Top 30 Right-Hand Drive Cars

2. BMW 530 MLE E12

Did you know they produced the first BMW < car in South Africa four years before any M cars appeared in Germany? It’s true. In 1976, BMW South Africa introduced a special model they named the 530 MLE, short for Motorsport Limited Edition. It featured numerous performance upgrades over the standard 5 Series 530 model.

However, the biggest change was the almost fully race-prepped six-cylinder engine. It had 3.0 liters, performance intake, an engine head, and beefed-up internals. The result was a fantastic 274 HP. That made this four-door sedan one of the fastest, most powerful passenger cars in the world at the moment.

They set the initial production at just 100 examples for homologation purposes. But their customers were so interested in this model that BMW South Africa decided to produce 101 more in 1977. The final production number was 201. They built them all in RHD specification.

3. Nissan Pao

Even before retro was a thing in car design, Nissan presented an influential compact model they called the Pao. It was for sale on the Japanese market only, so it came in the right-hand-drive configuration. The design resembled the Austin Farina or Mini.

But underneath the body, the Pao was an advanced car with independent suspension and a 52 HP engine. They offered it for just three years between 1989 and 1991, building over 50,000 of them.

4. Vauxhall Firenza HP

The Vauxhall company is one of the oldest British manufacturers known in the UK. In 1925, General Motors bought Vauxhall and over the years, it became an Opel subsidiary, producing cars based on Opel products.

In 1973, Vauxhall presented a performance version of their mid-size two-door sedan they named the Firenza HP. It featured a radical front-end redesign and powerful 2.3-liter engine with a 0 to 60 mph time of eight seconds. The car caused quite a stir among British fans. Although it failed to produce any sales success, the Firenza HP won at the race tracks.

5. Mazda 1100 Cosmo

Back in the ’60s, the biggest news among car engineers was the Wankel rotary engine. The innovative concept of a single-piston engine was far lighter and smaller than conventional units, but its higher power and revving capacity captivated the imagination of several major manufacturers. One of the first companies brave enough to introduce such an engine in mass production was Mazda.

They did that with a little sports coupe they called the 110 S Cosmo that debuted in 1967. This was a sharp-looking two-seater with a modern design and tiny 982 cc engine. It produced 110 HP at first and 130 HP in later versions. Since the car was extremely small and light, its performance was vivid by the standards of the day.

6. Leyland Force 7V

Australian Leyland, a subsidiary of British Leyland, designed the Force 7 as the coupe version of the Leyland P76 model range. They introduced the P76 saloon model in 1973 with a good initial reception by Australian buyers. Soon, Leyland started thinking about a coupe version that could battle Ford and Holden’s muscle models.

They called it the Force 7, a coupe version featuring several interesting features. One such feature was an all-alloy 4.4-liter V8 engine they based on the Rover 3.5-liter unit. Unfortunately, the styling and quality were poor. So, after building less than 60 pre-production examples, Leyland canceled the project, scrapping most of the cars. Today, only 10 Force 7s exist, so it’s one of the rarest Australian muscle cars.

7. Honda Beat

The spiritual successor of the classic Honda S600 roadster is the ’90s Honda Beat. Honda unveiled it in 1991 and sold it until 1996. The Beat was a small, nimble roadster with just 660 ccs of displacement and 63 HP.

In typical Honda fashion, the car was naturally aspirated and equipped with a five-speed manual transmission. With just 1,656 pounds, it was immensely fun to drive. They produced over 33,000 in a five-year production run.

8. Ford Capri Perana

Basil Green was an accomplished South African racer turned tuner and dealer. When Ford introduced the affordable, cool-looking Capri coupe in 1969, Green realized the potential. Soon, he introduced the Capri Perana. Basil took the 3.0-liter V6 Capri from England and installed a 5.0-liter Ford V8 from the Mustang to make the car handle properly.

Basil’s engineers modified the suspension, chassis, brakes, and steering. After thorough work, the Capri Perana was born. The power output was around 280 HP and in the lightweight body of the Capri, the Perana could reach 60 mph in just six seconds. Those characteristics made it favorite with racecar drivers. During the early ’70s, Capri Perana dominated the South African racing scene.

9. MG X-Power SV Coupe

The story of this remarkable car is a sad one as it was one of the last true UK-USA hybrids. The SV Coupe was a modern-day muscle coupe with Italian styling an American engine, and British exclusivity. They constructed it in Modena, Italy, and finished it in England. MG designed the X-Power to deliver sports car-level performance with aggressive muscle styling and a soundtrack to match.

