Offered for $11,500 USD

A classic design very very rarely seen in the US, this model came with the 1.8L DOHC engine. This example is in very original condition. It could use some light restoration work to turn into a head turning driver, or could be fully restored for a collection. We’re excited about these cars because they are affordable classics. Fantastic styling, DOHC engine, and exceptionally rare to see on the road here in the States. One of the best values going in classic Japanese cars and the values will certainly climb as more people become aware of them (and Japanese collectible cars as a whole). They have a very strong, devout following in Japan.

More pictures and full inspection report coming soon.

Price unlisted. (Typical price range for PGC10 models is $75k – 120k USD, as of May 2013)

Not a clone, this is the real deal down to the S20 engine. This unique piece of GT-R history is chassis number 102, as in the 102nd GT-R ever built!! It was originally owned by Nissan/Prince Tokyo. The previous owner was the Jamco corporation. The car is in fair condition and is an excellent candidate for a thorough restoration. It is a 1969 model which means it comes with the interior and exterior pieces that are highly sought after.

This car has been sold and will be receiving a complete restoration by our experts here at JDM Legends. We will document the entire process on our website. Stay tuned!

Offered for $48,500 USD

We’re pleased to present one of the nicer, well modified 2-door C10 Skylines we’ve found. Featuring the popular GT-R clone exterior parts plus front over fenders, these cars look strikingly good in red. The inline six cylinder engine has been upgradedto a 2.8+L using a N42 block and 44mm carbs, sending power through a 5-speed transmission. Attention has been paid to the brakes as well, they have been upgraded with MK63 front calipers, vented front rotors and brake lines. Car has been previously restored and has the GT-R rear glass, fender mirrors and flares. RS Watanabe 15″ wheels (F: 7.0J, R: 9.5J)

More pictures and full inspection report coming soon.

Price unlisted. Please refer to Hagerty’s Valuation Tool for a price range reference.

An incredibly rare find, a nearly all original first year model Series 1 Cosmo Sport. Chassis number 119 of only 343 Series 1 versions build worldwide. This car is equipped with the original 10A engine and 4-speed transmission. This was Mazda’s flagship model, and the first Mazda rotary powered vehicle. So much history, it is no wonder they are highly sought after today.

We are extremely proud that this car has been placed in an amazing collection. If you are interested in collecting your own Cosmo Sport, feel free to contact us.

Offered for $36,000 USD

This white 2-door Nissan Skyline 2000GT is a good base to create your own dream Hakosuka. It can be driven as is, restored yourself over time, or have our team of Skyline experts work with you to restore this car for you in your vision.

This particular example is complete, but has some areas we feel would be in the owner’s best interest to address sooner than later. There is rust in the common areas such as the rocker panels and elsewhere. These can still be repaired at a relatively modest cost, but delayed too long and the cost of repair may go up substantially. The car is also in need of a paint job as the current paint is wavy and cracking in a few locations. Some may prefer the weathered look but if you are not one of those types, factor paint work into your cost of ownership.

Mechanically the car is still equipped with a mostly original 2.0L engine, including a single Hitachi carburetor and the stock air box. Not the most powerful of engines, but enough to enjoy cruising around town. If you are in need of more power, a 2.8+L engine build is a well understood and effective upgrade.

These cars are only increasing in value so if you’re looking for a car to make your own that will also be an investment for the future, this is a solid buy.

More pictures and full inspection report coming soon.

Lately it seems we are selling cars before we even have a chance to put them up on the website. While this is a good problem to have, we fear it gives the impression we aren’t actively importing new (classic) vehicles. It is actually quite the opposite, so we’re going to make a better effort to list the cars we have coming in.

Please note that we do NOT have exact pricing on these cars set at this time. We do not set a price until the car has arrived and has been fully inspected. We simply do not feel comfortable stating a car will cost $xxx only to have the car arrive and discover it has a significant problem that had not been disclosed to us when we acquired it. Unfortunately that happens, and we don’t want to pass on that negative experience to our customers.

As it’s often asked, you are welcome to place a deposit on a car to get first right to purchase it. Please note that deposits are non-refundable, simply due to the fact that we will be turning down other buyers for the car.

OK, on to the cars!

