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Many of the world's most popular project cars are Japanese, and Toyota's superior build quality is in large part to thank for that.
Japanese automakers have come a long way. Upon their introduction in the United States, critics were quick to claim that Japanese vehicles would never succeed in the land of humongous and energetic motors. While it was difficult in the beginning, luck played on the side of carmakers coming out of the land of the rising sun. The EPA's efforts to pass emissions legislation and the two oil crises of the '70s drastically changed the automotive landscape.
RELATED: 10 Reasons Why Toyota Is Actually One Of The Most Exciting Car Manufacturers Right Now There are several Japanese cars that gearheads refuse to modify. These cars are timeless and are likely to appreciate in value as time passes by. However, carmakers like Toyotahave mass-produced a decent number of outstanding vehicles that are screaming to be customized. These cars vary in price and age, but they all are a perfect base for a sick build.
Outside of hardcore JDM fans, most domestic piston heads are unaware of the fact that Japanese carmakers have been creating outstanding compact sports cars for decades. Toyota released the very first Japanese supercar back in 1967. The 2000GT is remarkable but costs an arm and a leg. For gearheads with a smaller budget, there were several attractive options.
The '70 Toyota Celica GT is one of the most beautiful Japanese classic cars ever made. The first-generation rocks sporty looks usually found on American muscle cars. Underneath the hood sits a 1.6L 2TGTwin Cam inline-four unit that pumps out 113 hp at 6,400 rpm and 105 lb-ft of torque at 5,200 rpm. Though less powerful than the base Mustang of the same year, the Celica 1600GT is the perfect base for an insane restomod project.
Several companies have manufactured cars for one purpose only: racing. Whether it is on or off-track, these cars are often equipped with the latest technologies available. If they are not given the best performance parts, they tend to have the basis needed to build a monster from the seventh layer of hell. Toyota did just that with the Hachi-Roku.
RELATED: A Look Back At The Toyota Corolla AE86 'Hachi-Roku', And Why It's So Expensive Today
Part of Japanese culture, the AE86 "Hachi-Roku" even earned its own anime. Very popular among gearheads thanks to its rear-wheel drive set, five-speed transmission, and overall modularity, the AE86 was made to be customized. Fitted with a 1.6L 4A-GE inline-four engine capable of producing 128 hp at 6,600 rpm and 110 lb-ft of torque at 5,200 rpm, the AE86 logically became a drift legend rather quickly.
Several automakers have created nameplates that have become legendary over time. In the United States, the Ford Mustang and the Chevy Camaro are known to be some of the oldest nameplates. Japan also has its fair share of emblematic nameplates. Nissan and the Skyline, Mazda and the RX, and Toyota with its insane Supra are the prime examples.
When taking a detailed look back at the MK3 Toyota Supra, it is fair to say that gearheads in the United States should have given the Japanese sports car a lot more attention. The Supra MK3 comes at best with a twin-turbocharged 2.5L 1JZ-GTE inline-six unit that pumps out 276 hp at 6,200 rpm and 268 lb-ft of torque at 4,800 rpm. It is important to keep in mind that the Gentlemen's Agreement ratified by Japanese automakers prevented them from advertising more than 276 hp.
The number of great Japanese cars that ended up going completely under the radar in the United States is quite high. Despite being decently powered and stylish, these cars were simply eclipsed by western vehicles. From the Mitsubishi Galant VR4 to the Toyota MR2, it is unclear why piston heads never looked at these cars the same way they look at the Chrysler 300 SRT-8 or the Volkswagen Golf GTI.
The MR2 is a very interesting vehicle. In the United States, it is often regarded as a snooze fest. In Japan, however, the MR2 is a demi-god. Dubbed "the poor man's Ferrari," the MR2 is a great project car. At best, the compact sports car comes with a turbocharged 2.0L 3S-GTE engine cranking out 200 hp at 6,000 rpm and 200 lb-ft of torque at 3,200 rpm.
It is often said that Japanese sports cars are rice rockets. While it is true that penny-less Honda Civic owners have shown throughout the years that it is always possible to turn a Civic into something worse, it is erroneous to assume that everything coming out of Japan is not worth a glance. Toyota has proved repeatedly that it is perfectly capable of manufacturing cars that would obliterate their European and American counterparts.
