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July 23, 2008 12:03 p.m. Tim Baxter Online Editor

I'm pretty convinced the day is coming when a lot of old Japanese cars are going to be widely recognized as classics and/or collectible. I know here lately I've been jonesing for a lot of older japanese stuff.

And I don't mean the obvious stuff like a 240z or 510, or even something like an early Celica (oh yes, I'd like an early Celica). I think more mundane stuff like pretty much any RWD Corolla or maybe early Civics are about to really take off.

Me, I want a late 60s or early 70s Crown coupe. I can't tell you why, I just do.
July 23, 2008 10:10 p.m. gjz30075 New Reader

Similar thinking by a friend of mine. He has 1600 roadster, a '67 I think. He has it for several years now and from the looks of the market now, he can make a few bucks on it after a myriad of small improvements.

Hope you're right
July 24, 2008 5:32 a.m. ddavidv SuperDork

I was just watching some old car commercials on YouTube and thinking, how uber-cool would it be to have an old Subaru FF-1 or Star?

Problem is, there are probably about 3 left on the planet that haven't succumbed to rust, and they are all somewhere in California.

I think that's a large part of the failure of Japanese cars to gain a classic following; most were originally sold on the west coast and what did get sold eastward simply didn't survive. Hard to generate interest in cars that don't have sufficient numbers to gain any market.
July 24, 2008 7:15 a.m. Tim Baxter Online Editor

Good point. I think I've seen one 510 in the past 10 years here in Kansas, and that was a popular model. Still, there's people hunting down Triumph Mayflowers and Jowett Jupiters, and they haven't survived in any numbers either.
July 24, 2008 10:03 a.m. racerdave600 Reader

Every morning on the way to work I pass a really nice, and by really nice I mean one that looks brand new B210 hatchback. It's always in Research Park, so I'm assuming its an engineer driving it, but boy for some reason do I wish I had it. It's that strange shade of light blue and even has the factory hubcaps.

I agree, its time for these to be recognized for the contributions they made. They were truly world changing cars at the time, and sadly, so few survive today.
July 30, 2008 7:50 p.m. David S. Wallens Editorial Director

People once said that early Mustangs would never be worth anything either, right? Seriously, in a few more years I bet clean, early Miatas will fetch more than they do now. It's a convertible with few faults.

As far as chrome bumper stuff, I'd love a "Ken and Mary" Skyline. Cool '70s look.
Aug. 2, 2008 9:42 p.m. jgp1843 HalfDork

If the answer to everything is Miata, then the alternate answer is Mk. 1 MR2.
Aug. 3, 2008 4:30 a.m. TR3only New Reader

I think if I had to pick only one Japanese car as my favorite (not sure it's a classic) it would be an '81 Toyota Celica GT notchback coupe. You get styling that has aged reasonably well and it comes with a fairly economical engine.

Having visited Japan a few times, I'd say yes to an early model Skyline, and even better, a Skyline wagon or "commercial vehicle" (it's sort of a cross between the wagon and a panel van...a 4 door panel van?).

If I had tons of money, THE ultimate classic Japanese car is the Mazda Cosmo from the early '90s. That car had the factory 3 rotor Wankel engine (I think it may even have had turbocharging), and with it's reasonably restrained styling, it looks pretty cool. I found one about a year ago on E-Bay, the seller was Canadian...I forget what he was asking for it, but I believe it was at least $15,000.

Go to the website that HAD this car. www.silkroadautos.com Hope that's right.

Just hoped over to silk road...they still have that Cosmo, but the engine is described as being a TWIN turbo 13B, I could have sworn the this car had the 3 rotor engine. And I was way off on the price...only $6,500. They also have a lot of other cool JDM vehicles...mostly vans and SUVs at the moment.
Aug. 3, 2008 10:40 a.m. David S. Wallens Editorial Director

I believe that the three-rotor 20B was an option. And yes, cool car. It's also new, but a late Nissan Silvia is also gorgeous.
Aug. 3, 2008 3:31 p.m. 4g63t Reader

Well, it's a classic TO ME. But my pick is the 91-92 Galant VR-4. Unfortunately, it is a classic TO ME. Otherwise it is an obscure Japanese sedan. Any unmolested turbocharged Mitsubishi will find a home in my driveway.

1989 Colt/Mirage turbo GVR-4 GSX Eclipse 3000GT VR-4
Aug. 7, 2008 5:17 p.m. QuasiMondo New Reader

I think it's more of a perception of early japanese cars that they were disposable. Most of the early cars were very utilitarian, and very few of them were marketed as anything to do with performance. They were either seen as low-buck, fuel efficient, or both, and even when they were advertised as performance machines, they were seen by the general public as a poor man's version of something else.

Datsun 510=Poor Man's 2002

Toyota Celica=Poor Man's Mustang

But I think with the generation shift of people who grew up in the aftermath of the muscle car and who don't have much recognition of the European models that withdrew from the U.S. market, Japanese classics will finally get the proper recognition they deserve.

Kinda makes me regret selling my Galant VR-4
Aug. 8, 2008 9:52 a.m. Greg Voth Associate Publisher

I would love a Cosmo. 3-Rotor twin turbo. Makes plenty of power and torque (torque/rotary... WHAT?) without being hi strung.

I still think that the early RX-7's are a bit under appreciated but I am biased. I am picking up my third next weekend. A 79 Spark Yellow. Lets hope it makes it from Kansas back to Florida!
Aug. 8, 2008 1:28 p.m. rconlon Reader

One of my early cars was a 78 Toyota Corona. Like a Japanese Volvo 144 and would look pretty decent in rally livery.

Cheers Ron