Sports car fans all over the world crave the revered R34 Nissan GT-R. Even though we are aware that it is now illegal to own one in the US until at least 2024, when the first R34s will be permitted for import under the 25 Year Rule, aficionados continue to hunt for ways around the law. Any day of the week, it’s especially alluring to purchase one in Canada, which is just across the border.
Can an R34, however, be imported lawfully? Are R34s permissible in the United States? Why was it never sold here to begin with? Would you mind driving one over?
In addition, the solutions are applicable to practically any vehicle that is less than 25 years old and was never purchased brand-new in the US.
In This Article...
How much does a Nissan GTR R34 cost to purchase?
The Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R is regarded as the pinnacle of Japanese engineering in the 1990s. Fast & Furious, one of the most well-known movie franchises, features it as one of its key heroes. As a result of a few cameos by Paul Walker’s character Brian O’Conner in the F&F films, the JDM legend has grown to legendary level. Unfortunately, some limited-edition R34 GT-Rs have reached prices over $500,000. This is due to the GT-appearances R’s on television and film, as well as its illustrious past. Despite the staggering prices, you can still purchase a normal R34 GT-R like this one for “only $58,000.
Has the Nissan Skyline been discontinued?
The rationale behind the R34’s illegality is misconstrued, according to HotCars.
The terrifying two-door coupe had a 2.6-liter twin-turbocharged engine that was capable of producing 300 horsepower and 266 lb.-ft of torque. Additionally, some enthusiasts claim that it handles better than any sports vehicle in history.
Because of its exceptional performance, the Skyline GT-R R34 was allegedly prohibited because American police cars could not keep up with it.
Although the 200 mph top speed of this Nissan may leave most police officers in the dust, that isn’t the reason it’s outlawed in the United States.
Nissan never intended for its Skyline GT-R series cars to be sold in the United States because the Japanese automaker was unsure at the time of how American sports car fans would react to an import.
The American FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards) laws and emissions testing were not taken into consideration when it was constructed. Owning one is still prohibited for this reason.
Midnight Purple is it a crime?
There may be some questions about whether this R34 Nissan Skyline is legal, so here are some explanations in advance:
- Under the Show and Display NHTSA exemption, the vehicle was imported. It is expressly stated that this shade and model year are acceptable. Particularly the 1999 Midnight Purple II GT-R, not all R34s are permitted.
- To comply with EPA rules, JK Technologies converted the automobile to full OBDII. Only the NHTSA’s (crash testing) Show and Display exemption applies.
- This vehicle complies with all federal regulations. It is not automatically this way just because it has a title and insurance. The NHTSA has granted a full bond release, allowing this car to be imported despite its own requirements.
- The conversion took a long time and cost a lot of money. In the future, this one will probably be listed for sale for around $250,000. This is also a result of the Fine Spec Motor that the Omari factory installed.
A R34 is legal to own in the US.
10 Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 V-Spec II is still illegal Unless it’s an import from MotoRex, Gran Turismo and Fast and Furious fans will have to wait until 2024 to legally import the R34 Skyline to the United States because this model is still under the age of 25.
Which skyline is the cheapest?
The Nissan Skyline’s R32 generation, which replaced the R30 and R31, debuted in 1989. Sedans and coupes were still present, some with sta…
The Nissan Skyline’s R32 generation, which replaced the R30 and R31, debuted in 1989. Despite the continued production of sedans and coupes, some of which featured staid four-cylinder engines, this generation is most recognized for the GT-R nameplate’s reintroduction. The 2.6-liter RB26DETT twin-turbo six-cylinder engine of the R32 GT-R was coupled with all-wheel drive and four-wheel steering. With at least 276 horsepower, the R32 gained notoriety as “Godzilla,” the Japanese monster. The GTS, GTS-25, and GTS-t were some of the other noteworthy variations. The R32 GT-R was produced until 1994, even though the normal R32 Skyline’s manufacture ceased in 1993. The R33 Nissan Skyline, the following version of the Nissan Skyline, was unveiled in 1993.
A: On August 13, 2021, a 1994 Nissan Skyline-R R32 GT-R Vspec II sold for $150,000.
A 1992 Nissan Skyline Sedan sold for $8,800 on April 14th, 2018, according to sales records.
The R34 Skyline GTR costs a lot; why is that?
6 To Begin With, They Were Never Cheap A new R34 cost $45,000 in 1999; in 2021, that amount would be closer to $71,000. Prices have gradually increased as a result of decreasing production levels, rarer varieties, and a renewed interest in both JDM cars and 1990s vehicles.
How numerous GT-R R34s were produced?
The pidgin-cryptic text message was great. In 1998, Bill Thomas, the previous editor of this illustrious work, and I were both working in London on an unpublished auto magazine. The screen of Bill’s phone was displayed to me. “Meet me at Nur at midnight. Hiroshi Tamura, a legendary figure in Skyline lore, was the sender, a Nissan engineer. Tamura must have had a good reason for calling a reporter to the Nrburgring in the middle of the night. There was only one possible explanation: to witness something that was still kept from the general public.
Tamura had every right to be pleased because that something was Nissan’s Skyline R34 GT-R, which was being prepared for introduction on the UK market. Nissan produced the R34 in relatively limited quantities—11,578 units total—between January 1999 and August 2002, but it served as more than simply a holding pattern before the 2007 R35 GT-R debuted. Since it was the last of the GT-straight-six R’s bloodline, its value has increased as a result of collectors’ interest.
