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In recent years, the massive shift in the automotive landscape has seen numerous Japanese sports cars disappear from the public eye.
The land of the rising sun is home to some of the most respected sports cars on the market today, including the Toyota 86, Subaru BRZ, Nissan Z, Lexus RC F, and Mazda MX-5. Looking back to the Japanese Golden Age in the 1980s and '90s, it's mind-blowing how the country evolved from a blip on the automotive radar in years past to a global leader. Due to their respectable power, superior reliability, excellent driver involvement, and approachable pricing, dozens of legendary Japanese sports cars dominated the global market.
However, technological advances and consumer preferences have seen the automotive landscape shift massively in the last decade alone. As a result, numerous iconic Japanese sports cars disappeared from the public eye. Relegated to weekend driving, garage collections, car meets, or even track days, it's increasingly rare to see these sports cars. Here's a list of sports cars that used to be everywhere, but you won't see them today.
Related: 10 Japanese Sports Cars That Actually Aren't As Good As People Think
The Celica broke new ground for sports cars with its go-anywhere, do-anything attitude, establishing itself as a formidable sales success and a revered motorsport icon. Throughout its lifetime, Toyota sold the Celica in coupe and liftback body styles with numerous engine configurations like the beloved 4A-GE and the legendary 3S-GTE.
With stricter emission regulations and a gradual shift away from sports cars weighing down on production, Toyota discontinued the Celica in the U.S. in the summer of 2004 after 35 years of production. Almost two decades later, the Celica population is dwindling significantly, despite the popularity of models like the sixth-generation GT-Four and the striking XYR-designed seventh-generation coupe.
The iconic Eclipse sports coupe appealed to enthusiasts with its futuristic design, road-hugging stance, and heart-thumping mechanics. A proper driver's car of the time, the three-starred sports coupe made its mark in pop and tuner culture alongside legends like the Skyline and Supra with stellar performances in the Fast and Furious franchise.
Mitsubishi sold the Eclipse for over two decades up to 2012 and across four generations, opting to discontinue the model in favor of developing battery technology and meeting global environmental targets. Despite enjoying a solid fanbase of motorsport enthusiasts and sports car aficionados, the Eclipse also fell victim to changing tastes and has become a rare sight on the roads today.
Related: 10 Things Most People Don't Know About Brian's Mitsubishi Eclipse From The Fast And The Furious
Nissan conceived the 240SX as a modestly sensible two-door sports car primarily aimed at the lower end of the market. Designed with a desirable front-engine, rear-wheel-drive configuration, a lightweight yet stiff chassis, independent suspension, and a slick-shifting manual transmission, the 240SX made an immediate impact as a massively fun-to-drive sports car.
The 240SX made more inroads in the U.S. than its predecessors, developing a dominant reputation in the drifting, racing, and tuner communities. Interestingly, Nissan produced over two million 240SX models for the American market before it got axed in 1998. However, the demanding life most of these models experienced ensured only a few remain on the roads today.
From top to bottom of the lineup and across four generations, the Acura Integra stamped its authority on the market as one of the best-handling front-wheel-drive sport compacts. This achievement was especially true with the GS-R variant, also revered for its neutral balance, impressive dynamics, and thrilling feedback, allowing it to surpass larger, more potent sports cars of the time.
Part of the GS-R's specialness came from its engines, considering it was the second model after the NSX to cause waves in the U.S. with the rev-happy VTEC. Although Acura eventually resurrected the Integra nameplate following a 15-year hiatus, the iconic predecessors that set the benchmark in the 1990s and 2000s are rarely seen in action.
The Lancer Evolution series became more of a rally weapon than a typical sports car thanks to Mitsubishi's ceaseless quest for automotive dominance and its long-term commitment to ruggedness. With legendary rally drivers like Tommi Mäkinen and Richard Burns on the wheel, the Lancer Evolution ascended into the WRC hall of fame and achieved cult status among enthusiasts.
