6 Reasons You Need to Buy a Vintage JDM Car Right Now

"Freddy "Tavarish" Hernandez" (apidaonline) 03/07/2014 at 21:47 • Filed to: vintage JDM

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Recently, I've really been into classic Japanese cars. As a car guy, this sometimes leads to awkward conversations.

Random Car Guy: "So, you like cars? What's your dream car? Mustang? Camaro?"

Me: "Well, not really. Um. I mean, I'm kinda into cars that most people don't like. Like, most people think they are ugly. And slow. And poorly built. But they aren't! I mean, uh, did you see the game last weekend?"

This is a tough conversation for anybody. Fortunately, I'm here to give any fellow classic JDM-lover like me the ammunition they need to stand up against even the toughest critics.

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*This is an article from !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , written by our resident JDM fanatic and !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! contributor Garrett Hammerel. If you'd like to see more of these types of editorials, check us out !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! *

The story's original article can be found !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

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1. They're seriously cheap.

Do me a favor. Go to !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and play with their valuation tool. Find your favorite muscle car and look at the average price. For fun, let's just pick 5 that you're likely to always see at car shows:

1969 Pontiac GTO Base Model: $29,320

1967 Ford Mustang GT 289 Convertible: $46,822

1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS L78: $47,292

1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454: $59,945

1970 Dodge Challenger R/T Hemi: $118,978

That's an average cost of $60,471 in a group of 5 muscle car queens. Sure, there are some top trims in there, but I challenge any card-carrying car enthusiast to find another group of comparably popular muscle cars that's substantially cheaper than these ones. In comparison, looking at every single Japanese car on Hagerty (sans the $757,710 Holy Grail of JDM culture, the Toyota 2000GT) brings us an average cost of $10,504. That's a $50,000 difference that could easily pay for the ground-up restoration of your car and have enough left over for that rhinoplasty you've been thinking about all these years.

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2. They're different.

Remember that car show we were talking about? You know, the one that the nearby town holds every summer during their ______-celebration/fair/a-palooza? Well, I know you took pictures last time you went, probably looking like this:

You know what I'm talking about. Rows of Chargers, Mustangs, Corvettes, and various hot rods. There's a few pickup trucks, maybe a Plymouth Prowler, and that one guy that just bought a GT-R and can't keep it to himself. Welcome to every car show in Anytown, USA.

Now, when was the last time you saw an RX-3? A TA22 Celica? A Colt Galant GTO? If you answered with anything other than "Not really ever", then either you live in a way cooler area than me, or you're taking the question way too literally. It's the concept. Want a way to stand out from the crowd? Show up with a knock-off BRE 510.

...or a real one. That's cool, too.

Want to start conversation? Every person in the area will want to share their childhood stories with you when you hard park your CVCC. "No one likes them because they aren't muscle cars, though," you say to yourself before questioning if the Zyprexa you just took is really a placebo. "They were cheap knock-offs, and not particularly fast. They are definitely not cool." Well, about that:

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3. They're Interesting.

Every Japanese car has a story. Most "car guys" will think of it as a detriment, but I think it's character. It's the elephant in the room, the reason JDM is cheap and muscle is expensiv.

Japanese cars are not American, but they tried to be really bad. Yes, Japanese manufacturers in the 60's and 70's (and 80's and 90's) were struggling to find their own voice, so they borrowed some popular designs of the times. This is no mystery. The real mystery here is why people think that's a bad thing.

Think about it: the TA27 Celica looks like someone took a Mustang, put it in a copy machine, and hit 75%. How cool is that? While the Mustang was an everyman's car, the Celica was an everymanincludingpoorpeople's car. It's a true underdog story, and everyone loves those.

^One of these things is not like the other...

In addition, there's an uber-cool, mega-interesting Japanese alternative to just about every segment:
Looking at buying a Classic E-Type? Get a 240Z, instead.
BMW 2002 looking a little spendy? A 510 will fix that right up.
Everyone on your block has an MG? Datsun Roadster FTW.

