A few weeks ago, an Ocean Springs man admitted to importing a Nissan Silvia into the country. He might receive a 20-year prison term and a $250,000 fine as his maximum punishment.
For a car that can be acquired online for less $20,000, it sounds exorbitant (Australian). a few things to think about
What is a Nissan Silvia? The Nissan Silvia range of sports vehicles from the Japanese automaker all have a similar chassis. The closest thing to a Silvia in the US is the Nissan 240sx.
Why this automobile is so unique: Its aerodynamic frame, chrome accents, and turbocharged engine are distinctive. In other words, it moves quickly. Their hoods slope downward, and they have low platforms and rounded upper bodies. The Nissan Silvia S15 has a sleek front appearance with an integrated grill and a low front bumper. One website claims that the combination of lower fog lights and the wide headlights, which slope inward from the sides, gives the driver excellent visibility in poor lighting.
Because it did not adhere to federal safety and environmental regulations and featured a right-hand steering column, like cars in England, this particular vehicle was deemed unlawful in the United States. However, some Silvia vehicles have been registered in the US after being modified to comply with US laws.
First off, only the accused (Kendall Noble) is authorized to explain why he took the risk of transporting the car to the United States. But the Nissan Silvia S15 is popular among auto fans because it excels in local drag racing (street classification), drifting events, and street racing. The S15 has won seven D1 Grand Prix titles in drifting with five different drivers (Nobuteru Taniguchi:2001; Ryuji Miki:2004; Yasuyuki Kazama:2005; Masato Kawabata:2007; Youichi Imamura:2009,2010,2011)
In This Article...
Why Should the Nissan Silvia S15 Still Be Prohibited in the US?
Currently, the Nissan Silvia S15 is prohibited from being driven on American roads. Good.
The stated justification for the S15’s exclusion on American roads is our 25-year import law, which prohibits any vehicle that was not first offered for sale in the country and is under 25 years old. The Nissan Silvia is only 16 years old at its oldest and has never been sold in the US, thus it does not meet our safety and emissions rules. Because of this, a man who recently imported one risked 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Safety is the unofficial justification for keeping the S15 from American drivers. protection from lingering horror
Just imagine what would occur if S15s were made legal in the US. That would be insane.
Everywhere, all the time, people would be drifting, including down your street, on their way to school, into school buses carrying students, and into the orphanage down the street staffed by blind nuns. Rival driving gangs would engage in Drift Wars on the public roadways, drifting aggressively and dangerously like in the Fast and the Furious movie but constantly and everywhere.
We appreciate the US government saving us from the Driftpocalypse. May the S15 never be permitted in this wonderful nation.
Silvia deserved to be shared with the entire world as such a renowned automobile. Unfortunately, despite its excellent qualities, it cannot be distributed due to legal restrictions. Despite being nearly 16 years old, the Silvia S15 has never been sold in the US. This is so because there are a few laws in the US that apply to cars from other countries.
the following laws
- Any vehicle that was not manufactured and sold in the US is prohibited.
- Foreign vehicles that are under 25 years old are prohibited.
These laws have a maximum 20-year prison sentence as a punishment. Pretty severe, but safety always comes first. These laws were implemented as a result of a period of time during which foreign cars were being used to drift throughout the nation. When so many people started becoming entangled in it, it started to pose a safety risk. Therefore, even though the US restrictions on imported vehicles are the legal justification for the Silvia’s ban, the actual reason is because of probable safety hazards.
Man Who Imported Nissan Silvia Illegally Faces 20 Years in Prison and $250k Fine
A Mississippi man who brought a Nissan Silvia into the country illegally faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 maximum fine.
The NHTSA safety criteria must be met before a car may be imported, or it must be older than 25 years, according to federal regulations. The S15 Nissan Silvia in question was produced from 1999 to 2002, and because they were never marketed in the United States, they cannot be lawfully imported until 2024. Only Japan, Australia, and New Zealand offered the S15 for sale.
Why did he crave this specific car so much? This sports coupe was offered with a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine that produced 250 horsepower with rear-wheel drive, despite the source not mentioning the specific specification. The restricted slip differential and six-speed transmission of the Spec-R made it ideal for drifting. If he wasn’t obtaining the best car available, he probably wouldn’t have gone through so much difficulty to import a car illegally, but who knows.
The existing 25-year federal regulations are a major barrier for American auto aficionados, especially for individuals who adore the fantastic, reasonably priced sports cars that Japanese automakers produced in the 1990s and don’t want to wait until the 2020s to own one. In order to petition the government, a Californian company really crash tested a few Nissan Skylines in 1999. The government granted the corporation permission to import the cars until 2005.
FAQs
Japanese sports car with a cult following: Nissan Silvia 15. It is adored by both automobile lovers and racers and is well-known throughout the world for its svelte form and simple handling. A
Americans who want to purchase an S15, however, are out of luck. The cars are currently forbidden to import or own in the United States. Anyone who attempts to import one will face severe consequences, including imprisonment. A
Why Are Certain S15 Year Models Prohibited?
