX was good fun and owners can use it on the daily too. Prospective buyers can buy one for around the $10,000 asking price which is fair considering the fun package that the CRX comes with. Although, potential buyers should look out for rust.
4 Mitsubishi Starion ($9,200)
The Mitsubishi Starion was introduced in 1982, and the Starion was the only RWD sports car Mitsubishi ever produced. Coming with a turbocharged engine, and depending on the model choice, bhp was between 150-197. Also capable of 137 mph at top speed, this car was impressive on the track too.
Considering how reliable the Starion is, the $9,200 average price is considerably low. Later (widebody) models are becoming more desirable too, so it may not be long before the other models also increase in price. We would definitely recommend buying one for its cool status and history in the JDM markets.
3 Honda Prelude ($7,100)
The Honda Prelude in its third generation was released in 1987, coming to the North American markets in 1988. It can be considered as being ahead of its time as it was the first four-wheel steering system available in a mass-production vehicle, and also inspired the ground-breaking Honda NSX which was released in 1990. Also, its drag coefficient is 0.34, which was the same as the Ferrari F40.
Certainly, the car was fantastic, but power takes time to build up and the brakes require a lot of work sometimes, which isn't great for inexperienced drivers. Still, the Prelude is an absolutely outstanding vehicle that, for $7,100, is incredibly underpriced for such a well-engineered car.
2 Nissan S12 Silvia ($11,000)
The North American market received the S12 Silvia in 1984 as an entry-level sports car. The hatchback version came with a turbocharged engine but was discontinued in the US and was replaced with the same V6 engine used in the non-turbo Nissan 300ZX. Producing 165 bhp, the S12 Silvia was a decent car but it remains to be forgotten by many enthusiasts.
Perhaps because there were so few to be sold in the US this has affected the interest and collectibility of the S12 Silvia. Being so rare, there isn't a lot from the '80s on US roads, but those that are left are available for around $11,000.
1 Nissan Skyline R31-R ($12,500)
The Nissan Skyline R31-R was initially only available for the Japanese, Australian, and South African markets, but is now importable into the US. The car was technologically advanced, coming with the new RB30E 2.0-liter turbo-engine producing 207 bhp. It certainly was powerful, and there were turbo versions available too. It was the first Skyline to be offered with AWD and it made use of HICAS (High Capacity Active Steering), which was later used in the Nissan 300ZX Z32.
Quite rare in the US, the Skyline R31-R isn't always an easy buy and a fair bit of searching will probably be needed. Examples like this Nissan Skyline Impul R31-R are a great bargain as it costs $12,500, and only 300 of this version were ever made. Export fees may be high, but the car is great in terms of handling and power, and enthusiasts wouldn't want to miss out on such a good deal.