Japanese car manufacturers invaded the American market during the oil crisis of the 1970s. At first, Japanese cars were ridiculed as immense junk. Until it became clear that Japanese cars were on the same level or even superior to American and European cars. Thus, small Japanese cars began to gain ground in the world. Japan introduced and competed in all markets with large cars, sports cars, luxury cars, minivans, motorcycles, and trucks.
Japan continues to revolutionize the automotive world to this day, with thousands of projects and new technologies created every year, such as the announcement of the “mirai” hydrogen-powered car. In this article, we will look at 10 classic cars up to the year 2012 that had some influence or importance in the automotive industry. It is worth noting that we will not mention the best or the most well-known, just 10 cars out of the thousands that exist.
Table of Contents
1. Toyota Corolla
The Toyota Corolla is the best-selling car in history. Since its introduction in 1966, a Corolla has been sold every 40 seconds (on average). The Corolla has undergone 10 major redesigns over the years.
2. Toyota Prius
The Prius was the world’s first mass-produced gasoline-electric hybrid car. It was launched in 1997 with a friendly design that revolutionized the automotive industry. By 2008, the Prius was offered in 70 countries and sold over 1 million units. The humble Prius became a status symbol representing concern for the environment. Other Prius drivers took pride in the car’s ability to reduce their dependence on foreign oil.
3. Mazda RX-7
The Mazda RX-7 was a sports model produced by Mazda from 1978 to 2002. It features rear-wheel drive and a 260 horsepower engine with a maximum rotation of 9000 rpm. It was introduced in 1978 with a 1146 cc (twin-rotor) rotary engine. It offered sporty performance at a reasonable price. A total of 811,634 cars were produced.
4. Honda Accord
The Honda Accord was the first Japanese car to be manufactured in the United States, in 1982. It was the best-selling Japanese car in the U.S. for 15 consecutive years (1982-1997). The Accord has a long-standing reputation as one of the most reliable cars ever made. Several drivers have reached the maximum on their speedometers, driving over 1,600,000 km.
5. Lexus LS400
The Lexus LS400 was the first Lexus from Toyota to enter the American luxury car market. It was launched in 1989 and was an instant success. Its design won awards and innovative customers. Other brands felt threatened, which stimulated competition, generating innovations worldwide.
6. Nissan Leaf
Nissan was the first to bring a fully electric car to market in 2010. The LEAF won numerous awards, including the European Car of the Year in 2011. (That’s because it’s Japanese.)
7. Datsun 240Z
A sports model, popular marketed by Nissan in the U.S. as the Datsun 240Z from 1970 to 1978. The Datsun 240Z pleased many with its comfort and low cost. Despite its popularity, it began to disappear from the roads in the 1980s.
8. Subaru Legacy
The Subaru Legacy was created to compete against the Honda Accord and the Toyota Camry. Its sleek design won fans among snowboarders, camping enthusiasts, and anyone else looking for an affordable AWD model.
9. Honda Civic
A compact and reliable model introduced in 1972 – a year before the oil crisis of the 1970s. Civics are also used for racing. It is a popular family car as well. After several generations, the model continues to be successful to this day.
10. Acura Integra or Honda Integra
A compact coupe from Honda, manufactured worldwide from 1985 to 2006, and is still being produced in Japan today. It also won numerous awards for best car.
These were some cars that were successful. It does not mean they are the best or the most successful. Most of those mentioned had recognition in the West. There are thousands of car models, and many others in the eyes of the Japanese.
This article was written based on research conducted by “Japan Talk” dated 2012, some information may have changed over the years, however, we did some additional research, some of the models’ photos are the oldest.
Leave a Reply