The wonderful (and bonkers) world of JDM
Discussion
I was looking at the obscure performance saloons thread, which was started by another PHer and noted that there were quite few Japanese vehicles in the thread.This made me remember my love for the wacky and wonderful world of JDM.
Here's some of my favourites. Feel free to share yours fellow PHers
Toyota Crown Majesta VIP. Looks like an airport taxi,but packs a 6.0 twin-turbo V12 with up to 700hp.0-60 in 4 seconds and 201mph
Mitsubishi Dangan ZZ 4. One of many examples in the Japanese "kei" class of micro cars. The first production engine with 5 valves per cylinder for the 660cc 3 pot turbo. Added bonuses were a 9500rpm redline and a sophisticated 4-wheel drive system that later found its way into the Mitsubishi Evo.
Nissan Stagea Autech 260 RS. A big,slab-sided hearse-like estate......with a 310hp 2.6 turbo engine that could do 13 second quarter miles and 0-60 in 5 seconds.
Mitsubishi Minica. The longest production "kei" car made in one form or another since 1962. This LT25 pickup has a 359cc 3 2 stroke engine.
Here's some of my favourites. Feel free to share yours fellow PHers
Toyota Crown Majesta VIP. Looks like an airport taxi,but packs a 6.0 twin-turbo V12 with up to 700hp.0-60 in 4 seconds and 201mph
Mitsubishi Dangan ZZ 4. One of many examples in the Japanese "kei" class of micro cars. The first production engine with 5 valves per cylinder for the 660cc 3 pot turbo. Added bonuses were a 9500rpm redline and a sophisticated 4-wheel drive system that later found its way into the Mitsubishi Evo.
Nissan Stagea Autech 260 RS. A big,slab-sided hearse-like estate......with a 310hp 2.6 turbo engine that could do 13 second quarter miles and 0-60 in 5 seconds.
Mitsubishi Minica. The longest production "kei" car made in one form or another since 1962. This LT25 pickup has a 359cc 3 2 stroke engine.
But I think the ZZ was the first production "car" with 5 valves per cylinder. 
kapiteinlangzaam said:
jogger1976 said:
Toyota Crown Majesta VIP. Looks like an airport taxi,but packs a 6.0 twin-turbo V12 with up to 700hp.0-60 in 4 seconds and 201mph
Looking through WIKI, I see only mention of V6, V8 or Lexus Hybrid drivetrains... where does the V12TT come from?Edited by jogger1976 on Friday 15th April 21:26
ChocolateFrog said:
themanwithnoname said:
donnydave said:
I have a stagea, sadly not an autech, just a regular old rb25det with a puny 260hp in mine. I took it to spa for a track day 2 weeks ago and it was fantastic and amazingly not the slowest car there - that honour went to a rover 45.
The stagea has an even more unknown competitor - the toyota caldina gt4 which borrows bits from the old 4wd Celica
How about the Toyota Crown Athlete IV as a direct competitorThe stagea has an even more unknown competitor - the toyota caldina gt4 which borrows bits from the old 4wd Celica
Complete with 1JZ-GTE engine!
279 said:
jogger1976 said:
There's some info here. http://fastestlaps.com/models/toyota-crown-majesta... . There are about four V12's with 5.0 and 6.0 litre engines with various outputs. The 700hp version is an exclusive model that was produced for members of the Japanese Royal Family.I believe there were only five made of this particular type ever produced.
Have you got any other sources?Edited by jogger1976 on Friday 15th April 21:26
http://deminicinc.blogspot.co.uk/2009/03/toyota-cr...
Edited by jogger1976 on Sunday 17th April 01:06
themanwithnoname said:
Torque GT are top of the pile for importing from Japan in my opinion. The only reason my car isn't one of theirs it's because I found a Litchfield imported one.
Anyway I digress. No issues assert all getting one legal over here. They're over 10 years old, so a few simple conversions, an MOT and some paperwork will see you right.
The stocking point is A: Finding one. And B:They are a tad bit pricy when they do come up. Less so the zzs at around £35k but a zz-ii will is up well over £100k now. Once in The uk after taxes and duties that's going on 50 or 120k respectively.
Do you know if parts are still pricey and if the lead times for delivery are still long? The only experience I have is from an acquaintance who owned an imported Impreza.Some of the part prices were eye-watering. Lovely car though.Anyway I digress. No issues assert all getting one legal over here. They're over 10 years old, so a few simple conversions, an MOT and some paperwork will see you right.
The stocking point is A: Finding one. And B:They are a tad bit pricy when they do come up. Less so the zzs at around £35k but a zz-ii will is up well over £100k now. Once in The uk after taxes and duties that's going on 50 or 120k respectively.
