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11 most expensive Japanese cars sold at auction

(Editor’s note: During the month of January, the ClassicCars.com Journal presents a series of stories related to and perhaps explaining the recent increase in interest in collecting cars produced by Japan-based automakers.)

Japanese cars don’t often bring in the big bucks at collector car auctions, especially compared to the Ferraris and Aston Martins selling for over $20 million, but that doesn’t mean Japanese Domestic Market or vehicles produced by traditional Japanese-based automakers don’t make a splash from time-to-time.

Here are the 11th highest prices we’ve found in our research on Japanese cars at collector auctions:

2020 Toyota Supra | $2.1 million

2020 Toyota Supra GR signed by Toyota chief executive Akio Toyoda

2020 Toyota Supra GR signed by Toyota chief executive Akio Toyoda

Coming in at No. 1 is the world’s first production model of the 2020 Toyota Supra GR signed by Toyota chief executive Akio Toyoda. It sold for a whopping $2.1 million at Barrett-Jackson’s annual auction in Scottsdale, Arizona in 2019. Note, however, that the car was sold to benefit a charity; the entire bid amount went to the American Heart Association and the Bob Woodruff Foundation.

Nonetheless, it was a thrilling moment at Barrett-Jackson as bids came in at $100,000 increments faster than a blink of an eye until reaching the final bid of $2.1 million.

Aside from it being the first production model of 2020, it was painted in matte-gray over a red interior with red mirror caps and matte-black wheels, making it a true one of a kind.

2021 Lexus LC 500 convertible | $2 million

2021 Lexus LC 500 convertible

Just a year later, Barrett-Jackson hit another home run at its Scottsdale charity auction when bidding on the first 2021 Lexus LC 500 convertible finished at $2 million in 3 quick minutes. The full $2 million hammer price was split between the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the Bob Woodruff Foundation.

The LC 500 convertible, with a VIN ending in 10001, was covered in Lexus’s Structural Blue paint Lexus engineered to be the deepest blue on the market and features a white semi-aniline leather. Along with the car, the high bidder won a set of Zero Halliburton luggage designed to perfectly fit in the trunk, a photo album of the LC’s production and driving lessons by racing legend Scott Pruett.

1989 Mazda 767B | $1.75 million

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In 2017 at Amelia Island, this 1989 Mazda 767B rolled across the Gooding & Company auction stage and sold for $1.75 million. One of just three 767B endurance racers built, this orange and green race car won overall at Le Mans in 1990 – the only Japanese manufacturer to claim victory at Le Mans.

It was equipped with a 2,616cc 4-rotor Wankel rotary engine factory rated at 630 horsepower, a 5-speed Mazda/Porsche manual transaxle, and 4-wheel ventilated disc brakes.

2017 Acura NSX | $1.2 million

2017 Acura NSX

2017 Acura NSX

Another Barrett-Jackson charity car makes the list – no surprise here. The 2017 Acura NSX with VIN 001 sold for $1.2 million at a Barrett-Jackson 2016 event and proceeds were split between the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation and Camp Southern Ground.

NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick was the high bidder, winning the rights to custom order the first production of the NSX.

The bright red sports car featured a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 that delivers 573 horsepower with a top speed of 191 mph, making it Acura’s fastest car.

1967 Toyota 2000GT | $1.15 million

1967 Toyota 2000GT

1967 Toyota 2000GT

The Toyota 2000GT is one of the most sought-after Japanese sports cars, with only 351 produced. We’ve seen 2000GTs hit big numbers on the auction block but this one tops them all with a hammer price of $1.15 million.

This 2000GT was sold from the Don Davis Collection by Rm Sotheby’s in 2013. It’s equipped with a 2,000 CC Yamaha DOHC hemi-head inline six-cylinder engine factory rated at 150 horsepower and a top speed over 135 mph.

The market demand for Toyota 2000GTs has fluctuated over the years, with sale prices as low as $500,000 in 2019 but, according to Classic.com, prices are back on the rise as a 1967 2000 GT sold for $912,500 this past fall.

2012 Lexus LFA Nürburgring Edition | $918,500

2012 Lexus LFA Nürburgring Edition

2012 Lexus LFA Nürburgring Edition

One of just 50 LFA Nürburgring Editions built and with only 885 miles driven at the time of the auction, this supercar sold for $918,500 at the 2019 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale event.

Powered by a 4.8-liter 562 horsepower V10 engine that revs from 0 to 9,000 rpms in just 0.6 seconds, Lexus had to develop a special tachometer with a digital needle just to keep up with the V10 revving from idle.

The sale of the car also included Scott Pruett racing team gloves, racing team jacket and a custom small luggage set.

1970 Nissan Fairlady Z432R | $805,000

1970 Nissan Fairlady Z432R

This Z432R, a competition-spec of the Fairlady Z, also named the Datsun 240z in the US, sold for $805,000 at the Tokyo Terrada BH Auction last January.

Nissan designed the Z432Rs with racing in mind. The air cleaner housing was removed on the 158-horsepower S20-type 2-liter DOHC engine to give it a sportier look and 220 pounds were dropped from the original model by making the body panels 0.2mm thinner and building the hood from fiber-reinforced plastic.

