It’s a known fact that we’re not getting any younger. Neither are our vehicles nor the increasing rarity of them. Japanese cars have been a large part of the U.S. market since the 1970s, especially from brands such as Datsun (now part of Nissan), Honda, and Toyota. All of these vehicles from that era are considered collector’s items, and if you have one of them from that time, do not let it go. From the Datsun 240Z of the seventies and the Toyota AE86 of the eighties, we have seen how these Japanese cars are worth a lot of money, are becoming increasingly rare, and are increasingly difficult to find parts for, unless someone decides to remanufacture them.
As of now, there are still many amazing newer Japanese vehicles that are aging like fine wine and are only becoming rarer, due to engine swaps to make it easier to find parts or for long-term reliability, and, more unfortunately, rust. The 1990s and early 2000s were amazing eras to buy sports cars, when manufacturers made vehicles that performed well beyond their years. Finding one of these vehicles that hasn’t been swapped or that has low mileage in these times is very difficult, but if you can, buy it. Here are seven Japanese vehicles that are sure to become collector’s items.
Toyota Celica GT-Four (ST185/ST205)
AWD Rally Heritage At A Reasonable Price
1990 Toyota Celica GT-Four in black Posing outside in front of hillBring a Trailer
Toyota competed heavily in the World Rally Championship (WRC) in the 1990s with the Toyota Celica. Toyota has always been a big part of rally racing, even back in the 1980s with the Toyota AE86. When Toyota introduced the Celica GT-Four in 1990, it completely changed the name of the game. The engine, known as the 3SGTE, was a 2.0-liter turbocharged monster producing 222 horsepower, until 1994, when they revised the 3SGTE to make 255 horsepower and added intercooler sprayers on the homologation models. 1994 was not only a change for the engine, but a change for the Toyota Celica GT-Four body style as well, with a stiffer chassis, bigger brakes, and fixed headlights.
Toyota Celica WRC front driving shotCar & Classic
These Toyota Celicas are the last ones to have all-wheel-drive, turbocharged performance, and a motorsports pedigree. In 1995, Toyota had a disqualification due to a very well-thought-out turbo inlet bypass system for the restrictor that was required by the WRC. Basically, the inlet looked and acted normal at idle (during inspection), but under boost would expand and allow more air in, thus increasing power. A genius idea that unfortunately didn’t work, but created much better practices in the future for WRC. If you think of the prices of vehicles now, these are still very affordable in comparison, especially for a collector vehicle that will only gain value. Most of them generally range in the $30,000 area, even for the homologation vehicles, which only 2500 were made.
Notable Features And Specs
- AWD
- Still relatively affordable
- Genuine rally-bred heritage at your fingertips
Mazda RX-8
Rare Rotary-Powered Four-Door Coupe
2011 Mazda RX-8 front third quarter viewMazda
The Mazda RX-8 launched in 2003 with an all-new redesigned rotary engine, the 13B-MSP Renesis, also a 1.3-liter engine like the previous models, but naturally aspirated instead of Turbocharged. The Renesis was offered in a four-port option that made 191 horsepower and a six-port option that made 238 horsepower. The one-off engine means it’s completely different and rare in comparison to the 13B-REW of the previous rotary-engined vehicles Mazda produced, so the value is increasing. The Mazda RX-8 is also becoming a target for engine swaps, meaning finding these with the rotary engine is going to be increasingly difficult.
Rear 3/4 shot of 2008 Mazda RX-8 in red parkedMazda
The Mazda RX-8, at this time, was the last rotary vehicle to exist on the market, making it very rare and sought after due to this fact. The Mazda RX-8 was bypassed for a very long time due to the fact that rotary engines in general don’t tend to last very long. But with the knowledge we have now (use conventional oil, not synthetic, use top-tier gas, especially Shell V-Power, warm it up like a carbureted vehicle, rev it to at least redline or higher if possible, every time you drive it at least once, and let it cool down like an old turbocharged car, but rev it to 2,000 immediately as you shut it off) the rotary engine has become more appreciated, valued and even more reliable.
Notable Features And Specs
- Rotary Powered
- Can be reliable if properly taken care of
- Four-door and four-seater coupe
Honda Prelude SH (5th Gen)
The Front-Wheel Drive Track-Bred Coupe
A Front Three-Quarter Shot Of A 1997-2000 Honda PreludeHonda
The fifth-gen Honda Prelude has a unique and one-off look that makes it stand out from the other Preludes. Specifically, the Honda Prelude SH model has far more advanced technology for its time. The ATTS (Active Torque Transfer System) is not just as simple as saying it is an LSD (Limited Slip Differential). The ATTS system is a secondary gearbox that attaches separately from the transmission, which helps provide better on-throttle rotation that you generally can’t get with a front-wheel-drive car, even with a one-way LSD. This technology, paired with the H22A 2.2-Liter four-cylinder engine making 200 horsepower, revving to 7500 RPM, and with VTEC, makes this vehicle an amazing driving machine.
