5. Datsun 240Z
The 240Z was the first highly successful Japanese sports car on the American market and a legend that is still highly desirable even today. The 240Z was a proper sports model that featured a bigger engine, better construction and more power and performance than anything coming from Japan in those days. Critics say it was a copy of several European designs but the 240Z managed to win the buyers over and create its segment.
Introduced in America in 1970, the 240Z was a perfect car for the times. The muscle car craze started to wind down, safety regulations killed domestic performance cars and people looking for alternatives which could provide similar driving excitement with better handling and cheaper prices. The European models were too expensive and Datsun 240Z was the right car for the moment. The early models had 150 HP from a 2.4-liter six-cylinder which was more than enough for a lively performance. Over the years, Datsun improved the original model with bigger engines (2.6 and 2.8-liter units) and several restyles. The demand was always fantastic and when this first series of Z cars were discontinued in 1978, Datsun made over 300,000 examples making it one of the most successful sports cars in history.