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Are you a fan of the Initial D and want to purchase one of the cars featured in the show? Here are some Initial D cars you can own!
Anime Cars in Real Life
Initial D started as a street racing manga series by Shuichi Shigeno back in 1995. Since that time, the series has turned into a popular anime, become a fun racing arcade cabinet, and become a pop culture phenomenon among car enthusiasts. The panda paint schemed AE86 Toyota Sprinter Trueno has become one of the most beloved JDM cars alongside the Toyota Supra, Nissan Skyline GT-R, and Mazda RX-7. So, it’s no wonder that fans of Initial D would want to get their hands on the cars they’ve watched speed down the mountain passes of Japan. To help your search, we’ve compiled all the cars from Initial D and found their available equivalents for us over in the USA!
Some Initial D Cars are Exclusively JDM
Cars found in an anime based on the street racing scene of Japan are obviously all going to be JDMs. This means that the only way you’re getting your hands on one of these cars found in Initial D is by importing one into the United States. However, there are actually a significant number of cars featured in the anime that have a United States Domestic Market (USDM) counterpart available for purchase. They may not be right-hand-drive like the ones in the anime, but they’re cheaper and easier to own than an import model.
There are a few Initial D cars that were sold exclusively as JDMs though. These include all Nissan Silvias (unless you count the 240SX), all Nissan Skyline GT-Rs, all Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution models prior to the VIII, both Toyota Altezza RS200s, Sakamoto’s Suzuki Cappuccino, Miki’s Toyota Celica GT-Four, Itsuki’s Toyota Corolla Levin AE85, and Bunta’s Subaru Impreza WRX STi. Some of these models are available for importation since they’re over 25 years old, but we’ll have to wait it out a couple more years to get the full Initial D lineup.
USDM Versions of Initial D Cars
Toyota Corolla
The AE86 is used by a couple characters throughout the Initial D series, but Takumi’s panda painted Toyota Sprinter Trueno GT-Apex used for tofu deliveries is the real star. Now, American audiences never got the Sprinter Trueno, but we did get the Toyota Corolla of the same generation. The Toyota Corolla Sport GT-S was the closest American’s got to a USDM version of Takumi’s Sprinter Trueno as it had the same pop-up headlights, a modified variant of the dual overhead cam 4A-GE, and while it doesn’t carry the AE86 VIN, AE86 can be found stamped into the firewall. The obvious differences between a real AE86 Sprinter Trueno is that the USDM model uses Levin taillights, it’s left-hand drive, and there were 5 mph bumpers installed at either end.
Acura NSX
Go Hojo drove a Honda NSX NA1 as leader of Sidewinder in Initial D: Fifth Stage. The NA1 NSX was available in America at the same time as the JDM model, just sold under Acura instead. Aside from the badge swap, the USDM Acura NSX NA1 model’s only differences is that it’s left-hand drive, it’s missing the integrated fog lights, and it was tuned to meet emissions regulations. Otherwise, this is nearly identical to Go Hojo’s Initial D car.
Acura Integra Type R
“Smiley” Sakai from the Todo School drives a Honda Integra Type R during Initial D: Fourth Stage. This happens to be the first version of a Type R that Americans could get, but the USDM does differ slightly from the JDM model. The most obvious is the front-end of the USDM Integra Type R as it features a four-headlight design. Other changes include it being badged as an Acura, it’s left-hand drive, and the B18C engine being tuned differently to meet emissions regulations. Swap out that front bumper with a JDM Integra Type R one though and it’s virtually identical.
Honda Civic
You won’t find a great match for Todo School’s Spoon Sports tuned Honda Civic Type R EK9 as the Type R was a JDM exclusive. The best you could do to match that car from the anime is to find a USDM 1997 Honda Civic hatchback. It’s similar in design aside from the missing performance and Type R additions, but Spoon Sports imports parts to the USA. All you have to do is paint it yellow, install a rear spoiler, swap the bumpers, throw on a carbon fiber hood, and then hit up the Spoon Sports USA to get all the necessary aftermarket parts. That’s some heavy lifting just for some anime fandom, but it’s possible.
