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Essentially, every one of us is a thrill-seeker though we may not be aware of it. Some people look for the surge of adrenaline when riding fast cars; some are excited by just the thought of traveling beyond the city. Some are delighted at the prospect of reading a new book while some live on the challenge and thrill of finding unusual objects—objects that may have been hidden for a long time, or that were produced in so limited quantities that each is highly prized. Some of these coveted objects are rare used cars from Japan. What’s so special about them? Enthusiasts consider some Japanese marques more valuable than others because of the following: • Limited Availability – these vehicles were sold only in Japan and are not available anywhere else when they were first released. Also, most of these models are not manufactured anymore and some are already considered vintage models—making them much rarer than Italian luxury brands that are available everywhere. Collectors really work hard to find these rare gems. If you have a collector’s car from Japan, chances are you are sure to be the only one who has it in your region.
• Uncommon specifications – these models have been specifically designed and manufactured to meet Japanese vehicle and road regulations, and therefore have been built differently from other vehicles released in other countries. Japanese vehicles are all right-hand driven, so they’re not a common sight in, say, the United States.
• High performance – Most of the rare models are classified as sport coupes and therefore have been equipped with high-performance engines, coming up with more horsepower. Some models have been modified to be prime contenders in the sport of drifting. The JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) engines may be smaller in terms of displacement but they are higher revving.
• Cultural Significance – You may be aware that some used cars from Japan have gained popularity because of the roles they played in television and movies (most notable are the Fast and the Furious movies), anime (for example, Initial D), and video games such as Need for Speed.
• Racing Heritage – Some models, like the Toyota 2000GT, are popular because they are well-known as sports cars that have been part of several international racing circuits since the Sixties. The 2000GT has competed with Porsche 911s and Lotus Elans, creating a name for itself as a top and very collectible race car.
• Tuners’ Challenge – Japanese cars use different software to manage engine tuning, so tweaking those sporty used cars from Japan may pose a challenge to even the most skilled of tuners and mechanics. Some may see it as a disadvantage; the enthusiasts, however, welcome the challenge.
• Timeless Styling – Another reason for the popularity of rare used cars from Japan in the collector market is how these are designed. Aside from the Toyota 2000GT, the Toyota Celica, Nissan Skyline, and Mazda RX3 are all considered as collector cars and they share similar design cues. Some of these design elements can still be seen in and even serve as inspiration for vehicle design today.
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