A Once-Overlooked Japanese Sports Car Just Became an Undisputed Classic

Make way, Toyota Supra and Nissan GT-R, this classic Acura coupe is proving to be a hot commodity.

close-up of a yellow acura integra type r green backdrop

Published 13 hours ago

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Even just a few years ago, classic American muscle cars regularly headlined the collector car market. However, as a result of changing buyer demographics, the scales are increasingly tipping in favor of Japanese sports cars.

Be it an A80 Supra, an FD RX-7 or an R34 GT-R, a growing number of later-model classics and imports are regularly commanding six-figure sums. As such, enthusiasts have been forced to look elsewhere to get their fix, and many other models are now experiencing similar surges in value.

front left 3/4 photo of a yellow acura integra type r — While the Integra Type R has long been the darling of the tuner crowd, the model has only recently started to see widespread collector appeal.

Based on the latest sale result from Bring a Trailer, it seems that the Acura Integra Type R has officially joined the ranks of Japanese sports car royalty. At the close of the auction, bidding had reached an astounding $204,204 before fees.

But what makes this particular example deserving of such a stratospheric result, and what does it mean for the Integra Type R going forward?

a photo of the interior of a 2001 integra type r — Honda transformed its premium compact into a true performance car through weight savings, responsive suspension and steering, a six-speed manual transmission and a punchy four-banger.

A high-flying four-cylinder

In giving the third-generation Integra its Type R designation, Honda transformed the premium compact into a true performance car. Along with shedding weight and stiffening the chassis, this meant fitting it with sharper suspension and steering, a 195-horsepower four-cylinder engine and some sporty styling touches.

To call it a revolution would be an understatement. The Type R treatment made the Acura an instant hit upon its debut, and the model remains popular with the tuner crowd because of its performance to this day. Many consider the up-spec Integra to be the best-handling front-wheel-drive car ever built.

a photo of the engine bay for a yellow integra type r — Honda’s Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control (VTEC) debuted on the Acura NSX, and it later made an appearance on the Integra Type R.

Still, it requires a perfect storm for something as humble as a Honda four-cylinder to see a $200,000-plus result, and this car had all the makings of a winner.

Beyond being one of just 1,173 Type Rs built for the 2001 model year in the United States, this particular example boasted a mere 4,800 miles on the clock, as well as an ownership history that included racer and Real Time Collection Hall owner Peter Cunningham. As Hagerty puts it, “perhaps no American driver is better associated with Honda and Acura.”

rear left 3/4 of a yellow acura integra type r — In addition to being rare (one of just 1,173 units made for the United States), this particular Integra boasted low miles and a significant ownership history.

While there’s no denying that this makes for an exceptional auction result, it’s but the latest in a string of landmark Integra Type R sales. In other words, if the third-generation Acura Integra wasn’t considered a six-figure Japanese classic before, it’s quickly proving that it deserves to be a part of the conversation.

For instance, over on Classic.com, values for the model have been steadily rising throughout the past five years. The average sale price for a 2001 Integra Type R fell around $18,000 back in 2021, but that number has since soared past $50,000. Nowadays, even an 80,000-mile example can be a five-figure car.

a photo of a yellow acura integra type r driving — Over the past five years, three separate Acura Integra Type R sales have managed to crack six figures. Values for the model are clearly on the rise.

Moreover, when you consider Integra Type R values across the third generation, there have been two previous sales that support the model’s upward trend. In 2022, Bring a Trailer achieved a $112,112 result for a 2000 model with 7,000 miles. The following year, Broad Arrow bettered that number with a $151,200 sale.

In any case, if you’ve had your eye on a classic Acura Integra Type R, don’t wait around. With six-figure sales becoming a more regular occurrence, this once-overlooked Japanese sports car is no longer a future classic — it’s having its moment in the spotlight.