2001 Honda Prelude Exterior Front FacsiaBring A Trailer
The fifth-gen Honda Prelude caters to a very specific market of Honda owners and especially if you love racing on track. All the models of the Honda Prelude were unique, some even having four-wheel steer, but the fifth gen is now attracting enthusiasts due to its uniqueness and rarity. This would even be an amazing track vehicle if you could find an SH model for a deal.
Notable Features And Specs
- Amazing track-focused vehicle
- Reliable 2.2-liter engine
- Unique One-Off Honda parts not found on any other Honda model
Subaru SVX
Unique Luxury That Has All-Wheel Drive
1992 Subaru SVX front 3/4 shotBring A Trailer
The Subaru SVX is a coupe designed by the same person who designed the DMC DeLorean, Giorgetto Giugiaro. The engine is a 3.3-liter flat-six boxer making 230 horsepower. It also has a unique window-within-a-window design, so the window that rolls down is separate from the upper glass. Of course, being that it is a Subaru, it does have all-wheel drive as well, making it very capable and a great grand touring car.
1992 Subaru SVX rear 3/4 shotBring A Trailer
The Subaru SVX is a quirky vehicle, especially with its futuristic split window design, having a lot of luxury features, and even having automatic seat belts. Only around 24,000 units of this vehicle were made, and about 14,000 were sold in the US. This was a unique halo car Subaru produced to compete with European luxury vehicles of the 1990s.
Notable Features And Specs
- Quirky luxury by a non-luxury manufacturer
- Designed by the famed DeLorean designer
- Grand touring car with all-wheel drive
Nissan 300ZX (Z32)
Bred To Battle Corvettes
Front shot of 1990 Nissan 300ZX in silver parkedBring A Trailer
The Nissan Z from the get-go was an absolutely amazing machine that changed the world of motorsports and sports cars in general. The Z32 Nissan 300ZX only made the Z car name even better with its 3.0-liter V6 twin-turbo producing 300 horsepower, making it able to compete with Corvettes at the time. Its aggressive styling lets you know that it’s ready for business. Fun fact: the headlights in the 300ZX Z32 were the same headlights used in the Lamborghini Diablo. They even still say Nissan. The Nissan 300ZX also utilizes the HICAS (High Capacity Actively Controlled Steering) system to change how the vehicle handles depending on the speed it was moving at.
Profile shot of 1990 Nissan 300ZX in silver parkedBring A Trailer
The Nissan 300ZX Z32 was definitely part of the 1990s Golden Era for cars, with how affordable sports cars were being made and how immense electronics shaped the future of automobiles in general. The Nissan 300ZX was overshadowed by the Nissan Skyline and Toyota Supra for many years. The 300ZX, at the time, had even more power from the factory than both the Nissan Skyline and Toyota Supra.
Notable Features And Specs
- Offered in a twin-turbo V6
- Futuristic electronics ahead of its time
- Handles well at all speeds
Mitsubishi Galant VR-4
Lancer Evolution Before The Lancer Was Even An Idea
A front 3/4 shot of a green 1991 Mitsubishi Galant VR4.Bring A Trailer
The Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 changed rally racing for Mitsubishi with its first all-wheel-drive win in 1989 in the World Rally Championship. The Galant VR-4 featured the iconic 4G63 2.0-liter Turbo engine, producing 200 horsepower and easily capable of being modified to make more. The all-wheel-drive sedan style of the Galant VR-4 paved the path for the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, which also shared the same engine.
A rear 3/4 view of a green 1991 Mitsubishi Galant VR4.
Bring A Trailer
The Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 looks like normal traffic, which means it is the ultimate sleeper vehicle. You also know that it can compete very well in rally racing if needed. Only about 16,000 units were made of the Galant VR-4, and only about 3,000 of those made it to the US. Since it was a precursor to the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution and those are more popular, these will only continue to rise as a less popular but just as capable Lancer Evolution.
Notable Features And Specs
- Reliable 4G63 2.0-liter turbo engine
- Ultimate sleeper since it looks like normal traffic
- All-wheel-drive and rally racing capable
Lexus SC300/Toyota Soarer
The Toyota Supra James Bond Would Drive
Front 3/4 shot of 1993 Lexus SC300 in gold parkedBring A Trailer
The Toyota Soarer and Lexus SC300 are the same vehicles, but are sold in different markets. If you were lucky enough to get a Soarer, you could get the 2JZ-GTE 3.0-Liter twin-turbo, the same engine in the MK IV Toyota Supra. If you got the Lexus SC300, you could get the 2JZ-GE 3.0-liter naturally aspirated version, which is still amazing.
A side-view shot of a 1991 Toyota Soarer GTBring A Trailer
It’s also very luxurious. The Toyota Soarer/Lexus SC300 is essentially a Toyota Supra in a tuxedo. The stick shift version of these cars is extremely difficult to find and very sought after because it is a luxury vehicle with a manual. And if you do happen upon one, congratulations, you’ve just struck JDM gold!
Notable Features And Specs
- Inline-six twin-turbo 2JZ engine, like the Toyota Supra
- Luxury, while also being able to compete at a racing event
- Grand touring vehicle that can be driven anywhere reliably
Sources: Bring a Trailer, WRC, Classic.com
