Here’s Why Nissan Skylines Are Illegal In the US
I’d still get one…
Nissan Skylines are one of the most beloved and irresistible performance cars known to man, but why, exactly, are they illegal in the US? And what caused these beautiful beasts to be banned?
Were the Myths or Urban legend true? Or was it corporate elites who realized they were losing money to foreign cars?
The illegality of these beauties breaks many US-based car enthusiasts’ hearts to know that unless they want to risk a heavy fine and/or jail time, they will not be able to own one of Japan’s most desired cars, Nissan Skyline.
But why are they illegal in the first place? Of course, a car that the US pretty much outlawed will acquire its legends and myths.
Some common legends are that the Skyline was too mighty for the US’s streets, and they were too fast and could outrun law enforcement. While Nissan’s Skyline could definitely outrun law enforcement vehicles in the 80s and 90s and even in today’s time, that was not the reason for their ban.
Their ban was because of something much more tiresome and underwhelming.
What Exactly Made the Skyline Illegal?
With Nissan’s R32, R33, and R34’s initially made for the Japanese Championships, the US wasn’t exactly on their mind when they created the Skyline generation. And so, they were not made to comply with the US’s safety and emission laws.
The R32 was the only skyline to pass the US’s crash safety test, but it still didn’t pass the emission standards. The passed Crash test meant nothing if the Nissan Skyline failed the emission testing, so the Skyline was inevitably banned.
So to answer the much-asked question of why the Nissan Skyline is illegal, it became illegal due to their failure to comply with the US’s safety standards. But of course, people still imported these cars and worked on the vehicles themselves to abide by the US laws.
Although this legal dispute is only for specific generations like the R34, for example, due to a law that the National Highway Traffic Safety (NHTSA) passed, you can get an R32 or R33 as long as they were manufactured 25 years ago. We’ll get to that later, though.
Some people ask the understandable question of why didn’t Nissan just change their cars to fit the US automotive laws? Nissan was not willing to take the risk of spending more money just to send the skylines to the US.
Nissan wasn’t exactly sure if the sales in the US would meet, let alone succeed their profits, and so they focused more on their side of the world, leaving Americans lovesick for their new Skylines.
There will always be someone who will get what they want, no matter the cost. That’s how some Americans felt when they learned that the R32, R33, and R34 Skylines were not allowed in the US.
They imported various cars, including the Skyline, via the Grey Market.
What Is The Grey Market?
The Grey Market was initially started during WW2 when soldiers fell in love with European cars and found that importing and servicing the vehicles to comply with the US’s standards themselves was cheaper than buying the vehicles in the US.
From the 60s to 80s, people were free to import cars as long as they complied with the US’s safety standards. Some people started to cut corners, so many imported and still illegal vehicles (including the Skyline) were roaming the US.
Over 50,000 Skylines were imported into the US around the 80s and 90s. Their owners would have them serviced to make the cars safer and more environmentally friendly.
The manufacturers in the US saw that some people were not fixing their imported cars to the requested standard and used this to go to congress, demanding that Grey Market importing be illegal.
This appeal was led by Mercedes-Benz, who claimed they were worried about the safety of Americans and the US’s environment.
Ultimately it was the problem of US Manufacturers losing a great deal of money due to the cheaper imports. Congress approved this appeal, creating the Motor Vehicle Safety Compliance Act (MVSCA).
After this law, the Grey Market took a significant hit, reducing its numbers from around 70,000 between 1985 and 1995 to 300.
Why was the Motor Vehicle Safety Compliance Act Passed?
We’ve already gone over the Grey Market, and this act passed because of it. But it also had certain selfish motives behind it too.
People found that getting their vehicles imported and serviced was cheaper than buying the US-manufactured car. This made US-based manufacturers lose millions of dollars, and so they looked to find a way to ban vehicle importing altogether.
Mercedes-Benz was the first to lobby Congress into passing this law. They claimed that they were concerned about the safety and environmental issues of the imported vehicles due to the incompetence of some owners who didn’t modify the Skylines and other vehicles correctly.
The ban on illegal imports mainly restored profits and prevented more sale tanking due to car importing. Although they may have been worried about the safety of individuals, they restored their profits.
The law was passed in 1988 and is still in effect today.
How Can I Get a Skyline In the US?
There are a few ways to get a Skyline R32 and R33 in the US, but it’s costly and time-consuming to get them.
