Japanese cars, often called JDMs, have steadily risen in price as pop culture embraces these stylish and speedy classics. However, some are fetching much more than others, whether that’s due to their rarity, performance, or unique history.
The car community loves old school JDM cars for their experimentation and boundary pushing designs, often competing with luxury cars and sports cars from other countries while also maintaining their reputation for being reliable. My 1993 Mazda Miata now has over 280,000 miles and is still going strong. But while the Miata is coveted for its cost-effectiveness, there are Japanese cars that have prices that rival those of iconic supercars.
The Methodology
Image: MrWalkr, CC-BY-SA-4.0/ Wiki Commons.
The first step in creating this eclectic and exciting collection of vehicles was to find out how much a Ferrari costs. The average price is said to be around $200,000 to $400,000 (although there are Ferrari models that cost much, much more). Would there really be 10 older Japanese cars that cost $200,000 or more?
After some digging, which included checking car auctions and average prices on Classic.com, I was able to find 10 glorious JDM vehicles from the past that break the bank — but for good reason. These vintage cars are record breakers and boundary pushers that aren’t afraid to stand out.
From the car community’s favorite engine sound to race-winning prototypes, these are 10 old Japanese cars that cost as much as a Ferrari.
Nissan Skyline GT-R M-Spec Nur – $391K
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The M-Spec Nur is a limited production variant of the already popular and desirable R34 Skyline GT-R, named after the Nürburgring race track where the Skyline was often tested during development. Only 285 M-Spec models exist, which is partially why the price has skyrocketed.
With improved suspension, an aluminum hood, and an RB26DETT twin-turbo inline six engine (with huge turbochargers), the M-Spec earns the Nürburgring reference — and the high price tag. While the engine was rated at 276 horsepower due to Japan’s hp limit agreement (which has since ended, according to Car and Driver), the real power is said to be 330 hp.
Last year, a 2002 example — said to be one of the last ever produced — sold on Bring a Trailer for $181,000. Car enthusiasts felt that the car would have sold for higher back in Japan. Another car sold for $455,000.
Subaru Impreza 22B STi – $208K
Image Credit: MrWalkr – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0/WikiCommons.
This special widebody variant of the Subaru Impreza saw limited production when it was released to celebrate Subaru’s 40th anniversary. This high-performance variant has an improved drivetrain, a larger turbocharged flat-four engine, and STI-branded fog light covers and exhaust tip.
There are only around 420 total examples of this special Impreza, which were mostly sold in Japan. While they weren’t sold in the United States originally, the 22B STi has been imported into the country since then. They’re still rare to come across, however, which is why some have sold for more than $300K on Bring a Trailer.
Lexus LFA – $779K
Image Credit: Lexus.
Only 450 base model Lexus LFAs were built in 2012, making this an extremely rare supercar. But that’s not why the Lexus LFA has reached such extreme pricing. Many car enthusiasts argue that the Lexus LFA is a beautiful car — and has an even more beautiful sound.
The Lexus LFA has Toyota’s 1LR-GUE engine, a naturally aspirated 4.8L V10. It’s able to rev from idle to a 9000 rpm redline in under 1 second. That 0.6 seconds are the best thing you’ll ever hear, according to the majority of the car world — Toyota even made a three-hour video of LFA engine sounds for any ASMR freaks out there. The engineering team even took inspiration from music to create the distinct symphony, according to an interview by Toyota Times.
Toyota 2000GT – $1.1M
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Japan was known for its practical commuter cars back in the 1960s, but the Toyota 2000GT changed that reputation in an instant. First displayed at the Tokyo Motor Show in 1965, it was Toyota’s first shot at a proper sports car — and it’s safe to say that the automaker nailed it. The front-engine, rear-wheel-drive hardtop coupe was just 2,400 pounds and considered a blast to drive.
Its beautiful looks and sleek curves are thanks in part to Toyota and Yamaha engineers using a Lotus Elan chassis, which had a very high rear strut mounting point that led designers to hide it behind sheet metal.
Only 351 units were sold worldwide, according to Car and Driver, with just 62 of those making it to the United States. Today, the extremely rare vehicle is considered Japan’s first collectible sports car.
Toyota-Shelby 2000GT – $3.5M
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Three Toyota 2000GTs were modified by legendary car designer Carroll Shelby to compete in SCCA C-Production racing. The collaboration led to a 2000GT with lowered suspension, a tuned engine, and a new racing livery.
One of the three 1967 Toyota-Shelby 2000GTs sold for well over $2.5 million at a Gooding & Company auction, setting the record as the most expensive Japanese car ever sold, according to Robb Report.
