Top 10 Japanese Supercars

[boyblunda]

Australian Motor Magazine July 2009 has a couple of interesting articles including a suggested Top 10 Japanese Supercars listed as :

1. Nissan R35 GT-R

2. Honda NSX-R

3. Datsun 240Z

4. Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI Makinen

5. Mazda RX-7 (1990's model twin turbo)

6.Toyota Supra RZ twin turbo V6

7. Nissan R32 Skyline GT-R

8. Subaru Impreza 22B

9. Nissan R390

10. Toyota 2000GT

I do not want to get anybody's blood up here but the Toyota 2000GT is described as "originally penned for Nissan by a German (Albrecht Goertz) but after it was canned in '65, Toyota picked up the pieces".

Whatever we might think about such a list, and much might be said, four out of the top 10 come from the Nissan stable. The place of the 240Z in this list is exemplary given that of all the cars on the list, the 240Z was probably the most affordable in its day.

Elsewhere in the same magazine is an article comparing the 350Z, the 370Z and the 240Z with a few photos of Adelaide's Peter Hall in his 240Z. This article did not go into the reasons for describing "the slide of the mighty Zed from 240 through 260 and 280 ..". I think it also failed to point out why the 350Z might be considered in some aspects to be a little superior to the 370Z. Regardless of what we might think of the rest of the article, the author seemed to give the nod to the 240Z by concluding "the old fella, as they say, still has it".

[Tyrone]

What about the RX7?

[SportBikeMike]

I'm surprised the Z32TT didn't make it. (or is that the R390??)

[MikeW]

No, the R390 was a race car:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_R390_GT1

Since the R32 never came to the US a top ten list in this country might well include the Z32TT.

[boyblunda]

Yes MikeW you are right. According to the article only two road legal versions were produced to meet the requirements to enter the vehicle at Le Mans in 1997, but neither were sold. The R390 seems to be a bit of a left field entry on this list from the view that no road going versions were sold.

The article did not confine itself to cars sold in Australia as the Mazda RX-7 listed never reached Australian shores.

These lists are sometimes like a list of the top 10 boxers of all time - really only an opinion of the author. The twin turbo 300Z would seem to be a more appropriate inclusion than the R390.

[Arne]

The 240Z's presence on this list is an interesting choice, as I have never thought of it as a "supercar". Historically significant? Yes. A great value for its time? Absolutely. But a "supercar"? That's a stretch.

[SportBikeMike]

I don't really think of the 240Z as a "supercar" either, or many of those other cars for that matter, except maybe the NS-X. When I think of supercars, I think of limited-production, exotic, super high performance, and usually Italian cars, like Ferraris and Lambos. The Japanese have made alot of great sports cars....but not too many of what I would call "supercars" .

[MikeW]

I think the new GTR certainly falls into the supercar category. It may not have the looks of the NSX which is more similar to traditional Italian supercars but the performance is certainly there. Just look at these numbers for confirmation and to see how it compares to other supercars:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nordschleife_fastest_lap_times

The order of the posted top 10 list hasn't been mentioned in this thread but presumably there is significance to it even if it is just an opinion. I certainly can't complain about my 240Z being listed in position #3 behind the R35 GTR and the Honda/Acura NSX.

[Inf]

I would put the NSX and 2000GT in the category of supercars. The 2000GT you have to keep in context of time period. I feel it was very much like the NSX of its day.

The 240Z I will always consider as a sports car.

A lot of the other cars on that list are... sedans... with fancy computers to 'cheat' the dynamics. I don't see how you can put an Impreza, fast as it may be, in the same category as an NSX, or any of the european exotics.

[JonnyRock]

I think the R390 GT1 is appropriate for the list. It was the first 'supercar' that popped into my head when I saw the title of this thread.

I'm 22 years old and can vividly remember when I first heard of the R390. It was a bright/deep blue picture taking up most of a magazine cover (C&D I believe) with the title "$1 Million Nissan" or something to that effect. It was 1997, I was 10 and I was in love. I think that was the first time I'd considered that someone would pay a million dollars for a car (they were supposed to sell a few examples, but didn't get around to it).

I'm glad to see it on the list. Like I said, reading the thread title, 'R390 GT1' immediately popped into my head.

BTW, I love the Z but it's not a supercar. Neither are a couple of other list choices. Either way, it's a nice list of some great asian metal.

Edited June 20, 2009 by JonnyRock

[HS30-H]

Australian Motor Magazine July 2009 has a couple of interesting articles including a suggested Top 10 Japanese Supercars listed as :

1. Nissan R35 GT-R

2. Honda NSX-R

3. Datsun 240Z

I'm wondering which 'Datsun 240Z' they are thinking of, as - quite obviously - they were not all created equal.....

And if homologation specials like the NSX-R and R390 GT1 are included, then why not the Nissan Fairlady Z432-R too?

I'd say the 432 and 432-R were fairly exotic for their time, and certainly more appropriate to a list of "Japanese Supercars" than the 240Z is........

[240kconvertible]

It's a pity they showed it with these wheels on, every other car in the article had standard rims on in the photos. I'm guessing that these aren't standard rims for the Z?