What mass produced Jap cars will become desired classics?

[300bhp/ton]

I think there is a change happening here, slowly, but there none the less. Although the trend up until now has not been greatly positive.


As I'm in the UK I'm looking at this purely with a UK focus on it.

If you attend or visit a classic car show during the summer you will see cars such as:

-Spitfires
-MGBs
-GT6's
-TR's
-Jags

In the terms of the "modern" classics of those still built in the 80's and maybe even 90's, you'll still see quite a few. Including cars like Cosworths and Capri's (and more so MK3/4 Escorts too). Even early MGF's are semi accepted at classic events and they will surely in time fulfill the same market as the MGB does with classic enthusiasts.


But what of the Japanese cars? Where are they?????

There's no shortage of some great Jap performance cars, in the past 30-35 years even:

-1979 RX-7
-MR2's (MK1/2)
-MX-5
-300ZX z31
-300ZX z32
-Celica Supra's
-Celica GT4's
-Supra MKIII
-RX-7 gen 2
-DC2 ITR
-Impreza Turbo
-280z
-Starion
-Piazza
-SVX
-FTO


But to date, even at large car shows with circa 1200-1500 cars on display, you see very few of these Jap cars. Maybe a MK1 MR2 or MX-5 and if lucky a 240z.



So ,do you reckon any Jap car will reach similar notoriety as the humble Spitfire? Even more so when it's a huge challenge even to buy some (RX-7 Gen 1 or 2, z31 300ZX for example).


Personally I hope so. I suspect the MX-5 will and I hope the DC2 ITR does. But how many will literally disappear into obscurity?

[300bhp/ton]

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.

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.

[300bhp/ton]

Dr Doofenshmirtz said:

Let's be honest - ANY old car will be a desired classic eventually.
In 25 years time people WILL pay good money for an immaculate Nissan Juke R (however much you may laugh now).

I guess I didn't make the op clear enough. I'm not saying there are none I'm saying at present in the UK you see very very few being preserved and displayed, even ones sold in large'ish numbers. Compared to the number of non Jap cars you do see at classic events, even ones of lower production numbers and similar age.

E.g.

Go to any sizable classic car show and how many mid 80's TVR's do you think will be there. Now at the same show, how many mid 80's RX-7's will be on display.

From my own observations I'd say it runs at many TVRs to none RX-7's.