Short and simple question: Are there any legally imported BNR32 skyline's in the US or only R33's? Can you currently legally import an R32?

OvenMits wrote:Short and simple question: Are there any legally imported BNR32 skyline's in the US or only R33's? Can you currently legally import an R32?

R32s into the US still illegal.

So why are the 96-99 R33's legal for import after using an R.I. But you can't do the same with an R32? How do people register and drive these cars illegally?

There are only a handful of legal R32 GTRs in the country (Under 25). The only ones that remain DOT legal were brought in by Motorex in an ultimately illegal fashion. The reason they remain legal is because Motorex did not inform the customers that they were lying to the Government about the crash testing for the model year. Motorex did the proper testing for the R33 and then decided that the r32 and r34 could be imported using this testing to legalize them. Bad choice. That decision ultimately landed the owner of Motorex in Jail. Since 25 or so people had already paid a handsome price to get their R32s legalized the government decided not to punish them for Motorex's screw up and they pardoned the vehicles. Expect to pay a high price for one of these legalized R32s. Although you can get lucky. I just picked one up a few weeks ago for just over 10k, but I'm pretty sure it was the deal of a lifetime. Good luck!

OvenMits wrote:So why are the 96-99 R33's legal for import after using an R.I. But you can't do the same with an R32? How do people register and drive these cars illegally?

Having a RI alone will not enable you to import them either. Along with the RI you have to get the car converted to meet US-Spec requirements and that's around $25k-30k. Afterward you can apply for a Federal Bond to make it legal.

Anything else is illegal.

I read about the motorex fiasco, quit sad how it went south. Now is there a list of VINs or list of the legal BNR32's? I just sold my Evo IX in hopes of buying a GTR R32 but am just finding out about the legal portion of these cars. I'm pretty dead set on getting one but I believe it's going to be hard to find one in my price range of about 28k that's no illegal.

Thanks,
Anthony

Actually your price range will work just find. Here you go: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Nissan-S ... 064wt_1182

ralphsdiorama wrote:Actually your price range will work just find. Here you go: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Nissan-S ... 064wt_1182

I wish I could find that owner and smack him: "1980" 32-R? srsly?

Eh, must have made a mistake when listing it. The description has the right information and year.

ralphsdiorama wrote:Eh, must have made a mistake when listing it. The description has the right information and year.

Sometimes sellers will put incorrect information in the top listing so it doesn't get auto flagged from Ebay.

ralphsdiorama wrote:The only ones that remain DOT legal were brought in by Motorex in an ultimately illegal fashion. The reason they remain legal is because Motorex did not inform the customers that they were lying to the Government about the crash testing for the model year. Motorex did the proper testing for the R33 and then decided that the r32 and r34 could be imported using this testing to legalize them. Bad choice. That decision ultimately landed the owner of Motorex in Jail.

You are spreading incorrect information. There are some facts, and things that are spread that are untrue.

The DOT was fully aware of the differences between the R32, R33, and R34 GT-R. There is something called "substantially similar" in the DOT regulations that allows for someone to say the models are fairly close, with some differences.

The DOT reviewed Motorex's petition for about 18 months before they approved the first car, which was actually an R32 GT-R.

So unless you were at the same meetings that I was in, and had the conversations that I had, and the people at the DOT were fine with crash testing an R33, and allowing the R32 which is very similar to the R33, and R34.

This wasn't something that was deceitful at all it was a cost savings measure approved by the DOT, and allowed for about 5 years. Then when things at Motorex were not being done correctly, the DOT decided to change their stance, and ultimately only allowed the 96-98 R33.

None of this had anything to do with the Motorex owner going to jail. He went to jail for attempted kidnapping and assault.

A lot of people seem to like to talk about things that they think are true, and are completely wrong.

OvenMits wrote:I read about the motorex fiasco, quit sad how it went south. Now is there a list of VINs or list of the legal BNR32's? I just sold my Evo IX in hopes of buying a GTR R32 but am just finding out about the legal portion of these cars. I'm pretty dead set on getting one but I believe it's going to be hard to find one in my price range of about 28k that's no illegal.

I know of a car in Wisconsin, in that price range, that is a Motorex car.

If you have a chassis number, you can call the DOT at 202 366-5291 and ask them for the bond release. Or you can ask me, I have most of the chassis numbers.

Thanks for the clarification tvndago! Good to know.

I own a gray market 94 gts type- skyline. I bought it and imported myself for under 12k but its 100% illagal and I'm not going to register it in any fashion its mine I paid for it I towed it. So officaly my car doesn't exist, I hade to bring over in pieces. But I have special bonds with the dot azz hats,they hate me I was kit car builder, and I've been bent over a barrel many times for my view of dot rules and regs but I gonna beat them one day

jbracy7 wrote:I own a gray market 94 gts type- skyline. I bought it and imported myself for under 12k but its 100% illagal and I'm not going to register it in any fashion its mine I paid for it I towed it. So officaly my car doesn't exist, I hade to bring over in pieces. But I have special bonds with the dot azz hats,they hate me I was kit car builder, and I've been bent over a barrel many times for my view of dot rules and regs but I gonna beat them one day

You should not tempt people, they're watching all these forums! Now you have to beat Homeland Security not DOT because its a customs violation illegal entry, good luck. Beating HS is a little harder than the IRS so again Good Luck.

