Has anyone gotten their letter from the U.S. Attorney General yet?

[PEZi]

i'm still kinda new to all the skyline BS that happens... but let me see if i got this right...

even if the car is not registered and only used at the track its still illegal simply because it was imported? or am i getting something wrong here?

[Gold Digger]

i'm still kinda new to all the skyline BS that happens... but let me see if i got this right...

even if the car is not registered and only used at the track its still illegal simply because it was imported? or am i getting something wrong here?

If the Skyline that is imported is not on the list of eligible cars for importation, then it would have been imported illegally, thus making the car illegal no matter what.

If it's brought in as a parts only car, then it can be brought in, but if you take that car listed as parts and throw in an engine, trans and wheels on it and start driving it, you have now just gone against what the car was brought in for, thus also making it illegal.

There seem to be a lot of gray areas that people try to find a way around. But, a law is a law and if you break it, you have to face the consequences.

As it stands, only 96-98 R33 Skylines can be "imported", but because of a lot of things that have to be done to the car to get it legal, it's pretty much a losing battle.

[Count Zero]

Thats why I wouldn't trade a Motorex car for a non Motorex vehicle even an R34 and I really like the R34's. You just don't know the history of the vehicle and its previous owners

Hence the reason why I'm not just immediately jumping at the offer to trade for a non-Motorex R34. I want to be able to drive the thing without worrying about it getting impounded.

i'm still kinda new to all the skyline BS that happens... but let me see if i got this right...

even if the car is not registered and only used at the track its still illegal simply because it was imported? or am i getting something wrong here?

Because even "track/show only" cars have specific rules on how they're imported and for how long.Basically, the big "coming down on" that's occurring is with cars being illegally imported and/or illegally registered as if they WERE properly imported and converted.

[Vandrel]

Let's try to keep in mind here that this is regarding Kaizo ONLY thus far (Since June 2009). The "OMG crack down" was something we speculated on and discussed but thus far it's been confirmed to be a Kaizo only issue due to Daryl. All of the issues elsewhere with non-Kaizo cars have faded away and cleared up.

6 months and counting and nothing has spread outside of the CA/Kaizo situation and no cars have been known to have been exported "yet". There are a select few Kaizo owners who decided to go the lone wolf route and not get with the group fighting the case which is why there is a Kaizo R34 on eBay right now for export only.

Furthermore, while VCP17 Motorex cars are the only ones deemed "legal" aside from phantom ones brought in under VCP32 (which no one has heard of any yet) don't forget that the NHTSA bond letter specifically says

Quote »"This bond release does not constitute agreement by the NHTSA that the vehicle, in fact, is in conformance with all applicable FMVSS"

"Please be advised that the NHTSA reserves the right to make a actual compliance inspection of the vehicle at a future date to verify the accuracey of the RI's certificate."[/quote]The dead horse has been beaten and it's well known that a vast majority of VCP17 Motorex cars had little to no conformance work done prior to being released or delivered. While it's almost safe to say that nothing will ever happen to VCP17 vehicles I'd always be aware of the fact that the NHTSA could inspect at any time and find discrepancies causing the vehicle to be seized or other.

None the less, at the current time Motorex vehicles are the much safer route for the next 4 years until we have the ability to bring in R32's free and clear of the NHTSA and EPA.

And I will be very honest with you on the R32-R34 trade. While it's a Motorex R32 right now, in 4 years it will just be another R32 on the road and there is no way you will ever be able to trade it for a R34 again. I'm a risk taker and a investor, I would take the trade in a heart beat, you can always sell a R34 for twice as much as a Motorex R32. We all know what the prices are like in Japan for these cars, with no NHTSA/EPA requirements on them in a few years you can imagine what the U.S. prices on these cars will look like then. A lot of people speculate that the rules will change before then not allowing them but let's be honest, they are just another car and the NHTSA could care less about the R31 and older cars so what's to say they would pitch a fit about later models as the years go by.

The facts are that CA is the biggest headache for Skylines and any other vehicle and will always be regardless of age of the vehicle. Nearly every other state could care less for the most part. In 4 years all of this import/export/NHTSA/FMVSS/EPA garbage with Skylines will slowly fade away, prices will drop significantly and you will probably see them everywhere just like Canada is now.
Modified by Vandrel at 6:08 PM 12/4/2009

[PalmerWMD]

I dont get why you can't just move the vins from a clean titled 240 onto a skyline chassis

Anywhere but california, these cops don't check vins unless car is stolen

If your name is on title of 240, all in the clear

Why can't i do that?

