One of Nissan’s masterpieces is the Skyline GT-R. We shouldn’t be shocked that it has developed a cult following all over the world given its unparalleled power, handling, and design. The Skyline GT-R is regarded as one of the all-time greatest drifting vehicles and has won numerous awards.
Unfortunately, the Skyline GT-R cannot be fully appreciated in the American market. For the following reasons, the car is not certified for sale in the US:
- It’s a luxury car on the gray market with features that violate US safety and emissions regulations.
- All of the vehicles are right-hand drive. None are made to US standards.
- Although Skyline GT-R spare parts are unavailable in the US, you might look into the brand-new NISMO Heritage Parts program. As of December 1, 2017, some new GT-R parts are being marketed in Japan.
- It is faster than US police cars due to its speed.
Having said that, bringing a Skyline GT-R into the US is not absolutely difficult. (See the poster we created to celebrate the GT-R.)
In This Article...
Where can I legally buy a Nissan Skyline in the US?
The NHTSA gave import automobiles older than 25 years of age amnesty in 1998. So even though it doesn’t comply with requirements, you can now import any Nissan Skyline that was manufactured in 1995 or earlier. California is the only state where you can encounter difficulties.
What are the prices of skylines?
The base MSRP for the 2021 Nissan (Skyline) GT-top R’s variant is $113,540. The MSRP for the NISMO trimas begins at $210,740.
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In the US, how many skylines are there?
As of April 23, 2021, there are 139 skylinechili sites across the country. Cincinnati, which has 29 locations and accounts for 33% of all Skyline Chili locations in the US, is the state with the most Skyline Chili locations.
Which Skyline year can I import?
A Nissan Skyline import The R33 Model Nissan GTS and GTR (“Skyline”) passenger cars produced between January 1, 1996 and June 30, 1998 are acceptable for importation, according to NHTSA, which has given these vehicles the vehicle eligibility number VCP-32.
What is the price of importing a Skyline from Japan?
Fortunately, the demand for the Nissan Skyline is so high that many of them can be found for sale on American soil, and dealerships have sprung up all over the place that specialize in JDM imports. Once they have gone through the importation process, these cars can be purchased and sold in the same manner as any other domestic U.S. vehicle. However, there are a few extra requirements to meet if you wish to bring your own GT-R.
The process is substantially simplified because so many businesses that specialize in JDM are willing to handle the import snafu for you. One of the top importers in the United States at the moment is TopRank Importers, based in Cypress, California. Typically, shipping costs are fixed plus an additional import charge. Where things can become complicated is with this import tariff, as TopRank notes. As the import market for automobiles continues to heat up, the existing import duty rate of 2.5 percent may change.
There is a flat $5,500 price for export from Japan and import into the United States, said Sean Morris, owner of TopRank. Additionally, transportation to their California dealership is included in this set price.
R34 Skylines: Are they allowed in the US?
10 Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 V-Spec II is still illegal Unless it comes 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.
A GTR is it a Skyline?
Simply said, the GTR and Skyline are from separate automobile segments. Nissan’s Pre-R35 cars are referred to as Skyline. Despite the fact that both the Skyline and R35 models use the GTR suffix, the Nissan R35 GT-R is a member of a distinct series than the Skyline GTR. Additionally, they are very dissimilar in terms of configuration. The primary distinctions between GTR and Skyline are shown below.
The R35 is not a Skyline, why?
One of the most renowned Japanese performance cars of all time is the Nissan Skyline GT-R.
The “Godzilla” (see here why the Skyline GT-R is called as Godzilla) has come to represent strength and performance throughout the course of several different generations.
The Nissan Skyline GT-R has become one of the most coveted names in Japanese performance driving despite being illegal in the United States at the time (see our article on why Nissan Skylines are illegal in the United States).
You probably already know that Nissan stopped producing the R34 Skyline generation in 2002 (for more information, see our buying guide for the R34 GT-R).