Honda NSX Type R – $362K
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The NSX Type R, or NSX-R, is a limited edition of the NA1 Honda NSX, introduced in 1993 exclusively for Japan. The Type R is 265 pounds lighter than the standard NSX, but that comes at the price of comfort. The NSX-R was a high-performance sports car that ditched comfort for the sake of improved speed and handling. According to Honda, this meant eliminating sound-deadening materials, power windows, air conditioning, and the audio system. Despite being sweaty and loud to drive, the NSX-R is very pricey to purchase.
One reason it’s so coveted is that there are only about 500 NSX-Rs that were made before production ended in 1995. The other reason is that it’s a seriously fun car to drive, despite a lack of creature comforts.
Said Project Leader Kyoji Tsukamoto to Top Gear: “The idea behind the R was not to create a swan song rendition with a massive dose of additional power, but to go back to basics.”
Nissan 300ZX IMSA GTO – $281K
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There are only seven of these race cars in existence, constructed by Clayton Cunningham Racing for the IMSA GTO competition. Steve Millen raced one of these cars into second place at the 1991 12 Hours of Sebring, then scored six additional poles and four victories. With carbon fiber bodywork, a rear wing with a Gurney flap, a front splitter, and side-exit exhaust pipes, everything about this model screams power.
Underneath the red, white, and blue livery, there is a 3.0-liter V6 engine, two Garrett turbochargers, and an intercooler mounted ahead of the two front wheels. This has allowed the 300ZX to continue winning decades after it was produced. The Drive reported that the Nissan 300X IMSA GTO won two vintage car races in 2019 — the Long Beach Grand Prix and the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion.
AAR/Toyota Eagle Mk III GTP – $1M
Image Credit: Motohide Miwa from USA, Creative Commons Attribution 2.0, WikiCommons.
All American Racers’ Toyota Eagle MKIII is one of the last Grand Touring Prototypes to be made — but it went out with a bang. The MK III GTP won 21 of the 27 races it entered, making it one of the most dominant racing car prototypes in history.
The Toyota Eagle MK III GTP has a turbocharged 2.1-liter Toyota inline-four engine and can reach top speeds of 220 mph thanks to its incredible 1,000 reported hp. Because it’s a race car, it’s not street legal, but that hasn’t stopped it from selling for over $1 million at auction multiple times.
Toyota Celica IMSA GTO – $242K
Image Credit: Motohide Miwa from USA, Creative Commons Attribution 2.0, WikiCommons.
Only three of these race cars exist, making them an exciting opportunity for collectors the rare time they appear at auction. The story goes that Toyota saw the success of All American Racers and became hungry for a racing program for the Celica to inspire sales in the United States. A partnership formed between Toyota and AAR in 1983, and its front-wheel drive compact Celica IMSA GTO won 10 races against competitors like the Ford Mustang, Porsche 911, and Chevrolet Corvette.
A blend of American engineering and Japanese muscle, the IMSA GTO isn’t very Celica-like. It has a four-cylinder Toyota T engine, which was also used in cars competing in Formula Two and the World Rally Championship, and its body was heavily modified for racing. It fetched over $242,000 when it went up for auction due to its rarity and racing pedigree.
Nissan Fairlady Z432R – $800K
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A Nissan Fairlady Z432R sold at a Japanese auction for about $805K, making it one of the priciest vintage Japanese cars out there. According to Road and Track, this was a rare model with only 400 units ever produced. It’s very rare to see one come up at auction, which is likely part of why it sold for so much when it finally appeared.
The Fairlady is more than a pretty face, however. This aggressive version of the Fairlady has a 2.0-liter inline-six producing almost 160 hp and was stripped down of its cabin comforts to make it lightweight and agile (it was only 1,885 pounds). Glass was replaced with acrylic, and there is no heater, clock, soundproofing, or radio. It was likely a bit uncomfortable to drive, but it did have a performance that could hold its own against the Porsche 911 R back in the late 1960s.
Get Your Wallet Ready — Or Just Enjoy the View
Image Credit: Toyota Global.
Whether you love race-winning track cars or beautifully designed classics, there are plenty of expensive old Japanese cars out there for those who want to shell out some cash. If you don’t want to spend a Ferrari’s worth of money on a JDM car, however, you can just enjoy the above images with their sleek curves, aerodynamic features, and distinct styling.
Or you can even listen to the Lexus LFA’s engine for three hours as you fall asleep tonight, dreaming of winding through the streets of Tokyo in one of these glorious and rare machines.
AloJapan.com