Godzilla Versus The Banhammer

[GTR-N1]

If the car's already here in the US illegally the only way to make it legal is to take it out of the country - say to Canada - and then bring it back and file the appropriate paperwork with Customs, DOT, and EPA. Unfortunately that means risking getting caught and seized if they get wind of the car having been here illegally already. You'd need registration in the other country to start with so you'd have to find someone to register it in Canada for example then bring it back.

Does this mean that if a 1999 R34 GT-R was already registered in Canada, providing that upon applying for it to be imported into USA, and it complied with Customs, DOT and EPA; it's possible for you to have a newer car?

[GSX-R35]

Does this mean that if a 1999 R34 GT-R was already registered in Canada, providing that upon applying for it to be imported into USA, and it complied with Customs, DOT and EPA; it's possible for you to have a newer car?

No, Canada has a 15-year import ban so they already have early R34s over there but they're still illegal in the US because the American limitation is 25 years. A Canadian can bring in his own car and drive it around for a year without having to register it locally if he's living in the US it but after that it has to be taken back to Canada if it's not legal to be registered in the US.

[GTR-N1]

I'd say there's definitely a lot of eager potential buyers for upcoming years of Skyline especially judging from the insane prices right now. I just finished writing on my blog last week about how now's not the best time to buy an R32 because prices have more than doubled. A year ago you could get a decent R32 GT-R for US$18K or so, nowadays some people are asking that much for GTS-Ts! And it's not uncommon to see a GT-R being advertised for 30 grand and up now. Things should settle down as more years become eligible for import and demand gets met more.

Because of Gran Turismo and the Fast and the Furious movies the GT-Rs have always been well-loved and mythical here in the US and the Godzilla moniker was adopted by the media and enthusiasts a long time ago. We just couldn't get them so that's why there was a HUGE fuss over Motorex, another gigantic fuss when the R35 first came out (some were selling for 20-30 grand over retail price), and again now with the R32 being legal to bring in. The next big surge will probably be in 9 years when the R34 becomes legal because that's the one EVERYBODY and his brother wants. Even I'm starting to plan ahead to purchase one of those before prices get too crazy. My brother lives in Australia so I might have him start looking in a couple of years lol. I see the R33 as getting some interest but probably nothing like the R32 or R34.

As for the ADMs, most American's don't even know they exist. I know even me, a huige Skyline fan, didn't know about them until I started coming here to SAU. Even at current inflated prices though I've yet to see anyone - importer or private individual - mention anything about sourcing from Oz mainly because it's not that hard still to come by acceptable R32s from Japan. Every week I see another guy posting about getting a car from Japan - often from import/export companies I hadn't heard of yet. There's just so many R32s out there and it's so much easier to import from Japan, Canada, or the UK that I don't see much interest in Australian cars anytime soon. Plus the average US buyer is happy just to have an R32 after they were illegal for so long, not too many have the money or the interest to pony up for a rare model like my Nismo or the ADM cars. Since the ADM cars are a regional variation I have to be honest and say I doubt they'll get much interest in America except for maybe the one in a million rich completist collector. The Nismos are smoking hot right now and I expect the N1s to be the same starting next year so the more well-heeled enthusiasts will be gunning for those most likely.

Whilst the R32 GTR Nismo is hot property, is it just a lack of awareness so far that the ADM and N1 have still 'flown under the radar' in the USA at this point in time?

Since one New Zealander already owns two R32 GTR N1s currently, are there enthusiasts in the USA asking importers to spot Nismo and N1 cars and bid for them despite rising auction prices?

Is there any interest in the USA to watch out for ADM R32 GTRs whilst these are still a 'sleeper' so to speak?

[GSX-R35]

Whilst the R32 GTR Nismo is hot property, is it just a lack of awareness so far that the ADM and N1 have still 'flown under the radar' in the USA at this point in time?

Since one New Zealander already owns two R32 GTR N1s currently, are there enthusiasts in the USA asking importers to spot Nismo and N1 cars and bid for them despite rising auction prices?

Is there any interest in the USA to watch out for ADM R32 GTRs whilst these are still a 'sleeper' so to speak?

It's hard to say how much interest the N1s are getting because none of them are eligibile to import yet since the earliest ones are from 1991. If anyone's buying them up they'll still be in storage awaiting import so there won't be any news about them popping up in the States until next year at the soonest.

