Arizona has become an epicenter of classic-car activity in the southwest region as the Kyusha Club continues to build momentum with its regularly scheduled meetups. The club (which in reality is much more informal than sounds – there are no dues or board meetings) is geared toward 2005-and-older European and Japanese import vehicles.
Here are 10 vehicles that caught my eye during the March 2025 event, in order of oldest-to-newest model year.
1985 Toyota Celica GT-S
Part of the A60 generation of compact sports cars, the rear-wheel drive Celica’s boxy lines and retractable headlights made it unmistakably ’80s. It could be optioned as a notchback coupe or as a liftback (an American Sunroof Company/ASC convertible version came in limited numbers toward the end of the generation). Power came from a 2.4-liter inline-four (dubbed the 22R-E) that was rated at 116 horsepower and 140 lb-ft of torque.
1995 BMW 840Ci
The legendary E31 chassis of the 8-Series became widely known for its “personal luxury” merits – it was a car that cost about $68,000 in the mid-1990s and was hailed as a top-rank executive ride. It was powered by a 282-horsepower 4.0-liter V8 mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. As one would expect from a car of this caliber, it came loaded with creature comforts like leather, a Dolby audio system, a moonroof and automatic climate control.
1995 Mitsubishi 3000GT SL
The sporty 3000GT, known as the GTO in Japan, was a 2+2 that was touted for its blend of performance and comfort. It was powered by a 3.0-liter DOHC V6 rated at 222 horsepower and 205 lb-ft of torque. A more powerful version, the VR-4, was available with all-wheel drive, all-wheel steering and a twin-turbocharged engine. Today, the 3000GT is widely considered a future collectible.
1997 BMW 740iL
Another one of BMW’s “greats” from the 1990s was its flagship sedan, the 7-Series. The “L” in the car’s model name meant that it was configured as a long-wheelbase version (offering added cabin space for maximum touring comfort). Power came from a 282-horsepower 4.4-liter V8, and standard features included dual-zone climate control, memory seats and a six-disc CD changer. For the high-rollers with even more money to burn, the car could be ordered with an integrated cellular phone and thicker window glass.
1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX Turbo
Mitsubishi was on a roll in the 1990s with its sports car lineup. The baby brother to the 3000GT mentioned above was the second-generation Eclipse. In particular, the GSX variant was a home run with young people who embraced the import tuner movement. It came with a “4G63” turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four, all-wheel drive and five-speed manual transmission. Some versions of the Eclipse were badge-engineered under the names Plymouth Laser and Eagle Talon.
1999 Honda Civic Si
Widely loved as a compact economy car for commuters, the sixth-generation Civic was offered in a “sleeper” variant that packed a punch under its hood. The “Si” version came with a high-revving 1.6-liter DOHC VTEC inline-four and a number of other performance enhancements like larger anti-roll bars, stiffer springs and a front strut tower brace. For $17,860, it was a well-equipped and fun-to-drive car – and today, it’s increasingly tough to find an Si that hasn’t been modified.
2000 Mercedes-Benz C280
The “W202” chassis C-Class was a compact executive car that ran from 1994 through 2000. It was a gateway model to the brand, offering the exclusivity of a German luxury car with a price tag that didn’t break the budget. Power came from a 2.8-liter inline-six that was rated at 194 horsepower. I enjoyed the sleek black color of this example along with its iconic “Monoblock” five-spoke chrome wheels. The W202 was a strong performer at the DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters) sports car racing series in the 1990s.
2002 Lexus IS300 SportCross
The IS300 sport sedan is now considered a classic, and one of the versions of the IS that made it so popular was the station wagon – dubbed the SportCross. It offered the same fun factor as the sedan via its sporty handling and peppy 215-horsepower inline-six 3.0-liter motor, but it also offered more than double the cargo capacity of the sedan (21.9 cubic feet, to be exact). Finished in Indigo Ink Pearl, the most impressive thing about this car was the trailer it had in tow. As if the wagon itself didn’t have enough space already – this solution took it to another level!
2003 Acura NSX-T
Acura’s aluminum-bodied, mid-engined sports car existed in its first generation from 1991 through 2005, although there were some key engineering and aesthetic revisions made throughout that 15-year span. For 2002, the NSX received fixed projector headlights in place of the original pop-ups. It was powered by a 3.2-liter V6 that was rated at 290 horsepower. According to production numbers published on the NSX Prime forums, the car was one of just 22 units produced in Spa Yellow over Ebony with a manual transmission for 2003.
2004 Jaguar XJR
When it came to high-performance luxury, the XJR was a force to be reckoned with. Its 390-horsepower 4.2-liter supercharged V8 could propel the car to 60 mph in about five seconds. Jaguar engineers worked hard to make the XJR both sporty and comfortable. It came with leather and wood trim, a 320-watt Alpine stereo and heated seats. I loved the deep Emerald Green color on this example, as well as its later-model split-spoke aluminum wheels.
Do any of these rides catch your eye like they did mine? Or better yet – have you ever owned any of the above? If so, lucky you! Stay tuned for more coverage from the Kyusha Club and other events as Arizona summer heats up.