Japanese automotive tradition involves precision engineering and racing pedigree, and a certain boldness regarding technological advancements. However, apart from the worldwide renowned models like Skyline GT-R, Supra, and NSX, Japanese companies were manufacturing exclusive sports cars and race cars which had very limited availability. Such models were representing the best of the period, integrating top-notch mechanical engineering, race technologies, and unique design concepts.
These automobiles were developed due to the wish of the engineers to apply what they learned on the track in roadgoing cars. Many of these were manufactured in very small batches so as to comply with racing laws, while others were rare simply because production ceased soon after manufacture. Whether it be the early Prince Skyline racers and the Toyota 2000 GT, or the out-and-out racing Nissans, Toyotas, Mazdas, and Hondas, these automobiles contributed greatly to the performance engineering tradition in Japan.
1. 1964 Prince Skyline GT S54 (Racing Version)
The Prince Skyline GT S54 racing model stands out as a significant episode in Japan’s nascent motorsports history. Before being taken over by Nissan in 1966, Prince had made its mark on motorsports with its inline six. It is noteworthy that Prince was able to compete with Porsche in the S54 Skyline at the 1964 Japan Grand Prix, illustrating how Japan wanted to make its mark in GT-style motorsports. For that purpose, Prince built a few race cars using a 2.0-liter G7 inline six.
Prince Skyline Racing Highlights:
- Early Japanese GT racing icon
- Raced against Porsche in 1964
- 2.0-liter G7 inline-six engine
- Around 125 horsepower factory output
- Higher output available in race trim
Under normal conditions, the G7 engine was capable of delivering 125 horsepower, but racing variants could develop considerably more power. As a result of their rarity and association with racing, finding one of these engines can be very challenging. It is thought that most of them are probably found in collector cars or even in Nissan’s heritage fleet. From time to time, one of these early Japanese racing engines pops up in Japanese auto shows or heritage exhibitions.
2. 1967 Toyota 2000GT
One of the most significant early Japanese sports cars, which also represents the first supercar made by Toyota, is the Toyota 2000GT, built in 1967. The car was co-developed by Toyota and Yamaha, and its unique design featuring great styling, aerodynamics, and advanced engineering drew attention from all around the world and set a mark of high performance for Japanese sports cars. The car was powered by a 2.0L DOHC straight-6 engine generating approximately 150 hp.
Toyota 2000GT Collector Highlights:
- Toyota’s first supercar
- Jointly developed with Yamaha
- 2.0-liter DOHC inline-six
- Approximately 150 horsepower produced
- Only 351 units built
The production run was extremely small, with only 351 units manufactured in various color and trim variants. Among these is a notable convertible variant that has featured in a James Bond film. The decades since then have only seen the Toyota 2000GT become even more sought after among collectors of Japanese cars. Some of them turn up at rarefied auctions and classic car events, while some may even be found at Toyota’s own museum facilities.
3. 1970 Nissan Fairlady Z 432R (PS30)
The Nissan Fairlady Z 432R is a high-performance sports car with light weight design, built for racing purposes. Its major distinguishing feature is its race-developed S20 engine which was a six-cylinder inline engine taken from the Nissan Skyline GT-R. The designation 432 means that the engine was equipped with four valves per cylinder, three carburetors, and two overhead camshafts. With 2.0-liter engine capacity, the S20 engine had around 160 to 170 horsepower.
Fairlady Z 432R Performance Details:
- Lightweight homologation special
- Skyline GT-R S20 engine
- Four valves per cylinder
- Three carburetors supported performance
- Fewer than 50 units built
Nissan built less than 50 units of these cars, selling them mostly in Japan to individuals who participated in racing events as well as true sports car fans. Due to this low volume of production, the 432R has become one of the rarest early Japanese sports cars. These cars are expensive in specialized auctions of JDM cars. They are very rare at any public events, being spotted once in a while at special gatherings of Z-car enthusiasts or Nissan history events.
4. 1972 Mazda Cosmo Sport L10B (Series II)
The Mazda Cosmo Sport L10B Series II is a significant development in the history of cars that utilize a rotary engine. Mazda was one of the first companies to experiment with Wankel rotary engines, and the Cosmo Sport was an innovation in terms of the two-seater coupe designed on the basis of this idea. The L10B Series II featured an increased level of power, better reliability, and overall driving experience than its predecessor.
Cosmo Sport Rotary Highlights:
- Early Wankel rotary pioneer
- Twin-rotor 10A engine
- Approximately 130 horsepower
- Two-seat sports coupe design
- Series II production remained limited
The power source was a twin-rotor Wankel engine producing around 130 horsepower. The number of Cosmo Sports made by Mazda totaled less than 1,200, and the Series II was even fewer in number. The Cosmo Sport is highly regarded by fans of the rotary engine due to its significance in history. The place where one can see this car is at the Mazda Museum in Hiroshima or rotary-only events.
5. 1973 Nissan Skyline 2000 GT-R ‘Kenmeri’ (KPGC110)
This model became well-known after a Japanese TV commercial campaign of it was aired which showed a couple called Ken and Mary. Below its distinctive body lied a 2.0 liter S20 inline-six engine with the power of about 160 hp. It became the second-generation GT-R, the mission of which was to keep up the tradition laid down by previous generation Skyline cars. But due to new emission laws, its production was abruptly stopped.