I don't hear too much chatter about the N1s on the forums though - I think it's simply because they're so hard to track down. Even the importer I bought my Nismo from who managed to track down about a dozen Nismos including mine has only seen one and it wasn't for sale. Not to mention that every Nissan fan knows about Nismo so the Nismos get instant recognition while relatively few know the deal with what an N1 is about.

As for the ADMs, I don't want to hurt any owner's feelings but thinking about it logically I don't think they'll ever get much interest in the US. The average buyer of an R32 right now in the US isn't some well-heeled collector, he's a young guy with a little bit of extra money and a fascination with these cars from playing video games and watching Fast and Furious movies. As such they're perfectly happy to simply have a Skyline and either won't care to pay or can't afford to pay the premium an ADM owner would ask for even if one was offered. Since the ADM would be viewed more as a regional variation rather than a limited factory special it just isn't likely that the average American import enthusiast is gonna care. To put it simply, why would an American fascinated by a car made and designed in Japan want one that was slightly modified to sell outside of Japan? It would be like asking a Volkswagen enthusiast which he'd rather have - a serviceable classic Beetle built in Germany or another one that's in nicer order but built in South America and priced much higher? The cheaper one from the original market would win every time.

Given what I know of ADM prices I just don't see them getting much interest in the US. To pay a premium for a car it has to make a connection to you, unless you're a speculator. A Nismo is easy to make a connection with for a Skyline or Nissan fan. Jesus, it was made by the company's motorsport division, 'nuff said. An N1 is a bit more esoteric but still has that cachet. The ADM - not so much. Maybe if you were a well-off Aussie expat living in the US I could see it speaking to you but good quality Skylines aren't that hard to come by that the ADM's price premium will likely find much understanding outside of Oz.

Frankly I'd personally prefer the ADMs stay in Australia rather than be sold overseas. In Oz they would be respected as a piece of Australian motoring history - here in the US, you'd have to explain what it is to 99% of people and at the end they'll either say a polite "Oh, interesting" and mosey on to forget about it soon after or they'll just go "Meh. what's the big deal?". A Skyline is already a novelty here in the US where they were never sold - saying that it's an Australian model doesn't up the novelty much especially since people will just wonder why that's important when it's a Japanese car to begin with.

And don't forget, most of these cars are destined not to remain stock since the allure of modifications is one of the key ingredients to their appeal in the US - hence most people won't care to pay a lot more for a really well-kept model versus a serviceable one that can be fixed up.

[Hadouken]

What forum are you guys cruising around other than sau?

[GSX-R35]

What forum are you guys cruising around other than sau?

The ones I see most people go to are Skylineowners.com - which is based in the UK, GT-RLife.com - which is R35-centric but recently started highlighting the legacy GT-Rs more, and the NICOclub Skyline/GT-R subforum (NICOClub is a big US Nissan/Infiniti owners forum).

I also hang out on Japanese Nostalgic Car where the crowd is more towards old-school cars like Hakosukas, Kenmeris, 240Zs, RX-3s, old Civics, and whatnot but more R32s are popping up now that they're 25 years old and considered a "nostalgic car". There's also Skyline Owners USA but that forum is pretty dead after it went paid member-only after the owner had his car seized by DOT because it was an illegally-imported Kaizo car.

[Hadouken]

Just had a look over at nico club. Much confusion there for you guys especially about fluids and parts.

I only say this because it's amazing how much info us Aussies have accrued over these years that a lot of it is already nutted out.

[GSX-R35]

Just had a look over at nico club. Much confusion there for you guys especially about fluids and parts.

I only say this because it's amazing how much info us Aussies have accrued over these years that a lot of it is already nutted out.

It's really no surprise we Americans still have a lot to learn about these cars lol. Before now we only had the few Motorex cars plus some black market ones running around so hardly anybody was working on them. Even with the 25 year rule bringing in a flood of R32s, that only started last year so basically we've had about a year and a half to learn about these cars while Oz has had them for over two decades now. And of course you guys also had the advantage of at least some dealers with knowledge of these vehicles thanks to the ADM cars while most Nissan dealers here wouldn't know a Skyline if it ran over them.

Thankfully now we have the internet and it's a huge help to have forums like these to get info from and online shops to get the parts as well.

[Hadouken]

Nah they had and still have no idea even though there were Australian delivered 32

[GSX-R35]

Nah they had and still have no idea even though there were Australian delivered 32

Lol, at least it gave the world an English service manual for the R32s. That's one thing I'm thankful for about the ADMs. It'd be more of a PITA to try and service this car if all the documentation were in Japanese.

