Asian Collector Cars Help Highlight the Cincy Concours

The Cincinnati Concours d'Elegance was one of the first concours events to offer a regular class for Asian Collector cars. When they started the response was excellent. This year, for the 44th iteration of the concours the class field was exceptionally strong. Included in this group was this beautiful 1971 Datsun 240Z. Since chief designer Yoshihiko Matsuo supposedly studied Lotus automobiles to get cues there is a joke that the 240Z if the best British sports car ever built. This totally unrestored example sports a 2.4 liter single overhead cam inline six cylinder engine that rolls out 151 horse power.

This is a 1977 Datsun 280Z which is like the grandson of the 240Z with the 260Z bridging the two models. This one owner, unrestored example, like all 280Zs ran on a 2.8 liter SOHC inline six that pushed 170 horse power. It has electric fuel injection to help performance and a number of safety upgrades from its predecessors.

Mazda introduced the RX-7 sports car in 1978 and sold it through three generations through the 2002 model year. This second generation example from 1989 is one of fewer than 5000 factory convertibles produced between 1989 and 1991, the only time Mazda offered a drop top in the RX-7. This unrestored example sports the classic Mazda 1.3 liter two rotor Wankel engine.

In 1984 Toyota decided to release a mid engine runabout with two seats: the MR2. This 2001 example is number 946 out of 6750 made for the North American market. This is a third generation model and is the only time Toyota offered the MR2 as a convertible. An unrestored car with only 45,600 original miles, this car has a 1.8 liter inline four cylinder engine that makes 138 horse power.

Starting in 1992 Subaru has made five generations of Impreza. This 2000 model is one of fewer than 5000 coupes made for that model year. Restored in 2020 it has a 2.5 liter boxer four cylinder engine that produces 165 horse power.

Honda had only been producing automobiles for less than a decade when they brought out the Civic in 1972. The Civic was the first Honda car to have widespread success as an export, particularly in North America where it helped cement the notion of quality for Japanese cars. This 1999 Civic Si model has never been restored. It has a 1.6 liter dual overhead cam inline four cylinder engine that turns out 160 horses.

In 1989 Toyota launched the luxury line of Lexus automobiles. In 2014 Lexus introduced the RC-F Sports Coup with a five liter V8 engine that hit 467 horse power. It sports and eight speed transmission. This 2015 example is one of only 2251 exported to the USA.

For the 1990 model year Mazda introduced what many have said was the car that saved the sports roadster, the MX-5 Miata. This first generation car was purchased on the first day the Miata was available for sale in July of 1989. It has never been restored. This Miata has a 1.6 liter DOHC inline four cylinder engine that produces 116 horses.