Historic Car List
1909
TYPE NS(1909)
Japan’s first motorcycle developed in the latter part of Meiji period that established the foundation of Japanese motorcycle industry.
1918
MITSUBISHI MODEL A (1918)
Pioneering domestic passenger car built from scratch after studying a European model.
1925
OTOMO (1925)
Japan’s first mass-produced automobile, with some of the 300 built being exported.
1932
DAIHATSU TSUBASA THREE-WHEELER TRUCK (1932)
The first truly modern mass-produced three-wheeled truck to come from Japan.
DATSUN TYPE 12 PHAETON (1932)
This popular small car stands out as the perfect example of a pre-war Datsun.
1934
TSUKUBA (1934)
Japan’s first FF vehicle (not a mainstream configuration until decades later), which also had an all-round independent suspension.
1952
HINO TYPE BD10 BUS (1952)
Groundbreaking cab forward bus with an underfloor engine mounted in the center of the vehicle.
1954
TOYOPET LIGHT TRUCK TYPE SKB (1954)
A small, inexpensive four-wheeled truck developed during the golden age of three-wheelers.
1955
SUZUKI SUZULIGHT (1955)
A light Kei car that popularized the FF layout, available with various body configurations.
TOYOPET CROWN (1955)
A luxury vehicle designed and built entirely in Japan without imported technology.
1957
DAIHATSU MIDGET (1957)
Easy to maneuver three-wheeled Kei truck that was typical of the era.
1958
HONDA SUPER CUB (1958)
Without doubt, the world’s best-loved motorcycle, with over 100m sold in more than 160 countries.
SUBARU 360 (1958)
A reasonably-priced lightweight Kei class family car designed by an aeronautical engineer.
1959
ISUZU ELF TYPE TL151 (1959)
A small truck that led the way in using diesel engines for motive power.
1960
MITSUBISHI 500 (1960)
A monocoque-bodied rear-engined car that employed aeronautical technology.
TOYOTA LAND CRUISER 40-SERIES (1960)
Iconic four-wheel drive vehicle that, with only minor changes, stayed in production for 24 years.
1964
PRINCE SKYLINE GT (1964)
A racer turned production car, the Skyline GT was the perfect ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing’.
1965
HONDA RA272 (1965)
Japan’s first F1 winner (1965 Mexico GP) with an unusual transverse-mounted engine.
TOYOTA SPORTS 800 (1965)
An air-cooled two-cylinder machine with an aerodynamic monocoque body, popular among private racers.
1966
SUBARU 1000 (1966)
Modern FF vehicle with a horizontally-opposed engine and independent suspension on all four wheels.
TOYOTA COROLLA (1966)
Influential family car that brought motoring to the masses. Japan’s top seller for 33 years straight.
1967
DATSUN BLUEBIRD/DATSUN 510 (1967)
Boxy sedan powered by a new overhead-cam engine. Outright winner of the Safari Rally.
HONDA N360 (1967)
An FF Kei based on motorcycle technology, with a two-cylinder air-cooled engine.
MAZDA COSMO SPORT (1967)
Japan’s first rotary-engined sports car, which was raced extensively in Europe.
TOYOTA 2000 GT(1967)
A super GT car developed jointly by Toyota and Yamaha that later established a world speed record of that period.
1968
ISUZU 117 COUPE (1968)
Giugiaro-designed coupe powered by a Japanese high-efficiency engine.
1969
HONDA DREAM CB750 FOUR (1969)
The motorcycle that laid the foundations for the ‘big bike’ boom.
NISSAN FAIRLADY Z/DATSUN 240Z (1969/1970)
A highly-regarded sports car originally designed to cater for the American market.
1970
SUZUKI JIMNY LJ10 (1970)
A lightweight multipurpose four-wheel drive Kei that excelled in both on- and off-road conditions.
1972
KAWASAKI Z1/Z2 (1972)
A high-powered road bike that sealed Kawasaki’s reputation at home and abroad.
1973
HONDA CIVIC CVCC (1973)
The world’s first car to clear America’s new and exceptionally strict emissions regulations.
1978
YAMAHA SPORTS SR400 (1978)
A large-displacement single-cylinder motorcycle that stayed in production for over 40 years.
1979
SUZUKI ALTO(1979)
The Kei-car that firmly established the Kei-car market in Japan after through research and development.
1981
SUZUKI GSX1100S KATANA/GSX750S (1981/1982)
Inspired by the famous Japanese sword, the Katana created a new genre of motorcycle.
1982
MITSUBISHI PAJERO (1982)
Luxurious four-wheel drive vehicle that was victorious on the Paris-Dakar Rally.
1987
1989
EUNOS ROADSTER/MAZDA MX-5 (1989)
The two-seater that revived the LWS concept. More than a million have been sold over four generations.
SUBARU LEGACY(1989)
Subaru’s global strategy station wagon utilizing unique all-wheel-drive mechanism.
TOYOTA CELSIOR/LEXUS LS400 (1989)
World-class luxury sedan that showcased Japanese technology and craftsmanship.
1991
MAZDA 787B (1991)
Taking the flag in 1991, the 787B was the first and only rotary-engined car to win the Le Mans 24-hour Race.
1997
TOYOTA PRIUS (1997)
Predicting the future, the Prius was the world’s first car to feature a modern hybrid system.