[GTR-N1]

Owner's and Service Manuals have been available in English for the R34 GTR too thanks to the importation of these through Nissan UK via Andy Middlehurst Nissan St. Helens.

Workshop Manuals for the BCNR33 in English I've owned as well but I don't know what market they were intended for.

[niZmO_Man]

Just learn Japanese!

[GTR-N1]

Whenever we need a translation into Jibberish, we call on Ravi.

[niZmO_Man]

Can't wait until Google loads Japanese translation into their camera thing.

[gotRICE?]

Before i moved to the US i must have done a billion hours of research about somehow LEGALLY getting my R33 into the country. Such a shame haha.

Have seen a couple R33 GTR's floating around Jersey. Even found one of them online. Guy was asking $50KUSD for it lol. Not entirely sure how he gets away with driving it daily. *shrugs*

I die a little inside every time i see a Skyline here. Sure im excited.. but the jealousy just kills having had one, and driven so many!

Im to impatient and poor to afford a GTR that can be legal. So as soon as i move out of NYC it'l be an S13/14 240SX with RB25 Neo. Probly an S13, as i want something cheap that im not too concerned with hitting walls on a track haha

Edited September 23, 2015 by gotRICE?

[GSX-R35]

Just learn Japanese!

I've been trying to actually but it's not the easiest language to get the hang of lol.

Before i moved to the US i must have done a billion hours of research about somehow LEGALLY getting my R33 into the country. Such a shame haha.

Have seen a couple R33 GTR's floating around Jersey. Even found one of them online. Guy was asking $50KUSD for it lol. Not entirely sure how he gets away with driving it daily. *shrugs*

I die a little inside every time i see a Skyline here. Sure im excited.. but the jealousy just kills having had one, and driven so many!

Im to impatient and poor to afford a GTR that can be legal. So as soon as i move out of NYC it'l be an S13/14 240SX with RB25 Neo. Probly an S13, as i want something cheap that im not too concerned with hitting walls on a track haha

So you moved here from Oz? Dang, I bet it's irritating to not be able to have your Skyline. Those R33s you're seeing, if they're not legal Motorex cars, are getting away with it because local LEOs don't really know or care about importation status - as long as it has proper registration that's all that matters to them. Unless the Feds catch on by posting your car online for example you can pretty much drive around a black market Skyline forever as long as you don't do something stupid.

Since you're in NYC, you haven't thought about moving to Canada instead since R33s and R34s are legal there already lol?

[GTR-N1]

(If known),... Do the Canucks feel sorry for you? Are they (GTRs) becoming noticeably more popular up north?

[GSX-R35]

(If known),... Do the Canucks feel sorry for you? Are they (GTRs) becoming noticeably more popular up north?

The GT-Rs have been pretty popular in Canada for a while now especially since they're lucky to have only a 15 year restiction. I'm not sure if they feel sorry for us Americans but I do know some of them are seeing an opportunity to make some money by selling the Skylines they have to us including stockpiling R33s and R34s for future sale.

[GTR-N1]

May I then suggest that you from USA make $$$ comparisons between other countries and Canada when the 25yr bracket creep continues ever onwards.

In fact do you guys exercise vigilance about the issue of corrosion when you're considering your purchases? I hope so. Canada would be rife with rusty cars I presume since the old days before salting their roads (and used nail-type tyres).

[GSX-R35]

May I then suggest that you from USA make $$$ comparisons between other countries and Canada when the 25yr bracket creep continues ever onwards.

In fact do you guys exercise vigilance about the issue of corrosion when you're considering your purchases? I hope so. Canada would be rife with rusty cars I presume since the old days before salting their roads (and used nail-type tyres).

If a buyer in the US has any brains rust would be paramount before picking a Skyline to buy, Canada or no. The buyers guides - espeically from Sean Morris who's the biggest proponent of JDM car importation in the US - emphasize checking for rust a lot. I've seen some pretty gnarly Skylines online including one Hakosuka that was all ate up with rust but unfortunately it was masterfully camouflaged by paint. I admire the owner of that Hako for keeping at it and restoring that car. The people I've seen buying R32s have mostly been bringing them in from Japan directly so I can't comment on how bad the Canadian ones might be. I can say anecdotally that at least one R32 managed to survive Canada without incident 'cause my Nismo first went there and was then imported to the US. It seems to not have stayed very long in Canuckistan from what I was told though and the lack of rust on my car supports that. It's already been stripped down and repainted by a body shop that was also surprised by the lack of rust. I have seen some rusty R32s online but the owners or sellers didn't post their origins.