Fans of Japanese cars consider the 1980s and 1990s to be the golden era for cars from the land of the rising sun. During this time, the Japanese automakers really hit their stride, churning out excellent sports cars, rally homologation specials, and even supercars.
The Japanese economy was also doing great, which meant people had more money burning holes in their pockets. No wonder the car manufacturers built so many special editions that were exclusively available in their home market.
In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the best Japanese cars of the 1980s and 90s. This list is far from exhaustive, though, as there’s so much cool stuff to choose from.
Nissan Skyline GT-R
Godzilla! We just had to start the list with arguably the most iconic JDM cars from the 80s and 90s. The legendary RB26DETT engine powers the Nissan Skyline GT-R. This twin-turbocharged 2.6-liter produced 280 horsepower in stock form, but it can be tuned to make a lot more.
The R32 Skyline dominated racing series in Japan and Australia, and the Aussies even banned it from Bathurst. Prices have skyrocketed these days, but if you have the money to spend, it’s probably worth every cent.
MkIV Toyota Supra
The fourth-gen Toyota Supra is another Japanese car that doesn’t need an introduction. Unlike the Skyline, the Supra was actually available in the States, but it was never a bestseller back then. These days, immaculate examples fetch ridiculous money.
The Mk4 Supra has a 320-horsepower twin-turbo inline-six engine. Even though it’s old, the Supra can still keep up with modern sports cars. In stock form, it’ll reach 60 mph in 4.6 seconds, but it’s capable of going much faster as enthusiasts have squeezed out ridiculous performance figures from the 2JZ unit.
Toyota Soarer
The Toyota Soarer is basically a more luxurious Supra. It’s built on the same platform and shares the same engines – including the 2JZ. Later model Soarers were also available with the 1UZ-FE V8 engine, one of Toyota’s most reliable engines ever, which says a lot.
Strangely, the Soarer isn’t quite as expensive as the Supra, so it’s still possible to find a bargain. You have to be quick, though, as prices are constantly increasing.
Mazda RX-7 Turbo
Mazda played around with the Wankel engine for a few decades, and while they never perfected it, it was still a marvelous piece of engineering. This is especially true in its turbocharged form, found under the hood of the last two RX-7 generations.
The third-gen FD RX-7 is easily the most desirable model, and that’s reflected in the prices. The second-gen, or FC, is becoming more expensive but can still be found for “reasonable” money. While both generations have a 1.3-liter rotary engine, there are some differences under the hood, mainly that the FD has a sequential twin-turbo setup.
AE86 Toyota Corolla
The AE86 Toyota Corolla, commonly referred to as HachiRoku, may just be the definitive JDM car of the 80s. It offers lightweight construction, a front-engine rear-drive layout, and 50/50 weight distribution, and it’s been a favorite among drifters for decades.
The AE86 was never powerful in stock form, as it was powered by a 1.6-liter twin-cam engine with 125 horsepower. However, few cars possess as much potential as this humble Corolla. Good luck finding one for sensible money today, though. Seeing as it was the star of the Initial D anime, the AE86 is now a collectible.
EK9 Honda Civic Type R
Honda made the first Civic Type R in 1997, and if you’re a driving enthusiast, few cars are as good as this. The first CTR is built on the sixth-generation Civic, and it has a B16B naturally aspirated 1.6-liter VTEC engine that redlines at 8,400 rpm and produces 185 horsepower – the highest specific output back then.
The engine wasn’t the only thing differentiating the Type R from the regular Civic. Honda seam-welded the chassis, significantly improving rigidity, and they made it as light as possible. On a tight, twisty road, the Type R will leave much more expensive cars in its dust.
Toyota MR2
Toyota was on a roll in the 80s and 90s, churning out one fantastic driver’s car after the next. The boxy MR2 had the same 1.6-liter engine as the AE86 Corolla in its first iteration. The second generation that arrived in the 1990s had a more powerful 2.0-liter, and there was even a fire-breathing turbo version available.
Sadly, the MR2 was often called a “poor man’s Ferrari.” While it may not have the drama, noise, and power of a Ferrari, it’s way more reliable and still offers a ton of fun.