In particular, the Silvia S15 has been ruled illegal since it doesn’t adhere to government safety and pollution standards. Additionally, one of the drawbacks that hinder it from finding customers in the US is the design’s right-hand steering column, which is identical to cars in the UK.
The 25-Year Rule currently prohibits the importation of Silvia S15 into the United States, which is another significant factor. Additionally, any car that is 24 years old or younger cannot be imported into the US. This enables auto enthusiasts to preserve their current collection of vintage vehicles and import more if they so choose. 25 years was too long to wait to satisfy vehicle aficionados as tastes changed.
Are any Nissan Silvias permitted on US roads?
The Nissan Silvia S15 is prohibited, why? The Import Vehicle Safety Compliance Act, sometimes known as the 25-Year Rule, now forbids the importation of the Nissan S15 into the US. Any car that was not first sold in the United States and is less than 25 years old is not allowed to be imported under the law.
Is the Nissan 180SX forbidden in America?
From 1989 until 1998, Nissan produced and sold the 180SX as a sibling model to the Nissan Silvia, but only at two different Japanese Nissan dealerships. While Nissan Bluebird Store locations sold the 180SX, Nissan Prince Store locations sold the Silvia. The Gazelle was superseded by the 180SX in Japan. The 180SX was successful enough to persuade Nissan to keep it on the market for the duration of the S14 Silvia, which was discontinued in 1993. (S14). Pop-up headlights and a liftgate with different body work at the back of the car set the 180SX apart from the S13 Silvia. Similar specifications and accessories were provided, but the normally aspirated CA18DE engine was not.
Originally, the 1.8-liter CA18DET engine utilized in the chassis was referred to as the 180SX. The engine was modified to a 2.0 liter model in 1991, and it was made available in two variations: the turbocharged SR20DET type and the naturally aspirated SR20DE engine, which debuted in 1996. The 180SX designation was maintained despite the new engine’s higher displacement.
In Europe, the S110 Silvia had a trim level called 180SX as well. Since this car’s badges say “Silvia 180SX,” it is not really a 180SX by model but rather a Silvia variant.
Micronesia and the South Pacific islands also received other deviations from this norm, such as LHD vehicles with 180SX emblems and non-retractable headlamps.
Similar to the 180SX SR20DET inconsistency in Japan, units of the S13 chassis with the CA18DET engine were dubbed 200SX in Europe and South Africa.
It was marketed as the Nissan 240SX Fastback in North America, but with a KA24DE engine and different trim.
The vehicle was exclusively equipped with the CA18DET engine, which produced 169 PS (124 kW; 167 hp) through the rear wheels and allowed it to reach speeds of 220 km/h (100 mph) in 7.5 seconds when offered in Europe under the name 200SX. In 1991, the vehicle had a redesign that included new, slicker bumpers, a limited slip differential, and bigger brakes. Before the switch to the 200SX S14 variant, this 200sx was sold between 1989 and 1994.
According to the 25-year-old classic import law, certain year model 180SX and Silvias are currently eligible for EPA and DOT exemptions for importation into the US market. There are a few JDM Import businesses in the US.
A 180SX and Silvia hybrid known as the Sileighty was built in 500 official units by the Japanese tuning business Kid’s Heart. These vehicles were constructed on the regular 1998 180SX base, however Nissan Silvia parts were substituted for the headlights, front wings, hood, front bumper, and fasteners on these vehicles. These vehicles came with the same 140 or 205 PS (103 or 151 kW) turbocharged or normally aspirated engines as a conventional S13. There was a four-speed automatic or a five-speed manual available. Additionally, Kid’s Heart provided various mechanical and tuning enhancements, such as updated suspension, an enhanced limited-slip differential, and a Nismo ECU tune. With 13 psi of boost, this increased the turbocar’s output to 230 PS (169 kW) (0.9 bar).
The Nissan S15 is it a crime?
I’ve read online that the Nissan S15 is prohibited in the US, but I’m not sure why. Though I keep thinking about it, I feel like it might have been clickbait or something.
In less than two minutes, find out if your auto insurance is being overcharged.
In the US, the Nissan S15 is illegal to drive. The 25-year import restriction is the cause of the S15’s prohibition. These regulations forbid any foreign vehicles that:
- weren’t sold in the US at first.
- are younger than 25 years of age.
The car also lacks a few features that are required by US regulations. These consist of:
- The caras emissions do not satisfy US requirements.
- Caras safety features don’t adhere to US requirements.
- Like in the UK, the steering column is on the right-hand side.
Why not look into your insurance alternatives as you research the S15? No of what kind of vehicle you drive, the Jerry app can help you locate affordable auto insurance. It’s no wonder Jerry is a top-rated app when there are more than 50 reputable insurance providers to select from!