Kenmeri GT-R Rarity Factors:
- Famous Ken and Mary nickname
- 2.0-liter S20 inline-six
- Around 160 horsepower
- Emissions rules ended production
- Approximately 197 units built
The vehicle was discontinued soon after its release, leaving about 197 vehicles manufactured. This gave birth to the unique status that the Kenmeri GT-R holds today because of its rarity, making it one of the rarest vintage Skylines. It has become very significant for the collectors of Skyline due to its rarity. The surviving models can be spotted rarely at major Skyline meets or even at Nissan’s Zama storage.
6. 1987 Nissan Skyline GTS-R (HR31)
The Nissan Skyline GTS-R from 1987 appeared earlier than the R32 GT-R would emerge as a name synonymous with the Skyline performance. The Nissan HR31 GTS-R had been created specifically for Group A homologation purposes, thus allowing the use of motorsport technologies for more consumer applications. The engine used was an advanced version of 2.0-liter RB20DET-R six-cylinder. The engine output was around 210 horsepower.
GTS-R Homologation Highlights:
- Built for Group A requirements
- 2.0-liter turbocharged RB20DET-R
- Approximately 210 horsepower
- Group A specification turbocharger
- Only 800 units produced
For the GTS-R, Nissan opted for a Group A turbocharger and improved breathing system meant to give car enthusiasts a taste of race-oriented performance design. Only 800 cars were made by Nissan to meet racing requirements before going ahead. While subsequent models gained wider fame among car lovers, the GTS-R still stands out as a well-respected model among the Skyline fan community. The GTS-R is now sometimes seen at various events such as the Japanese GT races, JDM shows, and Skyline meetings.
7. 1994 Toyota Supra TRD 3000GT
This particular model of the Toyota Supra was produced as a result of Toyota’s active participation in the All-Japan Grand Touring Car Championship races. The TRD 3000GT was designed to modify the existing Mk4 Supra and turn it into a racing-oriented automobile. The widebody kit featured a very spectacular design that made the car look wider. It also helped to improve the stability and aerodynamics of the vehicle at high speeds.
TRD 3000GT Performance Features:
- JGTC-inspired widebody design
- 2JZ-GTE twin-turbo engine
- More than 320 horsepower
- Functional aerodynamic enhancements
- Extremely limited official conversions
The source of power was the legendary 2JZ-GTE 3.0 litter twin turbo inline six engine, which produced over 320 HP. Given the rarity of official body conversions of the TRD 3000GT, cars with such modifications are exceedingly hard to find. Their rarity, high performance, and race-oriented look make them extremely valuable for collectors. Genuine cars will be most probably found at Supra high-level events, Toyota marque events, or auctions for JDM collectors.
8. 1996 Nissan Skyline GT-R NISMO 400R (R33)
Through NISMO’s handiwork, the highly capable R33 GT-R became known as the 400R, and thus turned out to be one of the most exclusive cars for the road. The idea behind this concept was the ultimate realization of the Skyline on the street and involved advanced work on the engine due to Nissan’s highly challenging Le Mans race experience. It featured the RBX-GT2 2.8 litter twin turbocharged engine equipped with a stroker kit.
400R Engineering Highlights:
- Based on R33 GT-R platform
- Specialized 2.8-liter RBX-GT2 engine
- Twin-turbocharged performance
- Approximately 400 horsepower
- About 44 authenticated units built
This car boasted 400 horsepower engines coupled with unique 400R body panels along with new suspension systems and light weight chassis adjustments. Initially, Nissan intended to build only a few units, but eventually managed to create only around 44 cars that have been verified by NISMO. This small number has made 400R one of the most exclusive variants of official Skyline GT-R to be ever made. It is considered to be a grail car, and is exhibited only on special occasions in Japan.
9. 1998 Nissan R390 GT1 Road Car
The Nissan R390 GT1 from 1998 was designed in order to meet the homologation demands associated with Nissan’s entry into the 24 Hours of Le Mans race. Since Nissan had to build a road car version in order to be able to take part in the tough GT1 class, the company built an extremely exotic mid-engined vehicle that is unique among all other cars produced by the company.
R390 GT1 Racing Technology:
- Created for Le Mans homologation
- Mid-engined exotic supercar
- 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V8
- Approximately 550 horsepower
- Only one or two road cars
There was a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine with around 550 horsepower behind the driver seat. The vehicle had ultra-wide GT1 era body, carbon styled low riding exterior, and mechanical design that made it suitable for racing. It is reported that only one or two production vehicles were made by Nissan for use on public roads, which makes it very difficult for regular collectors to get their hands on the vehicle.
10. 2002 Honda NSX-R GT (NA2)
Honda’s mid-engine super sports car in its ultimate form was seen in 2002 with the production of Honda NSX-R GT which was produced as a response to meet the requirements of Super GT homologation. The distinguishing design feature of this car was a large air intake located on the roof in the long-tail design form, giving it a unique look compared to the normal NSX.
NSX-R GT Collector Highlights:
- Created for Super GT homologation
- 3.2-liter V6 VTEC engine
- Officially rated at 280 horsepower
- Extensive weight reduction measures
- Only five units produced
Power output was from a high-speed 3.2-liter V6 VTEC engine with an official horsepower output of 280 bhp. In addition to the strange aerodynamic configuration, Honda cut down on the overall weight of the car significantly to ensure that the vehicle’s handling characteristics were enhanced. Only five vehicles were made available, with each being delivered to special VIP customers alone. Information regarding the individual vehicles is very hard to come by, thus increasing the mystery associated with the NSX-R GT.