Hey I'm not to worried about it, they have me on speed dial, I have done far more ilegal things than a imported a jdm Paper wieght,besides its a 94 infiniti g25s with some aero (shhhh)

jbracy7 wrote:Hey I'm not to worried about it, they have me on speed dial, I have done far more ilegal things than a imported a jdm Paper wieght,besides its a 94 infiniti g25s with some aero (shhhh)

Good luck with that

Bigalow311 wrote:I wish I could find that owner and smack him: "1980" 32-R? srsly?

1980 Skyline is legal, no problem!

^^ That's not a 1980

Yeah, it is. They didn't all have those hideous headlights or four doors. The Japan ran till 81.

http://forums.gtrcanada.com/gt-r-projec ... hread.html

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPwlk8ZD ... re=related[/youtube]

Weird, the 1980 in japan shows the one I linked (From the Nissan Heritage Collection site)....Looking at wiki it shows square-lighted. Google search shows some of the C210's with the round lights.

Learn something new every day.

I don't know if it's a kouki/zenki thing or if the trim level determined which headlight was fitted, but both are out there.

So I have to ask this as I have spent 2 days reading and rereading and rereading again the import laws for a BNR32. Basically I gathered you can import the car legally if it's intended for Historical/Show Use (permit for 2,500mi per year) or OFF HIGHWAY USE ie racing ect I am seriously looking at getting a BNR32 and do actually intend to use it for racing and at no time will it be operated on a public roadway. Is this info correct or did I miss something? I have been eyeing a 93 R32 GT-R from a place called Osaka JDM Motors, now that I will have the money soon I actually called them about the car only to find out they can't sell it as of 6 months ago due to some new ordinance that was passed. They suggested I look for a place in Montreal which can still sell the cars, I did a quick google search and found Tokyo Motor Import Inc. but something tells me they should not be trusted, has anyone heard of them before? To the OP sorry for the small thread jack

25 year rule is your only hope. That racing show vehicle thing won't work. The car is not significant enough for a historical moniker. You are'nt sneaking it across the border from Canada either. Don't try to get tricky with the gubment, they will leave you whimpering flopped over a log with your a** reamed oversize like Ned Beatty.

Cornercarver82 wrote:So I have to ask this as I have spent 2 days reading and rereading and rereading again the import laws for a BNR32. Basically I gathered you can import the car legally if it's intended for Historical/Show Use (permit for 2,500mi per year) or OFF HIGHWAY USE ie racing ect I am seriously looking at getting a BNR32 and do actually intend to use it for racing and at no time will it be operated on a public roadway. Is this info correct or did I miss something?

You missed something.

http://vehicleimport.blogspot.com/2007/ ... ow-or.html

VEHICLE ELIGIBILITY

In determining whether a vehicle is eligible for importation for show or display, NHTSA will consider the following factors, among others:
1. Whether a vehicle of the same make, model, and model year was manufactured and certified for sale in the United States.
2. Whether a vehicle of the same make, model, and model year has been determined eligible for importation pursuant to 49 CFR Part 593.
3. Whether the vehicle is currently in production.
4. Whether more than 500 of the vehicles were produced.
5. Whether the vehicle is a kit car, replica, or special construction vehicle.

If the answer to any of the above is affirmative, you should not expect NHTSA to grant permission for importation. If the answer to item 4 is affirmative, the applicant must establish that the vehicle is of exceptional technological and/or historical significance.

1. No
2. No, not any more
3. No
4. Yes R32 GT-R(43934 total) production
1989-4555 1990-8426
1991-7081 1992-7961
1993-6204 1994-7465
5.No


I put in an application for Show or Display on the Nismo R32's, but haven't heard back from the DOT in months - http://www.gtrusablog.com/2011/12/nissa ... ow-or.html

There were 560 Nismo R32's made, but only 500 were sold to the public.
Variations of models
Standard-40390
Nismo-560
vspec-1453
vspecII-1303
N1-228

I have the current list of eligible cars for import, and the R32 GT-R is on the list. Also for off road use only ie racing it's really all to easy to keep within their guidelines, I have a 3/4 ton diesel and access to an enclosed trailer to transport it to events. I'm still going to try if nothing else I live 30 minutes from the canadian border I'll just keep the thing stored at a friends hows and drive it there on the weekends until its 25 and I can try to bring it across into the U.S. Being active duty and stationed on Ft. Drum does have a few advantages after all

Edit: I'm tired and missed that it is on the non eligible list for show/display

Has anyone gone through the motions of bringing one over for off highway use?

Also looking at a RHD Z32 300ZXTT but I dont know if that would be any different as it's not on any of the NHTSA's lists

Cornercarver82 wrote:Has anyone gone through the motions of bringing one over for off highway use?

Also looking at a RHD Z32 300ZXTT but I dont know if that would be any different as it's not on any of the NHTSA's lists

There is no such thing as "off highway use".

I have done it all. Race car, TIB, RI, etc.

You can import a race car, if its a race car. http://vehicleimport.blogspot.com/2007/ ... ly-to.html

A 300ZX would have to be petitioned. It would cost more than the car to do the petition. It would cost more than the car again to do the mods. Wait until they are 25 years old.

I can't wait to bring my 32 back legally My car was produced in December of 89 according to Nissan FAST. Nice..