Whether you love the twisty mountain roads, open freeways, or heading out with your car club mates going to a car show, getting behind the wheel of a Japanese sports car made the journey memorable. To this day, Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) vehicles are an icon falling into an era now known and highly regarded as the modern classic.
JDM refers to vehicles that were first sold new in Japan and imported second-hand into the Australian market. Most were not available to purchase new in Australia and many have achieved cult status amongst enthusiasts.
Aftermarket parts were easily accessible with highly tuned motors and boost, spooling turbos, wings and aero kits a plenty and bang for buck performance; these cars had it all! Chances are you’ll see these now as poster pin ups in tuner workshops.
Honda, Nissan, Mazda, Mitsubishi, and Toyota have created a strong cult following with assistance from numerous pop culture references over the years from movies and gaming. In the current market, these vehicles values are increasing and usage is getting less as these vehicles become rarer and more of a collectible. You will now frequently see a JDM vehicle on historic registration.
Rear wheel drive, turbo, light weight: a fantastic recipe for models including the Nissan Skyline (R31 through R34), Silvia’s, 180SX & 200SX, through to the Mazda RX7 series 1 to 8. The Toyota Supra and its 2JZ motor is a stalwart in the enthusiast scene.
The All-wheel drive turbo club joined thanks to the Mitsubishi EVO and Subaru WRX which gave the rear wheel drives a run for their money.
Honda and Mazda decided they’d rely on light weight naturally aspirated 2 seaters with the S2000 and MX5 respectively with 50/50 weight distribution. Mazda later added a turbo model with the SP in 2002, a rare collector model with only a hundred made in Australia.
The team at MB Insurance could talk your ears off for days about these cars however we’ve picked out a handful which some of our staff at MB Insurance love.
The Mazda RX-7 is a high performance two door sports coupe manufactured from 1978 to 2002. What made the RX-7 unique in the market is that it was the only mass-produced vehicle of its time powered by a rotary engine. From the series 1 through to 8, updates from S1 include changing the seating from a two seater to 2+2, and providing the option of a turbocharged engine and the availability of an automatic transmission. The second-generation Mazda RX-7 also had a convertible model while the third generation (known as FD) featured twin turbo power and further increased performance along with reduced weight. In 1995 a special edition of 35 cars unique to the Australian market called RX-7 SP were sold, with 204KW of power. The SP was a homologation special so Mazda could compete in the Australian GT Production Car Series. Fun fact - they had a 120L carbon fibre fuel tank as they were used in endurance racing. Later special editions included the Bathurst, Type RS, Type RZ and Spirit R.
Nissan remains a strong hero manufacture in the JDM scene. From the RB20DET powered R31 GTS, through to the RB26DETT R34 GTR, the Skyline proved to be a legend of the tarmac. The 180SX and 200SX; a lightweight RWD coupe starting with the S13 powered by a CA18DET to a sleek and stylish S15 model with a highly regarded SR20DET.
These vehicles are almost impossible to find unmodified these days as most would usually be fitted with a turbo back exhaust, front mount intercooler, a boost controller with a tuned ECU giving these cars a significant boost in horsepower.
A couple of decades ago you could pick up an R33 GTS25t for $15,000. These days you wouldn’t get much change from $30,000. The GTR? Over $100k.
Finding an insurance solution for these Japanese sports cars can be challenging as some insurers won’t touch some older modern classics or imports. This isn’t the case at MB Insurance – it’s a style of vehicle we love. So, Japanese sportscar insurance? Where do you stand?
JDM modern classics have earned their trust and love in the motoring world, and with MB Insurance, you can have the confidence that your clients JDM vehicle is protected with an agreed value policy, salvage rights for vehicles 25 years and older and the choice of repairer.
If you are unsure if your clients JDM vehicle is something we can provide cover for then you can check out our vehicle list or call our underwriting team on 02 9966 9777.
Quote online via our Online Broker Portal for fast service and quick turnaround, allowing you to cover your clients pride and joy.
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