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These Japanese cars may still be cheap, but hold on to them for a few years and you'll easily double your investment.
If you grew up playing Need For Speed and Grand Turismo video games or watching Fast and Furious films, you probably giggle at the sight of a JDM sports car. Or you are simply a closeted fan. Now that you are older, you can head to an online JDM auction market or local dealership and grab your dream rear-wheel-drive, manual sports car. And, you can make some money while at it because some Japanese cars are appreciating and will soon be worth a fortune, making them great investments.
Today's most expensive classic car auction blocks mostly feature European classics such as Ferraris, Maserattis, Jaguars, and the ilk. You are lucky to find a participant from the far east because when the European basked in the supercar golden age of the 60s, Asian manufacturers focused more on churning affordable and reliable daily drivers. They've remained largely overlooked by the collector's market. But lately, some JDM classics are getting the recognition they deserve as valuable collectors' items. These Japanese cars might seem cheap, but buy them now, and you might sell them for profit in a few years.
Lately, we have witnessed a welcome revival of iconic nameplates like the Supra and MR2 from Toyota and Nissan's brand-new Fairlady Z. There are rumors of a Honda S2000 comeback, which needs to happen. The old S2000 is a special car and a JDM legend thanks to its high-revving performance and driving thrills.
Also, it is a favorite among the tuner community, and its value is rising. Those in good stock condition fetch over $25k, which is close to the MSRP while new. Its value will rise further as it attains classic status.
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Mazda agrees that they probably wouldn't be in existence today without the Wankel engine. The highly reputed rotary-powered 1967 Cosmo Sport laid the foundation for the Japanese car brand and guaranteed its lasting place in the automotive world. In 1990, the Eunos Cosmo model became the first production car to feature a sequential twin-turbocharged three-rotor engine. It delivered exceptional dynamic and seamless rotation considered on par with a V12 engine, making it one of the greatest JDM motors ever.
The Mazda Cosmo already costs a fortune with examples in good condition well into six figures. But the car gained $10k in average value last year, according to Hagerty, making it a worthy investment.
The Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo is a humble classic JDM supercar slayer. It is currently relatively affordable, but it might not stay this way or long, according to Hagerty. The previously overlooked classic Zs, including the 280ZX and 300ZX, almost doubled their value in 2021.
Buying a stock 300ZXZ guarantees a potent and fun classic car loaded with the best of 90s tech. The 1990 Z32 was the first car designed with computer software and also came with four-wheel steering in the turbo trim. It is a good investment since they will not stay cheap for long.
Only time will tell whether the new Supra will become as popular as the older generations. The OG Supra featured an over-engineered, easily tunable, 2JZ inline-six motor, making it quick and potentially squeezing over 700 ponies safely on stock bock. And it had the looks to match.
Its value has remained steady on the rise since Toyota discontinued the car, and it is now an attractive investment. Turbocharged models are more collectible and gradually approaching the six-figure valuation.
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Easily one of the most popular Japanese car imports in the enthusiast scene. Many love the RX-7 for its lighter, smoother, and mechanically simpler rotary engines that made more power per liter than their pistoned rivals. The third generation is the most beloved, and it shows with its rising value.
While the series 7 RX7 sold between 1996 and 1998 didn't find its way States-side, it is one of the best Mazda FDs money can buy, with better reliability and more power than its older siblings. They also look great today, and their value rises every day.
With the SVX, Subaru seemingly threw their design book in the bin and built a different creation. It featured an Italian design by Giorgetto Giugiaro and was Subaru's rare flair for sport. Perhaps the only similarity with its siblings is the boxer engine, and it came with a bigger 3.3-liter six cylinders instead of the common smaller boxer-four.
The SVX was weirdly futuristic; maybe that's why it didn't get enough appreciation. Today examples in excellent condition are absolute steals going for less than $10,000. Prices have increased over 20% in the last year, and you can count on them to keep shooting up.
Few cars have held their value as good as the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. Almost two decades after the eight-gen Evo came out, prices have remained close to the original MSRP, and as they grow into full classic status, the price is starting to creep up. You will be lucky to find a copy in good condition MR going for less than twenty grand.
The MR trim of the Evo VIII and IX seems the best investment in the lineup. According to Hagerty, the Evo VIII MR saw a 20% increase in value over the last year and is now averaging $32,900 for examples in good condition.
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Toyota launched the FJ40 in 1960, with official importation stateside starting in 1963. Over 40 years, it was gradual functional improvements from a bare-bone rock crawler into a modern SUV. What was once a rugged old farm hand is now a regular auction fixture, often in restored and excellent condition.
Currently, prices seem to have settled, with the 1968 FJ40 in good condition averaging about $30,300 all year. But, some have sold for over $200k, and now might be the time to acquire one before the value starts shooting up again.
Anyone looking for a 90s Japanese car to import can't ignore the Integra Type R. It was originally introduced for the Japanese domestic market in 1995 as part of the third generation Integra. While its incredible Acura NSX sibling overshadowed it, it was equally spectacular and is one of Honda's best cars ever.
Its value is steadily on the rise, especially the post-1997 models when it first hit the USA market are highly coveted, with a 1997-model fetching $82,000 in 2019. On average, copies in good condition currently go for $37,600 with a 10% year-on-year increase. It seems the right time to strike before prices are out of reach.
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The Nissan 240Z was Nissan's first in the legendary Fairlady Z sports car lineup and is undoubtedly among the most significant sports cars ever built. It remains a compelling, sweetly balanced, fun, and useable modern classic whose value is steadily rising.
Today, the car fetches a premium, with some Concours condition examples selling for as much as $350,000. But you can find one in good condition for about as low as $20k. It is worth it, and you might double your investment in a few years.
Bryan is a content marketer who works as a staff writer for HotCars.com where he covers a variety of topics, from the first Motorwagen to the latest Electric vehicles. A writer by day and a programmer by night. When he is not writing about cars, catch him tinkering with his old motorcycle.