Be aware that it will take time and money. Some people import and drive them around illegally but after VIN and registration swapping they eventually get caught.
There have been people who illegally drive them around the US and get a 250,000 dollar fine, or a 3-year or longer jail time.
Here are a few ways you can legally get them, it might take time but it’s worth the wait.
Importing a Skyline Registered At Least 25 Years Prior.
The NHSTA states that a motor vehicle at least 25 years or older can lawfully be imported into the US without any regard. Meaning it doesn’t matter if it doesn’t meet the standards of the MVSCA (Motor Vehicle Safety Compliance Act).
You should also be aware that the 25-year period runs from the manufactured date. If the date is 24 years and 364 days, you will not be allowed to import this car.
The NHSTA passed the 25-year law because they thought that no one would want a 25-year-old piece of junk. Fortunately for us, they were wrong.
This law has opened so many doors for Skyline lovers. Although it isn’t cheap to import these cars, there’s a way if there’s a will.
I have good news, though!
I’ve been telling you that Skylines were made illegal, but for some Skylines, that handy 25-year law is in effect.
You are now legally allowed to purchase and import your very own R32 and early R33. It will still be a bit longer for some of the R34s.
The early R34s will be legal for your everyday person in the year 2024. It may seem like a long time but don’t lose hope just yet.
Just one problem. California is very strict on its safety and emission standards so the 25-year rule may not make a huge difference.
You can still legally import the car without having a registered importer license, but you would still have to modify the car to California’s requirements. Some places would charge you over 9 thousand USD just to send it to an emissions lab.
If you have some spare change to get the car imported, modified, and tested and you live in California, No worries! It just might take a little longer to show off your awesome car and turn some heads as you cruise by.
For those who live in the remaining states, you’re in luck. A Nissan Skyline R32, R33, and (in two years) R34 could be yours.
Become a Registered Vehicle Importer.
Registered Importers or as affectionately called R.I.’s are individuals with garages and mechanical skills who are licensed by the DOT to perform conversions (In our case safety and emission standards) on foreign cars to comply with the US laws.
The everyday conversions include safer side markers, headlamps, door beams, bumpers, speedometer, and even on some occasions fuel lines. The car, upon entry to the country, is put on bond in the Registered importer (R.I.’s) name and taken to the shop.
After all the required conversions have been done, the shop and/or mechanic sends their conversion to the DOT to get the bond released.
This isn’t as easy or cheap as it may seem. Some R.I.’s spend over 1 million USD in repairs making it hard to earn a profit on the vehicle they’re repairing.
Some R.I.’s state that a simple crash test costs almost a quarter million. Not including the California safety and emission requirements.
If you live in the Golden State you may have to tack on another 9,000+ USD for emission lab testing. We’ve talked about that previously.
Yes, this (as most other options) will take time and money but if you’re hellbent on buying yourself a Nissan R32, R33, and R34 this is might be an option. Registered importers have to fill out a form from the NHSTA claiming what kind of vehicle they’re trying to import.
There will be options on vans, trucks, hatchbacks, and even boats. But we all know exactly what we’re trying to transport.
A Nissan Skyline. One of the R32s or an early R33.
Okay, so here’s what comes with being a registered vehicle importer. First, you read through their requirements.
They have to run a background check to make sure you weren’t one of those people who were too impatient and swapped VINs and registrations on your illegal car because as I’ve stated previously you can get in some deep trouble for that and more than likely, the NHSTA will have a problem letting you import more illegal cars. Just saying.
You also have to have an inspected and accepted shop with the proper tools. The NHSTA doesn’t come directly to your shop, you are required to send them a complete video of your equipment and garage.
There are more requirements and things to go along with becoming registered. But if you enjoy working on your car and would like to do it full time, this might actually be for you.
Buying From a Registered Importer (R.I.)
There are plenty of vehicle importers around the US, although it might be a little difficult if you live in a state like Hawaii and it might be even more expensive if you live in Alaska. But there is a way that you can buy your beloved Nissan Skyline R32 and R33 legally without signing a bunch of paperwork.
Okay, I lied, you might have to sign a bunch of paperwork but you don’t have to send reports to DOT and blah, blah, blah. This is probably the easiest, quickest, and most popular way to buy a Skyline.
Most R.I.’s fix up the cars and sell them to the public and so if you can find an importer that sells Skylines, you’re in luck!
