Although cars of today are equipped with impressive technology, they lack soul in both look and feel. Gone are the days where you, the driver, are in total control of the action of driving. Computerised mod-cons and safety features have turned the motor car from a thing of beauty to a mere appliance. Classic Japanese cars of the 70s, 80’s and 90’s carry a special aura like no other making them such a pleasure to own and drive. The Japanese principal of “jinba-ittai” or horse and rider applies to the relationship between the car and driver. The feel of raw driving is always an experience to savour. Owning a classic JDM car always ensures you stand out from the crowd as an individual who appreciates style and taste.
Now that we are early in the 21st Century, cars that the Gen Y’s grew up admiring and desiring are now officially considered classic cars (25 years+). These cars can be brought into the country with minimal restrictions under the 25 year import scheme.
Nissan "Kenmeri" Skyline
The quirky “Kenmeri” Skyline designation was born from a ‘Japanization’ of the names Ken and Mary, a young couple in love who appeared in the car’s TV advertising in Japan. These mini-soap episodes featured tall, exotic Ken and curvy, adorable Marytouring rural Japan in their lovely Skyline 2000GTX, getting back to “Beautiful Nature”, Nissan’s pro-environmental slogan at the time. By 1973, Ken and Mary had taken Japan by storm – heck, even Emperor knew who they were! Fifty years on and the Kenmeri Skyline is still a household name; that isamongst JDM nostalgic car “otaku”. The absolutely gorgeous pillarless hardtop coupe was the first version to return to the hotplate tail lights first introduced back in 1963 albeit with dual units from the previous generation, and the appearance has now become a traditional Skyline trait. Fitted with black deep dish RS Watanabe barrels, ducktail spoiler, bolt-on flares, and a stance that pushes the aggressive fitment envelope, you are guaranteed to be treated like royalty at the next JDM meet! The Kenmeri GT-R hardtop exploded onto the scene inSeptember 1972 but due to the oil crisis, it only lasted a few months as the masses were suddenly drawn to economical, pint-sized ‘shopping carts’.Nissan found themselves pulling out of motor racingaltogether, so there was no purpose to the GT-R – one can only fantasize how successful that car could have been. Only 197 Kenmeri GT-Rs were ever sold in Japan through specialist Nissan Performance shops (aka Nismo) and these were the last GT-R’sfor 16 years until the BNR32 in 1989.
Toyota "Daruma" TA22 Celica
The affectionately named “coke bottle” TA22 Celica and its ubiquitous 2TG twincam engine had all the hallmarks of a true sports car with is voluptuous design without the excess baggage. Weighing in at a paltry 920kg these little beauties could certainly packa punch! With sensibly modified 2TG engines, one can enjoy punting them through the hills ahead of over–confident owners in similarly aged and much more powerful V8s. No one can argue against the fact that these early Celicas are aging beautifullyespecially with tasteful JDM additions such as a rearducktail spoiler, one–piece concave rear tail lights,GT pinstripes, old school deep dish barrels, honeycomb GT grille and lower front lip. Here in Australia, we only ever received the ST version, with its wheezy SOHC 1.6L 2T engine which wasunderwhelming in every aspect, except fuel economy. The TA22 chassis enjoys a decent choice of performance engine swaps which include thesupercharged 4A-GZE, high revving 18R-GEU, and the potent twinspark turbocharged 3T-GTEU, to name but a few. Purists will undoubtedly stick withthe naturally aspirated 2TG and add a 1.8L 3T bottom end filled with a balanced TRD crank, pistons and rings and match it to an extensively ported Yamaha 2T-G head fitted with jetted 40mm Weber DCOEs. The result: explosive performance and an audio track to die for! These were, are and will always be awesome little rocket ships and are now well and truly considered part of the classic JDMfamily tree.
Nissan "Tekkamen" DR30 Skyline RS
Dubbed Tekkamen or ‘the Iron Mask’ for its distinctive and aggressive looks, the DR30 Skyline RS is in a class of its own. Exuding 80’s styling and flair, from its hot plate rear lights to its retro arcade console instrument cluster, from its sexy pillarless coupe looks to its striking two-tone exterior, this car demands exclusivity. To this day the FJ20-powered DR30 Skyline RS remains an 80’s cult classic the world over. The DR30 was credited with rejuvenating the Skyline brand in the early 80’s. It also paved the way for the eventual re-introduction of the legendary GT-R badge, markedly absent since 1973. Nissan Motor Company designers ensured that this car schools passerby of its motorsport heritage with is gold ‘RS TURBO’ advertising decals. Enthusiasts of the marque will know that the DR30 is the offspring of the legendary Hasemi Motorsport DR30 Skyline that participated in the Japanese Super Silhouette series in the early 80’s. It was a car built to comply with FIA Group 5 regulations and sported an insanely wild look that unknowingly was responsible for kick-starting the whole bosozoku movement we see today.
Toyota AE86 Trueno
“Yeah! How come this car gets me fired up all the time? I wish that Toyota could make cars like this again!” exclaimed Keiichi Tsuchiya after decimating an R34 GTR in a downhill touge battle with nothing more than a nimble, tuned AE86. As a successful professional race car driver and ‘Drift King’, Tsuchiya always believed that “the most important thing is balance”. This car smashes that criterion to the moon and back. The AE86 sets the benchmark for the elusive affordable driver’s car with its rear wheel drive configuration, lightweight chassis, 50:50 weight distribution and easy-to-tune 4A-GE twin cam engine. No wonder the AE86 has been immortalised as a legend in itself making it a popular choice for Group A and Group N rally and circuit racing. Those who have personally witnessed the roaring sound of an AE86 black top with independent throttle bodies at full tilt, would almost certainly agree that it is the best sound known to man! This is the car responsible for much of the hype around the recent 86/BRZ incorporation and became the blueprint for ensuring the new one stays true to the old formula. If you’re not delivering silken tofu in this thing, you’ll be sure to be eating up every corner in it!