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!
In This Article...
thoughts on “Why Are Nissan Skylines Illegal In The United States?
Untrue in every way, 100%. A skyline can be exported and imported to the US for a pricey sum of $5,500. That doesn’t make it unlawful.
An R32 can be purchased in the US.
In the US, it is now acceptable to import and own Godzilla. According to federal law, any vehicle that is 25 years old or older satisfies import criteria and is thus free from important National Traffic Highway Safety Administration restrictions. The Skyline R32 GT-R was produced between 1989 and 1994.
In the US, is Skyline R34 permitted?
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.
When will the R32 be permitted?
Vehicles older than 25 years were allowed protection under the new laws. For instance, importation of the R32 Skyline GTR became permitted in 2014.
In the US, how many R32 Skylines are there?
Since then, the R32 has gained popularity; in the US, there are currently at least 1900 instances driving on the right side of the road. The Skyline is in such high demand in this competitive market that Nissan has begun reintroducing parts for earlier models.
Why wasn’t the R32 allowed to race?
In 1993, the technology was outlawed. The R32 Skyline GT-R was unstoppable in Australian touring car racing because to its turbocharged straight-six engine and ingenious all-wheel-drive system. The Skyline GT-two-year R’s dominance came to an end when the governing body outlawed all-wheel drive and turbocharging.
How many R32 GTRs are still around?
HKS designed the R32 Zero-R, a special tuner edition with 441 kW. (591 hp; 600 PS). There were 10 produced, but only 4 are still around. The Sultan of Brunei purchased one. At the 2019 Tokyo Auto Salon, one of them was purchased for A$212,000 and shipped to Australia.
Which GTR is prohibited in the US?
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 is faster than US police cars due to its speed.
- 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.
- All of the vehicles are right-hand drive. None are made to US standards.
- It’s a luxury car on the gray market with features that violate US safety and emissions regulations.
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.)
What JDM vehicles will be permitted in 2022?
Top 10 JDM vehicles for 2022 importation to the USA and Quebec
- 260RS Nissan Stagea Autech (WGNC34)
- Impreza WRX STi Type R from Subaru (GC8)
- Vertex Toyota Aristo V300 (JZS161)
- NSX Type S Honda (NA2)
- Civic Type R Honda (EK9)
- Forester S/tb / T/tb Subaru (SF5)
- Nissan Laurel 25 Club S / Medalist (C35)
- Toyota Millennium (GZG50)
What exactly does JDM mean?
The term “Japanese Domestic Market” (JDM) describes the domestic market for automobiles and auto parts in Japan.
[1]
Contrary to popular belief, not all Japanese-branded automobiles fall under the JDM category. JDM refers only to a car built to be sold in Japan. [Reference needed]
When opposed to the American market, where car owners now keep their vehicles for longer periods of time—the average age of the American fleet of cars is 10.8 years[2]—JDM market cars are more affordable. Gray markets and stringent motor vehicle inspections are challenges faced by Japanese owners. The Fdration Internationale de l’Automobile estimates that the average annual mileage of an automobile in Japan is only 9,300 kilometers (5,800 miles), which is less than half of the average annual mileage in the United States of 19,200 kilometers (12,000 miles). [3]
Vehicles made in Japan for the domestic market may be very different from those made there for export or from automobiles constructed elsewhere using the same platforms. Japanese automakers are forced to develop innovative technologies and designs first in domestic automobiles because Japanese car owners prioritize innovation above long-term ownership. For instance, Honda’s Variable Cylinder Management made its debut in the 2003 Honda Inspire. However, VCM, which had a bad image from Cadillac’s attempt in the 1980s with the V8-6-4 engine, was absent from the 2003 Honda Accord V6, which had the same basic car and was primarily aimed for the North American market. The Accord V6’s facelift for 2008 saw the successful introduction of VCM.
The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) put safety-related limits on JDM cars in 1988, limiting them to 280 horsepower (PS) (276 hp) and a top speed of 180 km/h (111.8 mph). The speed limit of 180 km/h (111.8 mph) was maintained despite the removal of the horsepower cap in 2004.
Why is the import law set at 25 years?
It is true that as long as a foreign-market vehicle is older than 25 years old, Americans may lawfully import, own, and operate it. By breaking the restrictions, you run the risk of having your car impounded or possibly destroyed by US Customs and Border Protection.
On what is this enforcement based? The Imported Vehicle Safety Compliance Act, or “25-year import regulation,” is a law. It prohibits anyone from bringing in brand-new vehicles from other markets without going through a drawn-out and expensive testing and federalization process.
What are the prices of skylines?
The base MSRP for the 2021 Nissan (Skyline) GT-top R’s variant is $113,540. The base MSRP for NISMO trims is $210,740.
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Legal to drive on the right in the US?
In a nutshell, the answer to that query is yes. You are free to operate a right-hand drive vehicle on US roads without breaking any rules. In reality, right-hand drive vans are the default option for US postal workers in rural locations.
What Nissan Skyline is the rarest?
The Z-tune, R400, and, of course, Brian O’Conner’s electric blue R34 from 2 Fast 2 Furious are a few particularly uncommon Nissan Skylines. But there is only one Godzilla that is genuinely as uncommon as a unicorn: the magnificent R33 LM.
The silhouette of this squat, wide-arched R33 may be recognizable to Gran Turismo players from the opening movie of the first game. Since then, every episode of the racing franchise has featured a similar vehicle. But unlike the fantasy realm of pixels where several copies can coexist, there is only one hard copy in existence.
It is kept at Nissan’s magnificent Zama DNA garage. A carefully crafted toy box stuffed to the gills with the Japanese manufacturer’s back catalog. We also met the LM there for a brief one-on-one conversation.
We begged and begged to be allowed to drive it, but that was not possible. Even Carlos Ghosn, the biggest of all Nissan bigwigs and chairman, president, and CEO, has never been permitted to operate a vehicle.
Even still, we continued to plead, threaten, and even consider stealing it in order to experience driving without a PlayStation controller.
What makes the R32 such a hit?
Notably, the R32 GT-achievements R’s on and off the racetracks are largely responsible for the respected reputation of the R32. Amazingly, the RB26DETT engine that powers the R32 GT-R only has 276 horsepower in production trims while being rated at 500 horsepower in race variants.
Which Skylines are AWD models?
The GT-Rs and GTS-4 were the only AWD vehicles available (on the R32, R33, and R34 versions, the R32 was the first to receive AWD in the original “Godzilla”).
Many American enthusiasts are only familiar with the AWD GT-Rs because they are the only model that is frequently imported into the country (because import rules make it fairly difficult and expensive to get them in; learn more here about why Skylines aren’t legal in America). The bulk of R32/R33/R34 Skylines that weren’t GT-Rs, however, are actually RWD, as we’ve shown in this post!
Would you be open to purchasing a Skyline without AWD? If so, which design would you choose? Please post a remark below if you have something to say.
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.