Under the hood was a Ford-sourced 4.6-liter V8 engine straight from the Mustang tuned to produce 320 HP. MG even offered a supercharged version capable of 540 HP. Introduced in 2003, this model was one of the most interesting releases. Unfortunately, MG lacked the image and reputation to achieve global success.

10. Honda S660

Some enthusiasts call the Honda S660 a “shrunken NSX” since the similarities are more than just design. Just like the NSX, the tiny S660 has a mid-mounted engine, but with just three cylinders, 660 ccm, and a turbocharger. The result is 63 HP and practically ideal handling.

The car is available with the choice of a six-speed manual or seven-speed CVT automatic. The Japanese car journalists have declared it as one of the best-driving Kei Cars currently, despite the lack of power.

11. BMW 745i E23

In 1983, BMW South Africa introduced a special car they called the 745i. It was powered by a naturally aspirated M88 engine from the famous M1 supercar. The six-cylinder with 286 HP was one of the hottest engines from BMW. In the biggest, most luxurious sedan in the lineup, it was quite an unusual combination, even by today’s standards. But the 745i turned out to be a fast and capable car.

It was fast enough to go racing too. In an extremely interesting turn of events, the big 745i won the South African touring car championship. It became the first 7 Series sedan to win a major race series. Most people think BMW never produced the M7 model, but apparently, it did. It was just not under that name and in just 209 examples.

12. Autozam AZ-1

If you don’t know what this car is, nobody can blame you. It’s a tiny sports car powered by a turbocharged three-cylinder engine with 660 ccs and 64 HP. It was built by Mazda and sold by Suzuki in limited numbers from 1992 to 1995. During that time, they produced less than 5,000.

Despite its size and 1,500 pounds of weight, the Autozam AZ-1 was a proper sports car. Some people even consider it the only supercar in the Kei Car segment. The perfect chassis, gullwing doors, and decent performance have made it the favorite driving machine in Japan at the moment. The bizarre styling and lively driving dynamics provide a unique experience.

13. Holden Sandman

One of the specific Australian car classes is Ute. Half car, half truck, the Ute is a practical pickup they built on a passenger car chassis. The best way to describe it to the American audience is to compare it with Chevrolet El Camino or Ford Ranchero. In America, that class is dead, but in Australia, it is as popular as ever.

It was only a matter of time before the first Ute receive the muscle car treatment. In the mid-70s, Holden came up with a model they named the Sandman. It was a surf-style pickup or panel van with a cool graphics package, vivid colors, and the option of a powerful 5.0-liter V8. The Sandman was a nod to Australia’s surf community, which often used Ute vehicles and loved muscle cars.

14. Nissan Figaro

Even before retro thinking was a thing in global car design, it was popular in Japan. Several domestic manufacturers introduced retro-inspired models for the local market. However, the most interesting and unique was the Nissan Figaro. It was a crazy, cool one-year model they produced as a right-hand-only drive car.

When Nissan presented the Figaro in 1991, it immediately caused a stir among Japanese car fans. Nissan announced that it would be a limited edition car would base on the Nissan Micra platform. However, it would come with a bespoke interior, automatic transmission, full options list, and stylish new body with a big sunroof as standard. When the Figaro arrived, car buyers lined up and Nissan couldn’t keep up with the demand.

The company even organized a lottery for interested buyers to win the chance to buy the car. The unique aspects of the vehicle were visible even under the metal. The Figaro was powered by a diminutive 987 ccs turbocharged engine with just 77 HP. But it still provided a lively performance thanks to its small weight.

15. Chrysler Valiant Charger

The Chrysler Motor Company wanted to participate in the Australian muscle car class, so in 1971, they presented the Valiant Charger. They based it on the regular Valiant platform but with a sporty new two-door body. The Charger got its name from its American cousin, the Dodge Charger. To keep up with the mighty Falcon GTs, Monaros, and Toranas, the Valiant Charger had several performance engines.

They started with a hot version of Chrysler’s six-cylinder engine featuring new cylinder heads and updated intake systems. In the R/T version, the 4.3-liter six delivered over 240 HP, but the most powerful version was the Charger 770 SE E55. Under the hood was Mopar’s famous 340 V8 delivering 285 HP with a three-speed automatic. This engine was commonly found in the Dodge Challenger and Plymouth Barracuda in America.

16. Suzuki Cappuccino

If you are a fan of Kei cars, Japanese micro automobiles with diminutive dimensions, small engines and lots of fun, now is the time to show it. This is a tiny roadster they built out of aluminum with rear-wheel drive, cramped interiors and small trunks. You probably think that the smallest Japanese convertible is the Mazda Miata. But in fact, the Cappuccino is almost half the size.

