The opening car is a Skyline GT-R R32. Which Japanese performance car deserves first place? We weigh engineering originality, sporting legacy and breadth of appeal, giving innovation and competition more weight than rarity. This editorial ranking includes roadsters, coupés and a rally-derived saloon, including export models.
Sources checked 7 October 2026. Racing results refer to competition cars; photographs illustrate generations, not certified factory specification. No tuned-power or ownership-cost claims decide the order. Compare our iconic cars next.
Photo: Tennen-Gas · CC BY-SA 3.0. Resized/recompressed; image retains source license.
