20. Nissan Skyline 2000 GT-R Hakosuka
Perhaps the most famous model in the history of Japanese performance and sports cars is the Nissan Skyline GT-R. Debuting in 1968, the Skyline GT-R started its life as a performance version of the upscale Skyline model. But, it came with significant design and mechanical changes that promoted it into a JDM performance legend.
Nissan named the first GT-R the Hakosuka, which is a Japanese term for a box since it featured squared lines and a boxy profile. But underneath the sheet metal, there was some serious sports car technology. It came with a high-revving 2.0-liter six-cylinder engine producing 160 HP. The Hakosuka GT-R had race-tuned brakes, steering, and independent rear suspension, making it capable on the street and racetrack too.
Unfortunately, they never sent this model to the U.S. But today, it’s highly collectible, expensive and desirable, especially because they are only produced in the right-hand configuration. Available from 1969 to 1972, Nissan made nearly 2,000 of them.