The engine only gets 64 HP from a 670 cc three-cylinder unit, but it likes to rev. Thanks to weighing only 1,400 pounds, this car has solid performance and unbelievable driving dynamics. Suzuki produced it in a right-hand-drive configuration for select markets in Asia and Europe with a total production of around 28,000.

17. BMW 333i E30

The BMW 333i E30 was the true example of a factory hot rod. It followed the muscle car philosophy of installing the biggest engine in the smallest body to create a performance car. Back in the late ’80s, the smallest BMW was the 3 Series coupe and the biggest engine was a 3.3-liter from the 7-Series luxury sedan. Buyers could get the 325i with six cylinders, but that was it.

That engine was not available for BMW South Africa, at least in 1988. The SA BMW introduced the 333i E30 coupe with a 3.3-liter straight six, 194 HP and vivid performance. The 0 to 60 mph sprint took around seven seconds, which was better than the M3 E30. The 333i came with a plush interior but only two options, air-conditioning or power steering. Apparently, the big six-cylinder took up so much space in the engine bay, buyers had to choose between an air-conditioning compressor or power steering pump.

18. Toyota Sera

At first glance, the Toyota Sera looks like a generic Japanese compact from the early ’90s. But when you open the door, you see why this little car is so special. Toyota based it on a regular Corolla platform and powered it with an ordinary 1.5-liter four-cylinder, technically making the Sera quite common. However, the design and technical solutions of the cabin, doors, and roof are unique.

Toyota needed special tools and machines just to fabricate the door mechanisms and make the specially curved glass. They introduced the Sera in 1990. It stayed in production until 1996 during which time they built over 16,000. Unfortunately, they sold almost all of them exclusively in Japan.

19. Ford Falcon GT HO 351

One of the most famous Australian muscle cars was the mighty Ford Falcon GT HO 351 they introduced in 1971. Despite its performance portfolio, it was still a four-door sedan but with proper muscle car equipment. Under the hood was a Ford 351 V8 with a shaker hood, beefed-up suspension, and brakes. The power output was 300 HP for the standard version, but Ford offered Phase II and Phase III options.

The car looked the same, but with the mechanicals in the ultimate Phase III version, the Falcon GT HO produced over 350 HP. The performance was astonishing with 0 to 60 mph in six seconds range and a top speed of over 140 mph. As expected, the Falcon GT HO was successful at racing, dethroning its arch-enemy, the Monaro GTS 350.

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.

21. Holden Monaro GTS 327

The late ’60s brought the muscle car wars from Detroit to Australia. Soon, the Holden engineers decided to present their muscle car with a bigger engine and better components. In 1968, the first Australian two-door muscle car was born, the Holden Monaro GTS 327. This car looked and sounded like a proper muscle car coupe. It featured a two-door Monaro body with bigger wheels and graphic package.

It had a sportier interior and Chevrolet’s 327 V8 engine under the hood. The V8 produced 250 HP to deliver exciting performance numbers. Immediately, Holden pitted the new Monaro muscle car against the Falcon GT in Australian touring car races. The GTS 327 won the 1968 Bathurst race, which was the first Holden victory on that track.

22. TVR Cerbera

The Cerbera was one of the best affordable sports/muscle cars on the British market in 1996. They designed it as a two-seater coupe with a V8 engine in the front. It was a cross between a classic coupe and a muscle car. The design was retro-futuristic with a long hood and aggressive silhouette.

Today, over 20 years later, this car still looks great. The best engine option was the TVR 4.7-liter V6 engine. It came with the interesting “Red Rose” performance pack delivering 440 HP for exhilarating performance.

23. Nissan Skyline 2000 GT Kenmeri

The first GT-R, the Hakosuka proved to be a good halo car for Nissan. It showed how competent and fast the cars Nissan could build. That was despite limiting its appeal in the domestic and some select Asian markets. So, in 1972, Nissan introduced the second generation of its fantastic 2000 GT-R they named the Kenmeri.

It was a redesigned car with almost unchanged mechanics. This means the high-revving 2.0-liter six-cylinder retained its 160 HP rating. However, the suspension, brakes, and steering received some minor modifications. The Kenmeri nickname came from a popular Japanese TV commercial.

It showed a young couple and the new Skyline. The viewers found this ad interesting so the car got its name from the two characters from the marketing campaign. This generation is extremely rare since Nissan produced it for one year only in 1973. The total production number was just 197, all in RHD configuration.

24. Toyota Century

The Century was a hand-built, limited production and highly formal limousine Toyota designed for the Japanese royal family and high-ranking Yakuza members. They presented the first Toyota Century in 1967. It stayed in production for 30 years with minimal changes to its technical layout or design.

