What mass produced Jap cars will become desired classics?
Discussion
Datsun/Nissan Z cars have to be there. I think the likes of 240/60/80 ZX are already classics. Certainly rare.
Others woul include 1970s Colts like the Sapporo and Galant.
Daihatsu Charade Turbo perhaps? Mazda 323 Turbo? Certainly RX 7s.
Of the present crop of everyday Jap cars, I can see the MPS engined Mazdas being there RX8, Lexus LS and some Subaru. For rarilty perhaps some Infiniti models.
Others woul include 1970s Colts like the Sapporo and Galant.
Daihatsu Charade Turbo perhaps? Mazda 323 Turbo? Certainly RX 7s.
Of the present crop of everyday Jap cars, I can see the MPS engined Mazdas being there RX8, Lexus LS and some Subaru. For rarilty perhaps some Infiniti models.
I certainly think that a least some of the Jap cars mentioned will be classics and I hope they will be presented at shows in years to come.
I do thinks it's right though that there's an emphasis on preserving British automotive heritage. We've older British cars particularly those from the eighties are and will be in danger of going extinct, personally I'd rather see some of those preserved ahead of certain Jap stuff.
I'm not sure the classic car owner demographic has been especially into Japanese cars hence what you see at shows though future generations of classic car enthusiasts will probably be more favourable.
I do thinks it's right though that there's an emphasis on preserving British automotive heritage. We've older British cars particularly those from the eighties are and will be in danger of going extinct, personally I'd rather see some of those preserved ahead of certain Jap stuff.
I'm not sure the classic car owner demographic has been especially into Japanese cars hence what you see at shows though future generations of classic car enthusiasts will probably be more favourable.
Twincam16 said:
obob said:
An AE86 is about 8k for what is essentially a Toyota Corolla.
Definite classic. Those comments remind me of the sort of thing people said about RWD Escorts. The fact that Toyota is namechecking it with the GT86 says it all really. It's been missed, and it's back.And has anyone mentioned the Toyota Sera? Probably the only (semi-)mass-produced sports car designed with McLaren-style dihedral doors:
I've often been tempted by the idea of having one as a cheap runabout, but they do have a few problems - the insurance is astronomical for what is basically a Starlet GTI coupe, parts prices are through the roof (if you can find them in the first place), and for reasons best known to Toyota they were nearly all automatics.
I've often been tempted by the idea of having one as a cheap runabout, but they do have a few problems - the insurance is astronomical for what is basically a Starlet GTI coupe, parts prices are through the roof (if you can find them in the first place), and for reasons best known to Toyota they were nearly all automatics.
obob said:
Surely some of them are already classics. Look at their values.
An AE86 is about 8k for what is essentially a Toyota Corolla. Datsun Z cars are classics as are CRXs and Integra Type Rs.
Price wise I sort of agree. But any and all seem to be rare, even ones which I presume sold in reasonable numbers. And at shows you just don't see them very often.An AE86 is about 8k for what is essentially a Toyota Corolla. Datsun Z cars are classics as are CRXs and Integra Type Rs.
Last year at a classic car show with over 1200 vehicles I saw one, yes only one 240z and no other Nissan Z cars. There were more 1920's Bentley race cars present than Jap classics. But there was no shortage of Euro, American and British modern classics (Camaro, 944's, TVR's, etc etc).
Personally I'd have been quite interested in seeing a 300ZX Z31, can't even remember when I saw one last or a Gen 1 RX-7, but alas no.
Twincam16 said:
And has anyone mentioned the Toyota Sera? Probably the only (semi-)mass-produced sports car designed with McLaren-style dihedral doors:
Not dihedral, but the AZ-1/Cara had gullwings - although it's probably stretching the definition of 'mass produced' 
There are some Japanese classics that already go for serious money - the KPGC10 and 2000GT for example. There are plenty more that have a strong following at lower price points - the 1st gen Cosmo and the like.
I presume the question is which of their more recent output is destined to become collectable?
Personally, I would ignore performance and concentrate on looks - be they pretty, quirky, whatever. As cars age, their outright performance becomes irrelevant (look at the Spitfire mentioned earlier, for example).
Edited by Risotto on Thursday 15th March 14:56
kam05 said:
The original IS200/Altezza?
This is the car that gave the E36/E46 BMW's and W202/W203 Mercs (of the late 90's/early 2000's) a run for their money, I'd say.
I don't know about that. It had a good interior and an air of the 'Japanese Mercedes' that Toyota wanted, but the engines were piss poor; very thirsty and weak and known for being 'thrashy' and needing the revs piled on to get the best from them. It wasn't until they did the BEAMS/RS200 until they had one that was really worth driving.This is the car that gave the E36/E46 BMW's and W202/W203 Mercs (of the late 90's/early 2000's) a run for their money, I'd say.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff