importing a 96-98 R33 skyline

[1988montecarloss]

on the NHTSA site it states that its legal to import a 96-98 R33 skyline, is it legal to register one as well, or is there still some process(es) you have to go through?

if its too complicated ill just wait until next year to import an 89 R32 :wiggle:

[Chaluska]

I. Importing a Nissan Skyline.


The Nissan Skyline was not originally manufactured to comply with all applicable FMVSS. Such a vehicle that is less than 25 years old can only be lawfully imported into the U.S. if (1) it is determined eligible for importation by NHTSA and (2) it is imported by an RI or by a person who has a contract with an RI to bring the vehicle into compliance with all applicable FMVSS within 120 days of entry.

Import eligibility decisions are made on a make, model, and model year basis. NHTSA has determined that the R33 Model Nissan GTS and GTR ("Skyline") passenger cars manufactured between January 1, 1996 and June 30, 1998 are eligible for importation and has assigned vehicle eligibility number VCP-32 to those vehicles. (The import eligibility number is to be entered on the HS-7 Declaration form that is to be given to Customs at the time of entry, and alerts Customs that the vehicle may be lawfully imported by an RI or by a person who has a contract with an RI, even though the vehicle is not certified by its manufacturer as complying with all applicable FMVSS.)

To learn the modifications the petitioner started were needed to conform Nissan Skyline vehicles to the FMVSS, you should go to the Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) website at Regulations.gov (http://www.regulations.gov/) and access docket number �NHTSA-2005-22654� by following the online instructions for accessing the dockets available at that web site. You should note that the petition sought import eligibility for 1990-1999 Nissan GTS and GTR "Skyline" passenger cars. After granting the petition, the agency learned that the modifications identified in the petition were not sufficient to conform certain model and model year vehicles that were covered by the petition. The agency therefore partially rescinded its grant of eligibility, leaving only R33 model Nissan GTS and GTR passenger cars manufactured between January 1, 1996 and June 30, 1998 eligible for importation.

A list of RIs can be found on our website at Vehicle Importation and Certification Requirements (http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import). You should consult the importers on that list to see whether any are willing to conform the vehicle that you seek to import to all applicable safety and bumper standards, and if so, what they would charge for that work.

If you decide to import the vehicle, one potential complicating factor is that the RI who petitioned NHTSA to determine the Nissan Skyline eligible for importation requested, and was granted, confidentiality with respect to the modifications needed to conform to the vehicle to certain of the standards. As a consequence, that importer (J.K. Technologies, LLC of Baltimore, Maryland) has claimed a proprietary interest in the modifications covered by the confidentiality grant. This does not preclude other RIs from attempting to modify the vehicle. However, should those importers not gain access to the modifications covered by the grant confidentiality, they will have to demonstrate to the agency, at the time they submit a conformity certification package for a Skyline, that they have made equivalent modifications that permit the vehicle to comply with the standards covered by the confidentiality grant.

Please note that we determined the vehicle eligible for importation based on its capability of being modified to comply with all applicable standards. We did not approve J.K. Technologies, LLC as the "exclusive" importer of the vehicle. As previously indicated, any other RI is free to import the vehicle, but will have to demonstrate in the conformity package submitted to the agency to obtain release of the conformance bond furnished at the time of importation that the vehicle has been brought into conformity with all applicable standards, including those covered by the grant of confidentiality to J.K. Technologies, LLC.

You should note that if you were to import the vehicle, the necessary modifications would have to be made by an RI, and that importer would have to certify to us that the vehicle conforms to all applicable FMVSS in effect on its date of manufacture before the vehicle could be released to be licensed or registered for on-road use. One of the reasons that an RI is required to import and modify a vehicle that was not originally manufactured to comply with all applicable FMVSS is because the RI stands in the stead of the vehicle�s original manufacturer to provide the vehicle�s owner with notification and remedy in the event that the vehicle is determined to contain a safety-related defect or a noncompliance with an applicable safety standard. Because the original manufacturer would not be responsible for the vehicle being in the U.S., it would have no legal obligation to perform this import safety responsibility.

Questions regarding modifications to conform the vehicle to applicable emissions standards should be directed to the EPA

[Chaluska]

and with all that being said.. there were tons of skylines impounded (even the ones that were legally imported)

might as well just buy a RB26, and the AWD conversion kit, and toss it in an S14..