1972 Nissan Skyline 2000GT (2-door, KGC10), White exterior
Status: Pending, we have a waiting list for incoming KGC10s currently.
Estimated Arrival: Landed, undergoing inspection
This Hakosuka has been modified and features a partial GT-R look conversion. The engine has been upgraded to 2.8L displacement and breathes through OER 45mm carbs. The suspension has also been modified though the springs are simply trimmed (cut, very common in Japan on these cars) so the car needs some attention in that area. The brakes are also upgraded with MK63 calipers, Kenmeri brake booster and master cylinder. Overall the car is very typical of what we see in Japan, in an average condition. Will be a good buy for someone that wants to invest a little more into making it their own version of perfect. Really looking forward to executing someone’s vision with this car.

1972 Nissan Skyline 2000GT (2-door, KGC10), Red exterior
Status: Pending, we have a waiting list for incoming KGC10s currently.
Estimated Arrival: End of April
Acquired from owner who had the car the past 12 years. Engine has been upgradedto a 2.8L using a N42 block and 44mm carbs. Brakes have been upgraded with MK63 front calipers, vented front rotors and brake lines. Car has been previously restored and has the GT-R rear glass, fender mirrors and flares. RS Watanabe 15″ wheels (F: 7.0J, R: 9.5J). We expect this to be a good example with nice interior. Previously restored cars can be a big unknown however so we will need to inspect the car fully after arrival to determine what else the car may need. Most likely it will need some light restoration work, based on the buyer’s expectations and desires.

1969 Nissan Skyline (4-door, PGC10) GT-R, Ivory white exterior
Status: Available
Estimated Arrival: End of April
Not a clone, this is the real deal down to the S20 engine. This unique piece of GT-R history is chassis number 102, as in the 102nd GT-R ever built!! It was originally owned by Nissan/Prince Tokyo. The previous owner was the Jamco corporation. The car is in fair condition and is an excellent candidate for a thorough restoration. It is a 1969 model which means it comes with the interior and exterior pieces that are highly sought after.
The buyer of this car will be required to agree to some restoration work. We do not plan to sell this car “as-is”.

1987 Nissan Skyline (2-door, R31) GTS Twincam 24V Turbo, Gunmetal gray exterior
Status: Available
Estimated Arrival: mid-May
This car was purchased from the original owner and looks to be very original and in excellent condition. Original gunmetal gray (463) paint. These cars came with the RB20DET engine, which is in the same family of engines as the famous RB26DETT found in the later R32-R34 GT-Rs. Car is close to stock condition, though the muffler has been changed. It has BBS wheels but stock wheels are also included. Mileage is shown as 126,xxx km (78,xxx miles). Cars like this are hard to find, most of these models have been heavily modified and poorly cared for. We love finding cars like this!

1990 Nissan Skyline GT-R (BNR32) Nismo, the only color Nismo editions came in…
Status: Available
Estimated Arrival: May
The Nismo models have recently been approved to be legally imported under the “Show and Display” clause. This is a Nismo edition R32 chassis #557 of only 560. So, one of the very last ones ever made. This example has been modified and shows to have just under 80,xxx miles. It is not in perfect condition, and the paint has faded in several places. This car will need some TLC, but it is an opportunity to own one of the most iconic Japanese cars produced LEGALLY in the US. And it is one of the rarer editions of R32 GT-Rs produced. Please keep in mind that unlike in Gran Turismo, these cars age and aren’t nearly as ‘coveted’ in Japan as they are elsewhere. Thus, they will show obvious signs of a 20+ years of wear, tear and neglect. They can also be a bit more expensive to maintain. A couple of us here at JDM Legends have owned R32s in the past so we are speaking purely from experience. (P.S. We know of a Nismo R32 in Japan with only delivery miles on it, in absolute perfect condition. Contact us if you’re interested.)

1979 Isuzu 117 (PA95), White exterior
Status: Available
Estimated Arrival: End of April
A classic design very very rarely seen in the US, this model came with the 1.8L DOHC engine. This example looks to be very original and in average condition. It could use some light restoration work to turn into a head turning driver, or could be fully restored for a collection. We’re excited about these cars because they are affordable classics. Fantastic styling, DOHC engine, and exceptionally rare to see on the road here in the States. One of the best values going in classic Japanese cars and the values will certainly climb as more people become aware of them (and Japanese collectible cars as a whole). They have a very strong, devout following in Japan.

