We’ll focus now on the first 5 cars. The Mazda RX7, Celica GT4, Galant GR4, Bluebird SSS and Diamante 30R.

The GT4, GR4 and the SSS all share one thing in common.

That is ‘Homologation’.

‘Homologation’ was a process of selling a number of race-specced cars to the public, in order for the car to eligible for race entry, in this case, for the World Rally Championship. These rules stated the cars must be based on publicly purchasable street models, to avoid purpose built monsters. It also drove a lot of innovation in road cars power and safety.




The Celica GT4 in Street and WRC Rally guises.


So, for a great period there, the general public got these amazing spicy versions of their otherwise boring commuter cars, because the manufacturers wanted the advertising clout for racing them. Tied in with a bubble economy and many enthusiasts keen to buy them, you had a perfect storm.




The Bluebird SSS in Street and WRC Rally guises.


These cars, and many others at the time, simply took their comfortable and reliable commuter sedans and coupes, and whacked in great big turbo, all wheel drive and all wheel steering systems in them, as was the style at the time.




The Mitsubishi Galant VR4 in street and rally guises. Bonus video


These features became synonymous with ‘the higher end’ model, and you started to see it in all models.

…. For example, the Mitsubishi Diamante 30R wasn't entering any rally anytime soon - but it got all the fun stuff because it was the top of the line variant. Apparently it was even the first car with adaptive cruise control. Neat!





The exception on this list, to all the above, is the Mazda FC RX7, which was designed and sold as an amazing pure thoroughbred, rotary powered sports car….





This is one of my favourite cars of all time. As always, Mazda destroyed it with the styling, and with a turbo rotary engine these things sound and feel amazing. They also won a bunch of races in their day. A definite dream car... If any are still left because of the mechanical nightmare that is owning a rotary.

But - we can’t leave these cars here without at least one, standout Japanese television commercial.

Just ask Eddie Murphy.