ON THE RISE: Japanese Cars and Light Trucks Are Poised for Renewed Appreciation

December 26, 2018
Posted by Barrett-Jackson

Written by independent automotive journalist Steve Magnante

This pristine 1997 Acura Integra Type R sold for an auction record sum of $63,800 at the 2018 Las Vegas Auction, an indication of trends to come.

It was only a matter of time. Today, Japanese special-interest cars and light trucks are poised for action on the auction block ‒ and in the hands of modern American collectors who recall them fondly from childhood and the family driveway. And we’re not talking about rarities like the exotic Toyota 2000GT sports car of the late ’60s. Only 351 of those sleek roadsters and coupes were built – hardly enough to satisfy demand then or now. Rather, today’s Asian attractions are part of the multi-million-strong wave of Japanese cars and light trucks that crossed the Pacific Ocean aboard huge freight ships beginning in the late 1960s.

On the block at the 2019 Scottsdale Auction: A 2001 Acura NSX-T VIN 00001 (Lot #771).

Proof of the growing interest in these imported Japanese offerings was seen at the recent 2018 Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas Auction. There, a pristine 1997 Acura Integra Type R sold for an auction record sum of $63,800, setting the internet and social media ablaze instantaneously with hundreds of thousands of posts and messages cheering the result all over the planet.

The thing is, this 1997 example marked the debut year for Acura’s race-inspired Integra Type R. Unlike the more pedestrian Integra RS, LS, GS and GS-R, the Integra Type R was lightened by some 93 pounds, rode on stiffer suspension and had no options other than air conditioning. The key Type R feature was under the hood, where its 1.8-liter inline 4-cylinder engine made more horsepower per liter – 195 hp at 8,000 rpm – than any other naturally aspirated engine sold in the U.S. that year, even the mighty LS1 powered Corvette.

Externally, Acura enhanced the Type R’s exclusivity via distinctive emblems that featured a big red letter R you could spot from across the parking lot. Just as kids of the ʼ60s coveted emblems reading SS, R/T, GTO, etc., these Type R emblems quickly became “a thing.”

Headed to the 2019 Scottsdale Auction at No Reserve: A right-hand-drive 1990 Toyota Sera (Lot #350.1)

Getting back to the engine, did you catch the rpm level? Thanks to its exclusive VTEC feature (variable on-the-fly camshaft phasing), the Type R engine was capable of spinning up to 8,000 rpm. Disastrous to typical Detroit V8 engine types, driving a Type R or any of the subsequent family of VTEC-equipped Hondas and Acuras is an exercise in rpm appreciation. Coming on strong where most other engines are beginning to lay flat, these rev-happy power plants fueled thousands of young engine-swappers to stuff Integra Type R engines in smaller Civics to beat up on American Mustang GTs and IROC-Z Camaros.

And therein lays a complication. Just as car-crazy kids scavenged 427 Corvettes and HEMI Road Runners of their engines to swap them into Novas and Darts back in the ’60s, plenty of Integra Type Rs were harvested so their 8,000 rpm VTEC engines could be swapped into those smaller Civic race cars. Add in the fact that only 320 of these Championship White (the only color available) Integra Type Rs were imported to the U.S. in 1997, not many unmolested examples survived. This record sale result is completely understandable.

There also has been a big upswing in the appreciation – and sale price of – Japanese mini-pickup trucks of late. First seen in the U.S. in the late 1950s and fully entrenched by 1976, these 2/3-scale pickups from Toyota, Datsun and Mazda (for the most part) filled a market demand. Not every truck buyer wanted the size of a typical Detroit-style pickup truck. Even the smallest half-tonners shared external dimensions (except wheelbase) with their bigger 3/4- and 1-ton brothers. These smaller Japanese offerings pleased buyers wanting the utility of an open bed combined with the fuel economy of a compact car. They are also ripe for modifications and have always enjoyed a strong following.

At the 2018 Las Vegas Auction, this 1983 Toyota SR5 4×4 Pickup sold for $55,000.

