Imports make up a massive part of the global car market, and for good reason. Not everybody is satisfied by what their home country has to offer, and foreign models can be appealing if they provide a more powerful engine, simple repairability, or longer-lasting performance. Import fads have come and gone in the United States, but one of the most popular waves of this phenomenon centered around Japanese Domestic Market (or “JDM”) cars. It’s no secret that many Americans are fans of Japanese technology, but what was it about JDM cars–specifically around the turn of the millennium–that had American gearheads raving?

One important reason for the desirability among Americans was the exclusivity of JDM cars. Even though Japanese coupes and sportscars were displayed in American dealerships throughout the 1980s, it was rare to see them come to the U.S. legitimately. Import laws were strict on the American side and this was mirrored by a myriad of restrictions on the Japanese side. 

Even still, restrictions couldn’t stop demand; Americans who had the need for speed recognized that Japan offered sportscar and even supercar performance at lower prices than their North American or European manufacturing counterparts. Additionally, even if a Japanese sedan or coupe wasn’t built for speed out of the box, it was usually easier to modify because of Japan’s comparatively more streamlined vehicle construction. When legitimately imported Japanese cars began to hit American markets, these factors combined to create amazing sales numbers that cemented cars from that era as staples for both average Americans and racing-focused consumers. One of the first JDM success stories in the States was…

The Toyota Supra

One of the reasons the JDM craving ever hit the United States car consumer market was the Toyota Supra. Released in the 1979 model year in Japan and the following year in the U.S., the Supra initially was called the “Cecilia Supra,” as it used bodywork that resembled a larger version of that year’s Toyota Cecelia. The Supra gradually established a reputation as a cheap, yet speedy sportscar. The 1980 version only produced around 116 bhp, but by the model’s final North American production year in 1998, Mark IV Supras output around 325 bhp.

Unfortunately for fans at the turn of the millennium, global sales ceased in 2002. But the fun wasn’t over just yet–the Supra was a supremely easy car to mod, so gearheads continued to enhance the noble car to be a speed demon at their local racing circles. Additionally, a brand new Toyota Supra that elevated the strengths of the original was released in 2019, allowing kids who grew up with Supra daydreams to live them out in their adulthood. 

The Supra may have been the JDM king of the 80s, but when the 1990s rolled around, competition to be the fan favorite became fierce. One such competitor was…

The Honda/Acura NSX 

It’s rare that a manufacturer cracks the code in their first attempt at a supercar. One of the reasons that we don’t think that it’s impossible is the Acura NSX, which immediately appealed to the desires of North American drivers. Famously featuring the world’s first all-aluminum body, the NSX (known as the Honda NSX in Japan) set benchmarks for speed and maneuverability by combining that trademark lightness with V6 power. It also turned heads based on its looks; engineers consulted the aerodynamic styling for F-16 fighter jets and the bodywork expertise of Formula One Champion Ayrton Senna to create a vehicle that was scientifically and visually marvelous. Combining these elements with unofficial JDM mods created fearsome competitors at the racetrack for over a decade.

The NSX tinkered with the formula remarkably little over its 1990-2007 production run. A larger V6 and minor bodywork revisions are the most noteworthy changes, but that didn’t stop fan approval from growing throughout the years. Even automotive competitors couldn’t ignore how special this car was; it was the favorite car of engineers and designers like Gordon Murray, who even went so far as to use the NSX chassis in the design for the McClaren F1. Similar to the Supra, the NSX fanbase would receive a treat a few years later, when a new and improved NSX was unveiled. The legacy was redefined from 2016 to 2022, when the combination of an even lighter body and an even more powerful 602 bhp engine resulted in a supercar that could fly around the track.

JDM cars were remarkable for being official Japanese models that appealed greatly to (and were heavily marketed towards) the needs of North American car enthusiasts. Unfortunately, not every amazing JDM car would reach U.S. dealership lots. Or, at least, not in an official capacity.

The Nissan Skyline GT-R

The Nissan Skyline GT-R was a fan-favorite performance package that injected a normal sedan with Japanese racing pedigree. Its 4-wheel drive system provided it with superior handling that made it a wonder at high speeds, and it was a common purchase for Japanese gearheads and American JDM car importers alike. Even though the Skyline was a normal sedan when it first rolled off the line in 1957, the two waves of the GT-R model (1969-1973 and 1989-2000) were each incredibly popular in their own rights. Beefed up GT-Rs would claim countless Japanese and World rally championships, so owners felt like they were piloting a true racing machine.