RELATED: The Toyota Soarer Is The Luxury Supra That Nobody Talks About
The Toyota Soarer is best known in the United States as the Lexus SC. While the sports coupes look identical, a quick look under the hood will let any piston head know that the Soarer is the real deal. Sharing the same platform and twin-turbocharged 2.5L engine found on the 1992 Toyota Supra MK3, the Soarer packs a mean punch. Moreover, Toyota decided to offer the 4.0L 1UZ-FE V8 originally found on the Celsior.
Most JDM fans in the United States must be sad that some of the greatest Japanese cars cannot be legally imported. One of the biggest successes in Japan, namely the Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R, was featured in The Fast And The Furious movies but was an absolute nightmare to import at the time. Toyota manufactured some insane vehicles that could also never make it to the United States without jumping through some hoops.
The sixth-generation Chaser is the Japanese sedan that was made to be customized. The top-line Chaser V comes with a turbocharged 2.5L 1JZ-GTE rated according to the Gentleman's Agreement in place. However, the Chaser did not inherit the dual-turbo set-up found on the Supra MK3. With that said, the Chaser V remains a terrific machine.
The early 2000s are remembered as the pinnacle of the JDM scene. Great Japanese imports and aftermarket parts were widely available. What truly brought JDM to the main stage was of course The Fast And The Furious. During that era, Toyota made sure to offer the perfect car for amateur and professional tuners alike.
Known in the United States as the Lexus IS 200, the Toyota Altezza was one of the most popular cars in the JDM back in the early 2000s. It is often wrongly believed that the IS 200 and Altezza are essentially the same. The Lexus IS 200 never got the more virulent RS200 Z Edition treatment. Coming with a 2.0L 3S-GE four-cylinder unit producing 207 hp at 6,400 rpm and 159 lb-ft of torque at 6,400 rpm, The Altezza RS200 is one of the best Toyotas ever sold with a manual transmission.
Since Toyota established itself as the manufacturer of affordable and reliable vehicles, the company had a hard time pushing sportier and more interesting cars. Consequently, the general public perceived these cars as just "another Toyota," when in reality these cars had all the prerequisites necessary to become awesome builds.
The Solara was surprisingly not more popular among car fans. Although it is a variant of the Camry, the Solara can be turned into a beast. With its 3.0L 1MZ-FE V6 that develops 200 hp at 5,200 rpm and 214 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm, the Solara is perfect for a 300-hp setup. After all, aftermarket parts for Toyota engines are plentiful these days.
The sedan market contains about everything a motorist could look for. From a simple means of transportation to a luxury lounge on wheels, there is something on market for every budget. 40 years ago, the Camry was a basic sedan made for average earners. This reputation stuck to the Camry like glue. Things changed in the most recent years as the Camry became more nervous.
The Toyota Camry is America's favorite sedan for good reasons. It is an affordable and reliable sedan that will last a lifetime. For 2020, Toyota released a sportier version of the Camry. Sharing the same 3.5L 2GR-FKS V6 as the SE trim, the Camry TRD includes a mean body kit, a better suspension kit, and a louder exhaust. The only thing needed at this point is an extra 200 hp.
Several car brands decided to give more zing to some of their popular nameplates. With the technology now available, these car companies have realized that more horsepower could be squeezed out of any engine. In the last five years, Toyota worked on developing sports versions of its best-selling vehicles. The Camry TRD was already impressive. The Yaris GR was bonkers. The upcoming Corolla GR is simply out of this world.
RELATED: Here's Why We're Looking Forward To The 2023 Toyota GR Corolla
The Corolla had become associated with broke college kids. While it is true that the Corolla has not been interesting in years, things are about to change in the year 2023. The 2023 Corolla GR is a very special hot hatchback that comes with a turbocharged 1.6L inline-three engine that makes 300 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. Needless to say, someone out there will try to get at least 500 hp out of the upcoming Corolla GR.
Max Veron is an avid fan of anything equipped with a powerful engine. Spending time between Southeast Asia, Europe and the US, Max is travel bug with a great taste for cars.