While here in the United States we got the Z31 chassis with the 300ZX slapped on it, in Japan enthusiasts were able to enjoy the Nissan Fairlady 200ZR. There’s still a cult following for the Mighty Boy today. Made from 1983 to 1988, this car was classified in Japan as a commercial vehicle and thus wasn’t subjected to the same taxes as consumer cars. A mere two feet of depth means you can’t fit that much in the payload, so the utility factor is a little questionable. If that bed looks like it couldn’t be that big, you’re right. It’s hard to tell until you’re looking at the rear, but there’s a bed partially hiding behind the B-pillars, making the Suzuki Mighty Boy look more like a hatchback from some angles. We received a version of the Cima here in the United States for a while, the Infiniti Q45, but it has since been discontinued. The ancient Greeks used those leaves to make a wreath worn like a crown, which you see replicated sometimes for the Olympics. Instead of a person, animal, or even an airplane like what you see on so many, the Nissan Cima’s hood ornament is an acanthus leaf. Toyota made the Mega Cruiser from 1995 to 2002.Ī full-size luxury sedan still being sold in Japan, the Nissan Cima gets its name from the Spanish word which means “summit.” Of all the interesting details about this car, the hood ornament is particularly unique. Among the cool standard features was a 4.1-liter turbo-diesel engine, four-wheel steering, and three lockable differentials. Just like with so many other military vehicles, Toyota then made a civilian version. Yes, it’s a subtle name but the Japan Self-Defense Forces went for it anyway as a good vehicle for keeping the peace. What you probably don’t know is Toyota made a more hardcore trail runner for the military market, and it was called the Mega Cruiser. When you think of Japanese off-roaders, the Toyota Land Cruiser, Nissan Pathfinder, and Mitsubishi Montero no doubt come to mind first. Even in Japan these cars are rare, since they were only made from 1992 to 1994. That hood scoop helps feed the 657cc turbocharged engine sourced from Suzuki. You just don’t expect such a dramatic feature on a Kei car. Besides that adorable front fascia, especially the round headlights, the AZ-1 is known for its gullwing doors. The Autozam brand might not be familiar to you, since it’s a JDM brand owned by Mazda. Yet another Kei car on the list, this is another one with a mid-engine layout. One of the most bizarre features on the Pao is the rearview mirror, which Is five mirrors joined together, spanning from one side of the headliner to the other. The throwback details on this little Nissan are many, including those cute round headlights, exposed door hinges, huge speedometer centered over the steering wheel, body-color door panels/dash/steering wheel, interior switchgear, etc. Still, it has that retro-cool look that hearkens back to the 1950s even though this car was launched in the 1980s. One of the Nissan Pike cars, the Nissan Pao is nowhere as famous as the Figaro or others. You’re not going to win any drag races with this Suzuki, but it’s a lot of fun on Tsukuba Circuit or a mountain road with plenty of chicanes. Tipping the scale at a mere 1,598 pounds the thing uses a punch turbo three-cylinder engine. Why else would there be the Suzuki Cappuccino? This little Kei car has a detachable hardtop and has been held up by some as an excellent alternative to the venerable Mazda Miata.
During its production run from 1991 to 1996 Honda cranked out over 33,000 BeatsĪpparently, the Japanese love their caffeine as much as they love their cars. This Kei car is of course tiny, and it has a mid-engine layout, which made it popular for Japanese wanting an economical yet fun roadster. It’s not every day you run across a Honda that was designed by none other than Pininfarina, but that’s not the end of the uniqueness for the Honda Beat.
Just how many of the following obscure JDM cars did you already know about? Which one would you want to put in your garage? Others are so cool you’ll be wondering why they’re not more widely-known here. Some JDM cars are just bizarrely weird, especially the notoriously small Kei cars. While we have seen a number of their cars in the United States, many more have never reached these shores, with the exception of a rare oddball imported by a diehard fan. Thanks to several factors which lined up after the close of WWII, the Japanese became prolific at designing and building all kinds of vehicles. Japanese domestic market (JDM) cars are many, which is really something for a tiny island nation off the coast of the Asian continent.
How many of these Japanese rides do you already know?
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