All of this begs the simple question: Why didn`t Nissan bother to modify the Skyline to be compliant and fit for sale when new? Built to commemorate the success of Mitsubishi and Tommi Makinen in the World Rally Championship, the Lancer Evolution Tommi Makinen Edition is the Japanese manufacturer`s ultimate homologation model. Simply put, it`s a legal rally car on the road. It`s funny that a lot of people say that the Nissan Skyline R34 is illegal because it had too much power at the time of its release. The truth is that the R34 had only 280 horsepower from the factory, as a result of a gentleman`s agreement between Japanese automakers. Although the actual power figure in the production form is closer to 320 horsepower, other cars from the same era had more power than the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 and Ferrari Testarossa. The illegality of the Nissan Skyline is due to the Imported Vehicle Safety Compliance Act of 1988. However, given that no generation of the Nissan Skyline has ever been sold really new in the US, it seems a bit strange that it has reached such a loyal following in the US. Once the car arrives at the Motorex warehouse, it is delivered to an independent emissions lab for EPA testing. The process can sometimes take weeks or months for the car to be EPA certified. Then, all EPA test results are compiled and sent to DOT for further analysis. This includes sending all related documents and photographic evidence that the car is modified and legal for the road. After that, the DOT will send a bail release to Motorex to complete the legalization process.
The first models of the R33 GTR will also become legal for import and compliance, and by 2024 you should be able to start importing the R34 GTR (provided there are no additional changes in legislation or further tightening of emissions and environmental regulations by then, which is still a risk in the current climate). Let`s design a scenario. You are importing your R34 illegally into the United States. You want to have a plate on it, so find a backyard company that offers plates and commits a crime faster than you can say, “Too soon, Junior!” The ultimate Godzilla may still be illegal in the US, but the original can now be imported as the R32 Skyline GT-R was produced from 1989 to 1994. It was the no-frills two-door coupe that destroyed the stronger, more expensive competition in the golden age of touring car racing in the Group A era. The only completely legal way to import an R34 into the United States is if it is a show and display car. These regulations should apply to cars in a museum or private collection. However, only a few models of the R34 are approved for importation under these regulations. There were certainly skylines on the street that were never legal from the beginning.
Over the years, all sorts of strategies have been used by various enterprising people and companies, ranging from sticking fake license plates on a skyline to complex exchanges of VINs and the age-old trick of the “car kit kit” (where you import the car as a set of components and then reassemble it). While acquiring an “illegal” skyline may be tempting, there is a huge risk. If the government catches up with you, your pride and joy could go to the grinder, as happened to that poor landlord. Many people think that cars cannot be imported legally if they are right-hand driven, but this is not what causes problems. In fact, Subaru sold a mail-in version of its heritage in the United States, which was RHD, and other brands did too. This is the main reason why you start seeing more R32s and even R33s on US roads. Once a vehicle is 25 years old, it is exempt from the above rules and can be imported, respected and then legally driven on the road. There are a few exceptions, like California (who would have thought?), where stricter emissions standards make compliance more difficult. If you find a car that has already been imported by Motorex or another company with current or past flaws, the U.S.
government may have issued a bail release to legalize it. These cars don`t quite comply with federal regulations, but authorities seem to look the other way. The Motorex GT-R are the only legal R34 Nissan GT-R imported en masse into the United States, with the exception of the very few show cars. Unfortunately, the lack of ABS, traction control, and a host of other safety features meant it wouldn`t be meeting NHTSA guidelines, as this car is illegal in the US. In short, the Nissan Skyline GTR was/is actually illegal in the US (depending on which generation you`re talking about). Suddenly, the inevitable happened. The Asian stock market crash of 1998 made it impossible to export cars from the United States. At this point, Hiro convinced Noto and Mr. Sawami (owner of the Advance Auto Group) to import Skyline R34 instead. Together with Ken Takahashi of Ground Zero, they founded GT Autohouse, which became Motorex. If you`ve researched the legality of the Nissan Skyline GTR in the US, you`ve probably come across the term “Motorex.” One of TVR`s most iconic models came in the form of Tuscany, a simple approach to building a raw British sports car that would offer one of the purest driving experiences one can have in a legal car on the road.