5 Japanese youngtimers worth a look, and what to check before buying

In this list I have collected five Japanese models from the late 1980s and the 1990s that share one thing: each has been for sale at MB Classics, so they are easy to see up close in photos. It is not a ranking of the "best" Japanese cars or a price forecast — it is a look at five different ways into a Japanese youngtimer, with data from open sources.

Why these five models?

Because each represents a different type of car and a different price bracket, and all of them are now more than 25 years old. The Mazda MX-5 is a roadster, the Honda CR-X a light front-wheel-drive coupé, the Toyota Celica a coupé with rally pedigree, the Lexus LS400 a luxury saloon and the Lexus LX 450 a big off-roader. Newer models from the 2000s, such as the Honda S2000 or Mazda RX-8, deserve a separate article.

1. Mazda MX-5 NA (1989–1997): why it is worth a look

Because it is a light rear-wheel-drive roadster built in such numbers that the choice of cars today is wide. Mazda unveiled the MX-5 in Chicago in February 1989 and started production in April that year. The first generation was built in 431,506 units, according to Motor Klassik. In May 2000 Guinness World Records recognised the MX-5 as the best-selling two-seat open sports car, and in April 2016 the millionth car came off the line (Mazda release).

What to watch for on an MX-5 NA

Corrosion of the sills, rear arches and floor, and blocked hood drains. On early 1.6s, check the crankshaft pulley (the so-called short-nose crank). According to Classic Analytics data quoted by Motor Klassik in January 2026, a good NA costs about €10,000 in Germany and a 1.8 about €12,000. Prices in Poland, the engine versions and where the NA and NB rust are covered in what an MX-5 NA or NB costs, and the special editions in the article on limited-edition MX-5s. An example from the archive: the 1995 Mazda MX-5 1.6 in Classic Red.

2. Second-generation Honda CR-X (1988–1991): why it is worth a look

Because it combines low weight with one of Honda's best-known engines — the 1.6 VTEC. According to Octane the second generation weighed about 1,025 kg and, compared with its predecessor, got a lighter, stiffer body and sharper suspension. From 21 September 1989 the CR-X was offered with the B16A — Honda's first VTEC engine, which switches valve lift and timing. According to Honda, in Japanese spec it made 160 PS at 7,600 rpm (100 PS per litre) with an 8,000 rpm red line; the UK version had 148 bhp according to Octane.

What to watch for on a Honda CR-X

Rust and modifications, above all. Octane lists the rear wheelarches, sills, footwells and lower door edges, as well as blocked drainage channels. VTEC engines burn some oil by design, so check its level and condition; blue smoke usually means a refresh is due. Worn synchros are the most common gearbox issue, and interior trim is hard to find today. Heavily modified cars call for caution.

According to Octane (April 2026), in the UK entry-level cars start at about £4,000, well-kept and largely original ones cost £7,000–10,000, and the best unmodified VTECs more. The MB Classics archive has had two 1991 cars: one with the 160 PS 1.6 and one with the 124 PS D16.

3. Fourth-generation Toyota Celica (1985–1989): why it is worth a look

Because this is the Celica with which Toyota got serious about the World Rally Championship, while the naturally aspirated versions are ordinary front-wheel-drive coupés. According to the model history on Toyota's website, the fourth generation debuted in August 1985 and switched from rear- to front-wheel drive; the body had a drag coefficient of 0.31. In October 1986 came the GT-Four with permanent four-wheel drive and a turbocharged 2.0 (3S-GTE, 185 PS), and in 1990 Carlos Sainz won the WRC drivers' title in a Celica GT-Four — the first for a Japanese car.

The naturally aspirated versions are calmer. The European Celica 2.0 GT with a 16-valve engine had 148 bhp according to Toyota UK, and a convertible joined the range in 1987. Such a car — a 1987 Toyota Celica 2.0 imported from Sweden — was for sale at MB Classics and is in the opening photo of this article.

What to watch for on a T160 Celica

Rust on the sills, wheelarches and strut mountings, and on sunroof cars around the sunroof. Check that the pop-up headlights work both ways. On a GT-Four, ask for timing-belt invoices and remember that a clutch change is labour-intensive. On a GT-Four you should also compare the build plate with the papers, because a lesser model is easy to dress up as a 4x4. These tips come from the JDM Buy & Sell guide, which also notes how little price data there is: its database recorded only one sale in the last 48 months.

4. Lexus LS400 (1989–2000): why it is worth a look

Because it is the car that started Lexus, built with a clear aim: to surpass the Toyota Crown, the brand's previous flagship. According to Toyota's history, development took six years and as many as 450 prototypes, and in Japan the car was sold as the Toyota Celsior from October 1989. In the US the LS400 was the top model of the new Lexus network, launched the same year. Power comes from a 4.0-litre V8 (1UZ-FE); the second generation (from 1994) had a longer wheelbase, and from 1997 VVT-i variable valve timing and a five-speed automatic.

What to watch for on a Lexus LS400

Service history, above all. The camshafts of the 1UZ-FE are belt-driven, and the belt also drives the water pump, so it is worth having an invoice for replacing both. The price spread is very wide: according to The Classic Valuer (2026 data) the median of 147 auction sales is £10,394, but the extremes are £830 and £36,466 (Bring a Trailer, July 2026). Such a range means the price depends almost entirely on the condition and documented history of the individual car. The MB Classics archive includes a 1996 Lexus LS400 imported to Poland in 2016.

5. Lexus LX 450 (1996–1997): why it is worth a look

Because it is the rarer, richer version of the Toyota Land Cruiser 80 Series — Lexus's first SUV — built for only two years. According to Wikipedia, which cites The New York Times among others, the LX 450 was built from November 1995 to December 1997 for the US and Canada. On the outside it differed from the Land Cruiser only in its grille, side cladding and wheels, and inside in its richer equipment; it also had softer suspension. Drivetrain: a 4.5-litre straight six (1FZ-FE) with 160 kW (215 hp), a four-speed automatic, solid axles and permanent four-wheel drive. More than 5,000 were sold in 1996 and more than 9,000 in 1997.

What to watch for on a Lexus LX 450

Weight and import paperwork. The car weighs about 2.3 tonnes, and some reviewers considered the engine underpowered for that weight. Because the LX 450 was intended for the US and Canada, every car in Poland is an import, so check the US or Canadian paperwork and the service history. Electronic front and rear locking differentials were optional — if the car has them, check that they work. The mechanicals are shared with the Land Cruiser 80 Series, which is worth bearing in mind when looking for parts. A 1997 Lexus LX 450 with a documented service history is currently for sale at MB Classics.

How do you choose a Japanese youngtimer for yourself?

Start with how you want to use it, and only then pick the model. For weekend drives with the roof down the simplest choice is the MX-5; for twisty roads and lightness, the CR-X; as an everyday 1980s coupé, the Celica; for long journeys, the LS400; for family trips and off-road, the LX 450. Whatever you choose, the order of assessment is the same: body and corrosion first, then service history and originality, and price last.

Cars currently for sale are in the MB Classics showroom, and sold ones in the archive. More model guides are in the Models and buyer's guides category.