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Random
January 8th, 2014, 09:58 AM
The first R32 GTR (http://www.gtrusablog.com/2014/01/first-1989-nissan-skyline-gt-r-imported.html) was legally imported under the "25-year rule" this week. Separately, a Lancia Delta Integrale also came into the US. :up:

Article at MotoIQ on the 25-year rule: http://www.motoiq.com/MagazineArticles/ID/3198/Vehicle-Importation-Understanding-the-25-Year-Old-Rule.aspx

California's "Direct Import" regs: http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/reg_hdbk/ch12/ch12_15.htm

thesameguy
January 8th, 2014, 10:19 AM
I AM SO EXCITED. Weird that 1989 is, apparently, the magic year for desirable cars to import.

But, uh, what other west coasters wanna go in on a container full of foreign automotive awesomeness?

Nick T
January 8th, 2014, 11:00 AM
25 years old means that I can apply for historical plates for my 1988 IROC (technically last year). Perhaps that is the motivation that I require to that thing back on the road.

Phil_SS
January 8th, 2014, 03:50 PM
Nice article about what is now available (http://http://www.autoweek.com/article/20131230/carnews01/131229923)

Myself, I've still got a few years to wait for my Cossie.

thesameguy
January 8th, 2014, 06:58 PM
Is it sad or weird I think I'd rather have a Pao than an R32? :lol:

I'm a little sad that I always believed by the time this time rolled around I'd have had plans to bring over a mess of late-model Saab 5-doors and Alfa 75 Turbos. I don't, and I can't rightly say they're in the works, either. :(

thesameguy
January 8th, 2014, 07:02 PM
California's "Direct Import" regs: http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/reg_hdbk/ch12/ch12_15.htm

Man, I was hoping there was something new there, but it's every bit as draconian as it's ever been. The only glimmer of hope is:


Contact ARB at (800) 242-4450 or e-mail at helpline@arb.ca.gov, if the vehicle is a 1978 or newer year model motorcycle that does not comply with U.S. emission requirements

The implication is that it's possible to still import it. Otherwise, they'd say "Go fuck yourself if the vehicle doesn't comply," right? Right?

Dicknose
January 9th, 2014, 12:50 AM
Hope you enjoyed the wait.
I think we got them in 1990.

Rare White Ape
January 9th, 2014, 03:56 AM
He got a nice original looking one as well.

From which country did it come?

MR2 Fan
January 9th, 2014, 07:50 AM
So any estimate on how much it would cost to import an R32/buy one? (to the U.S.)

novicius
January 9th, 2014, 09:05 AM
Man, I was hoping there was something new there, but it's every bit as draconian as it's ever been.
Start a Kickstarter campaign to pay for the legal fees to lobby for changing the regs? :D

Random
January 23rd, 2015, 10:30 AM
You know what else is now legal under the 25-year rule? E30 Wagons. :D Should be relatively easy to make one EPA/CARB legal, too.

thesameguy
January 23rd, 2015, 10:38 AM
I've been thinking about that... Wanna bring over a boatload of them? Also E28 wagons!

pl8ster
January 23rd, 2015, 11:27 AM
This thread reminds me how much I'd like an R32 GT-R. Even if I could afford the cost, good luck finding someone to help me keep it on the road. There's not even an Acura dealer in this state, FFS.

KillerB
January 23rd, 2015, 01:04 PM
Yeah there have been E30 wagons all over BaT recently.

I have a friend outside Reno who would probably let me register a Cosmo at his place...

Phil_SS
January 23rd, 2015, 04:15 PM
Pay attention to this Pl8. http://jalopnik.com/i-m-importing-a-1990-nissan-skyline-gt-r-from-japan-1680939525

LHutton
January 24th, 2015, 07:54 AM
25 years old also exempts a vehicle from road tax in the UK.:)

KillerB
January 24th, 2015, 12:07 PM
So who wants what, anyway? Here would be my choices:

- Mazda Eunos Cosmo 20B
- Peugeot 205GTi
- Mazda Luce 13BT
- Mazda Infini IV
- BMW E30 Touring
- Honda Beat
- Mazda AZ-1

MR2 Fan
January 24th, 2015, 12:45 PM
So who wants what, anyway? Here would be my choices:

- Honda Beat
- Mazda AZ-1

:up:

novicius
January 24th, 2015, 12:57 PM
2000 Nissan S14 Silvia K (Touring Model) -- so I've got a few years yet. :assclown:

neanderthal
January 24th, 2015, 01:46 PM
I'm only interested in 5 vehicles

Land Rover 130 Crew Cab pickup
Diesel Gelandewagen
E30 BMW M3 Evo II
190E 2.5-16 Evo II
A diesel W124 wagon.

KillerB
January 24th, 2015, 06:04 PM
tsg - So while direct import to CA is basically a no-no, what about if it's been registered in some other state for a while first?

I could certainly register something in my parents' name in PA for a few years...

thesameguy
January 24th, 2015, 08:38 PM
That doesn't work in a legal sense (see my earlier post), but I do wonder if it could be fudged. I don't actually know what foreign emissions labels look like...