Setting another auction record at the 2018 Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas event, a lightly modified 1983 Toyota SR5 4×4 pickup attracted heavy bidding from several smart enthusiasts. In the end, the sale price of $55,000 shocked some attendees, but it also hints at the growing interest in these tidy, efficient and fun little machines. Smartly blending original looks – especially in the form of Toyota’s flashy SR5 decal stripe package – with a mild suspension lift, upsized rolling stock and improved gearing, the $55,000 sale price will likely seem normal as time marches on.

So what is at the core of this renewed appreciation for Japanese machinery? It all goes back to the fact nearly a whole generation of Americans grew up with a Japanese car in the driveway. Starting in the early ʼ70s, domestic automakers were too slow to react to the government safety and economy mandates and energy crises that rattled the world at the time. Waiting in the wings, and ripe from unseating the Volkswagen Beetle from its domination of the economy-car roost, wave upon wave of Asian imports arrived upon our shores.

At first, these little Datsuns, Toyotas, Hondas, Mazdas, Mitsubishis and Subarus courted economy-minded buyers with humble offerings with names like B210, Corolla, Civic, RX2, Mirage and Brat. But when cross-shopped against Chevy Vegas, Ford Pintos and AMC Gremlins, they sold like wildfire. As a result, an entire generation of young Americans grew up with a Japanese car, because ‒ simply put ‒ they were generally better cars for the dollar.

Coming to the 2019 Scottsdale auction block with No Reserve: This 1973 Datsun 240Z (Lot #453).

Thanks to the immense cash flow generated by these bread-and-butter offerings, Asian carmakers branched out with much more specialized, sportier offerings that allowed their designers to really strut their stuff. Classic results of these efforts include the 1970 Datsun 240Z, 1979 Toyota Celica Supra, 1979 Honda Prelude, 1978 Mazda RX7, 1982 Mitsubishi Starion and 1985 Subaru XT6. Some charged off the line and instantly gained superb reputations for their blend of performance, quality and value.

One thing they all shared was strong brand loyalty among buyers. So while Mom and Dad brought home a sleepy Datsun 610, Toyota Corolla, Honda Accord, Mazda GLC, Mitsubishi Galant or Subaru Justy (remember those names?), every trip to the dealership for maintenance found Junior salivating over the latest 280ZX Turbo, Supra Turbo or VTEC-equipped Honda. It was a virtual repeat of what happened in the ’60s, but with an Asian bent. Dad drove a mid-60s Pontiac Bonneville, but Junior and Sis aspired to a GTO or Firebird.

In response to these recent world record sales – and a similar upswing in the sale prices of Japanese supercars and Toyota F40 SUVs, Barrett-Jackson President and CEO Craig Jackson recently commented, “There’s no doubt that these cars and trucks are on the rise among collectors. This is especially true among Gen-Xers and millennials who grew up with these cars and now have the means to buy and restore them … Toyota Supra Turbos and early Datsun Z cars are also picking up steam. Even modern imports, like the Lexus LFA, are demanding staggering prices on and off the auction block.”

The first-production 2020 Toyota Supra, VIN 20201, will be sold for charity at the 2019 Scottsdale Auction.

Amid this rising tide of appreciation for Asian offerings, Japanese automakers are doing their part to fan the flames of nostalgia and cutting-edge technology. Though dormant for a few years, the mighty Toyota Supra is scheduled to make a triumphant return in 2020. Sharing certain platform and driveline components with the BMW Z4, the revived Supra promises to rekindle memories of the legendary Toyota muscle coupe, but with more power and handling capability than ever before.

To celebrate Supra’s return, Toyota has arranged to auction the first-production Supra at the upcoming 2019 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction. With all proceeds going to charity, the one-of-a-kind Supra is sure to be an instant collectible and will be delivered to the winning bidder as soon as production kicks off during the first half of 2019.

The old notion that special-interest car collectors only care about domestic and European offerings is becoming outdated. The time has come for fun cars of every origin to be appreciated and driven … hard. Make sure you keep an open eye – and mind – the next time you spot an Asian vehicle at a car show or auction. Having played a significant role in maintaining interest among car enthusiasts, these vehicles can only gain a greater following as time passes.

For a look at what Japanese imports and other vehicles are headed to the 2019 Scottsdale Auction, view the docket HERE.