Nissan 300ZX / Fairlady
Nissan built the 300ZX to be its flagship model, so it was filled with all kinds of fancy futuristic technology from its era, such as four-wheel steering, making it very desirable among JDM fans. However, some of that old tech is prone to cause issues today, so only diehard fans tend to buy a 300ZX, making it much cheaper than the Supra.
The 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine produces 279 horsepower in stock form, but tuners have been able to extract much more. That’s probably the main reason why it’s so popular with Japan’s infamous street racers.
Honda CRX SiR
The Civic-based CRX is one of the most excellent compact sports cars ever, and perhaps the best of them all is the JDM SiR version. While most second-gen CRX cars had one of the single-cam D-series engines, the SiR had the full-fat B-series VTEC twin-cam unit with 160 horsepower.
Another thing that separated the JDM version from export market cars was the optional glass roof. These days, prices for the little CRX have gone a bit nuts, like everything else from this era.
NA Mazda Miata
The original Miata was a total game-changer. This little sports car combined everything that made British sports cars great with the reliability of Japanese cars. The result was an instant icon, and the Miata is now the best-selling two-seater sports car ever.
The first-gen Miata has pop-up headlights, a design feature that was missing on the second-gen car. Under the hood, it came with either a 1.6-liter engine with 116 horsepower or a 1.8-liter engine with 133 horses. Mazda never intended to make the Miata a powerful sports car; it was just meant to put a smile on your face wherever you go.
Mitsubishi Starion
It seems every Japanese carmaker offered some kind of performance model in the 1980s and 90s. Even Mitsubishi has a two-door coupe in those days. The oddly named Starion was built from 1982 to 1989, and it was one of the first turbocharged Japanese cars to feature electronic fuel injection.
For years, the Starion was an underappreciated classic. Today, it’s extremely popular thanks to nostalgia, a turbo engine, rear-wheel drive, and a manual transmission. The Starion is a proper driver’s car.
Toyota Celica GT-Four
Toyota was very successful in the World Rally Championship throughout the 80s and 90s, resulting in the Celica GT-Four homologation special. During that era, the Celica was Toyota’s weapon of choice, and the GT-Four had a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine and AWD.
It was available over three generations, and strangely, prices remained relatively low until recently. Finding a Celica GT-Four for sensible money is still possible, but that will probably not be the case for much longer.
Subaru Impreza 22B STI
Americans didn’t get the Subaru Impreza WRX STI until the bug-eye version arrived in the early 2000s. The Impreza STI has been available on the Japanese market since 1994, and the GC8 generation is often considered the best.
That makes the limited edition Impreza 22B the best of the best. Subaru built the 22B to celebrate its third consecutive WRC victory and 40th anniversary. Whereas the regular Impreza WRX had a 2.0-liter boxer engine, the 22B had a 2.2-liter unit. Exterior-wise, the 22B is wider, more aggressive, and looks almost identical to the rally version that terrorized gravel roads.
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI Tommi Mäkinen Edition
Since we mentioned the Subaru Impreza, we have to include its rallying arch rival too, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI. The Evo VI is another vehicle that wasn’t available to Americans, and it’s arguably the best Lancer Evolution of them all.
The Evo Vi was the last proper lightweight Evo and the first to break Subaru’s winning streak. In December 1999, Mitsubishi released the Tommi Mäkinen Edition, celebrating the Finnish rally driver’s four WRC drivers’ championships.
Honda / Acura NSX
Honda revolutionized the supercar game when they released the NSX. For the first time, a supercar was so easy to drive that anyone could drive it, and as a result, Ferrari had to return to the drawing board with the tail between its legs. The NSX had a naturally aspirated 3.0-liter V6 engine mounted behind the driver, sending all the power to the rear wheels.
Formula One legend Ayrton Senna helped fine-tune the car to ensure it drove like nothing else. Even Gordon Murray, who designed the McLaren F1, said the NSX’s driving dynamics were beyond anything else.
Mitsubishi 3000GT
The Mitsubishi 3000GT was one serious piece of machinery. Mitsubishi built it to be its flagship model, so they crammed it full of tech that didn’t become mainstream until decades later.
All-wheel drive was a given, but all-wheel steering and active aero were next-level features. The 3000GT also had a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine and a 6-speed manual transmission. Prices have remained sensible, but if something breaks, it could cost a small fortune.