DoctorX said:
Some interesting stuff on that website. This certainly is bonkers though:
http://www.thecarwarehouse.co.uk/used/mitsubishi/c...
Japanese Cadillac hearse - who would buy this?
http://www.thecarwarehouse.co.uk/used/cadillac/fle...
That place is great.Did anyone notice the NSX? http://www.thecarwarehouse.co.uk/used/mitsubishi/c...
Japanese Cadillac hearse - who would buy this?
http://www.thecarwarehouse.co.uk/used/cadillac/fle...
Edited by DoctorX on Sunday 17th April 19:53
This is my favourite.http://www.thecarwarehouse.co.uk/used/mitsubishi/chariot/mitsubishi-rosa-45-kids-fun-bus-theme-park-nursery-school-bus-thomas-tank/middlesbrough/cleveland/16637258 
loudlashadjuster said:
Grunt Futtock said:
ChocolateFrog said:
It may be my age but performance JDM stuff from 95-05 is the pinnacle in my eyes.
There's a 1JZ powered Silvia on ebay that I'd love to take back to standard aero looking.
Only problem is its being sold in Keighley.
As I'm sure you already know, if it's in Keighley run far far away. It will have been crashed/clocked/have a dangerous fault or any combination of the above.There's a 1JZ powered Silvia on ebay that I'd love to take back to standard aero looking.
Only problem is its being sold in Keighley.
Anyway, I always thought these would be a hoot. Nissan March Super Turbo. FIA homologated, supercharged and turbocharged, 110hp, LSD, ~800kg wet
Nice writeup on Jalopnik. Bonus! Includes Bluebird SSS-R
How about it's equally bonkers mate from Honda? The City Turbo 2 Mugen. The first car that Hirotoshi Honda, who founded Mugen, worked on for the company. 1.2 four-pot turbo, 110HP, 735kg. It even spawned its own one make race series, "The City Turbo Race"
Edited by jogger1976 on Tuesday 19th April 22:49
themanwithnoname said:
MaxA said:
The Japanese do a whole bunch of great stuff: Midnight Racers, Mighty88s, all that weird neon lighting and stance stuff, touge, drifting ... fitting little furry toys in place of the rear wiper so they waggle to and fro ... and some truly excellent engines and cars from Subaru, Honda, Mitsubishi, etc.
Anyway, to answer the OP, the one car I'd really like to have had in Europe was the Forester STi.
What can I say, and not to rub it in (too much), but you are missing out...Anyway, to answer the OP, the one car I'd really like to have had in Europe was the Forester STi.
Plenty of them in the UK now, and I know I am a complete picture w
e, but here's mine (again!) 
I've only ever seen one Forrester STI. All I can remember is thinking, "What's that?" then it took off like a stabbed rat from the lights at Catthorpe Interchange and disappeared onto the M6 never to be seen again.Anyway, here some more goodness.
Honda N Box Slash
[Suzuki Alto Works
The Prince Skyline 2000 GT B, a road going version of one of the most legendary JDM cars, the Skyline 2000 GT
Edited by jogger1976 on Wednesday 20th April 20:12
Edited by jogger1976 on Wednesday 20th April 20:29
hora said:
That Prince Skyline GTB is stunningly sublime looking.
Kind of reminds me of the Alfa Guilia. They don't sound half bad either https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SgTlbCwA34
ajprice said:
Rjbell said:
The new daihatsu copen has a new feature they call d-frame. It's basically like a old Nokia phone where you can change the body panels yourself and customise it. I think we're about to see some crazy st coming out of Japan!
I think these are 'concepts' for now but they have shown coupe and shooting brake versions of the Copen too t coming out of Japan!http://www.autoblog.com/2015/12/29/daihatsu-copen-...
PZR said:
jogger1976 said:
Nissan Fairlady 432Z, which had the Hakosuka S20 engine and was popular with Japanese rozzers
Nitpick: Bottom photo is indeed a 1970 'PS30' Nissan Fairlady Z432 (with the 24 valve, twin cam, triple carbed S20 engine) but the top photo is a late 1971-on 'HS30-H' Fairlady 240ZG (with the 12 valve, single cam, twin Hitachi SU-type carbed L24 engine), a limited production Group 4 homologation special with 'aerodyna' nose and rivetted-on wheel arch 'overfenders', all of which allowed Nissan to use even more extreme body parts on their Group 4 and Group 5 circuit race cars.Several 240ZGs were used by regional Japanese police forces as highway patrol/pursuit cars, and the car in your picture is the lone survivor. It is part of Nissan's 'Heritage Collection' at their Zama production plant.
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