For American owners, that racer feel was compounded by a bit of outlaw status. As previously mentioned, the Skyline GT-R was never officially available stateside because of complicated import bans. To skirt the issue, Nissan sold GT-R bodies and engines separately through third-party import marketplaces, allowing customers to pick up what was legally classified as a “kit car.” But with a quick engine installation, the GT-R could be unleashed on the streets of North America. Taking this possibility quite literally, 2003’s 2 Fast 2 Furious showed Paul Walker’s character Brian O’Conner drag race a nitro-enhanced R34 GT-R down the boulevards of Miami, exposing the car to new audiences and increasing demand for secondhand GT-Rs in the wake of their 2001 discontinuation.

The GT-R was an example of a JDM car that people had to get their hands on because the laws at play wouldn’t bend to their demand. But the next car on our list is an example of how strong the power of persuasion can really be.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evo(lution)

The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution (often referred to as the Lancer Evo) was a front-engine, four-wheel drive sedan car designed to provide a more-powerful-than-average vehicle for everyday use to the Japanese people. When the car was first released in 1992, that’s exactly what it was, especially since it was not sold outside of Japan and was never intended to be. However, European outcry over the car’s unavailability in other countries made Mitsubishi rethink their strategy and skew the car more towards foreign markets. 

Lancer Evos appeared in high-performance specific European Mitsubishi dealerships beginning in 1998, where it was a massive success. This began a domino effect where the U.S. consumer base became a new market, as European availability generated a new wave of jealousy. Relenting to demand and recognizing the success of other JDM cars in the early 2000s, Mitsubishi officially released the Lancer Evo in the U.S., where it would remain successful until the model’s final year of manufacture in 2016.

The Evo was also famous for being better than the official data communicated. The Gen I through IX Evos were forced to remain under a certain power ceiling due to an industry standardization agreement in Japan during the 90s. However, the company had likely been underrating the horsepower of earlier Evo models, and especially underrated numbers from Gen IX onwards as sales numbers swelled internationally. Japanese Evo IX models were dynotested generating approximately 320 bhp, a far cry from the 280 bhp officially cited in Mitsubishi literature. Special editions in foreign markets were more officially representative of the actual power when it came to the IX, noting 440 bhp in sales brochures. Thou regardless of what any salesperson said, the EVO’s JDM nature made it a cinch to mod and allowed owners to achieve even better horsepower through their own modifications.

Every JDM car so far has seen a period of discontinuation at one time or another. There was either a gap in production between the original and legacy models, or demand dropped enough to warrant an end to the line. In this aspect, none of them hold a candle to the ultimate JDM mainstay, a car that’s been around for years and years and isn’t showing any signs of disappearing soon…

The Honda Civic

The Honda Civic is a household name because of its almost universal appeal. Its safety, fuel efficiency, reliability, comfort, ease of repair, and affordability endeared it to international markets, making it one of the best selling cars of all time with 27 million lifetime sales as of 2021. Although it's been around since 1972, like the rest of the JDM cars, the 90s and early 2000s models were the ones that changed the game. Universal accessibility was the name of the game with these models; engines and exhausts were fairly plug-and-play, and the double wishbone suspension provided a wonderful amount of control in the corners.

Even though the Civic lives on, it’s not out of place among the other bygone JDM cars on this list due to its small time window of modding viability. The eventual shift to MacPherson struts for the front suspension meant the Civics lost their trademark handling reliability, causing modders to cling to models from earlier decades and continue to use them as canvases for making their speed masterpieces. And it’s not as if they had nothing to work with, either. The insane amount of secondhand Civics for sale, even to this day, make it a great car for first-generation modders to practice their craft, especially if all they have to work with is a family hand-me-down or bargain junker.

A large portion of car enthusiasts tend to be loyal to their home turf. Keeping it domestic communicates national pride to some, and a refusal to even consider outside options becomes the status quo. But in many cases–and in the case of JDM cars specifically–beautiful things can happen when a buyer decides to explore something new and find exactly what’s best for them no matter where it originates. Many Americans love power, accessibility, and customization when it comes to their cars. When JDM cars first hit the scene, an entire new world of possibilities opened up, becoming a mainstay for drivers that they have driven and will continue to drive forever. Import markets, legal restrictions, and North American brand disloyalty were barriers to entry that many drivers had to overcome. But for them, as with many wonderful things in life, JDM cars are worth fighting for.

References:

What is a JDM Car, and How Did They Become Popular in the U.S.? - iSeeCars.com

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution - Wikipedia

Here's The Evolution Of JDM Car Culture (Captured In Photos) (hotcars.com)

Japanese domestic market - Wikipedia

Toyota Supra - Wikipedia

Nissan Skyline to GT-R: The Evolution of a Supercar | Nissan USA

Honda Civic - Wikipedia

Honda NSX - Wikipedia