JDM Golden Era

Japan's Sports Car Renaissance 1989–2002

The late 1980s through the early 2000s was the golden era of Japanese performance cars. Freed from the gentleman's agreement of 280 horsepower, manufacturers created some of the most technologically advanced and culturally significant sports cars ever built.

50 cars in this exhibition

Mazda 787B (1991)

Honda NSX (1991)

Mazda 787B (1991)

Honda NSX Type R (1992)

Honda NSX Type R

Toyota Supra (1993)

Nissan Skyline GT-R R32 V-Spec II (1994)

Nissan Skyline GT-R R32 V-Spec II

Toyota Supra (1994)

Suzuki Escudo (1996)

Toyota Supra (1996)

Nissan NISMO 400R (1997)

Nissan NISMO 400R

Subaru Impreza 22B STI (1998)

Subaru Impreza 22B STI

Nissan Skyline GT-R (1999)

Nissan Skyline GT-R

Mazda RX-7 Spirit R Type A (FD3S) (2002)

Mazda RX-7 Spirit R Type A (FD3S)

Nissan Skyline GT-R (1989)

Nissan Skyline GT-R

Nissan Pulsar GTI-R (1989)

Nissan Pulsar GTI-R

Nissan Skyline GT-R (1989)

Nissan Skyline GT-R

Honda NSX (1990)

Nissan Pulsar GTI-R (1990)

Nissan Pulsar GTI-R

Mazda Eunos Cosmo (1991)

Mazda Eunos Cosmo

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution (1992)

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution

Mazda RX-7 (1992)

Mazda RX-7 (1992)

Honda NSX-R (1992)

Toyota Celica GT-Four RC (ST185) (1992)

Toyota Celica GT-Four RC (ST185)

Toyota Supra A80 RZ (JZA80) (1997)

Toyota Supra A80 RZ (JZA80)

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution (1997)

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution

Honda Integra Type R (1998)

Honda Integra Type R

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution (1998)

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI Tommi Makinen Edition (2000)

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI Tommi Makinen Edition

Nissan Silvia S15 Spec-R (2002)

Nissan Silvia S15 Spec-R

Mazda Familia GT-R (1989)

Mazda Familia GT-R

Nissan Pulsar (1990)

Mazda Eunos Cosmo (1990)

Mazda Eunos Cosmo

Subaru Impreza WRX (1992)

Subaru Impreza WRX

Subaru Impreza WRX STI (1992)

Subaru Impreza WRX STI

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution (1992)

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution

Nissan 300ZX (1993)

Toyota Celica GT-Four (1994)

Toyota Celica GT-Four

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution (1995)

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution (1996)

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution (1996)

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution

Mitsubishi Pajero (1997)

Mitsubishi Pajero

Toyota Century (1997)

Honda S2000 (1999)

Nissan Silvia (1999)

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution (2001)

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution

Subaru Impreza WRX STI (2001)

Subaru Impreza WRX STI

Nissan 180SX (1989)

Lexus LS 400 (1990)

Toyota Aristo (1991)

History

1989

The Big Three Arrive

Nissan Skyline GT-R R32, Honda NSX prototype, and Mazda MX-5 all debut — three very different approaches to sports car perfection.

1993

Supra and RX-7

Toyota Supra A80 and Mazda RX-7 FD launch, completing the Japanese sports car pantheon.

1999

GT-R R34

The ultimate Skyline GT-R. The R34 represents the peak of analog Japanese performance technology.

2002

Era Ends

The Supra, RX-7, and NSX are all discontinued. The golden era closes, but the legend grows.

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