71. Nissan 180SX Type X
Year Made: 1988-1998
Estimated Cost: $6,000-$25,000* (Used)
The Nissan 180SX was a fastback car that Nissan sold from 1988 until 1998. It was based on the Nissan S’s S13 chassis, and variants were sold exclusively in Japan. Early models used a CA18 motor, while later ones used an SR20. Outside of Japan, certain models were sold as the 200SX and 240SX.
Nissan 180SX Type X @lemkolia / Pinterest
The Type X was a trim level added onto the 180X in 1994. The X was the higher trim level when compared to the R. But, even though it had “Type X” added to the name, the 180SX remained pretty much unchanged, something buyers didn’t hesitate to point out to Nissan.
72. Subaru Baja
Year Made: 2002-2006
Estimated Cost: $6,169-$13,565*
The Subaru Baja is a four-passenger, four-door utility vehicle that was made from 2002 until 2006. The Baja has the handling of a passenger car with the load capacity of a good old pickup truck. The unibody design borrowed heavily from the Legacy (marketed in America as the Subaru Outback).
Subaru Baja @Joe_Hallenbeck / Twitter.com
The Baja has a 2.5-liter engine that is now an H4 turbo, and drivers can choose between a four-speed automatic and a five-speed manual. The Baja was preceded by the BRAT (a Bi-drive Recreational All-terrain Transporter), which was sold from 1978 until 1994. The model was never sold in Japan, it was export-only.
73. Mazda RX500
Year Made: 1970
Estimated Cost: Undisclosed
Another peek into the past was the 1970 concept car by Mazda, called the RX-500. This mid-engine car was a two-door coupe with butterfly doors that swung forward. The RX-500 was initially a concept car promoting road safety. It had features like multi-colored rear lights, which indicated more information than lighting up only when the car was braking.
Mazda RX500 @Manuel612035513 / Twitter.com
If the car was cruising, the lights turned amber, and if it was speeding up, the lights turned green. The RX-500 was also lightweight, weighing just 1,873 pounds, thanks to the plastic used in its construction. The car got a top speed of 150MPH, with a 247HP power output.
74. Dome Zero
Year Made: 1978/1979
Estimated Cost: $30,000-$60,000*
When the Dome Zero first went into prototype production in the late ‘70s, many were hopeful it would enter the market and become a huge sensation. After all, it’s boxy, low-level design was very on point for the ‘80s. In fact, you could almost imagine Marty McFly hopping behind the wheel.
Dome Zero @TFPrototype / Facebook.com
Sadly for fans, the vehicle simply faded into obscurity. Some say that it was down to the car not meeting Japan’s safety standards, while others claim Dome Zero’s fate was all down to the finances. In the late ‘70s, Dome was a small company and lacked the capital other titans like General Motors had to bring a project like this to fruition.
75. Honda Fuya-Jo concept
Year Made: 1999
Estimated Cost: Unknown*
Honda’s Fuya-Jo concept car wowed audiences when it was presented at Toyota’s auto show in 1999. The strangely-shaped box vehicle looks more like a speaker on wheels than something you would commute to work in, but that was the whole point.
Honda Fuya-Jo concept @G0LDENLUIGI / Twitter.com
Each seat was designed to look and operate like a bar stool, while huge speakers were incorporated into the door panels to give the vibe of a portable club. As a concept car, Honda’s Fuya-Jo never went into mass production, but it’s still fun to look at over two decades later.
76. Mitsuoka Orochi
Year Made: 2006-2014
Estimated Cost: $150,000*
For lovers of Japanese cars, it just doesn’t get much better than The Mitsuoka Orochi. The gorgeous curves of the body were purposely designed to catch attention. Even though the vehicle started out as a concept car in 2001, Mitsuoka Motors soon realized it didn’t want to waste the opportunity and introduced it into production.
Mitsuoka Orochi ©Kim H Yusuke~commonswiki / Wikimedia.org
Several different versions of the car have been made since 2006, although each has been limited in quantity. Coming in at around $150,000 per unit, Orochi’s aren’t exactly the cheapest run around on the market.
77. Autozam AZ-1
Year Made: 1992-1995
Estimated Cost: $13,000*
With a name like Autozam, you might think that this sports car would pack a little bit more of a punch. While the AZ-1 by Suzuki never really made it to the big leagues, it’s still notable for a variety of reasons.
Autozam AZ-1 ©Tennen-Gas / Wikimedia.org
Made from 1992 to 1995, the coupe came in Siberia Blue and Classic Red, catering to both sides of the market. Even though it was an affordable mid-range vehicle, the Toyota-owned AZ-1 had poor sales, failing to meet its modest 800-a-month target. However, the success of this project was largely down Japan’s faltering economy at the time.
78. Isuzu VehiCross
Year Made: 1997-2001
Estimated Cost: $46,000*
The Isuzu VehiCross is certainly an interesting car to look at. It’s a strange hybrid, taking SUV features and squashing them down to bitesize. The vehicle first hit the market in 1997, but it wasn’t destined for longevity. By 2001, production stopped entirely.
Isuzu VehiCross @Isuzu_VehiCross / Twitter.com
Only 5958 units were produced in that time period, with the majority of those being sent to America. The American market wasn’t overly keen on the look of the VehiCross, which is hardly surprising. Uglier cars have been made, but at $46,000 a pop this model wasn’t cheap.
79. Daihatsu Bee
Year Made: 1951-1952
Estimated Cost: $20,000*
It’s not difficult to see why Daihatsu decided to call this model the Bee. The three-wheeler was Daihastu’s first offering to the public car market, with a distinctly bee-like shape and elongated hood, the car is a wonderful example of what the car market looked like 70 years ago. However, the Bee didn’t hit its mark.
Daihatsu Bee @Roberto Alfredo Nigrinis Velandia / Facebook.com
Less than 300 of the cars were made, making it a collectors item today. Even though three wheelers meant lower tax, there was something about the car that consumers didn’t love. Production was also incredibly difficult, so it wasn’t a financially viable product for the manufacturer.
80. Suzuki Twin
Year Made: 2003
Estimated Cost: $7,000*
This Suzuki Twin Kei was the first to come out with a hybrid version in Japan. While criticized for its interior, acceleration, and storage the reviews were not all negative. This small car is a great answer to congestion problems and overcrowding as well as over pollution of the inner cities.
Suzuki Twin @real_korr / Twitter.com
There is also a manual transmission version of this little car, as well as a passenger seat that folds down completely. This creates extra storage for the driver. The window is single control in order to conserve battery.