In the US there is a law basically stating that any car over 25 years of age that was not originally imported, can be legally imported and driven on the roads. The car pictured is an R32, which ran from 89-94, so the 89 and 90 models of them are now legal for importation and driving. The R34 on the other hand witch askuseru mentioned is one of the newer models of the Skyline which ran from 99-02. That being said, it was never brought to the US so unless you know the right people in the right places and have deep pockets, they aren't legal. That being said, if you were to try to import an R33 or R34 model Skyline and were to get caught with it, the DOT would seize it and most likely crush it. Anyways, to make the picture analytically correct, it would need to be replaced with a R33 or R34 Skyline, not the R32 which is in the picture.

I'd like to point out the R33 GTSTs and GTRs are legal to import to the US, but only ones manufactured between '96 and '98.

why ??? im just curious tho

I honestly wish I could tell you. As far as I know, the NHTSA determined that the R33 made between those dates was eligible for importation. With my best guess, it's most likely because on all years of R32s and R34s, certain safety features were unavailable, meanwhile, in the last years of the R33 ('96-'98) those safety features were standard on the GTSs and GTRs.

A while back, there was a company called MotoRex that got a waiver from the US gov't to import R33 AND R34s since they were performing crash tests and making necessary adjustments to the cars.

However, after a while, MotoRex stopped performing these upgrades, at which point, US customs found out, and shut them down.

Has nothing to do with power, or even potential power, Skylines came with less than 300hp in stock form. It has to deal with different countries having different emissions and safety regulations. The skyline was never made to our countries standards therefore it never came here.

Depends on what trim you get. The GTR, with the RB20DETT, stated it made about 276 crank hp, but most owners find it makes about 320 crank hp. There's an interesting article about it floating around on Jalopnik written by Doug DeMuro.

No GTR trim of skyline ever used the RB20det ( no such thing as factory RB20dett). The GTR generations of R32,R33,R34 all used the RB26dett. You can only realistically use crank power when talking about sheer engine performance. When talking about what numbers the cars makes as a whole you really have to stick to what it puts down at the wheels which no stock GTR ever put out an excess of 300.

If you look at my other comment, >>#72 you'll see I corrected my error. I accidentally typed RB20 instead of the RB26. I wasn't thinking when I typed it.

When car manufacturers discuss horsepower figures, they are measuring it at the crank, which is why I made the distinction. At the wheel, the R32 was still making 281 whp which translates to 320 hp at the crank.

The reason for it was because of a gentlemen's agreement between the Japanese auto manufacturers. It was the same deal with the Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4.

Im really just happy to be talking to someone about cars on this site. And sorry about not seeing your correction. Just looked at the one reply and responded, my bad.

No prob. I'm the same way as well. I don't have enough of an outlet for it IRL, so I just spew car stuff FJ when I see automotive content.

I'm sorry, the RB26DETT

Only the pre-1990 (soon to include 1991 models) model Skylines.

pretty sure it's because they didn't pass crash test regulations.

i thought it was because to import them they need to be 25 years old. and since the r32 gtr came out in 1989 its legal now. although you can import a car that isnt 25 years old you just cant register/insure it until it actually is 25. im from canada so it might be different, and its only 15 years to import here so we're kinda lucky

Yeah, but you can import a car to Canada, then there's some shit you can do to get it into America legally from there and "skip" 10 years on that rule, it's still a pain in the ass though.

It's different for us. We can't register/insure them, and if discovered, they are taken and crushed if they are under 25 years old.

This is correct.

There was a company at one time that was importing them and modifying them to pass the tests, but started cutting corners and got shut down.

Holly shit, that's cool. Too bad tuner cars are ugly as shit

Don't be salty because they look better and can out run most domestics :^)

personally I think R33 looks nicer, if we're just talking about the 4WD models.

I dunno man, I just think they have some of the best body lines, with or without mods. Especially from their time period. I think my family owning imports and being part japanese also has a little to do with it too

I prefer the curvy and modern aesthetic, so these older style cars don't appeal to me very much

I like the top one. Old cars are good looking, but 1990 to 2005 cars just feel like they're stuck in this awkward transition. That's just me though

I see where you're comin from. But yeah cant go wrong with the ol' Fairlady

There's an original Japanese imported fairlady z for sale near me. Right hand drive manual. I want to buy it so bad.

I would too but I bet they're asking an arm and a leg for it.

I'm going to look at it today I think. I'll let you know

Not when Tuners don't do anything to the body kit...

Or when they do they use subtle changes

B-but... that's an R32...

... So it is. Alright, I don't get it either.

In the US there is a law basically stating that any car over 25 years of age that was not originally imported, can be legally imported and driven on the roads. The car pictured is an R32, which ran from 89-94, so the 89 and 90 models of them are now legal for importation and driving. The R34 on the other hand witch askuseru mentioned is one of the newer models of the Skyline which ran from 99-02. That being said, it was never brought to the US so unless you know the right people in the right places and have deep pockets, they aren't legal. That being said, if you were to try to import an R33 or R34 model Skyline and were to get caught with it, the DOT would seize it and most likely crush it. Anyways, to make the picture analytically correct, it would need to be replaced with a R33 or R34 Skyline, not the R32 which is in the picture.

I'd like to point out the R33 GTSTs and GTRs are legal to import to the US, but only ones manufactured between '96 and '98.

why ??? im just curious tho

I honestly wish I could tell you. As far as I know, the NHTSA determined that the R33 made between those dates was eligible for importation. With my best guess, it's most likely because on all years of R32s and R34s, certain safety features were unavailable, meanwhile, in the last years of the R33 ('96-'98) those safety features were standard on the GTSs and GTRs.

A while back, there was a company called MotoRex that got a waiver from the US gov't to import R33 AND R34s since they were performing crash tests and making necessary adjustments to the cars.

However, after a while, MotoRex stopped performing these upgrades, at which point, US customs found out, and shut them down.

I love how this is the first result when you google "how do vaccines cause autism"

No, even in that context it's still awful