They built it only as an RHD model, selling it in Japan and a few select Asian markets. The first generation of the Toyota Century was powered by a 3.0-liter V8 engine producing 170 HP. They filled the interior with the finest leather as well as wood and chrome trim. Each car came standard with climate control, which was an advanced option for the period. The ride was extremely comfortable and quiet since the Century cruised effortlessly, even on the roughest terrain.

25. Ford Sierra XR8

You may remember the Ford Sierra. It was the definitive ’80s Ford mid-size family model with rear-wheel drive. They sold it in America as the Merkur XR4Ti with a 2.3-liter turbo engine with modest success. But in South Africa, they had a different idea.

Ford SA produced a limited run of Sierra XR8 models featuring the 5.0-liter V8 engine straight out of the Mustang with 220 HP. In a light body with a manual transmission, the Sierra XR8 could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in less than seven seconds. That made it perfect as the basis for a successful racing car.

26. HSV GTS 300

The late ’90s brought a rise in power levels, as well as new technologies and materials. The result was a bump in performance and a new lease on life for Australian and American muscle cars. But one of the best Aussie performance machines from that period was the HSV GTS 300. Despite being limited to only 100 copies, the HSV GTS 300 was a big milestone in the Australian muscle car scene.

First, there was the engine, a Callaway-produced LS1 5.7-liter V8 with 400 HP. Packed in a sedan body with beefed-up suspension and brakes, the GTS 300 could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.1 seconds. All that made it one of the fastest sedans in the world.

27. Ford Falcon GT XR

The Falcon GT XR was the first Australian muscle car they introduced in 1967. That year, the Falcon was a new model, visually similar to the American version. On the Australian market, the Falcon was a popular family sedan they equipped with straight-six engines and one V8, the 289 V8 from Ford Mustang.

Even though most Falcons were modest six-cylinder sedans, Ford offered a special “Police Interceptor” version. It featured a 225 HP 289 V8 engine and four-speed transmission. Also, it had bigger brakes and a stiffer suspension. With this hardware the Falcon was capable, so Ford thought it would be great to enter the Falcon GT into the famous Australian Bathurst race. The new Falcon GT demolished the competition with a 1-2 win and a legend was born.

28. Holden UTE

As you might know, like Americans, Australians adore big engines and rear-wheel-drive platforms. Australia’s Ford and Holden, a GM brand, deliver such vehicles. But Australians introduced a few body styles Americans have long forgotten.

They include light pickups based on rear-wheel-drive sedans. If you remember the Chevrolet El Camino or Ford Ranchero, you will recognize the idea. In Australia, they call it the Ute. It is a popular vehicle for work and recreational purposes. However, the most interesting model Holden offers is the crazy SSV Ute. It comes with a GM 6.3-liter LS3 engine bringing 412 HP to the rear wheels. Think of it as an El Camino SS for the 21st century.

29. Isuzu 117 Coupe

They never offered the gorgeous Isuzu 117 Coupe on the American market which is a shame. But even with its limited production, it became one of the early Japanese classics and an influential model. Back in the late ’60s, Isuzu offered passenger cars that were later abandoned in favor of trucks and pickups. The company needed a halo car to attract attention and present them in the best possible light.

So they used the existing passenger car rear-wheel-drive platform with 1.6 and later 2.0-liter four-cylinder engines. Then they went to Italy to find a fashionable suit. There, Isuzu contacted famous designer Giorgetto Giugiaro who provided them with an elegant, cool-looking coupe design.

This was the final piece of the puzzle. In 1968, the beautiful Isuzu 117 Coupe debuted. The car stayed in production until 1981 and they sold it in reasonably large numbers. Despite the fact it wasn’t particularly fast or agile, the 117 Coupe was a comfortable, fast GT perfect for relaxing cruising.

30. Nissan Silvia CSP 311

Most people know the Nissan Silvia for its widely popular S14 and S15 versions from the ’90s. They became the definitive drift cars, but the Silvia was one of Nissan’s most legendary sports cars dating back to the mid-60s. Debuting in 1964 at the Tokyo Motor Show, the Silvia CSP 311 was a big step forward for this still obscure manufacturer. The car had European looks and proportions. It was a luxurious sports coupe by the Japanese standards of the time with rear-wheel drive. It was powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder with 96 HP, giving it decent performance.

However, the first Silvia was an expensive car for the Japanese domestic market. They only sold 554, most of which stayed in Japan. Today, people regard it as one of the most influential early Japanese sports cars.

These were our 30 fantastic right-hand-only drive cars. They’re so impressive, in fact, that you may want to move to Australia, South Africa, Japan or even the UK just to drive one.