Historic Car List
1918
![](https://www.jahfa.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/2019-mitsubishi.jpg)
MITSUBISHI MODEL A (1918)
Pioneering domestic passenger car built from scratch after studying a European model.
1925
![](https://www.jahfa.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/2023_ohtomo.jpg)
OTOMO (1925)
Japan’s first mass-produced automobile, with some of the 300 built being exported.
1932
![](https://www.jahfa.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/DaihatsuTsubasaThreeWheeledTruck.jpg)
DAIHATSU TSUBASA THREE-WHEELER TRUCK (1932)
The first truly modern mass-produced three-wheeled truck to come from Japan.
![](https://www.jahfa.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/2011.jpg)
DATSUN TYPE 12 PHAETON (1932)
This popular small car stands out as the perfect example of a pre-war Datsun.
1934
![](https://www.jahfa.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/TSUKUBAGO.jpg)
TSUKUBA (1934)
Japan’s first FF vehicle (not a mainstream configuration until decades later), which also had an all-round independent suspension.
1952
![](https://www.jahfa.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Hino_Under_Floor_Engine_Bus_BD10.jpg)
HINO TYPE BD10 BUS (1952)
Groundbreaking cab forward bus with an underfloor engine mounted in the center of the vehicle.
1954
![](https://www.jahfa.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/2020-toyopet.jpg)
TOYOPET LIGHT TRUCK TYPE SKB (1954)
A small, inexpensive four-wheeled truck developed during the golden age of three-wheelers.
1955
![](https://www.jahfa.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/2008.jpg)
SUZUKI SUZULIGHT (1955)
A light Kei car that popularized the FF layout, available with various body configurations.
![](https://www.jahfa.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/2006.jpg)
TOYOPET CROWN (1955)
A luxury vehicle designed and built entirely in Japan without imported technology.
1957
![](https://www.jahfa.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/2007.jpg)
DAIHATSU MIDGET (1957)
Easy to maneuver three-wheeled Kei truck that was typical of the era.
1958
![](https://www.jahfa.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/2009.jpg)
HONDA SUPER CUB (1958)
Without doubt, the world’s best-loved motorcycle, with over 100m sold in more than 160 countries.
![](https://www.jahfa.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/2004.jpg)
SUBARU 360 (1958)
A reasonably-priced lightweight Kei class family car designed by an aeronautical engineer.
1959
![](https://www.jahfa.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/2019-isuzu.jpg)
ISUZU ELF TYPE TL151 (1959)
A small truck that led the way in using diesel engines for motive power.
1960
![](https://www.jahfa.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/2010.jpg)
MITSUBISHI 500 (1960)
A monocoque-bodied rear-engined car that employed aeronautical technology.
![](https://www.jahfa.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/ToyotaLandCruiser40Series.jpg)
TOYOTA LAND CRUISER 40-SERIES (1960)
Iconic four-wheel drive vehicle that, with only minor changes, stayed in production for 24 years.
1964
![](https://www.jahfa.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Skyline_GT.jpg)
PRINCE SKYLINE GT (1964)
A racer turned production car, the Skyline GT was the perfect ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing’.
1965
![](https://www.jahfa.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/2020-honda.jpg)
HONDA RA272 (1965)
Japan’s first F1 winner (1965 Mexico GP) with an unusual transverse-mounted engine.
![](https://www.jahfa.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/2012.jpg)
TOYOTA SPORTS 800 (1965)
An air-cooled two-cylinder machine with an aerodynamic monocoque body, popular among private racers.
1966
![](https://www.jahfa.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Subaru1000.jpg)
SUBARU 1000 (1966)
Modern FF vehicle with a horizontally-opposed engine and independent suspension on all four wheels.
![](https://www.jahfa.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Toyota_Corolla.jpg)
TOYOTA COROLLA (1966)
Influential family car that brought motoring to the masses. Japan’s top seller for 33 years straight.
1967
![](https://www.jahfa.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/2023_datsun510.jpg)
DATSUN BLUEBIRD/DATSUN 510 (1967)
Boxy sedan powered by a new overhead-cam engine. Outright winner of the Safari Rally.
![](https://www.jahfa.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/2013.jpg)
HONDA N360 (1967)
An FF Kei based on motorcycle technology, with a two-cylinder air-cooled engine.
![](https://www.jahfa.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/2003.jpg)
MAZDA COSMO SPORT (1967)
Japan’s first rotary-engined sports car, which was raced extensively in Europe.
1968
![](https://www.jahfa.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/2014.jpg)
ISUZU 117 COUPE (1968)
Giugiaro-designed coupe powered by a Japanese high-efficiency engine.
1969
![](https://www.jahfa.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Honda_Dream_CB750_FOUR.jpg)
HONDA DREAM CB750 FOUR (1969)
The motorcycle that laid the foundations for the ‘big bike’ boom.
![](https://www.jahfa.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/NISSANFAIRLADYZ.jpg)
NISSAN FAIRLADY Z/DATSUN 240Z (1969/1970)
A highly-regarded sports car originally designed to cater for the American market.
1970
![](https://www.jahfa.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/2020-suzuki.jpg)
SUZUKI JIMNY LJ10 (1970)
A lightweight multipurpose four-wheel drive Kei that excelled in both on- and off-road conditions.
1972
![](https://www.jahfa.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/kawasaki_z1_z2_gray.jpg)
KAWASAKI Z1/Z2 (1972)
A high-powered road bike that sealed Kawasaki’s reputation at home and abroad.
1973
![](https://www.jahfa.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/2005.jpg)
HONDA CIVIC CVCC (1973)
The world’s first car to clear America’s new and exceptionally strict emissions regulations.
1978
![](https://www.jahfa.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/2019-yamaha.jpg)
YAMAHA SPORTS SR400 (1978)
A large-displacement single-cylinder motorcycle that stayed in production for over 40 years.
1981
![](https://www.jahfa.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/SUZUKIGSX1100S.jpg)
SUZUKI GSX1100S KATANA/GSX750S (1981/1982)
Inspired by the famous Japanese sword, the Katana created a new genre of motorcycle.
1982
![](https://www.jahfa.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/2023_mitsubishi_pajero.jpg)
MITSUBISHI PAJERO (1982)
Luxurious four-wheel drive vehicle that was victorious on the Paris-Dakar Rally.
1987
1989
![](https://www.jahfa.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/2019-matsuda.jpg)
EUNOS ROADSTER/MAZDA MX-5 (1989)
The two-seater that revived the LWS concept. More than a million have been sold over four generations.
![](https://www.jahfa.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/toyota_celsior_gray.jpg)
TOYOTA CELSIOR/LEXUS LS400 (1989)
World-class luxury sedan that showcased Japanese technology and craftsmanship.
1991
![](https://www.jahfa.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/2023_mazda787B.jpg)
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
![](https://www.jahfa.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/TOYOTAPRIUS.jpg)
TOYOTA PRIUS (1997)
Predicting the future, the Prius was the world’s first car to feature a modern hybrid system.