[1988montecarloss]

alright thats what i figured but i thought id ask, guess ill just wait until theyre 25 yrs old haha

[fliprayzin240sx]

Actually, not all R33 are on NHTSA list. 1997's were the year that's on the list from what I remember. The kicker about it is that the car has to comply with everything related for that year. Well, guess what year OBD-II kicked in. Kinda hard to convert and OBD-0 car to OBD-II.

[EDacIouSX]

can you import this car if its strictly for offroad use only? Track car/business car?

[corbin]

Aren't early R32's about to be totally legal according to the 25 year old classic car rule that allows importation and registration of pretty much anything 25+ years old?

[1988montecarloss]

Aren't early R32's about to be totally legal according to the 25 year old classic car rule that allows importation and registration of pretty much anything 25+ years old?

89's wont be legal until 2014, 88's are r31's

[kS12]

i have a r33 now i use to have a r32 and if i had to choose between the two i would go back to the r32 just like it better over all.

[Supergoji]

89's wont be legal until 2014, 88's are r31's

it goes by manufacture date
early 89's were built in 88

[1988montecarloss]

it goes by manufacture date
early 89's were built in 88

yeah but i think they would have to be made on feb. 9th 1988 or earlier, maybe if you waited until june-july when they started making 89 model years you could get one but as of today no r32's are 25 yrs old yet

[fliprayzin240sx]

yeah but i think they would have to be made on feb. 9th 1988 or earlier, maybe if you waited until june-july when they started making 89 model years you could get one but as of today no r32's are 25 yrs old yet

As long as its 25 yrs from the manufacturing date of the car. I had a buddy who was trying to ship his R31 back. Couldnt ship it since his manufacturing date was short off less than a month to the date that he had to ship it.

[1988montecarloss]

As long as its 25 yrs from the manufacturing date of the car. I had a buddy who was trying to ship his R31 back. Couldnt ship it since his manufacturing date was short off less than a month to the date that he had to ship it.

yeah thats what i was thinking, i dont think youre gonna find an r32 built in february of 88 haha

[TougeSR20Kid]

But the 25 year rule is just to import right? It doesn't mean it's legally register-able in California right? Or is it completely legit according to the laws?

[fliprayzin240sx]

No, CA still follows the 25 yr rule...I dont remember any state not following that rule. I had a buddy bring back his 86, registered it in NM with no issue using the JDM vin. I should have brought back a damn 86 or R31...

[fatduece]

What do r31s sell for in japan?

[tapdeznutz]

subscribed, very interesting information.

[fliprayzin240sx]

What do r31s sell for in japan?

Anything is cheap in Japan, problem you'd have is finding cars that old still in good condition with no rust. If its prestine, its gonna be alot more since they're starting to get rarer and rarer. Plus most of the R31s I've seen left behind are not exactly stock. Handful I've seen are RB26 equipped pushing 800hp. Select few are still rocking the original FJ20s.

[TougeSR20Kid]

No, CA still follows the 25 yr rule...I dont remember any state not following that rule. I had a buddy bring back his 86, registered it in NM with no issue using the JDM vin. I should have brought back a damn 86 or R31...

Ok and you have to make them dot and smog compliant for that year in order to get them registered right?

[1988montecarloss]

i know a guy who bought a car from here before, the stuff is kind of expensive now though since our economy is fucked and the exchange rate is so different, but there were a few decent r32's for $6k-ish, not sure how much it would cost to get one over here though

http://www.japaneseusedcars.com/auction/auctions4_low_cost.htm

[fliprayzin240sx]

Shipping a car from Tokyo, about $8-10k depending on which port its going to and the current exchange rate.

[1988montecarloss]

Shipping a car from Tokyo, about $8-10k depending on which port its going to and the current exchange rate.

i always assumed it would be like 3-5k at the most....:naw:

[Sileighty_85]

Anything is cheap in Japan, problem you'd have is finding cars that old still in good condition with no rust. If its prestine, its gonna be alot more since they're starting to get rarer and rarer. Plus most of the R31s I've seen left behind are not exactly stock. Handful I've seen are RB26 equipped pushing 800hp. Select few are still rocking the original FJ20s.

they probably wont be able to bring those ones back, as the rules state the engine has to be the Original engine from the manufacture. if its rebuilt it has to conform to newer smog standards (unless they cant tell)

unless you switch out the engine when you import it and ship the engine separately

[fliprayzin240sx]

they probably wont be able to bring those ones back, as the rules state the engine has to be the Original engine from the manufacture. if its rebuilt it has to conform to newer smog standards (unless they cant tell)

unless you switch out the engine when you import it and ship the engine separately

Hmm, but you think ICE would really know what an FJ20 look like? Guy I was talking about who brought back his 86 has an SR20 in it...:w00t:

[fliprayzin240sx]

i always assumed it would be like 3-5k at the most....:naw:

Renting a container alone is about $6k.