1971 Nissan Skyline 2000GT (4-door, GC10)
Status: Sold
Estimated Arrival: End of April
We’re in the process of importing this for a customer. We’ll refrain from posting too many details about it out of respect for their privacy. Just noting it as another car that is incoming. We can do the same for you as well, just contact us with your specific desires and budget and we can work to find you the best match.

Pictures will be posted in separate posts as the cars arrive. This is just to give everyone notice of what is coming in. We have many more acquisitions current in process and we’ll be sure to post more updates once they are finalized.

Interesting in one of these cars? Don’t see what you want but want us to find it for you? Email us: sales@jdmlegends.com

Offered at $22,500 USD.

Commonly known as the Datsun 510, this particular version is a SSS coupe which was never officially offered for sale in the US. Many enthusiasts prefer the coupe body style due to the aggressively slanted C-pillar. We love all body styles of the 510 but the coupes hold a special place in our hearts as well.

In addition to being a coupe, this one is also the high performance SSS version utilizing a twin-carb 1800cc engine. This example has been well maintained and will be a great start to building your dream 510.

More pictures and full inspection report coming soon.

This car is a GTV model, which is a lightweight sport version which came with the twin cam, 1600 2T-G engine that was never offered in the U.S. market Celica.  One of the most important aspects we take into consideration when searching for cars to import is that they have a solid chassis.  The chassis on this Celica is very solid, with great floor pans, spare tire well, and frame rails.  This car is also in great running condition, and starts on the first try every time.   The vehicle is located in Salt Lake City Utah, and will come with a Utah State Title.

Please contact JDM Legends for any additional information and/or detailed photos.

$15,000

sales@jdmlegends.com

When we first walked through the gates, the first Hakosuka I came across also tuned out to be one of the cleanest.

Tastefully modified engine bay with some Nismo 44mm carburetors.

I’m also a fan of the clean gauge setup and Datsun competition wheel with the GT-R horn button.

It’s pretty obvious this one was recently restored, and quite well.  Also note the GT-R specific 100 Liter fuel tank.  I’m not sure if I would ever want to carry 26 gallons of gas in one of these but it might come in handy for those road trips to California.

How about a Kenmeri?  Once again, sometimes this is the only angle you can get due to all the traffic surround some of these cars.

At least I was able to get a better pic of the engine bay.  Custom length plug wires can look very nice when done right.

Techno Shadows…

Pretty crazy fuel injected setup on this L series.

C130 Laurel and GT-R cloned C110 …  I wish these weren’t so packed together because I love the look of  a GT-R styled Yonmeri.

Back to motors again..  this Kenmeri was running a pretty wild,  slide throttle carb setup and some velocity stacks designed to promote better swirl into the combustion chamber.  I’m not sure how well they work but they sure do look unique.

A little more typical set of Mikunis and lots of chrome on this C110.

Now here’s something that I’ve never seen before, a modified short nose (PC10) Skyline.  These were 4 cylinder versions (1600 and 1800) of the KGC10.    Aside from the 4 cylinder motor they are also physically shorter from the door forward which also results in 150mm  shorter wheelbase.

Here’s a picture I pulled from one of the manuals we have here to give you an idea of the dimensions.

Pretty strange sight to see in the engine bay of a C10 but refreshing at the same time to see some thing different.

And speaking of different…

Another reason we decided to come to the New year Meeting was not only for the cars but also the legendary swap meet.  If you knew what you were looking for, chances are you could find it here.

NOS parts galore.

How about a KPGC110 sales brochure?  Apparently the brochures are about as rare as the cars because this one was going for about $150 USD.  I think I’ll wait until I own one.

We did however pick up this PGC10 GT-R repair manual…     more on that later.

It’s great to see that NOS dashboards for the Hakosukas are still available.  This one was at restoration specialist Revive Jalopy’s booth.

They also had a late 69′ – early 70′ model year grill and headlight bezels which in my opinion is one of the most attractive and sought after versions on the C10 chassis.

And the tail lights to match…   Ryan is dying to get this setup on his GC10.

If I didn’t take as many pictures as I would have liked it’s because we spent most of our time digging through crates…  can you blame us?