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4. There's way more variety.

We all know what an El Camino looks like. How many of you out there has ever seen a Toyota Crown Coupe? A Datsun Cherry X1R? A first-gen Subaru Leone?

^Also, whatever the hell this thing is.

With importation laws the way they are in the US, you can legally import any Japanese cars built on or before March 2nd, 1989. That's basically all of the cool ones (alright, most of the cool ones). "Importation is expensive," you may be saying. You know what's more expensive? A $60,000 Chevelle, of which they made 20 million examples.

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5. They're easy to work on.

Because most Japanese cars were built to be inexpensive, they had the most spartan of options. That means you don't have to replace that expensive freon-based air conditioning unit, because it doesn't have one. Automatic convertible tops? Probably not. Overdrive? Nah.

For the most part, you're going to be working with 4 to 6 cylinders. There's probably not going to be any form of computing devices or ECU in the car, and parts are likely going to be relatively cheap. I have used a hammer on my Datsun Roadster more than I have used a screwdriver.

Side note: Due to the low cylinder count, don't forget the gas savings. Your B-210 is a gas miser at 45 mpg, while that Hemi acts like the Cookie Monster in the Keebler plant.

Another bonus of having a car with a tiny engine is that the engine bays are generally pretty barren. This opens up the possibility of engine swaps to classic JDM cars substantially. Your muscle car buddies won't get off your back for owning a 240Z? Throw a 350 in it.

^Or better yet...

And on that note…

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6. They're Fun!

For the most part, classic rice-burners are light, rear-wheel drive, low-powered, and reliable. These things all add up to unbridled, adolescent fun under the speed limit. Let's say you feel a little crazy in your GTO Judge. You'll drive out to an abandoned strip of road, do a couple of burnouts, drive way too fast, and crash into a light post. $50k worth of fixes later, and you'll have learned your lesson. You'll never take that thing past 3/10's again if you ever take it out of the garage.

Alternately, let's go for a drive in your 96-horsepower 510. 14 burnouts and 37 donuts later, you're still going. Even if you did wreck it, you'll be back on the road with a roll of duct tape, zip ties and $37.50 worth of Bondo.

These are cars that you can drive at 10/10ths to the track, to the grocery store, and to the plastic surgeon. Hoon all day, every day, and you won't get in much trouble save for a sticky carburetor every once in a while. It's about driving slow cars fast, instead of driving fast cars slow. There's something to be said for that, and the intoxicating way it makes you feel.

^"I have to pick up my dry cleaning!"

For those of you out there that share my views, hold your head up next time someone asks you what kinds of cars you are into. Use the ammunition I've given you, and make them feel foolish for ever having an opinion that's different that yours. Better yet, take them for a drive in your rust bucket and show them that you can indeed get an 8-cylinder smile from a 4-cylinder engine.

For everyone else: please see #1.

Original Post

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Tom McParland > Freddy "Tavarish" Hernandez 03/07/2014 at 21:53

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I want one of these so bad.

Freddy "Tavarish" Hernandez > Tom McParland 03/07/2014 at 21:55

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I'm going to report you for posting pornography.


....in a few minutes. :)

Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur > Tom McParland 03/07/2014 at 21:55

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Seriously I know that feel bro

N/A POWAAAHH > Freddy "Tavarish" Hernandez 03/07/2014 at 21:55

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I really want to get a MKII Celica-Supra

Tom McParland > Freddy "Tavarish" Hernandez 03/07/2014 at 21:56

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Yeah you better alert a mod...oh wait :D

Bird > Freddy "Tavarish" Hernandez 03/07/2014 at 21:56

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You forgot about the Mazda Cosmo ...it's graph doesn't go as high as the 2000GT, but they follow a similar arc.

Freddy "Tavarish" Hernandez > N/A POWAAAHH 03/07/2014 at 21:57

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One of my friends just got one, but it's rusted to hell and he drifts it. That car deserves so much better.

