Buy, Import, Register a Skyline in the U.S.

[SwedishRider]

Now that Skyline R32 models are getting to be 25 years old, my understanding is that they can be imported and legally registered in the United States. A number of websites are starting to list them for sale, and I'm keeping a close eye on a few candidates that look interesting.

So with that in mind, what kind of hassle would one have to go through to buy, import, and then legally register a 25-year-old car from Japan?

It doesn't seem like too many people have documented their experiences with this online, and I have no experience with this type of situation. Anyone know how this works or have any personal experiences with it (Japanese import or otherwise)?

I think it would be pretty darn cool to own and legally drive a "Godzilla" here in the states. Thanks as always.

 

[splinter]

Sean Morris in Long Beach, California, is our local expert on legally importing them. He's worth an inquiry but bring your checkbook.

There's one parked outside down the block from us. Looks unloved by my purchase attempts have been rebuffed.

reference:
http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/videos/a4611/gtr-the-hard-way/
https://twitter.com/tyndago

 

[Bandito440]

http://jalopnik.com/meet-the-man-who-legally-brought-the-first-r32-nissan-g-1493404343

 

[pjhalifax]

Here's another Jalopnik article -- Doug DeMuro provides some pretty good details:

http://jalopnik.com/i-imported-a-nissan-skyline-gt-r-and-drove-it-250-miles-1698000720

 

[SwedishRider]

Great resources! Thank you to all!

 

[aquariuscsm]

Best method I can think of is to find the Skyline you want,have it shipped to me so I can drive it for awhile,then when you're ready for it,I'll have it saved here at my house for you

 

[dailydriver]

Hmmm, the Escort Cosworth RSes are also approaching 25 years old soon.

I wonder what it would take to bring one in?
(There was a grey marketer in Colorado I think, trying to do this many years ago.)

 

[hpb]

It'll kill you guys to know that the Skyline GTR is often bought in Oz as a new drivers first car...in those states that allow novices to drive a turbo anyway...they're everywhere!

 

[Silk]

There are more in NZ, although not as many R32's on the road as there used to be - the Boi Racers have crashed them all in cop chases.

 

[wings&wheels]

Importing a 25 year old compliant vehicle is certainly doable for an individual. The process is time consuming, but providing you do the research it is not that bad but there will be some kinks along the way, delays (you are dealing w/ Customs, the ports), etc. All of the information and many experiences, good and bad, are out there. If the Skyline forums don't have much, the LR ones certainly do.

Google "seized land rovers" and see what can happen; a bad player that got a lot of innocent owners caught in the net and resulted in CBP taking a much closer look at auto imports.

I researched importing my RoW diesel Rover 90. In the end, I decided not to import one myself and bought one already on the way here from someone who I was going to import through after thoroughly researching them. Importing something remains high on the bucket list though...

Also, how comfortable are buying a car sight unseen? How will you have the car inspected pre-purchase? What happens if the car lands here and is not able to clear Customs, e.g. it is modified, etc?

Unless you want the challenge of the actual import, I would look for a reputable and experienced importer or dealer who has one ready for export or here already and go from there.

Either way, good luck and have fun!

[/i][/i]

 

[SatinSilver]

Here's an episode of Wheeler Dealers where they restore an old Skyline. Too bad they turned it into a drift car.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hfiBQheXHg

 

[01rangerxl]

This company has an ad that comes up in the Jalopnik article...
http://www.japaneseclassicsllc.com/inventory.html

They have a number of Skylines they have already imported.

Pretty neat to see the features and packaging on the JDM cars. I like the tweed fabric in a lot of the Nissans.

Looks like aftermarket steering wheels are a common modification on cars without driver air bags in Japan.

 

[wings&wheels]

Originally Posted By: 01rangerxl
This company has an ad that comes up in the Jalopnik article...
http://www.japaneseclassicsllc.com/inventory.html

They have a number of Skylines they have already imported.

Pretty neat to see the features and packaging on the JDM cars. I like the tweed fabric in a lot of the Nissans.

Looks like aftermarket steering wheels are a common modification on cars without driver air bags in Japan.


Gee, thanks Ranger...now I'm thinking about the Jimmy on their web page

 

[Cujet]

It's interesting, however, they really are not all that fantastic. Sure, they can be fast, but there are many modern cars that significantly outperform the Skylane. I just don't see the point.

 

[hpb]

I agree

 

[Vikas]

Because they are iconic classics. It is the same whether you are talking older mint Mustangs or Corvettes or even NSX etc. For the equivalent money, you can buy an objectively better performing newer car but that has never been the point of owning a classic. You guys already know that late model V6 Camry blows the door off the Magnum PI's Ferrari on a racetrack.

 

[HTSS_TR]

One of the most collectible Japanese cars ever built is the '60 Toyota 2000GT. If you can import 1 it will be worth the trouble.

 

[dailydriver]

Originally Posted By: Silk
the Boi Racers have crashed them all in cop chases.


Just as all of the criminal punks in the UK have done to so many of the poor Escort Cossies in their 'smash and grabs' (steal one, drive the p**s out of it, and then smash it through a storefront window and grab the goods and run).

 

[david_ES2]

Its the cool factor, plain and simple, how many people you knoww in the usa with a right hand drive skyline gtr?

 

[Silk]

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/graemlins/mad.gif[/IMG]

Here they go past a cop speeding, the lights go on...the kid floors it, and 100 metres later it's wrapped around a pole and someones dead.