Check out this replacement front fender for the C10, very interesting that it’s completely zinc coated.

Wheels…

And more wheels…  If I only we had more trunk space.

And the pinnacle of all vintage wheels in my opinion…  R-type, magnesium Watanabes.  If I had to choose one wheel, this would be it.

Hotwheels cars for sale.  Does anything on the  top row look familiar?  Seeing them for sale in the states is awesome but seeing our own car for sale in Japan was something else.   At $5 a piece we should have brought some over with us ha ha.

This can be a very dangerous place for me if I’m not careful.  So many amazing cars to choose from.

The Works RA21′s were tempting…

But I ended up with the #15 Works Hakosuka instead.

Back to the swap meet, this stainless steel S20  was looking quite delectable.

But not as much as the full titanium exhaust.

Finally we’ll get out to where the cars are a bit more spread out from the vendor area so we can get some better pictures and what better way to kick of a row of Skylines than with an S5o.

And right next to it, the S54.  These cars bridged the gap between the merger of Prince and Nissan in the early 60′s.

And some others that I’m a bit more intimately familiar with.

GC10 2000 GT next to a PGC10 2000 GT-R

This GT-R is a 69′ and has a completely different grill/bezel setup than the later models as well as a much better interior in my opinion.

I thought the wheels were an early 4 spoke Watanabe or black-painted Libre bit they’re a little different than either one of them.  If anyone has a clue feel free to chime in.

You don’t see many SSR MKII’s on Hakosukas but this one pulls them off quite well.   I do however, Laurel side markers on a lot of these but it’s not entirely my cup of tea…  very nice car either way.

And what about this?  A bone-stock 2000 in a GT-X specific color that I believe was simply referred to as blue metallic.

The owner from Biko Works brought down his KPG10 GT-R which as far as I’m concerned is just about perfect.

Works replica from Wing 21

Pretty spot-on except for that rear bumper.

Semi-works style here.  So mean.

I think there were probably more quality-built 4 door KGC10′s than 2 doors for some reason and these two were immaculate.   There’s that late model 69′ grill and mirrors again.  Love it.

The question is, Watanabes ?

Or Streets?

And that fitment…  not too much,  just perfect.   It’s also noteworthy to mention that this wasn’t an actual GT-R, just a very well done replica which is much more difficult to achieve on the 4 doors because it is part of the quarter panel instead of a bolt-on over fender like it is on the 2 door.

This one is running a more original 72′ model year setup as you can see from the mirror, grill and original rear fender line.

Ryan has always wondered if his  metallic green was a factory color so I took a picture of another in the exact same hue.  You don’t see a whole lot of these.

Later model 210 on Hayashi Yayoi’s…  still keeping that surf-line rear fender alive throughout the years.

This DR30 was also very well put together and as much as I love the heritage of the black and red combo I think I prefer the silver and black on this one.

3 piece Panasports  suit this chassis well.

And speaking of color combos, I’m not too sure about this one but I do like the OG Nismo LM GT 2′s.

Very well prepped FJ20.

Another 4 door,  this is another 69′ model year and these were the mirrors offered on the non GT-R’s in 69′.   And as much as I’ve come to loathe the word,  you have to appreciate that stance.

Now here’s an original.   One of 197 KPGC110 GT-R’s ever produced.

The finish on the C110 GT-R over fenders is a metallic gun metal color instead of the satin black on the C10′s.   Always taking notes, always learning…  that’s  why we came.

Anther fine looking Kenmeri but this one is a clone.

Another true GT-R, this time with molded works front fenders.

Here’s a GT-R in the rarest color of them all, safari gold.

Victory 50 brings out quite the display.

Part of me thinks such that such a significant car should be better taken care of but another part of me loves to see cars untouched and un-restored in their (semi) original condition.  After all, it’s only original once.

And while we’re on the topic, this 69′ GC10 is about as original as it gets, vinyl top and all.

Aside from the camber plates and vacuum tank, this is a good reference for what and original 2000 GT engine bay should look like.

Something else I learned is that there’s actually supposed to be a seam by the rear of  the door on an original car.  Almost every one you see that has been repainted will have this filled.

We contemplated doing very bad things to come back with this Skyline sign.  Very cool.

I  need one of these jackets for the wall of fame.

