10 Unforgettable JDM Sports Cars

These JDM sports cars showed the world that the Japanese can easily keep up with the Europeans.

Every JDM sports car, especially from the 1980s and the 1990s are stellar performance cars that offer legit performance with unmatched reliability. These cars are highly sought after in the used car space today as they are dependable sports cars that won't disappoint you in the long run. And with some aftermarket mod support, these sports cars can offer supercar-like performance at half the cost.

Japan had been ridiculed and laughed at for making boring cars, with sports cars in the 80s, Japan rewrote the story and changed their reputation. Some of these brilliant JDM sports cars from the 80s pioneered a lot of technology and brought it to normal masses. For example, the rear-wheel steering was an advanced tech that was reserved for high-end cars. JDM sports cars offered various techs such as this in an attempt to increase the performance on tap.

Although many JDM sports cars are revered today, there are some rare gems that are truly the greatest of them all. These unforgettable JDM sports cars offered the highest level of performance and were limited to a few numbers as well.

The Honda NSX is one of the best supercars in the world. Even Gordon Murray was impressed with it that he took some inspiration from the NSX for the McLaren F1. However, the standard NSX just pales in comparison to its hardcore Type R version, which is one of the finest handling sports cars ever made. It used the same 3.0-liter V6 VTEC engine but with a blueprinted and balanced crankshaft and an updated manual gearbox. The biggest change, however, was to the chassis which featured a host of weight saving, carbon kevlar seats, and Enkei racing rims resulting in a curb weight of just 2,711 lbs!

In simple words, the Subaru Impreza 22B STi is the holy grail of all Imprezas ever made and undoubtedly one of the most brutal cars out of Japan. Limited to just 450-odd units, the 22B STi was built to commemorate the Japanese brand's 40th anniversary at the WRC. A full-blown rally monster for the road, the 22B STi is like the Japanese Lancia Delta Integrale. Power comes from a 2.2-liter version of the EJ20 that developed 280+hp, which was claimed and not the actual number like many JDM cars of that era. Today, the Subaru Impreza 22B STi is an unforgettable JDM car and a cult classic.

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In 1994, Nismo, Nissan's performance division, built the best Silvia version of them, the 270R. It is also one of the rarest JDM cars, as only 30 units have been built and sold to the public. It is powered by the turbocharged 2.0-liter ‘SR20DET’ inline-four engine that dishes out 270 hp, enough for a 60mph sprint time of just 5 seconds. Some special bits that make it stand out are the visual package, vented hood, 17-inch light wheels, front-mounted intercooler, uprated clutch, chassis bracing, sway bar, and stiffer dampers.

The Fairlady Z is one of the earliest sports cars from Japan that established that the Japanese could make stellar sports cars. But, like always, Nissan launched a spicy special edition of the Z car nicknamed the Z432 for the Japanese market, which is today known as the most expensive Z car of all time. The normal Z432 was limited to just 420 units, and the even rarer motorsport intended Z432R was limited to just 60 units! It made use of the 158 hp 2.0-liter inline six-cylinder along with light body parts with a huge focus on maximum performance.

The Nissan Skyline GT-R is the most popular Nissan sports car and an iconic car from Japan. These cars are getting more expensive every day and there's a huge variety to choose from. But, if you want the most tasteful and hardcore model of them all, it has to be the Nismo 400R. Powered by the legendary RBX-GT2 engine, this car made over 400 hp of power and 346 lb-ft, making it a serious performance machine. It also featured internal modifications to the engine along with added aerodynamics, wider bumpers, skirts, a new hood, and the whole visual shebang. The Nismo 400R is certainly a collectible, as only 44 cars are known to exist.

The Toyota Supra needs no introduction whatsoever. Finding a stock Supra is also like finding a needle in a haystack, thanks to the extremely tuneable 3.0-liter straight-six 2JZ-GTE engine and the numbers it develops. But, if you want the rarest and the most collectible of them all, there exists a Supra known as the TRD 3000GT. Only 35 units were ever made, and each of them even get a dedicated VIN. Changes were mostly cosmetic, but this is one Supra that looks the part with bonnet vents, a wider body, sporty bumpers, and two types of wings.

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What makes the R34 Nissan Skyline GTR Z-Tune special? Only 19 units exist, making it one of the most expensive JDM cars ever. It was built by Nismo who transformed low-mileage R34 examples into the Z-Tune. Major upgrades are Sachs dampers, carbon fiber body parts, and uprated brakes from Brembo. The car also featured various visual modifications that aided aerodynamics, along with a 2.8-liter engine that made nearly 500 hp. Most examples were finished in silver and just one in highly loved Midnight Purple III, which makes it the most expensive GTR as well.

Related: Here's What We Love About The Nissan GTR R34

The Honda S2000 is a perfect sports car that gets most things right. A high revving NA engine, rear-wheel drive, and a chassis that is tight enough for track outings as well despite being a roadster. But Honda saw some room for improvement and hence launched the S2000 CR (Club Racer). Honda made 699 units, and it featured changes such as stiffer suspension, beefier anti-roll bars, wider and stickier tires, and a hard top. Basically, Honda made a refined S2000 and it is a truly unforgettable JDM sports car.

The RX7 Spirit R was Mazda's last ode to the rotary-powered RX-7. It was limited to 1500 units worldwide and the Spirit R is the most insane version of the RX-7. The engine remained the same 1.3-liter twin-rotor 13B, with the same claimed 276 hp and 231 lb-ft of twist to the rear wheels. Changes were skin deep such as Recaro race seats, Bilstein dampers, an uprated braking system with steel lines, and lightweight BBS 17-inch wheels with a bespoke design that was made just for the Mazda RX7 Spirit R. Mazda sold three types of the Spirit R namely the Type A, B, and C.

The Toyota 2000GT is inarguably the first legit supercar from the land of the rising sun. It was a joint effort between Toyota and Yamaha, and the iconic model is currently the most expensive Japanese car. It is also one of the most beautiful cars ever made. Toyota drew inspiration from the Ferraris of that time as well as the Jaguar E-Type, and it shows. It was powered by a 148 hp 2.0-liter inline-six engine, which is a robust engine that delivered a good performance. Only 351 coupes and 2 convertibles exist, making it a truly unforgettable JDM car.

It has always been cars for Adithya that he drifted from his engineering career to become a full-time Motoring Journalist. He has over 5 years of experience working for a leading automotive publication (ZigWheels) in India as well as a prominent search engine (Bing). His hobbies largely revolve around anything that is associated with a touge.