The Lancer Evolution also influenced pop culture through epic performances in blockbuster films like Fast and Furious and Taxi 2, not to mention stellar features in video games such as Gran Turismo, Forza Horizon, and Need For Speed. Later variants like the Evo X still garner attention from automotive enthusiasts today, but most of the earlier models that established the Lancer Evolution legacy are less active in public.
Related: 5 Reasons Why We Love The Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII (5 Reasons Why We'd Rather Get The Subaru Impreza STi 22b)
Toyota was not the first company to produce a small, budget-friendly, mass-produced sports car, but it was undoubtedly the first to enjoy significant sales success, thanks to the legendary MR-2. The MR-2's light chassis, fun-to-drive nature, and desirable mid-engine layout made it one of the best sports cars on the track and the streets.
Toyota's understanding of the 'win on Sunday, buy on Monday' philosophy saw the popular MR-2 enjoy considerable success in motorsport, from the Japanese Grand Touring Championships to the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Swiss Touring Car Championship. MR-2 production ceased in 2005 after a global slowdown in sports car demand, and its numbers on the road have gradually dwindled over the years.
The 300ZX introduced Japan's first mass-produced V-6, not to mention innovative technology such as a computerized Voice Warning System and the Body Sonic audio system with a bass amplifier. Produced across two similar yet unique Z31 and Z32 generations, the Nissan 300ZX was a sensation that set the stage for world-class rear-wheel-drive Japanese performance cars.
The more desirable Z32 restored the legendary Z-car sports car status, utilizing the Porsche 944 and Chevy Corvette as benchmarks for the resurgence. Depending on who you ask, the 300ZX is still one of Nissan's most loved Z sports cars. Unfortunately, this classic is a rare gem at auction blocks today, meaning it's getting even harder to see in public.
The RX-7 changed the game through its unconventional twin-turbocharged rotary engine, lightweight construction, impeccable handling, and relative affordability compared to other up-market sports cars. Although Mazda built the RX-7 over three generations, the last chapter was arguably the best since it transformed from a Japanese GT to a no-compromise sports car.
In addition, the RX-7's iconic influence on pop culture is hard to underplay, with several notable appearances in the Fast and Furious film franchise and the Need for Speed video game series. The RX-7 FD's stunningly fluid design language makes it as timelessly modern as it did at its debut, but the complicated durability of the rotary motor contributes to the limited numbers that survive today.
Related: 8 Things We Love About The Mazda RX-7 FD (2 Reasons Why We'd Never Buy One)
The Honda S2000 was Japan's version of the Porsche Boxster or BMW M Roadster, developed with a more sophisticated front mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout than its Mazda MX-5 Miata rival. The S2000 honed Honda's world-beating engineering across the AP1 and AP2 generations, not forgetting the higher-spec S2000 Club Racer.
The humble S2000 also joined an exclusive group comprising primarily of supercars thanks to its class-leading naturally-aspirated VTEC inline-four engine, capable of a stratospheric 9,000rpm redline. The S2000 deservedly transitioned into a bona fide modern classic in recent years, and it's just a shame that its population is quickly thinning out.
The iconic Supra, undoubtedly Toyota's most famous sports car nameplate, spawned initially from the Celica coupe to challenge the Nissan Z-Cars that ruled the 1980s and 90s. Besides marking the peak for the Supra model, the fourth-generation (A80) model propelled the 2JZ-GTE engine to legendary status and helped define the Golden Age of Japanese cars.
Even more impressive, the Supra A80 left an indelible mark in motorsport, pop culture, and the tuner community. Unfortunately, Toyota put the Supra A80 to pasture in 2002 following declining sales of sports coupes, and the increasing rarity since then has seen its value skyrocket to astronomical figures.
Simon Kim has always been passionate about machines since childhood, and this has grown into an obsession well into adulthood. As an avid reader and creative content writer, he finds joy and fulfillment in sharing his love for cars and bikes with other machine heads. Currently, Kim seeks to deliver exciting and informative articles on HotCars. He enjoys music and art and dabbles in active sports and virtual gaming in his spare time.