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.
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.
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 buy a Nissan Skyline GT-R in the USA?
Recently, United States Customs Enforcement made headlines for seizing yet another NissanR33 Skyline GT-R that had been brought in illegally. Everyone has come up with outrageous justifications for why importing the Skyline into the US is prohibited, from forum users to legitimate news outlets.
The GT-R was allegedly banned because it is so fast that US police cars can’t keep up with it. Other people argue that it was prohibited because it is right-hand drive, while still others claim that US muscle car manufacturers lobbied to have it outlawed because it would embarrass the Camaro and Mustang. All of these stories are amusing, but none of them are accurate; the US government has not singled out the Skyline GT-R for a ban.
What is the actual story, then? Sean Morris of International Vehicle Importers, one of the major automobile importers from Japan to the US and a prolific author on the subject, was our go-to person for that. The real tale, in Sean’s opinion, begins in the 1980s when Mercedes-Benz grew weary of importers taking advantage of the currency rate and bringing automobiles into the US. According to a 1984 TIME Magazine article, nearly 50,000 privately imported cars were brought into the country.
Due to the large number of vehicles imported by importers and consumers, US dealerships started to struggle, and Mercedes-Benz made the decision to advocate for a prohibition on the importation of vehicles that were less than 25 years old. The Motor Vehicle Safety Compliance Act of 1988, which essentially ended the importation of late-model cars with few exceptions, was the result of spending $1 million on lobbying Congress.
That being the case, the solution is that Congress declared it illegal to import cars that are less than 25 years old in order to protect auto dealerships and sales in the USA. It has nothing to do with right-hand drive, crashworthiness, speed, or smog. Now, if you do have a car that is over 25 years old, there may be additional state restrictions you need to deal with. For more information on that, I recommend visiting Sean’s website at http://www.importavehicle.info/. Alternatively, if you want to browse through the inventory of cars that have already been imported to the USA, visit Top Rank International Vehicle Importers.
The Nissan GTR is forbidden where?
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.
The GTR is it legal?
There is a widespread misperception that R34 GT-Rs are prohibited in the United States. That’s accurate for the most part, although there are some outliers. Federal legislation states that these vehicles cannot be imported until they are 25 years old, and this restriction includes the month of manufacturing.
Are JDM automobiles forbidden?
One of the most commonly used terms when discussing foreign vehicles that are prohibited in the US is “JDM.” The phrase “Japanese Domestic Market” refers to the fact that the vehicles were produced in Japan specifically for Japanese motorists. JDM automobiles are probably the most sought-after imports. You may have seen JDM automobiles featured prominently in movies, video games, and a variety of other popular media in recent years, which has greatly increased their appeal. These foreign vehicles are renowned for their distinctive performance strategies, whether it be for drifting, cutting-edge drivetrains, or just a cult following that the vehicle has developed. You might be wondering, “Why are JDM automobiles illegal, though.” It all boils down to construction if you’re wondering why Japanese vehicles are forbidden in the United States. Since Americans drive on the right side of the road and have vehicles that are left-hand drive, driving on the left side of the road and utilizing right-hand drive vehicles are both unlawful on this side of the Pacific. Almost all JDM vehicles manufactured in 1997 or later cannot enter the United States without paying a hefty fine. More severe punishments are deserved for owning or operating illegal JDM vehicles than for using drugs or automatic guns. Maybe in the future, the government will set priorities correctly.
Which Nissan GTR is the fastest?
Intensity and Top Speed The 2021 Nissan GT-R Nismo is the fastest GT-R variant, just like the 2020 GT-R. It has a 2.5 second 0-60 mph time. Top speed for the 2021 GT-R Nismo is 205 mph.
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.
Why is the rx7 prohibited?
In the US, any Mazda RX-7 made after 1995 is either illegal or banned. This is as a result of the car being designed for left-hand drive. This implies that you have a few options if you wish to acquire one. One is to locate a used RX-7 that was manufactured in 1995 or earlier in the United States.