It’s estimated that between 30 and 50 of these orange Z432Rs were ever built, making it the most desirable Nissan Z.

1973 Nissan Skyline GT-R | $430,000

1973 Nissan Skyline GT-R

1973 Nissan Skyline GT-R

This second-generation 1973 Skyline broke a sales record for Skylines when it sold for $430,000 at the Tokyo Terrada BH Auction last January.

It’s rumored that Nissan produced the second-generation Skyline (chassis code KPGC110) for one purpose: to use up the leftover 2.0-liter S20 inline-six engines from the first-generation Hakosuka Skyline GT-Rs. Nissan only sold 197 of these C110s.

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You might have also heard these C110s called “Kenmeri” Skylines because of a few TV ads Nissan ran showing a young couple (Ken and Mary) taking the car for a trip in Japan’s countryside.

1971 Datsun 240z Series | $310,000

1971 Datsun 240z Series

Finished in Racing Green with white rocker stripes, this 240z with just 21,000 miles on it sold for $310,000 last January on Bring A Trailer. Single-family owned, the car was equipped with its original 2.4-liter inline-6 engine factory rated at 150 horsepower.

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Before the auction, the owner put together a video explaining the car’s history with the vehicle’s original mechanic, Jim Mayo, who worked at Datsun for 18 years.

1996 Subaru Impreza WRC97 | $300,000

1996 Subaru Impreza WRC97

Sold by H&H Classics in 2017, this 1996 Subaru Impreza WRC97 driven by rally legend Colin McRae sold for $300,000, breaking the record for the most expensive Subaru at the time.

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McRae test drove this Impreza in preparation for the 1997 FIA World Rally Championship and for the model’s debut at Rally Monte Carlo in January 1997.

1999 Acura NSX Zanardi Edition No. 51 | $277,017

1999 Acura NSX Zanardi Edition No. 51

This rare 1999 Acura NSX is No. 51 out of 51 built special-edition models produced to honor Alex Zandari’s two CART championships with Honda race cars and was sold for $277,017 on Bring a Trailer.

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What makes this edition stand out among other NSXs is the fixed roof, a single-pane rear glad, BBS wheels, manual rack-and-pinion steering and lightweight rear spoilers and battery.

This article, written by Racheal Colbert, was originally published on ClassicCars.com, an editorial partner of Motor Authority.

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January 28, 2021
LEGO PORSCHE 911 TURBO AND TARGA ANNOUNCED

Love your LEGO? The group is back with another car build to keep you busy during lockdown, this time it’s a two-in-one LEGO Porsche 911 Turbo and Targa from the 70s and 80s.

LEGO builders and classic car enthusiasts alike will love the dual building routes of this set. The new two-in-one LEGO Porsche 911 Turbo and 911 Targa set can be built either as the fixed roof Porsche 911 Turbo model or as the open-roofed 911 Targa at one time, allowing fans to choose between classic coupe or convertible style.

Channelling the essence of the ubiquitous German sports car, the LEGO Porsche 911 Turbo and 911 Targa variants feature all the hallmarks of their namesakes, from the aerodynamic shoulder line to angled headlamps and sculpted bonnet with Porsche badge and rear-mounted flat six ‘boxer’ engine.

Beneath the body, the LEGO Porsche 911 Turbo and 911 Targa variants hide a wealth of detail. On both versions of the model, the 2+2 sports seats and dashboard are finished in dark orange and nougat, an eclectic colour scheme apparently based on contemporary upholstery options from the Porsche 911. Further interior details include a handbrake, gearshift and functional steering, while the front seats also tilt forward for access to the rear bench seats.

Several features which are unique to the 911 Turbo and 911 Targa variants of the set ensure they are equally characterful but distinct when built. The LEGO Porsche 911 Turbo sports distinctive Turbo badging, a wide rear axle, turbocharger and intercooler, denoting its blistering performance credentials. Its athletic look is completed with an integrated rear spoiler.

Meanwhile, the LEGO Porsche 911 Targa’s roof is fully removable and can be stowed underneath the hood of the car. The iconic Targa Bar completes the look, along with Targa badging and a brick-built wraparound rear window.

Mike Psiaki, Design Master at the LEGO Group, commented: “Taking ownership of a brand-new sports car is an experience to savour and this is a feeling we wanted to recreate for LEGO fans.

“As we were designing the car, the hardest decision to make was whether we would make the Turbo or Targa variant of the car. It was such a tough call that we engineered the ability to build the LEGO Porsche 911 Turbo and Targa from a single set. Without doubt, fans of the 911 all over the world who have long admired these cars will love the opportunity to build both versions!”

To celebrate the launch of the LEGO Porsche 911 Turbo and 911 Targa, LEGO is also offering the first buyers the chance to receive a limited-edition LEGO Porsche owners pack with their purchase. The pack contains a certificate of ownership, an official LEGO Porsche card wallet and a set of four unique art prints based on contemporary Porsche 911 adverts, all presented in a collector’s wallet. This highly collectible gift with purchase is available in limited numbers for orders of the set placed through the LEGO VIP loyalty program.