Since it would be illegal I cant condone it, but it would definetly work in most non fascist ( ie non cali) states.

I titled a 240sx with silvia front end that definelty didnt look like a 240 and the guy barely looked at the car and just took the money (KY)I have a feeling if that had been an R33 it would have been the exact same.

[Gold Digger]

HOLY WOW! FRED!

When the hell did you get back? Haven't seen you in ages, man. Welcome home.

And since you have changed your avatar to a new collar device, have you been promoted to Major?

[Count Zero]

The dead horse has been beaten and it's well known that a vast majority of VCP17 Motorex cars had little to no conformance work done prior to being released or delivered. While it's almost safe to say that nothing will ever happen to VCP17 vehicles I'd always be aware of the fact that the NHTSA could inspect at any time and find discrepancies causing the vehicle to be seized or other.

I subtley inquired about that to them (NHTSA guy when I called about the bond release form) because I know for a fact that there's a few major things NOT on my car that should be.

He basically said that they all know that the Motorex cars almost unanimously don't have the full 100% conformance they're supposed to, but they're not going to do anything about them like call for inspections, because it's not the buyers' fault. That was the major basis of half the fraud charges brought against Hiro...he was frauding the buyers as well as the NHTSA/EPA, so they're not going to punish the buyers twice.

[Vandrel]

I subtley inquired about that to them (NHTSA guy when I called about the bond release form) because I know for a fact that there's a few major things NOT on my car that should be.

He basically said that they all know that the Motorex cars almost unanimously don't have the full 100% conformance they're supposed to, but they're not going to do anything about them like call for inspections, because it's not the buyers' fault. That was the major basis of half the fraud charges brought against Hiro...he was frauding the buyers as well as the NHTSA/EPA, so they're not going to punish the buyers twice.

That info alone will be what helps the Kaizo owners out

[SullivanRacing06]

good luck to eveyone with a state side skyline, hope the government dosent take away your pride. that would suck

g/l to everyone

[Count Zero]

That info alone will be what helps the Kaizo owners out

I doubt it....the problem with the Kaizo cars isn't just if they've been modded to NHTSA/EPA regs and such.

It's mostly about them circumventing the whole import/registration process as a whole, trying to count them as kit cars, despite the final product being a full-on Nissan Skyline.

[Vandrel]

It's mostly about them circumventing the whole import/registration process as a whole, trying to count them as kit cars, despite the final product being a full-on Nissan Skyline.

Somewhat, Motorex still had it's history in altering vehicle manufacture dates on paper to circumvent the 1996-up EPA ordeal, just check a few VIN's in FAST and you'll see, makes perfect sense why the pre-96 R33's were such a hype for appealing the VCP32 when the rules changed to 96-98. And let's not forget the crash testing fiasco which initially sparked the fire. Motorex had it's share of circumvention, not nearly as bold as Kiazo but it was there.

[Gcustoms]

what an a** he might have just put a big picture of a gigantic middle finger on the page, i woulda sent him a letter back with a bag of goat s*** in it and the letter saying something like "hey dumbass, i paid for this car with my hard earned money, i pay for your roads and highways with my taxes, i pay your goddamn salary, i think i'll drive my goddamn skyline wherever i want to, sincerly yours ______"

but hey, i dont own a skyline... god knows why im on this forum

[hcr32isslow]

ok, my first post. hope its a constructive one. the main reason customs is cracking down on skylines is due in part to them being imported illegally. it is very possible to own a state legal skyline with plates title you name it, but it is not so easy to own a FEDERALLY legal skyline. the ONLY skylines to be legally imported to the united stated were through (the late) motorex in cali.

being a current owner of an 92gts i can tell you, without a bond release, your car is going to be taken...even AFTER the 25 year mark, just because it was illegally imported and still is illegal.

car imported after the 25 year mark are going to be legal because they will EASILY get a bond release from customs stating exemption from all us regulatory efforts.

ps...anyone know who sells OEM r34 body panels? rear fenders, rear bumper support, trunk,tailights and front bumper and hood