Freddy "Tavarish" Hernandez > Bird 03/07/2014 at 21:58

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You're right. I was just mainly making a point about the lion's share of vintage JDM vs. USDM. The Cosmo is a hell of a car though.

N/A POWAAAHH > Freddy "Tavarish" Hernandez 03/07/2014 at 22:04

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Aww man. I mean, I don't have the resources yet to do it properly, but I still want one

Freddy "Tavarish" Hernandez > N/A POWAAAHH 03/07/2014 at 22:06

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For some reason, their prices have gone through the roof. Somehow this dude got his for $700, and I can't find one for less than $6k.

RMudkips > Freddy "Tavarish" Hernandez 03/07/2014 at 22:07

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When I've got a steady job (I'm 16).

Hope they don't all rust out by that time.

Freddy "Tavarish" Hernandez > RMudkips 03/07/2014 at 22:08

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Jeez, that thing looks amazing.

Squid > Freddy "Tavarish" Hernandez 03/07/2014 at 22:09

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I wouldn't mind a KPGC10 Skyline, but I'd take a base one and throw an RB25 or 26 in there. I wouldn't mind a KP110 with an RB in it either, I think the 110 is a little more sexy of a body though.

Then again an RX3 with a 20B would be just as fantastic. Man one of these days I will have enough money to afford keeping a Wankel powered car on the road. . .

You are not alone with the admiration of the vintage JDM cars. If you want a good car porn site that has a whole bunch of vintage JDM rides check out RA64Freddy.com he has pictures galore of vintage JDM cars and the crazy wheels that were all the rage in the 80's. Be warned though you may lose a few hours looking at car porn if you visit that site.

Bird > Freddy "Tavarish" Hernandez 03/07/2014 at 22:12

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Yeah I love it....

N/A POWAAAHH > Freddy "Tavarish" Hernandez 03/07/2014 at 22:13

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Here is one for $1500

Freddy "Tavarish" Hernandez > Squid 03/07/2014 at 22:16

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There isn't enough money in the world to keep a Wankel-powered car on the road. Jay Leno's a millionaire many times over and his took a dump on him. But I'd still like to own all of the cars you just listed. I wonder if I can sell my kidney on ebay.

Squid > Freddy "Tavarish" Hernandez 03/07/2014 at 22:25

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By keeping on the road I mean buy all the spare motors to put in the car when one shits the bed. But really as long as you feed it a steady diet of oil and fuel and just know that if you drive it hard you get maybe 40-60,000 miles per motor all is well. Unless you run FI then you are just kinda fucked. I guess if you had enough money you could augment the cooling system with a nitrous sprayer system to keep the radiator and intercooler cool and efficient. After all heat is the biggest enemy to the Wankel cars and also the cooling system was their biggest fault.

I really feel you on the selling a kidney to get one of these cars. I mean I'd love to have a 68 Charger R/T, but for the money I'd rather have a crazy motor swapped vintage JDM car. Also I kinda feel like it is silly to fall back on the 350 swap in a vintage Japanese car, especially if it is pre 72, as all of the crazy JDM motors we didn't get over here are available to be put into the cars without restriction.

Freddy "Tavarish" Hernandez > Squid 03/07/2014 at 22:29

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I'm the same way as far as the 350 swap goes. I think a DOHC, high revving inline 6 is way more fitting and refined than a pushrod V8 will ever be.

I had an FD RX-7 for a bit, and as much as I loved it, I knew it was a bit of a ticking time bomb.

Squid > Freddy "Tavarish" Hernandez 03/07/2014 at 22:33

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I do understand the cost/power ratio of the 350 swaps but they have become a dime a dozen and really are not unique any more. Plus I'm not really a chevy guy so I don't think I'll be rushing to put a bow tie in any of the cars I will own, but there are solid opportunities missed out by people opting for the easy and cheap way out with the trusty ol' SBC.