The other Honda Civic from Initial D of note is Shingo Shoji’s Honda Civic SiR-II EC6. The SiR-II was also a JDM exclusive, but a red EC6 Honda Civic hatchback Si is pretty close in looks at least. The engine isn’t a B16A, but the D16Z6 still has VTEC at least.
Honda S2000
Dr. Toshiya Joshima of team Purple Shadow showed up in Initial D: Fourth Stage driving a Honda S2000 AP1. You can get your own version of the “God Hand” S2K here in the states. The Honda S2000 sold in the USA is nearly identical to the JDM version with the exception of the steering wheel placement and the compression ratio (JDM at 11.7:1 versus 11.0:1 for USDM). It isn’t until the S2K AP2 that the model drastically diverges between the two markets.
Mazda MX-5 Miata
The Mazda MX-5 Miata comes up twice in Initial D as an NA and NB. The NA Enuos Roadster model shows up driven by Toru Suetsugu in Forth Stage while the NB shows up in Fifth Stage driven by Satoshi Omiya. Both of these MX-5 models feature the Mazda Detachable Hard Top which is hard to find as an OEM part here in the States, but not impossible.
Mazda RX-7
Both the FC3S and FD3S versions of the Mazda RX-7 hold prominent roles in Initial D. The Takahashi brothers both drive one as the Akagi RedSuns and later as a part of Project D throughout the series. The closest model to Ryosuke’s Mazda Savanna RX-7 FC3S in the USA is the Mazda RX-7 Turbo II that features the same turbocharged engine and hood scoop for the intercooler. We didn’t have the ɛ̃fini brand in the USA, but we did get the Mazda RX-7 FD. The chassis code may differ (FD3S vs JM1FD), but they look almost identical and carry the same twin-turbocharged 13B-REW rotary engine. The biggest difference being the catalytic converter added on USDM models and driver position.
Nissan 350Z
Team Spiral’s leader Ryuji Ikeda battles with Project D in his Nissan Fairlady Z Version S Z33 during Initial D: Fifth Stage. We know this generation of the Fairlady Z as the Nissan 350Z over in the USA. The closest match to Ryuji’s Fairlady Z would be a pre-2007 350Z featuring the 3.5L VQ35DE naturally aspirated V6 and then throwing a turbocharger onto it.
Toyota Supra Mk.IV
Hideo Minagawa was a professional race car driver that led the Katagiri Street Version team in his Toyota Supra Mk.IV during Initial D: Fifth Stage. You can find the USDM Mk.IV Toyota Supra for sale still, but it comes at a premium price now after having gained significant popularity over the years from The Fast and the Furious. The USDM Supra carries the same 2JZ-GTE twin-turbocharged inline-6 engine that Hideo’s does, but it’s tuned differently to actually give it more horsepower in the US.
Toyota MR2
A Toyota MR2 SW20 is driven by Kai Kogashiwa in Initial D: Third Stage and by Miyahara in Extra Stage – Act 2. This generation of the mid-engined sports car was available in the United States too, but the bas engine differs from the JDM versions. Both of the Intial D cars used the naturally aspirated version of the 3S-GE engine while the USDM MR2 used a naturally aspirated 5S-FE. However, if you find a USDM Toyota MR2 Turbo, that carries the same turbocharged 3S-GTE that’s found in JDM top trim levels, albeit slightly detuned.
Kai Kogashiwa returns in a Toyota MR-S ZZW30 after joining the Katagiri Street Version Team in Fifth Stage. This is just another version of the Toyota MR2 that was also available in the United States. Both the JDM and USDM models share the same 1ZZ-FED engine with the USDM model featuring more emissions equipment installed.
Toyota 86
At the end of Initial D Legend 3: Dream, Takumi is doing a tofu delivery when he encounters a modern Toyota GT86. The pair take notice of each other and start a battle up the mountain before the credits roll. It’s a nice homage to the legacy of the AE86 that’s been further popularized by Initial D. We don’t know much about this mysterious driver at the end of the film, but the Toyota 86 is available for sale in the USA and is being used as the primary car in the Initial D sequel anime series, MF Ghost.