The skyline actually kept going after that and is still going today, but it is now what is known as the “New Generation Skyline,” which is very different from the past skylines. The new Skyline is more well-known in America as a line of Infiniti vehicles, including the Infiniti G35:
This New Generation Skyline was mainly focused on giving a premium touring car experience and never included a GT-R variant.
Due to the overwhelming demand from auto enthusiasts, the R35 GT-R was debuted in 2007 and is still in production today.
Indeed, the R34 GT-R was the Nissan Skyline GT-R R34, to give an example.
What makes the Nissan GT-R of today the Nissan Skyline GT-R R35? After all, any car sporting those distinctive taillights must be a Skyline!
The reason the R35 GT-R is not a Skyline is rather straightforward, in case you’re wondering.
Earlier GT-Rs (such as the R32, R33, and R34) were built on the Skyline platform of that generation.
Consider the R32 GT-R, which was offered in a variety of trim levels and engine/gearbox combinations, including as a sedan.
Nissan used that generation’s Skyline base to build the R32 GT-R (the original “Godzilla”), turning everything up to 11.
There is no platform overlap with the existing Skyline (known in America as the Infiniti Q50). The R35 GT-R is a “standalone” vehicle, as opposed to the previous generations of GT-Rs, which were all the pinnacle of the applicable Skyline platform.
Although the R35 GT-R is essentially the spiritual successor to previous Skyline GT-Rs, Nissan opted not to utilize the Skyline brand due to the distinctive platform.
When can an R34 be purchased in the US?
If nothing changes, you’ll be able to legally operate the first R34 Nissan GT-R on American roads in 2024. It simply isn’t worth the danger to get around the law and smuggle one across the border up until that point. When you’re in a jail cell and your car is waiting to be smashed, it won’t help you one bit. Our judgment? Get an Acura NSX in the meanwhile to save yourself the trouble.
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An R34 cannot be registered or operated on public roads in the United States before 2024, according to the NHTSA, and is only permitted for use on tracks. This calls for specific NHTSA approval and the conversion of the vehicle to track-only use prior to importing.
This information is relevant whether you are shipping a vehicle within the contiguous United States, including a car, truck, SUV, motorbike, or even a powersports toy.
When you export a vehicle from the United States, you must have a number of paperwork. Here are the required paperwork as it is usually advisable to organize everything before attempting to plan shipping.
Both expressions refer to the same document, which contains details on the manufacture of the car, such as its place of origin. The MSO/MCO often has the same appearance as a Certificate of Title and includes the name of the manufacturer, the VIN, and the year of production.
If a vehicle meets the requirements of the Show and Display Rule, it may be allowed a maximum of 2,500 miles of restricted use on public roads annually. The NTHSA reserves the power to permit importation but forbid registration of the vehicle.
What is the price of an R34 in America?
To put things in perspective, an R34 GT-R cost $45,000 in 1999, which is equivalent to $75,300 in January 2022. The Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R example with chassis number BNR34-006741 is a base model, but it still has all of the GT-R features, such as the RB26 DETT, ATTESA E-TS all-wheel drive, and more.
When may an R34 be imported legally?
Federal law prohibits the importation of vehicles not made with the U.S. market in mind until the vehicle is at least 25 years old, barring the drastic alterations mentioned above.
However, many of the safety and emission regulations are reduced or eliminated after that 25-year period.
Fans of the R34 are patiently waiting in the hopes that this will make the cars much more accessible and inexpensive for American drivers.
Since the initial Nissan Skyline GT-R R34a models weren’t released until January 1999, they won’t be allowed into the United States until at least 2024.
Why is the R34 forbidden in America?
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).
To be on the safe side, there are no laws that prevent you from importing a Nissan Skyline as a “show piece” that isn’t allowed to be driven on the road but instead sits in your garage. However, we have heard stories of people looking to buy and store Nissan Skylines with a view to registering and complying them once they turn 25 years old in the hopes of increasing 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!