Car enthusiasts are often anxiously awaiting the arrival of that 25-year rule. You know, for those JDMs like the Nissan Skyline, the Toyota Supra… But there’s one less-discussed JDM from Toyota that should be part of this bunch: the Toyota Chaser. Because the sixth-generation Chaser (JZX100) was produced from September 1996 through 2001, every model year of the JZX100 is now fully legal to import and register.
And it’s that last generation you really want.
The Toyota Chaser came out in the 1970s, always looking a bit unassuming with its four doors and classy design. The sixth generation, however, fully embraced the sporty ’90s aesthetic for which Japan was known. Of course, this still meant it was pretty nondescript, although the highest trim, the Tourer V, had a turbocharged 2.5-liter 1JZ-GTE six offering up to 180 horsepower and rear-wheel drive. It could reach 60 miles per hour in 5.6 seconds, keeping up with known sporty models of the decade, and it had stiffer suspension and a five-speed manual gearbox for an engaging, fun driving experience.
There’s a reason it’s called the “four-door Supra.”
The Chaser has become something of a drifting legend in Japan. Beyond its performance, it’s easy to tune and very reliable. But a quick glimpse online and you’ll notice it’s not a much-discussed car outside of Japan. However, that could mean this is the perfect time to consider the Toyota Chaser Tourer V.
How to find a Toyota Chaser Tourer V
If you’re looking for a Toyota Chaser Tourer V, you’re gonna have to dig a bit. The usual sites like Classic.com don’t have many models available, especially not the desired year or trim. If you head to Car From Japan, there are about 50 listings. They range from $7,000 to $41,000, based on mileage, quality, and trim. These vehicles will be coming directly from Japan, so there are a few things to keep in mind.
When I was looking for my Mazda Autozam AZ-1, I initially checked a few listings on Car From Japan myself. If you inquire about a specific car, you can chat with someone from Car From Japan on WhatsApp. They were open to answering my questions about the condition and to reasonable offers. However, you won’t be able to check this car out yourself. I even asked someone to inspect the vehicle for me, but they said no. I’m not saying it’s sketchy; I’m saying you are basically buying it sight unseen and hoping for the best.
And this is a big risk since many imported JDMs have rust issues. Japan is humid and salty, meaning there is a lot of moisture. This can be tough when the cars don’t come with a lot of rust protection from the factory. Japanese automakers also used a lot of thinner, lightweight steel, which reduced costs and maximized fuel efficiency, but made it easier to rust. This is something you’ll need to watch out for.
You’ll also need to keep in mind that the final price of the vehicle isn’t the price you’ll actually pay. There will be import fees, increased by President Donald Trump’s tariffs, and sales tax, depending on the state to which it is imported. In California, this was all adding up when I was contemplating an Autozam. Even checking out some of the cheaper models, the added fees were making it a bit pricey.
In the end, I went with a local seller. I drove down to San Diego to buy from a guy who imports the vehicles himself. He does all the tedious stuff — gets the car checked out, imports it, pays all those fees, etc — and then I just pay a bit extra to pick the car up and be on my way. If you’re lazy and cautious like me, I think this is the way to do it. I’d wait for a Chaser Tourer V to show up on Facebook Marketplace or check with local JDM importers. They can even get it imported for you if you find one you like over in Japan.
However, it seems like the right time to put in that extra effort and find a Chaser Tourer V. I think it’s easy to predict that the prices will continue to rise as JDMs continue to be popular and car enthusiasts start getting more interested in the Chaser V. Right now, it’s a bit more of a “if you know you know” option. But you’ll stand out at any JDM car meet when you show up with this sleeper hit. It’s a “they know ball” kinda ride. It has been one of the most rewarding and entertaining parts of owning the Autozam: it always gets tons of attention at car meets, even more than supercars.
