Japanese cars may well be the next classic cars. Japanese cars are durable, inexpensive and on the forefront of the green revolution. Since Generation X and the Millenials grew up with Japanese cars, it won’t be surprising to see nostalgia for classic Japanese cars grow. I’ve compiled a list of cars that I believe will be considered Japanese car classics.
Of course, sports cars top any classic top 7 list and my list of future Japanese classic cars is no exception. The Nissan Z-Car has been the leading Japanese sports car for decades and it leads the way on my top 7 list.
1. Datsun/Nissan Z-Car. When it arrived on America’s shores in 1973, the Datsun 240Z blew away the Opel GT and other competitors. It was reliable, quick, and had a convenient hatchback. As the years marched on the Datsun 240Z and worthy successors like the 260Z, 280Z, and 300Z remained market leaders and let consumers know that Japanese cars could perform.
2. Mazda RX-7. The Mazda RX-7 followed on the heels of the Z-car and brought the advanced technology of the rotary engine into the U.S. market. The RX-7 established Mazda’s Zoom-Zoom reputation and went on to great success in Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) class racing.
3. Mazda Miata. Just when cars were getting boring and losing any sort of character, Mazda raced to the rescue with the Miata in 1989. It offered the character of a British sports car and the reliability of a modern Japanese car.
After the sports cars, sedans will definitely make their way into any list of top 10 future Japanese classics. While most domestic cars from the 70s and 80s have fallen into disuse and disrepair, many solid Japanese sedans keep on going for years, decades, and hundreds of thousands of miles. As automotive styling trends have moved on, some of the older sedans are now a truly funky looking and get extra points for being cute.
4. Toyota Corolla. The Toyota Corolla has always been a small, simple, inexpensive economy car. As such, it’s been great for tuners, tweakers, and high school mechanics. A quick look around the web shows vintage Toyota Corollas in all kinds of condition for amateur rally racing and quirky around-town runabouts. If you buy a new one, it will last forever and if you buy and old one it can be found cheap. As of 2007, over 35 million Toyota Corolla’s have been sold around the world and old ones are still available cheap.
5. Datsun 510. Sold between 1968 and 1974, the Datsun 510 offered the performance of a BMW in the reliable, inexpensive package of a Japanese car. The Datsun 510 is often tuned for rally racing and like the Corolla it can be found cheap. With the right tires and accessories, it also has the same aggressive stance as great vintage sports sedans from makers like BMW and Fiat.
6. Honda Civic. In 1972, the little Honda Civic entered the U.S. market. It soon became a legend. It offered good performance, great fuel economy, bucket seats, and disc brakes. The Honda brand built a reputation on being simple. Today Honda Civics are the car of choice among tuners and hotrodders. Today, the Honda Civic can be a fat tired boy racer with a tin-can exhaust or a starter car for any family. The Civic is well on it’s way to becoming a bona fide classic.
7. Scion Xb. Toyota’s Scion brand brought mass customization to the showroom with a novel approach to car sales. Instead of buying right off the lot, Scion customers are encouraged to custom order a Scion with options that will suit them perfectly. The cube shape of the Scion Xb invites comment and a “love it or hate it” reaction. The original Scion Xb which was introduced in 2004 was extremely boxy in an iconic way. With a plethora of Scion accessories in the marketplace and a reliable Toyota Echo/Yaris platform underneath, look for the Scion Xb to become tomorrow’s classic.
With much of America’s wealth spent and tomorrow’s opportunities being given to the people in other countries, Americans will keep and value reliable cars that last. There are lots of runners up to consider and many will become classics. Sedan performers like the Mazda 626 and Nissan Maxima will continue to be fun. Sporty cars like the Toyota Celica and Honda Prelude will continue to be fun. And, finally, some cars like the Datsun B210, Nissan Sentra, Honda Accord, and Toyota Camry will simply be with us forever.
Sources:
“Celebrating Japanese Classics.” NY Times. Wheels Blog. Richard S. Chang. October 9, 2007. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/09/celebrating-japanese-classics/
Toyota Corolla. Wikipedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Corolla
Scion Xb. Wikipedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scion_xB
Datsun 510. Wikipedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datsun_510
Mazda MX-5. Wikipedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazda_MX-5