Only one con to that plan though. R34s are VERY hard to get due to the high demand for them and because well…they’re still not legal yet.
Buying an R32 and R33 skyline would be a lot easier if you bought it from a registered importer though. You’re still able to get a Skyline if you live in Hawaii and Alaska it might just be a little more difficult and expensive.
The Conclusion Of It All.
We’ve talked, in parts, about why the Nissan Skyline is and was illegal depending on each generation, who made it illegal, Grey Markets, and how to get a Nissan Skyline legally in today’s time.
Now, it’s time to bring it all together.
We know how powerful and beautiful Skylines are, and how the Automotive world would not be the same without them. But for some American’s we’ve been held back.
Myths and Urban legends are going to surface when something so beautiful and powerful is made illegal in the United States. It would be awesome if would be the legends were true but unfortunately, they’re not.
But the Skylines could definitely outrun law enforcement hands down. Especially when the police were using Ford LTD Crown Victoria (Aka “Crown Vics”) and Chevrolet Caprice in the 80s and 90s.
The truth is, that Nissan wasn’t designing their Skylines for the US market. Naganori Ito, the designer of the Skylines, was following in his mentor Shinichiro Sakurai’s footsteps. His assignment was to create a car that could whoop Porche’s butt in the Japan Grand Prix.
This Nissan 2000 GT was the literal father of the Skylines. So when the 2000 GT bared its fangs at the track it was to be expected that people would be turning their attention to the child of the 2000 GT.
Once everybody saw how well it performed everyone wanted one. This is when the Grey Market came into play.
Unfortunately, the Skylines didn’t comply with the US’s safety and emission and in turn, was made illegal. But there was a loophole.
This is where the Grey Market came into play.
The Grey Market had very relaxed rules, if any, during the 50s and 60s but over time manufacturers started losing money because the public started gravitating to the cheaper option of importing cars.
During the Grey Market era, people were allowed to import Skylines as long as they modified the car to adhere to the US Safety and Emission Standards. Some people “cut corners” so to speak and so the manufacturers (mainly Mercedes) saw their window of opportunity.
Mercedes lobbied Congress into placing, essentially, a ban on vehicle imports. They were given their wish and after the Motor Vehicle Safety Compliance Act (MVSCA) was passed in 1988 the Grey Market was shut down almost completely.
Some vehicles were still smuggled into the US, but the ability to import a Skyline and service it to comply with standards was cut off. For illegal foreign car enthusiasts, the heartbreak of it all was overwhelming.
The US car manufacturers were happier than ever to hear that Americans would now be forced to buy from their own country. Mercedes more than anyone was glad they were able to get this law passed and recoup the profits they had lost.
The odds were ever in our favor though, because the NHSTA made a law in 1985 three years before the MVSCA, called -you guessed it- the 25-year law. This worked in the Skyline lovers favor.
The 25-year law is the one thing that allows us Skyline fans to get the opportunity of actually purchasing one without getting put into heavy debt or behind bars.
The 25-year law was passed not only for us car enthusiasts, but because the NHSTA thought that no one would want a 25-year-old piece of junk. It kind of brings home the saying “one man’s junk is another man’s treasure.”
Registered Importers (R.I.’s) around the country have imported Skylines since the R32s became available in 2014. The way that most people get their Skylines is mostly through R.I.’s who have made them comply with the US Safety and Emission laws.
There’s even an option of becoming a Registered Importer (R.I.) yourself. If you have the desire to work and service foreign and illegal cars that have been manufactured at least 25 years ago, becoming an R.I. yourself might be for you!
There are requirements to becoming an R.I. but if that’s a passion of yours, shoot for the sky! That would be a great way to not only import your own personal Nissan Skyline but other cars that have recently fallen under the 25-year law too.
Other loved, but previously illegal cars like the Lotus Elise (Series 1), Renault Sport Spider, TVR Cerbera, and the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV would be available to you for importing. Of course, if the Importing business isn’t your cup of tea, that’s perfectly fine! You can still get these recently legal cars through other registered importers.
Although we’ve been made to wait 25 years to import the Nissan Skylines, it has been well worth the wait. The Skylines have been a heartwarming thought in most car lovers’ hearts and continue to pique the interests of car lovers in the US.
Now since 2014, we have been lucky enough able to get our hands on them.