Honda S2000
Arriving in 1999, the Honda S2000 just managed to sneak onto this list. The S2K is one of the best sports cars ever made. Its 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine had the highest specific power output of any mass-produced, naturally aspirated car, with about 124 horsepower per liter. It wasn’t beaten until Ferrari brought out the 458 Italia in 2010.
The Honda S2000 isn’t the most comfortable car to drive, but you’ll understand what it’s all about once you take it to the local racetrack.
Toyota Caldina GT-T
This is a weird one. Toyota sold the Caldina in other markets as the Avensis, but no matter what it was called, it was a somewhat dull family car. However, there was also a hot JDM version that practically no one knows about – the Caldina GT-T.
In GT-T spec, the Caldina had an aggressive body kit consisting of front and rear lips, larger side skirts, a rear spoiler, and a hood scoop. However, what made it truly special lurked underneath that scoop. The Caldina GT-T had the same turbocharged 2.0-liter engine as the Celica GT-Four and even inherited the AWD drivetrain. Talk about sleeper car.
Tommykaira ZZ
Most gearheads would never have heard of the Tommykaira ZZ if not for the Gran Turismo video game series. Tommykaira is a Japanese tuning company that has worked its magic on many JDM cars over the years. The ZZ was based on an original design by Tommykaira and Mooncraft’s Takuya Yura.
Surprisingly, Tommykaira didn’t build the ZZ in Japan, opting instead to have it built in Great Britain by Tomita Auto UK from 1996 to 2000. A naturally aspirated Nissan SR20 engine sent 178 horsepower to the Tommykaira ZZ’s rear wheels. Tommykaira only sold around 220 cars.
Nissan Silvia
Like the AE86 Corolla, the Nissan Silvia has achieved cult-like status because of its handling characteristics. Unfortunately, that does mean that the Silvia comes with the infamous “drift tax,” and people have paid ridiculous money for these.
Under the hood, the Silvia has a turbocharged 2.0-liter SR20DET engine that sends 250 wild stallions to the rear wheels. It’s not just a great car to throw sideways into corners, though; it’s a great all-rounder with striking looks.
Nissan Pulsar GTI-R
Another car fitted with the SR20DET engine is the Nissan Pulsar GTI-R. Nissan built the Pulsar GTi-R as a homologation special from 1990 to 1994 so they could compete in the World Rally Championship. It was in direct competition with the Lancia Delta HF Integrale and the Ford Escort Cosworth, and while it was never as good, it wasn’t far behind, either.
The Pulsar GTI-R’s SR20DET engine produced 227 horsepower, and power was sent to all four wheels. Although Nissan designed the Pulsar GTI-R to demolish rally stages, it’s also surprisingly good on the road.
Toyota Century
The Toyota Century is the only road-going Japanese car with a V12 engine. Since its arrival, it has been the favorite vehicle of Japanese politicians, businesspeople, and high-ranking gangsters.
The V12 engine is perfectly balanced, making it the perfect choice for a large luxury sedan if you want to minimize noise and vibrations.
Toyota Chaser X100
The Toyota Chaser has appeared in many variations over the years, and the sportiest versions can be compared to certain German sports sedans. The last two generations of the Chaser, the X90 and X100, also had something special under the hood.
The somewhat unassuming Chaser was packing some serious firepower in the form of the twin-turbocharged 2JZ engine, the same unit that’s also in the fourth-gen Supra. Churning out 276 horsepower in stock form, the Chaser is a Japanese sedan that can be turned into a proper beast with some aftermarket parts.
Mitsubishi FTO
In 1994, Mitsubishi launched the FTO (Fresh Touring Origination), originally intended to be exclusively available on the Japanese domestic market. However, Mitsubishi eventually exported it to some right-hand drive markets due to its popularity.
The FTO had a 2.0-liter MIVEC V6 engine with 168–197 horsepower. While it was available with a manual transmission, it’s more famous for its INVECS-II automatic “tiptronic-style” transmission. Thanks to its sporty design, great engine, innovative gearbox, and excellent driving dynamics, the FTO received the 1994 Car of the Year Japan award.