And as I finish up my coverage from the JCCA New year meeting I’ll leave you with this question, if you had to choose between these 2 cars…

Would it be an original S20 equipped GT-R?

Or OS Giken TC24B-1 powered KGC10?

Hopefully one day I’ll be faced with the decision.  That about wraps up our coverage from the JCCA New Year Meeting but here’s plenty more to come from our trip to Japan.

Stay tuned.

Yes, it’s finally time to enter the show.  Normally a line like this would be a bad thing but the constant line of classics blasting up and down the surrounding streets accompanied by the thick smell of gasoline in the air was more entertainment than I could have asked for.

Before we get into the show there’s a few things I would like to disclose.  First off, due to sheer amount of people and cars attending, getting a clear shot of anything is VERY difficult.  So if you see some strange, up-close angles it’s because sometimes that is the only possible way to get the picture.  Also, there’s no way I could possibly fit every category or class into a few blog posts so we’re going mainly stick to what we like and commonly deal with here at JDM Legends.  Part 3 will be strictly dedicated to Skylines but we’ll go over most everything else in this one.

With that out of the way, onto the show.   We’ll start off with this sweet little Honda S800.  I’ve never been much of a fan of convertibles but coupes are another story.  There’s a pretty large following for these cars in Japan and for good reason.     We need more cars with 10,000 RPM redlines, or at least a proper sports car would do…  what happened to Honda lately anyways?

There was quite a large Honda display but I was especially drawn to what I believe to be a 1962 CR110 race bike.  I love the simplicity of these early motorcycles.

This C130 “Butaketsu” Laurel had to be the best example I’ve ever seen in person.  Color, body, stance…  perfect.

And lets not forget those 3-piece Techno Phantoms.

Toyota’s always have a strong showing at these events…  even a few TE55′s liftbacks.

Levin or Trueno?  I’ll take either as long as it’s moss green.   Something cool about these cars that I wasn’t always aware of is that the over-fenders are metal instead of FRP like they are on the Skylines.

And we’re I’m at it, how about this to go with it?  I’m always a sucker for a nicely built SS race header with slip-fits and spring retainers.

While I didn’t get a picture of the entire car, this S50 Crown had a pretty awesome hand-built header as well.  By the look of it, instead of welding together mandrel bends like the one above, this one looks like they have used the method of filling the tubing with sand and then heating to the point where it can be slowly formed to the desired shape.  You can tell by the one-piece bends of varying radiuses.

Wizard is the company we use in Japan for some of the JDM specific parts on some of the Celicas we’ve imported and they had a very strong showing including this pair of  RA21 coupes.

Very nice lift back as well.  I usually don’t go for carbon on cars from this era but the color combination made it subtle.

A couple more early coupes, one in need of a little love…

It’s good to see that original steel bumpers can still be found, good price too.

Inspiration for the next build?

Rally style.

If I had to pick one, I would say this RA21 from Konishi Auto Factory was the best in show.

I spoke with owner a little and he said this car was literally weeks out of a full restoration.   After being in the final stages of our own ground up Celica restoration I was very interested to examine some of the details.   Although they’re not for everyone, I really liked the original GT stripes on this car and how they complimented that immaculate set of Star sharks.

He also decided to paint the middle center section of the TRD spoiler matte black like they originally came just like we did on ours except we opted out of the stickers.

It also had the ultra rare TRD aero-jacket headlight covers.   Note how they rotate forward so you can open the hood…

 Nice display up front showing some of the restoration process,  some of these look VERY familiar.

Nice bay too…  the things I look at might not be what most look for, but it’s small detail like are the hinges and painted or zinc coated…  fender bolts painted or not.   It’s the minute details that dictate what type of restoration you’re going for and the amount of attention to detail.  As much as this might look like a vacation, I’m in study mode the entire time.

Unfortunately I wasn’t able to get a picture of the entire car but if you can see the crowd in the pictures you can understand why.

I almost got an entire picture of this CSP311 Silvia.  I absolutely love these and it’s the first I’ve seen in the flesh.  Much smaller than I would expect but when you take into consideration they were built on the SP/SR311 Fairlady Roadster chassis it makes a little more sense.

One more although this one sported a color and set of wheels I’m not used to seeing on this chassis.

And speaking of Silvias, how about a 240RS?  It’s so bad it’s good.  These were built as a homologation car for the WRC from 83-85.