[Sileighty_85]

Hmm, but you think ICE would really know what an FJ20 look like? Guy I was talking about who brought back his 86 has an SR20 in it...:w00t:
Like legally through TMO?

if they checked the engine tag they would.

cuz we just had a guy TMO his Hako from here and he mentioned that his engine might have been rebuilt and they almost told him he couldnt ship it, luckily it was only repaired and not rebuilt

[bc.]

can you import this car if its strictly for offroad use only? Track car/business car?
:aw:
?????

[Oakville]

it goes by manufacture date
early 89's were built in 88

incorrect. first R32s STARTED production in august of 1989. normally cars are assembled before their model year, not R32s.

[Oakville]

Renting a container alone is about $6k.

What are you talking about?

You can BUY containers for half that. Shipping on a single car from Japan to the Northwest should be no more than 1500-2000 per car, TOPS. Friends have brought cars in through Vancouver BC for 1200 shipped. Mind you were talking about 2-3 cars per container so the cost is split.

When it comes down to bringing cars over, Costs from auction to your home port arent that much. Between a broker, his fees, the car itself, and shipping, expect to pay 600,000yen on a 250,000yen car (including the car). At Canadian ports, pay 6.1% duty and government tax (13%) and you're in! Can't imagine it being much more stateside.

[1988montecarloss]

What are you talking about?

You can BUY containers for half that. Shipping on a single car from Japan to the Northwest should be no more than 1500-2000 per car, TOPS. Friends have brought cars in through Vancouver BC for 1200 shipped. Mind you were talking about 2-3 cars per container so the cost is split.

When it comes down to bringing cars over, Costs from auction to your home port arent that much. Between a broker, his fees, the car itself, and shipping, expect to pay 600,000yen on a 250,000yen car (including the car). At Canadian ports, pay 6.1% duty and government tax (13%) and you're in! Can't imagine it being much more stateside.

if you were to buy a car for say $6k, how much would it be to get it over here including the car itself?

[shaggy sr]

try contact david in queens nyc
JDM ENGINE WORLD IN NYC! (http://www.jdmengineworld.com/)
they import alotta RHD cars for cheap.
Address: 147-1 105th Ave, Jamaica, NY 11435
Phone (718) 558-5970

[Oakville]

if you were to buy a car for say $6k, how much would it be to get it over here including the car itself?

I can only speak to average costs coming into Canada, here it is, taken from GTRCanada.com


Here is some Examples of Costs:
Car cost 200,000 Yen
Exporter Costs 100,000 Yen
Shipping Costs 100,000 Yen

So the car is 400,000 ont he boat so around $4400 CAD

When it lands here: (This is if you do customs work yourself)
6.1% Duty
5% GST
$100 AC tax
$46 Soil inspection
$95 Wharf Fee's.
$16 Temp Permit to get it home

THen you have to do the mods etc to get it BC inspected..

After the inspection you pay another Round of Tax's and your good to go..

Again, this is from Japan to Vancouver, BC. the person I quoted above owns an importing company, this is his day job and brings in several cars per month. The pricing write-up is an estimate if you were to bring it in yourself (to cut costs, by doing all of the Canadian-side stuff. Japanese-side would need to be handled by a broker, fees shown above).

[1988montecarloss]

I can only speak to average costs coming into Canada, here it is, taken from GTRCanada.com




Again, this is from Japan to Vancouver, BC. the person I quoted above owns an importing company, this is his day job and brings in several cars per month. The pricing write-up is an estimate if you were to bring it in yourself (to cut costs, by doing all of the Canadian-side stuff. Japanese-side would need to be handled by a broker, fees shown above).


is the shipping roughly the same cost regardless of how much the car costs?

and, once an r32 is over 25 would it be legal to drive one over the canadian border and register it in the US?