I like high revving motors and would rather have a more expensive and fragile engine that can scream past 7,000 RPM than something that relies on push rods.

f86sabre > Freddy "Tavarish" Hernandez 03/07/2014 at 22:50

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I love this and I love these cars, but I have to be that guy for a second. The term JDM is being used incorrectly here. Japanese Domestic Market. Meaning cars built in Japan for use in Japan. That is the whole domestic market part of the equation. USDM would be US cars made for the US market. I'm sorry, it was just distracting me every time I came across it.

To make pease, and prove I don't mean to be a jerk for the sake of being a jerk, please accept this picture of Soichiro Honda and Ayrton Senna.

Greenmobile Supremo Commando, BRZ Extrordinare > Freddy "Tavarish" Hernandez 03/07/2014 at 22:54

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Have always wanted an S30 240z. One day.

Or, even a Honda S800. Cool little cars.

Freddy "Tavarish" Hernandez > f86sabre 03/07/2014 at 22:54

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Oh, don't worry. "That guy" is my middle name. The spirit of the article is actually encouraging of old JDM cars, not simply ones that were made for the US market and imported. I guess the term was used interchangeably, and for that, I'm deeply sorry. I have dishonored my family.

Also, Senna FTW.

Freddy "Tavarish" Hernandez > Greenmobile Supremo Commando, BRZ Extrordinare 03/07/2014 at 22:55

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Ughhhhhhhhhnnnn

f86sabre > Freddy "Tavarish" Hernandez 03/07/2014 at 22:59

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I just saw all the pics of cars with steering wheels on the left side of the car.

Good piece though. There are some lovely vintage Japanese machines. My grandfather bought one of the very early Datsun 1000s to enter the country in the 50s. Sadly, the car left the family about 20 years ago.

revrseat70 > Freddy "Tavarish" Hernandez 03/07/2014 at 23:33

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Now this guy is speaking my language!

So.. I just realized while posting this... almost all of my classic JDM love is Nissan/Datsun. These are the very tip of a very large iceberg, and I just realized they are almost all Nissan. O_o

Team6.1 > Freddy "Tavarish" Hernandez 03/07/2014 at 23:40

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Datsun. I love you. Wouldn't mind a 240/260/280 (pretty common), but really have my heart set on a 510 (coupe, 4 door, or wagon), it's just a sexy little peppy box of a car. Also dem bluebirds. Or a 70's skyline. But it's not like those are popping up on my craigslist every day. But honestly. Mirrors on fenders. That's just the coolest thing ever.

Team6.1 > Tom McParland 03/07/2014 at 23:41

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Dem mirros. Dem feels.

Team6.1 > Freddy "Tavarish" Hernandez 03/07/2014 at 23:44

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d00mZ > Freddy "Tavarish" Hernandez 03/08/2014 at 02:27

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Love this. I wonder how you feel about the Boso/Shakotan lifestyle too. I currently drive an S30 L26 w/Triple Webers and damn it feels good. I want to throw in an Rb26 later after college.
Dream garage:
RX3 20B
510 SR20
Fairlady 2000 OS Giken
Celica Coupe/Liftback 70' BEAMS/1UZ/2JZ
610 RB25
Galant GTO Astron II
List is endless... keep the classics living man. You, me, and very few others are spreading it through Oppo.

lonestranger > f86sabre 03/08/2014 at 02:34

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I'd go even further than that, and say the "built in Japan" or "built in 'x'" is irrelevant. The way I understand it, Japanese Domestic Market refers to the market within Japan, i.e. the domestic market, as opposed to the export market. Cars imported from outside of the country that are intended for sale in Japan would also be considered JDM. The same applies to USDM or any other country one would choose to describe.

TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut > Freddy "Tavarish" Hernandez 03/08/2014 at 03:30

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In the future, I hope to find a TA40 Celica like the one my dad had. A great and reliable car. He owned it for 23 years but was forced to sell it on when we moved countries. He was given the assurance that it would be well taken care of, but upon selling it, the buyer and the car promptly vanished.

