In reality though, the Series 8 is the one that you’d want. However, The US market only got the 1992-1998 Series 6 & Series 7 FDs. Now, I know what you’re thinking – it’s something along the lines of, “Hold on, the FD RX-7 was officially sold in America anyway”. With an RB25 under the hood, and RWD, the ER34 GT-T might not be the same as the almighty AWD GT-R, but it’ll still serve as a great basis for a street, track, or drift project. That said, the lesser GT-T is still a commendable choice (not to mention cheaper – though expect prices to rise now that it’s legal). So, sorry folks, you’re going to have to wait another year if you want the real Godzilla. So, although the early base model and GT-T ER34 Skylines arrived in 1998, it wasn’t until 1999 that the GT-R hero car rolled off production lines. You see, the 25-year rule doesn’t grant cars a blanket pass. But here’s the important factor – notice how I’ve not said the phrase ‘GT-R’ at all yet? Well that’s intentional. Yes, the much-heralded R34 Skyline is now officially legal for US import. You probably saw all your favorite motoring outlets (including us, I hope) cover this news story earlier in the year. We’ll kick things off with the big headliner…ĭon’t expect to be able to import examples like this Liberty Walk ER34… Nissan Skyline (ER34) So, here are a few of the Japanese domestic market vehicles that are now officially legal for import in 2023 for the first time. So, we’ve gone ahead and compiled some of the best JDM cars eligible for US import right now! New for 2023:īefore we get into the overall best options, we thought we’d take a closer look at the class of ’98. The good news is that the nineties and early 2000s were (worryingly) quite a long time ago now, so many of the vehicles from Japan’s performance heyday are now legal, or will be legal soon. And, if you decide to break those rules, your lovingly sourced pride and joy will be on its way to the scrap heap once it’s found by authorities. If these cars are safe enough for drivers in other well-developed nations, why wouldn’t they be safe for Americans? Anyway, the result is that some of the overseas cars that American enthusiasts idolized as kids – particularly JDM rarities – are off limits until they hit the age of 25 years-old. We’ve always considered that a bit of a stretch to be honest. The reason being is that it prevents enthusiasts from importing new vehicles and used cars that don’t comply with American automotive standards a rationale which the governing bodies say is enforced to keep the public safe. Actually, that’s being too kind – it’s universally disliked. The 25-year import rule – or to give it its full legal name, The Imported Vehicle Safety Compliance Act – is a controversial policy amongst American car enthusiasts. What is the 25-year import rule in the US? But, with time passing, here are some of the best JDM cars eligible for US import in 2023. The 25-year import rule is the bane of many American car enthusiasts.

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