[Biggamehit]

If you want cars shipped get with Andy and Emily of Powervehicles.com (http://powervehicles.com/) I know them personally and it does not cost 8 to 10k. Just do your homework they don't bend or break rules.

[1988montecarloss]

If you want cars shipped get with Andy and Emily of Powervehicles.com (http://powervehicles.com/) I know them personally and it does not cost 8 to 10k. Just do your homework they don't bend or break rules.

could they import a vehicle not listed on their website? they dont have that many vehicles listed so thats why i ask

[QuicksilverFX]

sorry to bump this thread, thought this info would be relevant tho

SUMMARY: This document announces a
final decision by NHTSA to partially
rescind a prior decision by the agency
that 1990–1999 Nissan GTS and GTR
passenger cars not originally
manufactured to comply with all
applicable Federal motor vehicle safety
standards (FMVSS) are eligible for
importation into the United States. As a
result of this decision, only Nissan R33
model GTS and GTR passenger cars
manufactured between January 1996
and June 1998 are eligible for
importation. All other model and model
year vehicles admissible under the prior
decision are no longer eligible for
importation. As a consequence, the
agency is rescinding vehicle eligibility
number VCP–17, which covered
vehicles admissible under the prior
decision, and issuing vehicle eligibility
number VCP–32 to cover only those
model and model year Nissan GTS and
GTR passenger cars that remain eligible
for importation. The rescission will only
bar the future importation of the model
and model year Nissan GTS and GTR
passenger cars that are no longer eligible
for importation, and will not affect the
status of vehicles that have already been
lawfully imported under vehicle
eligibility number VCP–17.Final Decision
Accordingly, on the basis of the
foregoing, NHTSA hereby rescinds its
decision, granted on November 15,
1999, that 1990–1999 Nissan GTS and
GTR Passenger cars are eligible for
importation into the United States.
NHTSA hereby decides that Nissan R33
model GTS and GTR passenger cars
manufactured between January 1996
and June 1998 are eligible for
importation into the United States
because they have safety features that
comply with, or are capable of being
altered to comply with, all applicable
Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
Vehicle Eligibility Number
The importer of a vehicle admissible
under any import eligibility decision
must enter on the HS–7 Declaration
form covering the entry the appropriate
vehicle eligibility number indicating
that the vehicle is eligible for
importation. Vehicle eligibility number
VCP–17 was assigned to 1990–1999
Nissan GTS and GTR passenger cars.
NHTSA is rescinding that eligibility
number and assigning eligibility number
VCP–32 to Nissan R33 model GTS and
GTR passenger cars manufactured
between January 1996 and June 1998
that remain eligible for importation.

http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=NHTSA-2005-22654-0037

[RHDAmerica]

I know a lot of this is confusing to people and we are offering our services and expertise on all importing of JDM vehicles..

The R32 skyline will be legal to import as of Aug 2014...

The cars are EPA exempt at 21 years and NHTSA exempt at 25 years... They do NOT have to comply to EPA standards... Now they WILL have to go through an inspection to make sure they at least have the standard emissions equipment they were produced with once they enter the country...

This can be a long and stressful process if you don't know what you are doing...

[Alex303]

I. Importing a Nissan Skyline.


The Nissan Skyline was not originally manufactured to comply with all applicable FMVSS. Such a vehicle that is less than 25 years old can only be lawfully imported into the U.S. if (1) it is determined eligible for importation by NHTSA and (2) it is imported by an RI or by a person who has a contract with an RI to bring the vehicle into compliance with all applicable FMVSS within 120 days of entry.

Import eligibility decisions are made on a make, model, and model year basis. NHTSA has determined that the R33 Model Nissan GTS and GTR ("Skyline") passenger cars manufactured between January 1, 1996 and June 30, 1998 are eligible for importation and has assigned vehicle eligibility number VCP-32 to those vehicles. (The import eligibility number is to be entered on the HS-7 Declaration form that is to be given to Customs at the time of entry, and alerts Customs that the vehicle may be lawfully imported by an RI or by a person who has a contract with an RI, even though the vehicle is not certified by its manufacturer as complying with all applicable FMVSS.)

