Mazda MX-5 NA

The NA revived the small, light roadster after the British and Italian makers had abandoned the format, and did it with Japanese reliability — which is the part that actually changed things. It started with a 1.6-litre four and moved to a 1.8 in late 1993, and never made much power in either form; the appeal was balance, a short-throw shifter and a chassis that rewarded a driver who was not going fast. Cheap examples and enormous aftermarket support made it a default first track car, and it remains one of the most raced cars in amateur motorsport.