Komeuppance Posted September 14, 2009 Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 INTEGRA?! Come on now. And the FB... LOL... that has a worse chance than a Starion. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/dr...9/09/68498782/1 While the rare-car world focuses on rare Bugattis and 1960s muscle cars, lots of car enthusiasts might unknowingly have potential top-dollar classics gathering value in their garages, overlooked by today's collectors. They are the Japanese import models of yesteryear. Twenty- and thirtysomethings who grew up on Japanese cars, yet could never identify with a Chevrolet Chevelle, are ripe to grow nostalgic for the best of the old models. Tim Suddard, publisher of Classic Motorsports, says the generation that embraced Hondas, Datsuns and Mazdas are likely to treasure them in the future. Here are Suddard's top 10 of Japanese import classics likely to gain in value: 1997-2001 Acura Integra Type R This car was sold through Acura dealerships and had one mission in life: to win races. It features a lightened, reinforced body, reworked suspension, bigger brakes and hand-assembled engine. U.S. production was limited to about 3,850. 1979-85 Mazda RX-7 After a less-than-stellar U.S. launch, the original RX-7 really helped put Mazda on the map. It married a smooth rotary engine with some sexy sheet metal. The underpinnings were a bit pedestrian, but it was the right car for the times. 1967-73 Datsun 510 This box rocks. While it wasn't super-fast in stock trim, the 510 proved to be a great blank canvas. Peter Brock's BRE race team made the car a winner in professional sedan competition, while countless enthusiasts made the 510 work well in so many different venues, from autocross and club racing to rally and even Baja. The next seven: 1971-78 Mazda RX-3 The Mazda RX-3, with its rotary engine, seems to have a special cult following that's hard to describe. The cars have become rare and prices continue to climb. The RX-3 had also enjoyed a rather successful competition record in both professional and amateur competition. 1970-73 Datsun 240Z Some say that this car single-handedly destroyed the British sports car industry. The 240Z was fast, practical and beautiful. Its inline six engine emitted a new kind of smooth. It was a Jaguar XKE for the rest of us. 1990-2005 Acura NSX The NSX proves that Honda can build a supercar. And in typical Honda fashion, the NSX didn't ask its owners to make too many excuses. The car is comfortable, fast and stylish. Plus it always starts on the first try. 1985-91 Honda CRX Si Good things come in small sizes. The Honda CRX went through two design generations, both marrying a flyweight chassis with a willing engine. The Si version added the good bits: better brakes, more power and a bit nicer interior. The CRX Si is like driving the automotive equivalent of an air-powered impact gun. 1964-66 Honda S600 Honda's first cars were anything but crude. The S600 featured a small inline-four engine fed by four individual carburetors -- a nod to the company's motorcycle roots. Another carryover from their bike history: The S600 features an unconventional chain drive. 1983-87 Toyota Corolla GT-S Make a car the star of an animated series, and odds are strong that it will garner a cult following. The Japanese manga "Initial D" follows the adventures of Takumi Fujiwara and his Toyota Sprinter Trueno GT-APEX. Thanks to his midnight mountain runs, this tofu delivery boy has become one of Japan's best drivers - well, at least in the "Initial D" comics and animated programs. The Corolla GT-S is the U.S. version of his chosen mount. 1990-97 Mazda Miata Here's the car that helped re-ignite America's love affair with the classic sports car. The original Miata wasn't the fastest thing out there, but it had the right balance and poise to make it a great ride. Plus the top goes down. Mazda has made a ton of them, but it's now getting harder to find a clean original model. -Robert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drwojo Posted September 14, 2009 Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 For shame! I always thought the FD would be the rare breed and become a classic. A starquest in good nic is better than all of those IMO. The few on par would be the NSX, the 70-73 240 and the hichi roku. JMO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burton Posted September 14, 2009 Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 Please, some crappy a** Mazdas beating out the 90's model Z cars. Lame. The guy who wrote that article only got about half of em right. What an idiot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Killtodie Posted September 14, 2009 Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 I dont know, I hear that those integras were the best handling fwd cars in recent times Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustPaus_88TSi Posted September 14, 2009 Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 I dont know, I hear that those integras were the best handling fwd cars in recent times That's like saying you have the "good kind of STD". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Convette Posted September 14, 2009 Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 That's like saying you have the "good kind of STD". LOL.. ha ha but really though they are/were. They make amzing race cars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustPaus_88TSi Posted September 14, 2009 Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 "You know, chlamydia isn't all that bad." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmyers151 Posted September 14, 2009 Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 "You know, chlamydia isn't all that bad." That's what she said? :confused0024: Yeah, this list seems a little off to me. How are you gonna put a 510 in the same list as an NSX. Granted, both are cool, I'd prefer the 510 to be honest, but still, nothing even remotely similar beyond both being imported cars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ebayquest Posted September 14, 2009 Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 For shame! I always thought the FD would be the rare breed and become a classic. A starquest in good nic is better than all of those IMO. The few on par would be the NSX, the 70-73 240 and the hichi roku. JMO "hichi-roku" (hachi-roku) just means 86, you watched too many fan-subbed Initial D episodes . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexasQuest Posted September 14, 2009 Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 That is a weak a$$ list. I can think of WAY better classic jap cars than those honduh's. And a miata? Give me a break! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dcrasta Posted September 14, 2009 Report Share Posted September 14, 2009 If the AE-Corolla started Init-D, the FC Rx7 Turbo took it to another level. How are u going to have a rotary RX7 or Rx3 on the list and not have the Turbo Rotary. 2 more cars missing from this list show this guys is an bonehead... NO Fairlady Z? No Skyline ? What an Idiot. Leaving the GT-R off the list is like a Richard Pryor album without the Curse words... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 15, 2009 Report Share Posted September 15, 2009 That guy missed a bunch of bad puppies, the Z's, the Supra/ Celicas and much more. He didn't do his homework. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Komeuppance Posted September 15, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2009 If the AE-Corolla started Init-D, the FC Rx7 Turbo took it to another level. How are u going to have a rotary RX7 or Rx3 on the list and not have the Turbo Rotary. 2 more cars missing from this list show this guys is an bonehead... NO Fairlady Z? No Skyline ? What an Idiot. Leaving the GT-R off the list is like a Richard Pryor album without the Curse words... I think this was USDM... or the Skyrines would have pwned all. -Robert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apedog Posted September 15, 2009 Report Share Posted September 15, 2009 people CHERISH the crx? thats the ugliest honda ever made! and acuras there ugly and slow GO HONDUH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patra_is_here Posted September 15, 2009 Report Share Posted September 15, 2009 the article is about imports that will increase in value. 2nd and 3rd gen rx7's probably won't. although the 2nd gen turbo II might. the FD will probably slowly lose value. 1st gen RX7's have actually shown an increase in value in the last few years due to collectors. so, for some reason this guy thinks all these cars will go up in value. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrazilBoy Posted September 20, 2009 Report Share Posted September 20, 2009 I think to be collectable it needs to be rare...I see at least 50 integras a day.......the only rare honda is the NSX so I agree with that being on the list... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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