To learn the modifications the petitioner started were needed to conform Nissan Skyline vehicles to the FMVSS, you should go to the Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) website at Regulations.gov (http://www.regulations.gov/) and access docket number �NHTSA-2005-22654� by following the online instructions for accessing the dockets available at that web site. You should note that the petition sought import eligibility for 1990-1999 Nissan GTS and GTR "Skyline" passenger cars. After granting the petition, the agency learned that the modifications identified in the petition were not sufficient to conform certain model and model year vehicles that were covered by the petition. The agency therefore partially rescinded its grant of eligibility, leaving only R33 model Nissan GTS and GTR passenger cars manufactured between January 1, 1996 and June 30, 1998 eligible for importation.

A list of RIs can be found on our website at Vehicle Importation and Certification Requirements (http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import). You should consult the importers on that list to see whether any are willing to conform the vehicle that you seek to import to all applicable safety and bumper standards, and if so, what they would charge for that work.

If you decide to import the vehicle, one potential complicating factor is that the RI who petitioned NHTSA to determine the Nissan Skyline eligible for importation requested, and was granted, confidentiality with respect to the modifications needed to conform to the vehicle to certain of the standards. As a consequence, that importer (J.K. Technologies, LLC of Baltimore, Maryland) has claimed a proprietary interest in the modifications covered by the confidentiality grant. This does not preclude other RIs from attempting to modify the vehicle. However, should those importers not gain access to the modifications covered by the grant confidentiality, they will have to demonstrate to the agency, at the time they submit a conformity certification package for a Skyline, that they have made equivalent modifications that permit the vehicle to comply with the standards covered by the confidentiality grant.

Please note that we determined the vehicle eligible for importation based on its capability of being modified to comply with all applicable standards. We did not approve J.K. Technologies, LLC as the "exclusive" importer of the vehicle. As previously indicated, any other RI is free to import the vehicle, but will have to demonstrate in the conformity package submitted to the agency to obtain release of the conformance bond furnished at the time of importation that the vehicle has been brought into conformity with all applicable standards, including those covered by the grant of confidentiality to J.K. Technologies, LLC.

You should note that if you were to import the vehicle, the necessary modifications would have to be made by an RI, and that importer would have to certify to us that the vehicle conforms to all applicable FMVSS in effect on its date of manufacture before the vehicle could be released to be licensed or registered for on-road use. One of the reasons that an RI is required to import and modify a vehicle that was not originally manufactured to comply with all applicable FMVSS is because the RI stands in the stead of the vehicle�s original manufacturer to provide the vehicle�s owner with notification and remedy in the event that the vehicle is determined to contain a safety-related defect or a noncompliance with an applicable safety standard. Because the original manufacturer would not be responsible for the vehicle being in the U.S., it would have no legal obligation to perform this import safety responsibility.

Questions regarding modifications to conform the vehicle to applicable emissions standards should be directed to the EPA

its funny that very few people know the 21 year rule that if the engine and fuel system are stock then it doesn't need emission testing for federal regulations (sorry California) so it only needs to be NHTSA and DoT legal
ps. sorry for being 3-4 years late

[dave123thomas]

Quick question. If one were to buy an r33 and keep it in the states until it's 25 years old could they still fill out the forms to make it fed legal at that time or is that thrown out the window since it wouldn't be at a port

[sentradude]

Thrown out the window.

[tricky_ab]

Quick question. If one were to buy an r33 and keep it in the states until it's 25 years old could they still fill out the forms to make it fed legal at that time or is that thrown out the window since it wouldn't be at a port

They will force you to export it once it lands... Just wait a few more years...

[fatduece]

You can legally import a r33. Just make sure it's the correct year. Once it's here you will have to bring it into compliance. Contact rivsuimports.com. They'll help you import it and bring it into compliance. You better have at least 40k.

[rawgarage]

You can legally import a r33. Just make sure it's the correct year. Once it's here you will have to bring it into compliance. Contact rivsuimports.com. They'll help you import it and bring it into compliance. You better have at least 40k.

They not touching that

[dave123thomas]

I was asking about one already imported. A grey market car. Would it automatically be legal after 25 or would you still need to do something

[1988montecarloss]

I was asking about one already imported. A grey market car. Would it automatically be legal after 25 or would you still need to do something

no, a gray market car imported under 25 yrs will never be federally legal even after becoming 25 yrs old

[STEEZxIT]

the 25 year rule refers to the date of importation.

the vehicle must be 25 years old at the time of importation, period.

[dave123thomas]

Ok thanks a lot guys. I appreciate the help.