Paul Walker drove what skyline?
Paul Walker was a legend in the automobile industry even before his untimely death. The Fast and Furious franchise, the most popular car-themed film series ever, featured him as one of its stars. He was also a prominent figure in Southern California’s enthusiast scene. Walker’s automobiles in particular are receiving more attention as a result of the man’s untimely death while a passenger in a Porsche Carrera GT that crashed and caught fire. Many of the vehicles from his sizable collection have been seen by us in person, and it is clear that he took great care of them. Paul Walker’s Nissan Skyline GT-R R34, on the other hand, is unquestionably legendary.
The Nissan Skyline GT-R and other imports, including Toyota Supras, Acura NSXs, and other vehicles, are all over Toprank Importers in California, which Larry Chen of Hoonigan AutoFocus visits in the video that is attached to this piece. We are obviously envious of this guy because he gets to see and even drive all the cool automobiles.
You have to admit that the R34 Skyline GT-R owned by Paul Walker has some wonderful features. The rear wing and hood are made of carbon fiber, which goes well with the gray color. There is a decent selection of bolt-on upgrades under the hood, including a HKS turbo system and a carbon fiber strut tower brace.
If you’re currently drooling, you should be aware that Toprank is trying to sell Paul Walker’s R34. Although they’re not exactly sure how they’re going to do it, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to contact them if you’re interested. Simply make sure you have ample financing, as this automobile won’t be sold for a bargain.
There has been a persistent but unfounded claim that Paul Walker’s own R34 Skyline GT-R appeared in the film 2 Fast 2 Furious. In actuality, Craig Lieberman, who served as the film’s technical advisor, owned the car you see in the movie. Now that the facts are in the open, it’s wonderful to see what was undoubtedly one of Walker’s favorite vehicles.
What color of R34 is the rarest?
One of the best vehicles ever produced by Nissan, the R34 Nissan GTR is legendary among auto fans. There is a select group of only 18 iconic R34 Nissan GTRs that received extra attention from Nissan’s NISMO tuning division, known as the Z-Tunes. Only two specimens of the beautiful Midnight Purple III color exist among this group of exceedingly rare Z-Tune GTRs, and today we’re going to see one of them get a detail.
In case you’re unaware, the R34 Nissan GTR is the final incarnation of the previous GTRs. The R35 GTR of today is significantly different from GTRs of the past, despite being quicker. The RB-Series straight-6 engine, a favorite of the tuner scene, was used by the GTR R34, the final version to use it.
Gallery: Detailing ‘World’s Most Expensive’ Nissan GT-R R34 Z-Tune Is Relaxing To See
Before the R35 debuted in 2007, the R34 marked a brief halt to the GTR nameplate. It was built from 1999 to 2002. The GTR reached new heights of performance and rarity thanks to the high-performance variations produced during the brief R34 production cycle. A final factory attempt to create the ideal GTR was born after the three-year manufacturing cycle, and the resulting vehicles were known as Z-Tunes.
Nissan obtained used R34 GTRs in the V-Spec trim with fewer than 18,000 miles on the odometer to utilize as the foundation for the Z-Tune vehicles. Nismo disassembled the base vehicles and repainted 17 of the 18 Z-Tunes in a limited-edition shade called Z-Tune Silver. Its Midnight Purple III color was the last remaining outlier, making it a one-of-one and the utmost rare R34 GTR in existence.
A Nissan GT-R will depreciate 25% after 5 years and have a 5 year resale value of $119,205.
The anticipated depreciation over the following ten years is shown in the figure below. These outcomes apply to cars that travel 12,000 miles annually on average and are in good condition. Additionally, it counts on a new-car selling price of $158,940. Enter the purchase price, anticipated length of ownership, and yearly mileage estimate. We can estimate the Nissan GT-projected R’s resale value using our depreciation calculator.
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What makes the GT-R known as Godzilla?
In 1989, the Skyline R32 earned the moniker “Godzilla” for its ability to rule Japanese Touring Car Racing. The GT-R was only available in Japan, though, so the rest of the world could only learn about it from magazines.
Which skylines are forbidden?
In summary, the Nissan Skyline GT-R is prohibited from being imported into the US since it does not adhere to the 1988 Imported Vehicle Safety Compliance Act. The Skyline was not designed with the necessary safety elements to abide by the applicable traffic safety regulations.
A vehicle is exempt from these rules once it reaches the age of 25, at which point it is allowed to be imported and used on American roads.
With California being likely the most noteworthy exception in terms of particular states where you would have difficulties importing due to tougher emissions control legislation, this means that vehicles like the R32 GTR (the original “Godzilla”) can be imported into the USA.
By 2024, you should be able to start importing the R34 GTR. The oldest versions of the R33 GTR are also starting to become legal for import and compliance (provided there are no additional changes to legislation by then, or further tightening of emissions and environmental rules which is always a risk in the current climate).
Just a word of caution
As far as we are aware, there are no laws prohibiting you from importing one as a “show piece that isn’t allowed to be driven on the road but instead sits in your garage.” We’ve heard stories of people looking to buy and store Nissan Skylines with a view of registering and complying them once they turn 25 years old in the hopes of increasing their value. While it is likely not a bad idea, there is always a chance that the government could modify import regulations, leaving you with a depreciating burden rather than an asset that depreciates over time. Although it’s unlikely, it’s nevertheless important to remark.
We would be interested in hearing from you if you are aware of any other legitimate ways to buy a Skyline GTR in the United States. Please comment down below!