Long line of Coronas all packed in tight.

Isuzu doesn’t usually get much love when it comes to the classics but the Bellet is a seriously cool car, especially if it’s a GT-R.

FRP hood, twin-cam motor, and independent rear suspension was pretty serious business in 1969.

The 117 is also another notable Isuzu from the late 60′s, and one of the first cars ever designed for the Japanese market by famed Italian designer Giorgetto Giugiaro.

There were a few Cosmos in attendance but not as many as I would have expected.  These are both later model series II’s with the longer wheel base and slightly more powerful motor.   I’ve been learning a lot more about these since acquiring our own Series I.

This one was a replica based off of the 1968 car that competed in the 84 hour enduro at the Nürburgring.

Prince and Nissan Glorias…    I’ve always wanted one fro a cruiser.

Did you know Prince made a full-size truck?  I didn’t until now.

Ahhh….    Fairlady’s.    I was doing a bit of research here  trying to figure out differences in model year mirror finishes and heights as you can see are a bit different between the two.   We also took some measurements to figure out exact placement and as I had thought, the rumor of one being mounted further forward on one side is false.  At least on these two it is.  They’re also mounted symmetrically on every other car we’ve ever had in the shop so I’m not sure why it would be any different on the S30.  If anyone has any info on that feel free to chime in.

Nice lineup here…    The question is G-nose, original, or…

Completely mad, works inspired terror.

This car has such a raw, unfiltered  style and I loved every detail of it, especially the race style twin pipes and filthy, carbon covered rear end.  It’s quite obvious that this car gets used properly.

And continuing on the works theme, how about a couple of TS cup influenced Sunnys?

And one very well put together sedan.  Sometimes all you need is the right wheels and the right drop and here’s proof.

As expected, there were also quite a few roadsters at the event.

And as usual, I find myself drawn towards the minimal circuit oriented versionof the two.  I can’t help it.  Short window, 2000 on semi-slicks and steelies just feels so right.

The B210 Sunny is such an oddly styled car.

But I’m not sure who would win in the contest of  awkward rear ends…  the excellent,

Or the Cherry?  My vote goes to the Cherry.

This 1500, 2-door wagon is about as clean as they come.

I don’t think cute would be a common way to describe any truck but oddly enough it seems to fit this Mazda perfectly.

This is a truck I can get into, a Hilux and an 18R-G is a killer combo.

Something I never see enough of is the Mitsubishi Galant GTO.  Just like the TE27′s you’ll usually find them in orange..

Or Green.

And just like the Lancers of a more modern era, there will always be a few rally-inspired versions thrown in the mix.

My coverage is obviously going to be a bit biased but it wasn’t all Japanese here, there were cars from all over the globe represented.   This Mini with flares and fender mirrors was done in a truly Japanese style.

I’ll be honest in saying that I have no idea what king of Triumph this is but I do know that it was awesome.

In a row of old Benz’s  one looked better than all the rest for obvious reasons.

If there was one European marque represented here that had a much stronger following than all the others, it would be Lotus.   The Cortina is one of those cars that will always be a favorite.

We attended the meet with Lotus aficionado Ken Anderson and he was quite impressed by the Lotus following in Japan.  I’m not sure if he was joking or not but he said there were possibly more parts available here than in the UK and by the look of it I wouldn’t doubt it.  Instead of the train, he was lucky enough to get a ride to the show in a Caterham R300.  You can read about the experience on his blog HERE. 

The largest group in the Lotus crowd had to be the Europa, by far.

Body Shop Happy seems to have the Europa market covered and this full-carbon version was quite a piece of work.  With a stock curb weight in the neighborhood of 1,400 lbs. with the FRP shell I can only imagine how light this one was.

The motor was quite the business too, there’s really nothing to these cars!

I’ve never really considered myself much of a fan of these before coming here but after seeing a few built in the Japanese style I’ll have to say I’ve been converted.   You really don’t get an idea of how crazy they look in person, the roof line has to be one of the lowest I’ve ever seen on a street car.  To give you a bit of a comparison,  here’s me standing next to one…   waist high.   Seriously.

Alright, that about wraps up part 2.   I’ll be back next week for part 3 that will be a little piece of  Skyline paradise.