The one pictured was almost identical, apart from the wheels, which were chromed 5-spokes.

Freddy "Tavarish" Hernandez > d00mZ 03/08/2014 at 08:46

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That's an amazing list. Would the 510 SR20 be NA or DET?

Freddy "Tavarish" Hernandez > TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut 03/08/2014 at 08:47

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I hate hearing about stories of "the one that got away". Here's to hoping she's in a garage somewhere and not rotting in some field.

d00mZ > Freddy "Tavarish" Hernandez 03/08/2014 at 10:34

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DET... Maybe though... Compression decisions.

Chance.Canson > Freddy "Tavarish" Hernandez 03/10/2014 at 10:21

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Well, I just found this: https://www.jdmlegends.com/?p=5764 annnnnd now I have to sell my GTI to fund the purchase.

Freddy "Tavarish" Hernandez > Chance.Canson 03/10/2014 at 10:33

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Don't you hate it when that happens?

Chuckanut > Freddy "Tavarish" Hernandez 03/10/2014 at 22:02

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I've already been there, and regret having to sell it: an Isuzu 117 Coupe.

Designed by Guigaro in the mid-60's, it was Isuzu's halo car for 15 years. Even with Isuzu badges most people thought it was Italian. Luckily I sold it back to the PO who did a full resto-mod and it still lives today. Maybe now I'll get another one...

olddatto > Freddy "Tavarish" Hernandez 03/11/2014 at 07:04

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I daily drive a Datsun 510. I've been stopped by everything from ford rangers to '69 chargers. Everybody everywhere has a story to tell about a 510 their mom had when they were kids or a 510 they had in highschool. So be ready to have a bunch of strangers talk to you at a gas station. Hobos love datsuns also, fair warning.

Jim on Whidbey > Chuckanut 09/12/2014 at 20:18

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Nothing short of awesome cars, I am fortunate enough to own 2 of them and a number of other really interesting JDM cars, and this article makes all the arguments that I do why having them is not only practical but fun. Interesting cars that you can afford to have fun with and they rarely break... Life in JDM is good...

Chuckanut > Jim on Whidbey 09/12/2014 at 22:51

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Do you own my old one? The PO was in Tacoma, last I saw it was black, lowered, maybe a turbo. When I had it it was red with rust. Lots of rust...

datsunfan4life > Freddy "Tavarish" Hernandez 10/23/2014 at 12:22

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love my 280z and I plan on many more Datsuns in the future.

Downshiftrecords > revrseat70 10/23/2014 at 18:47

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I own a Datsun 510 wagon KA24DE swapped and I can tell you that I feel every car enthusiast should experience a Datsun at least once in their life. They get great stories, turn heads, look great, sound great, feel great and they always garuntee a smile behind the wheel

MikeA > Freddy "Tavarish" Hernandez 10/23/2014 at 19:54

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I absolutely love the options we get with these cars, and they do not need to be swapped with a Chevy to be stupid fast and fun..

Just a pretty little Fairlady..

right up until you open the hood. It sounds good. It revs forever, 9k rpms.. It's just plain fun. And you can drive it all day every day. I do.. I have put over 68 thousand miles on this car in the last 3 years.

Or you can do what Scott Fisher did with his, and drive a very original car around the country, with almost no worries.

Just great cars.

pdx107 > datsunfan4life 10/24/2014 at 15:36

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hey its a Les Schwab

Vic788 > Tom McParland 11/14/2014 at 23:06

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TA27 Celica's

Stuff > Freddy "Tavarish" Hernandez 03/28/2017 at 12:16

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I always thought that the 2000GT-R looked a bit like a Roadrunner mixed with a challenger. Also the 240z looks like a bit like an E-Type Jag, Ferrari 250GT, and a Mustang mixed together.