Godson
January 24th, 2015, 10:59 PM
R32 or an R33 Skyline.
FD RX7 bathurst
Lancia Delta Evoluzione

Phil_SS
January 27th, 2015, 02:58 PM
Escort Cosworth Monte Carlo Edition. Only a few years to go.

LHutton
January 30th, 2015, 04:31 AM
Few suggestion to mull over:

Lotus Carlton (aka "the millenium falcon")
Sierra Sapphire Cosworth Rouse Sport 304-R
Sierra Cosworth RS500
R32 V-Spec II or S-tune

pl8ster
January 30th, 2015, 12:18 PM
Oh yeah, I'd forgotten about the Lotus Carlton. Love those things.

KillerB
May 31st, 2015, 08:28 PM
Guess what? (http://japanesenostalgiccar.com/2015/04/29/25-year-club-the-mazda-eunos-cosmo-is-officially-a-japanese-nostalgic-car/)

http://japanesenostalgiccar.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/030_MazdaEunosCosmoJC-640x427.jpg

Mazda cared enough that the Eunos Cosmo is now legal for import that they let JNC.com drive the one they have stored at their HQ in Irvine.

SkylineObsession
May 31st, 2015, 10:11 PM
R33's came out in 1993 (1995 for the GT-R), so you'll have to wait a bit longer Godson.

And at the rate Skylines/GT-R's are being stolen and stripped for parts in NZ, i'm surprised there are any left in Japan to import. :/

thesameguy
November 23rd, 2015, 09:55 AM
Just wanted to call attention to this:

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/cto/5322821056.html

25 year rule'dddddddd!!!!!!!!

Phil_SS
November 23rd, 2015, 10:09 AM
So when are you picking it up?

thesameguy
November 23rd, 2015, 10:24 AM
Haha... not. It is tempting for a couple reasons, but being a non-turbo 5-door it's not for me, and I think doing a motor swap on a 25 year car is just asking for paperwork problems.

Random
December 28th, 2015, 08:02 AM
http://columbus.craigslist.org/cto/5359319017.html
1990 Suzuki Alto Works RS/Rhttp://images.craigslist.org/01414_3uYCy0cKiIg_600x450.jpg

"legally imported to the US under the 25 year rule"

:D :D :toast:

thesameguy
December 28th, 2015, 08:25 AM
Dude. RHD import is very unusual. Kudos to that guy!

Freude am Fahren
December 28th, 2015, 09:19 AM
Saw a RHD S13 yesterday on the highway. I wonder if it was imported under the rule, or just illegally. It was a in a big pack of cars, one of which was a I think an SC300 which was puking smoke and smelt like it was about to pop. Poor 2JZ (I think*)...

...edit: I looked it up, the SC300 had the NA version of the 2JZ, so this may have been a swap or aftermarket turbo, becuase it sounded pretty muffled considering it had was looked like a 5" straight exhaust. :lol: May have even started out with the V8 because it had one exhaust trim blanked out on the bumper.

XHawkeye
December 28th, 2015, 09:44 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=no-3cpZICY0

Jason
December 28th, 2015, 10:21 AM
:up:

I like their videos a lot, in fact his FiST vids are what really got me on the path of buying mine.

I like the short blurb that he bought a 1990 GTR after shooting the video :lol:

Phil_SS
January 13th, 2016, 11:39 AM
2016 eh....so 1991 cars are now eligible. :) So only one more year til the first year Escort Cosworth, GC8/GF8 WRX, and Lancer Evo I.

Queue Leon telling us they all suck anyways.

Freude am Fahren
January 13th, 2016, 11:44 AM
How does it work? Model Year? Date of production start of model year? Production date of actual vehicle? Any way, many '91 models would have been available, and we should start looking twoards '92 models already, though I don't think they were as early in model years as they are these days back then.

thesameguy
January 13th, 2016, 12:17 PM
It's production date AFAIK.

Phil_SS
January 13th, 2016, 12:34 PM
Correct, it is production date. So by the beginning of the new year, some of the 1991 cars are available. Or say next year at this time you could start your prep for importing a Escort Cosworth as production started in Feb of 1992. The WRX was November of 92, a little less than two years away.

Phil_SS
January 13th, 2016, 12:46 PM
BTW, I'm pretty sure I mentioned it somewhere in here but Doug Demuro of Jalopnik imported a Skyline GT-R last year and wrote about it all year. Taking it to the delearship etc. But my Favorite was him getting pulled over twice in a matter of minutes. (http://jalopnik.com/i-got-pulled-over-twice-in-one-night-driving-my-nissan-1728483210)

Yobbo NZ
January 14th, 2016, 10:48 PM
Some of the prices they're charging for the imports,is a bit out there.
Maybe we've been lucky in NZ and to some extent,Australia with good pricing on some pretty awesome cars over the years.

Leon
January 14th, 2016, 11:37 PM
2016 eh....so 1991 cars are now eligible. :) So only one more year til the first year Escort Cosworth, GC8/GF8 WRX, and Lancer Evo I.

Queue Leon telling us they all suck anyways.

I like the Evo 1 a lot :) WRX's are okay, but because they've been here so long, the idiots have them, so you can get baggy WRX'n for NZ$2k upwards. Plus, the WRX isn't too exciting when you've had the Sti version :)