9. Mazda RX-7
The reassurance of interest for Japanese sports cars from the `70s has been one of the biggest news in the classic car world in recent years. The forgotten models, some even with RHD-only configurations are becoming more and more popular with US enthusiasts who are importing them from Japan or Australia. If you are looking for a genuine JDM example, you are late since the prices are stratospheric and a choice of models is very limited. However, there is the alternative in the form of the Mazda RX-7. The first generation of compact Mazda`s sports car has all the right ingredients to become a cult classic.
It is 40 years old, has rear-wheel drive, specific design, pop up headlights, interesting technology, it is cheap and plentiful and even had some racing success. The first generation was introduced in 1978 and stayed on the market until 1985. During that period, almost 500,000 of RX-7s were made, most of them being sold in America. Under the hood was a 1.1 to 1.3-liter Wankel rotary engine which was the RX-7`s most notable feature. The extremely compact and light engine produced 102 to 135 hp which was more than enough for a lively performance of this little coupe.