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!
In This Article...
Can I bring the Nissan Skyline into the US legally?
First things first, we want to set the record straight and say that several Skyline models offered in the US, mostly under the ‘Infiniti’ brand, are in a whole different league.
You’ve probably heard the untrue allegations that the later-model Nissan Skyline R33 and R34 GT-Rs are currently prohibited from entering the US.
The most frequently cited responses include “Because they’re right-hand drive” and “Because they’re moving so quickly the Police can’t catch them.”
If a vaping Honda owner offers either defense at the neighborhood meet, politely leave the room and give them the link to this article.
First off, the R32’s legalization in the US demonstrates that right-hand drive vehicles are not prohibited there.
Even the US Postal Service has frequently used RHD vehicles, despite the fact that they are by no means ubiquitous, mostly for the ease of access to the curb.
The US import restrictions are completely to blame for the Nissan Skyline’s unlawful importation for usage on public roads for two very straightforward reasons.
Examining the Automotive Gray Market in More Detail
Nissan did not create their Skylines with the US market in mind. The creator of the Skylines, Naganori Ito, was imitating his instructor Shinichiro Sakurai. His task was to design a vehicle that would compete favorably with Porsche in the Japan Grand Prix.
The Skylines’ literal father was this Nissan 2000 GT. It was therefore predicted that when the 2000 GT showed its teeth at the track, everybody would be looking at the 2000 GT’s offspring.
Everyone wanted one after seeing how well it worked. The gray market became relevant at this point.
The gray market first gained popularity during World War II when soldiers fell in love with European automobiles and discovered that importing and maintaining the vehicles to meet US regulations was less expensive than purchasing the automobiles in the US.
People were able to import automobiles from the 1960s to the 1980s as long as they complied with US safety regulations. Gray market importers initially performed a fantastic job of importing cars and modifying them to meet the necessary American standards.
While the majority of gray market importers were legitimate, some discovered legal loopholes and began casually breaking the rules. At that time, illicit exotic vehicles, including the Skyline, were all over the streets.
In spite of the fact that they complied with US safety and pollution regulations, this is what encouraged automakers to pressure Congress into passing the legislation that forbade the import of automobiles from the gray market.
In short, the Skyline became unlawful since it didn’t adhere to the safety standards and laws that the Motor Vehicle Safety Compliance Act of 1988 established.
It’s interesting to note that the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) gave amnesty for imported vehicles older than 25 years after the statute was passed. This means that the R32 and R33 Skylines can be lawfully imported, but not the R34 until 2024.
Why Can’t I Drive a Nissan Skyline GT-R in the United States?
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.)
Currently, can Americans purchase a Nissan Skyline?
Although conditions may have been difficult at the time, importing any Nissan Skyline made in 1996 or before is now completely lawful. This is as a result of a new rule that the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) added that permits the importation of any car older than 25 years, regardless of safety compliance.
Even race-ready older Skyline versions typically only produce between 160 and 270 horsepower. Even 330 horsepower, which some models are supposedly capable of producing, is regarded as street-legal. California remains a dangerous place for potential Skyline owners, especially if they’re looking for a genuine 1969 model with a carburetor. A
Was the GT-R R34 prohibited because it was too quick?
HotCars says that the R34’s illegality is due to a commonly held misconception.
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.
A
The fact that this Nissan has a top speed of 200 mph and could easily outrun most police officers is true, but it is not the reason it is forbidden in the United States.
A
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.
Nissan discontinued the Skyline, why?
However, Nissan has had to redesign its organizational structure and refocus its resources on SUVs, EVs, and other growth categories. This has required choosing to abandon the 1957 Skyline, which was produced by Fuji Precision Machinery, afterwards known as Prince Motor Company.
Does the Nissan Skyline remain prohibited?
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.
When was the Nissan Skyline released?
NISSAN SKYLINE, FIRST GENERATION When the first performance-bred Skyline GT-R was exhibited at the Tokyo Motor Show in 1969, Skyline officially became a Nissan vehicle. It was still a sedan, but it now had an inline six engine with 160 horsepower, which was outstanding at the time.
A Nissan Skyline is how many credits?
No, you may purchase the car separately for 1000 credits, which we believe is the preferable choice for the majority of gamers. The other bundle products are decent, but the Nissan Skyline is the only thing you’ll actually be paying for. The whole information on how to purchase the car without the bundle is provided below:
For individuals who currently own a Dodge Charger or Nissan Skyline and only want the new Wheels and Reel Life Decal, these three vehicles will also be offered separately and in Upgrade Packs. The cost of each individual Car Pack is 1000 Credits, while the cost of Upgrade Bundles is 300 Credits.
You now know what June 17 is. Don’t miss out; this could go just as easily as it did before. Be there.
What Nissan Skyline is the rarest?
The GT-R is considered by many to be the pinnacle of Nissan’s performance vehicles, and the popular Skyline GT-Rs from the past only serve to reinforce this notion.
The most well-known run of all the Skylines occurred between the R32 and R34 models, with the R33 serving as something of an ugly duckling in between the R32’s Bathurst victory and the R34’s Fast and Furious renown.
Despite this reputation, the R33 GT-R has subsequently gained the same level of notoriety as the other two, and as a result, its price has risen dramatically.
The renowned NISMO 400R, which is not only one of the rarest vehicles ever produced by Nissan but is also probably the coolest vehicle ever, sits directly at the top of the R33 GT-R line.
Only 19 of the 40 NISMO 400R models built in 1996 are believed to still survive. While Midnight Purple may be the most well-known GT-R color, this was the final GT-R to ever be painted Deep Marine Blue, another fan favorite.
The 400R was a four-wheel drive vehicle with a 2.8-liter RB engine that generated 400 horsepower (298 kW). Power was transmitted to all four wheels via a six-speed manual transmission.
In addition to being extremely rare, this automobile included many NISMO components that could only be found on this particular model and could not be purchased separately.
The NISMO LMGT2 wheels on this vehicle serve as an illustration of this. Although they have subsequently been made, these incredibly rare wheels were only available for the 400R, and sets of them have been known to fetch over $20,000.
Given this, it should come as no surprise that the vendor is demanding a hefty sum for the vehicle; however, the current asking price of more than $3 million is well beyond the means of the majority of Skyline aficionados.