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Skylines In The States

FBRacing

By FBRacing,
in General Automotive Discussion

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FBRacing Rising Star

FBRacing

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So I'm browsing EBay like I do every other night for deals you can't pass up. Sometimes if you're lucky, you'll find them. Came across this auction.

It's a 97 GTR for $89,888.00. Advertised with 1,000 HP. It's clean. Just wanted to show you guys how in demand Skylines are in the US. http://www.ebay.com/itm/331129156076?redirect=mobile

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FBRacing Rising Star

FBRacing

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Nope. It's a grey market car. Only five or so states recognize the r33 S2 as legal but the federal government doesn't recognize them at all. We can only import vehicles 25 yrs or older or you are a current resident in one of those five states. It's a long story involving an importing company by the name of Motorex. Long story short; they lied to the federal gov trying to import them. Ruined it for everyone else. This was all back in 1999-2000. Ever since then, a run into the ground r33 was averaged at $30k plus. A clean one will see much more. I got mine by being in the right place at the right time. Mine is only state legal, not federally.

FBRacing Rising Star

FBRacing

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yet you can buy them freely in Canada lol.

R32s would be 25 years old now....

Yup. Apirl of 89 r32 will be the first wave. Some people are unsure if they'll be stay expensive or be drastically cheaper. From a few buddies that live in Vancouver, Canada... they hope they'll be what they are now. It may open the aftermarket support better over here. It took me over nearly 5 months for a rear half of a 33 to be bought, crated, and shipped over here. It'd be nice to get parts for what you guys are buying them for without the crazy shipping and customs fees.

FBRacing Rising Star

FBRacing

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If it's only legal in your state then does that mean you can't cross the border into another state in it unless they also consider it legal?

I've been told to never ever go to California. Apparently several cars have been seized and crushed cuz they're not recognized there as a legit car. From my understanding there is a hand full of skylines legally there due to loop holes before Motorex went under. There's a black GTR a import magazine built but I'm unsure if they still own it. I've always wondered how Paul Walker was able to drive his r34 around. I bought a r32 GTR in 99 from Motorex. In 2001, there was word Feds were seizing them going thru the grapevine. Sold the car a few days later so I'd wouldn't be out of the money. Never knew what happened after that with that car.

FBRacing Rising Star

FBRacing

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Quoted from: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey_import_vehicle

Some Americans are interested in Japanese domestic market vehicles, like the Nissan Skyline. In 1999, a California company called Motorex had a number of Nissan Skyline R33 GTS25s crash-tested. They submitted their information to NHTSA and petitioned for 1990-1999 GT-Rs and GTSs to be declared eligible for import.[7] Many Skylines were subsequently imported through Motorex. This lasted until late 2005, when NHTSA learned not all 1990 through 1999 Skyline models would perform identically in crash testing. Motorex had submitted information for only the R33, but had asserted that the data applied to R32, R33, and R34 models.[7] NHTSA determined that only 1996-1998 R33 models have been demonstrated as capable of being modified to meet the federal motor vehicle safety standards, and that only those models are eligible for import. In March 2006, Motorex ceased all imports and Motorex principal Hiroaki "Hiro" Nanahoshi was arrested and held on $1 million bail on financial, kidnapping, and assault charges.[8][9]

Better understanding what happened here.

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