Members of LEGO’s free VIP loyalty program will be able to purchase the LEGO Porsche 911 Turbo and Targa set from February 16^th on LEGO.com. From March 1^st, the set will be on sale exclusively in LEGO stores and on LEGO.com.

The set features 1458 pieces and retails at £119.99. Make sure you check out our Top 5 LEGO car builds.

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January 28, 2021
Drifting: Heritage and collectibility

(Editor’s note: During the month of January, the ClassicCars.com Journal presents a series of stories related to and perhaps explaining the recent increase in interest in collecting cars produced by Japan-based automakers.)

In the last 15 years, the rise of a new motorsport has captured young hearts while creating its own lifestyle and culture around the world. Drifting is an international FIA-sanctioned motorsport originating from Japan that has created a new and growing segment to our evolving car culture.

Drifting is a driving technique in which the driver purposely forces the car to lose traction, typically by “clutch kicking,” and then oversteers and or countersteers to make their way through a corner with the car angled sideways as much as possible. The technique essentially requires the driver to countersteer to offset momentum to direct the vehicle into the direction of the turn.

Skililful driving: Nissans in a controlled

Keiichi Tsuchiha

Kunimitsu Takahashi (right)

Kunimitsu Takahashi, a former professional motorcycle road racer, was considered the “father of drifting” as early as the 1970s. He was able to use his driving techniques to win several championships in the All-Japan Touring Car Championship. He was also the first Japanese rider to win a World Grand Prix motorcycle race.

Another early “Drift King” was Keiichi Tsuchiya, a two-time 24-Hours of Le Mans winner known for using drifting techniques in non-drifting motorsports and, in his free time, while traveling on the mountain roads of Japan.

As one of the leaders in popularizing drifting by founding the world’s first organized drifting competition, called the D1 Grand Prix, Tsuchiya not only helped spread the word about drifting but also the love for the Toyota AE86. Driving a Toyota AE86 Sprinter, Trueno, Tsuchiya was also known for “touge” (mountain roads) racing in it. Since then, the AE86 has become a Japanese collector car with direct pop culture ties as well to the popular anime Initial D, with Tsuchiya acting as a consultant.

Drifting really didn’t really emerge forcefully in the United States until the first season of Formula Drift in 2004, and in 2006 when it was highlighted in the movie The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift. Tsuchiya also consulted for the film as a stunt coordinator and stuntman while making his own cameo appearance on the screen.

However, in 1996 at Willow Springs Raceway in California, one of the earliest drift events outside of Japan was hosted by the Japanese magazine Option. Founder of the Japanese D1 Grand Prix Daijiro Inada, NHRA Funny Car drag racer Kenji Okazaki, and Keiichi Tsuchiya were showcased by giving demonstrations in a Nissan 180SX brought over from Japan. Since then, sanctioned competitions have evolved into permanent motorsports series.

Drifting

Competitive drifting is a judged motorsports competition focused primarily on the ability of the driver to navigate the course with specified acceleration, deceleration, and zones to be filled as well as their ability to “chase” or follow a lead driver in extremely close proximity. Over the years, the expectations of the driver have evolved along with the rule book that is shared internationally between different sanctioned drifting series.

Popularity of the sport brought in bigger-name drivers, like Tanner Foust and Vaughn Gittin Jr., which led to the increase in interest in the chassis used in drifting. Unlike many other motorsports, drifting does not have rules about which chassis and engines a driver has to run, as long as the rear subframe is factory and the car passes their tech. This allowed drivers to be more creative with their presence on the track.

tvtropes.org photo

Rear-wheel drive cars were the most popular chassis of choice for drivers, specifically Japanese rear-wheel drive chassis. The Nissan Silvia 240SX became one of the top picks, having won seven D1 Grand Prix championships, and has a very extensive aftermarket product availability for added performance specific to drifting. As the popularity of the 240SX rose, the rarity of an all-original and low-mileage example has become difficult to find, and thus more expensive for collecting.

The same could be said for the Mazda RX-7, Nissan Skyline, Nissan 350Z, and Toyota Supra that were all featured in the anime series and Japanese manga Initial D and are all currently competitive chassis used at the PRO level of Formula Drift.

Most recently, drifting has made appearances in many films like Baby Driver, Cars, and the Netflix television series Hyperdrive as well as computer and console gaming like Gran Turismo, Forza Motorsport, the Need for Speed franchise and even indie games like Absolute Drift.

There has also been a rise in social media celebrities sharing content related to drifting, from driving to building drift cars. There’s even a series of drifting-oriented lifestyle events under the Gridlife banner taking place.

Formula Drift draws a crowd

As the sport grows and its audience has money to spend, one of the places it is spending is on collectible drift-style vehicles.

Lately, the Lexus IS300 has been the hottest on the drift enthusiast’s radar, although also being sought are the BMW E36 and specific components from the popular 2JZ Toyota Supra engine.

Find yourself a clean example of an early 2000 model IS300 with a factory 5-speed manual transmission and you’ll have a unicorn on your hands, and in your collection.

This article, written by Rebecca Nguyen, was originally published on ClassicCars.com, an editorial partner of Motor Authority.

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January 27, 2021