America's National Highway and Traffic Safety Association, more commonly known as NHTSA, is an agency of the federal government that is responsible for the regulation of motor vehicle safety standards. Quite simply, if you wanna drive a certain car on American roads, it should pass the NHTSA standards.
There is a law that allows you to drive a banned by NHTSA car on US roads though, provided that the car is more than 25 years old, to bypass regulatory hurdles and import with minimal hassle. However, there are still some cars that won't make the cut, as they are still deemed too unsafe for American roads despite passing the 25-year-old mark. So before you make the mistake of importing your (illegal in the US) dream car, you might wanna take a look at this list first.
10 Still Illegal: Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 V-Spec II
Fans of the Gran Turismo and Fast and Furious franchise will have to wait until 2024 to legally import the R34 Skyline to American soil, unless it's an import from MotoRex, as this model is still under the 25-year mark.
It's the final car to feature the legendary RB26DETT engine, and quite simply, the V-Spec II models were the ultimate Skyline GT-Rs ever produced.
9 Now Legal: Nissan Skyline GT-R R32
The ultimate Godzilla may still be illegal in the US, but the original one can now be imported, as the R32 Skyline GT-R was produced from 1989 to 1994. It's the no-frills, two-door coupe that crushed more powerful and expensive competition during the golden age of touring car racing in the Group A era.
American fans of the Skyline GT-R can now enjoy the touring car legend on their home soil, and coupled with the fact that NISMO offers a restoration job for these vehicles, they can roll back the years and experience what it's like when bought brand new.
8 Still Illegal: Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Tommi Makinen Edition
Built to commemorate the success of Mitsubishi and Tommi Makinen in the World Rally Championship, the Lancer Evolution Tommi Makinen edition is the Japanese carmaker's ultimate homologation model. Simply put, it's a road-legal rally car.
Sadly though, it's still under the 25-year rule, so having these on American soil legally will have to wait until 2024. By then, prices of these cars could have already skyrocketed, as this car is a modern classic.
7 Now Legal: Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV
If you want a Mitsubishi homologation model in the US, then the newest car you could legally import is now the Lancer Evolution IV. It sits on the same platform as the Evo V and VI, so parts are interchangeable, and could put its performance closer to the newer models.
It has the legendary 2.0-liter turbocharged 4G63T inline-four engine that produces 280 HP and could sprint from 0 to 60 MPH in just 5.5 seconds.
6 Still Illegal: TVR Tuscan
One of TVR's most iconic models came in the form of the Tuscan, a no-nonsense approach to building a raw British sports car that would give one of the purest driving experience you could possibly have in a road-legal car.
Sadly though, the lack of ABS, traction control, and a host of other safety features meant it would not pass the NHTSA guidelines, deeming this car illegal in the US.
5 Now Legal: Porsche 911 GT2 (993)
This is Porsche's final air-cooled 911 model, and it is the ultimate one. Just look at those wide fenders and the massive rear wing. It's the racing-based homologation model called the Porsche 911 GT2.
Luckily, for enthusiasts in America, this car can now be legally imported as it came out in 1995, that is if they can buy it, as auction prices for mint examples of these are already expected to reach around $1.2-million.
4 Still Illegal : Jaguar XJ220S
Back in 1993, Tom Walkinshaw Racing took the then-fastest production car, the Jaguar XJ220, and made it a lot lighter and more powerful, with 680 BHP from its twin-turbo V6 engine to race it at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Only six examples of the XJ220S were built as road-going models, and only one has been allowed to enter US soil as a "show and display" model. The other five, are still banned, as it lacks the safety features needed to be deemed safe by the NHTSA.
3 Now Legal: Lotus Elise
While Lotus was able to bring the newer models of the Elise to the US, the original one, called the Series 1, had to wait for 25 years to be eligible for import. Good news for the Series 1 fans; the long wait is over.
The 118 HP lightweight mid-engined sports car is as basic as it gets, with lots of exposed metal and no other creature comforts to make the driver concentrate on what the Elise does best, and that is to give a great driving experience.
2 Still Illegal: Land Rover Defender
Britain's most celebrated off-roader, the Land Rover Defender, has just released a new model with a chassis designation called the L663 model, which is available in the US market.
Its older model, however, had its US Visa revoked in 1998 after four years on sale, as the federal laws required airbags as standard for models to be sold in the USA, which the Defender did not have.
1 Now Legal: Nissan Patrol
It could have been up there with the likes of the Toyota Land Cruiser as one of the legendary off-road vehicles sold in the USA, if only the Nissan Patrol passed the NHTSA's requirements back in 1995. Safe to say, the Y60 version of the Patrol is Nissan's equivalent of the 80 series Land Cruiser.
Featuring a 4.2-liter straight-six diesel engine built for heavy-duty use and live axles on coil-spring suspension, 4x4 enthusiasts, especially in the Australian market, have greatly enjoyed the toughness and ruggedness of the Nissan SUV. The Y60 model is now more than 25 years old, and can now be legally imported to the US.