The holy grail of R32s is for sale via. ..Facebook?

"Dsscats" (dsscats)
07/24/2014 at 16:05 • Filed to: None

Edit: This is how it's legal.

It was brought in legally while Motorex was still a thing. This is one of very few cars which were actually emissions certified with cats and what not. When Motorex was shut down, the cars which had already been brought in and sold were allowed to stay in the US as bond-released, fully legal GTRs. Because they were already bond-released, they were not able to be seized. There are very very few Motorex cars in existence (under 50 IIRC), and very few of those were actually emissions certified. I know of someone with an ex-Motorex R33 GTS-T which is bond-released and fully federally legal. They're grandfathered in cars, which can't be seized.

As for the company, it's through International Vehicle Importers, which does everything legally.

DISCUSSION (55)

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Dsscats
07/24/2014 at 16:07

Those filters tho. Like you need to attempt to make an R32 look any sexier.

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > Dsscats
07/24/2014 at 16:07

R32 you say?

Kinja'd!!!

Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif > Dsscats
07/24/2014 at 16:08

I seem to see lots of Skylines (r32, r33, etc.) up here in Canada, not sure why its so tough to get them in the USA. I can understand in Cali it being almost impossible but not in the other states. You still ride in the box of a truck or drive a quad down the street in Montana FFS.

GhostZ > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif
07/24/2014 at 16:13

It's tough because A) We have a 25 year import rule (you only have a 15) and B) the import/export companies came under extremely heavy fire when someone convinced an office that by reducing the number of illegally imported japanese cars (and they SPECIFICALLY targeted the Skyline) they would drastically reduce the instances of street racing. It was like a mass extinction, between 2002 and 2010 the amount of Skylines in the US probably went from about 30 to 1-2 that were hidden away in trailers. Even the movie cars from Fast and the Furious were seized, despite them being not-street-legal props. Around that time, the last importer of 'legal' gray market skylines went out of business after being targeted too.

For many years it was considered stupid to try and own one because even if you can get away with illegally importing most gray market imports, the skyline in particular would get impounded.

And worst of all, none of the impounded cars were sold again or sent back. Every single one was crushed. That was the policy: if you see a skyline, you report it, seize, crush it, no questions asked. And it was the policy for 15 years.

Party-vi > Dsscats
07/24/2014 at 16:14

I was going to call BS, but those guys are (or until now have been) legit. Still, $39k for a legal GT-R is a bit much considering by the end of the year you can import any 1989 you want for probably half that amount.

Edit: BIRD AND FERRARO PLZ RESPOND

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > GhostZ
07/24/2014 at 16:15

God damn US Customs. Taking away the fun from motoring enthusiasts.

lonestranger > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif
07/24/2014 at 16:18

You're not sure why? The States has a 25-year import exemption vs. Canada's 15-year rule. There were a bunch of Skylines imported into the U.S. that were newer than 25 years old, and were seized by the feds . It was kind-of a big deal, I'm surprised you didn't know about it.

Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif > lonestranger
07/24/2014 at 16:22

I do know the 25 and 15 year rule thing but didn't really remember the seize thing. I do remember the "Brian Skyline" from The Fast and the Furious causing some big thing with Skylines so that was likely it. Didn't know they were crushed though, real sad.

ArmadaExpress drives a turbo outback > Dsscats
07/24/2014 at 16:25

Crack-Pipe! Wouldn't this cost a lot more if it had been legally documented and imported?

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Dsscats
07/24/2014 at 16:35

39K???? I can easily get a mint R32 GTR for less than half of that. CP!CP!CP!CP!

I'm just not sure on the California legal part? but If you live in any other state I can get you a nicer R32 than this one and I'll sell it to you for only 30K and I'll make a healthy profit.

AM3R > Dsscats
07/24/2014 at 16:46

there's an R34 running around near me. I'm happy.

Doug DeMuro > Dsscats
07/24/2014 at 16:50

How is it legal? It may be EPA legal but surely not NHTSA/DOT?

Dsscats > Doug DeMuro
07/24/2014 at 17:03

It's an ex-Motorex cars and was one of the very few which were emissions certified with cats and what not.

Dsscats > Luc - The Acadian Oppo
07/24/2014 at 17:04

California legal is insanely rare. And you can not get a legal R32 GTR until next month any ways.

Dsscats > ArmadaExpress drives a turbo outback
07/24/2014 at 17:05

It is legally documented and imported. Fully such. It's an ex-Motorex car.

Dsscats > Party-vi
07/24/2014 at 17:08

It was brought in legally while Motorex was still a thing. This is one of very few cars which were emissions certified with cats and what not. When Motorex was shut down, the cars which had already been brought in and sold were allowed to stay in the US as bond-released, fully legal GTRs. There are very very few in existence (under 50 IIRC), and very few of those were actually emissions certified. I know of someone with an ex-Motorex R33 GTS-T which is bond-released and fully federally legal. They're grandfathered in cars, which can't be seized.

As for the company, it's through International Vehicle Importers, which does everything legally.

Dsscats > GhostZ
07/24/2014 at 17:16

Check above. It's pretty much true, but not quite. Motorex fucked everything up for everyone. The Motorex cars were allowed to stay in the states. Also, it's very easy to get a Skyline state legal, but nearly impossible to get one federally legal. I know someone with a state-titled R33 and R34. He has them titled and insured as Skylines and has been pulled over in the R33 without any problems. I also know someone who has had an R32 registered as a kit car for 7 years with no problems. Does this make either of the cars legal? HELL NOPE. There's still a healthy population of about 50 Skylines running around the US, most of which are state-legal, some of which are completely illegal, and some of which are bond-released Motorex cars. Basically, the rule is "bond release=no problems."

chaozbandit > Party-vi
07/24/2014 at 17:19

RightDrive in Ontario, CAN has had US-legal (as of September 2014) R32s for quite a while. Both are around $29K but I dont know about transport costs and whatnot.

http://www.rightdrive.ca/vehicle/1989-n…

http://www.rightdrive.ca/vehicle/1989-n…

Ferrero1911 > Party-vi
07/24/2014 at 18:16

If International Vehicle Importers says it has a bond release and CARB compliance then I would believe them. They know their stuff when it comes to the laws and wouldn't sell anything illegal. As for the price, a California legal GT-R isn't going to get any more common once the GT-R's are federally legal, so this one is in a class all it's own. I'm sure it will be sold in California, because it won't be worth that much anywhere else for the reason you mentioned.

Ferrero1911 > Luc - The Acadian Oppo
07/24/2014 at 18:18

It costs A LOT of money to make a car like that California legal. Anyone who lives in another state would not pay this much, but someone in California might.

Ferrero1911 > Dsscats
07/24/2014 at 18:22

Where did they post this? I don't see it on their Facebook page.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Ferrero1911
07/24/2014 at 18:22

Makes sense. One of the perks of being a Canadian I guess. A good R32 GTR is under 15K fully road legal landed in Canada.

Dsscats > Ferrero1911
07/24/2014 at 18:28

trumpscombover > Ferrero1911
07/24/2014 at 21:48

yeah i've been following Elvin/IVI on facebook for awhile. he's very adamant about doing things legally, and they've been in business for awhile. he's always posting really interesting jdm auction finds. definitely knows what he's talking about.

signintoburnerlol > Dsscats
07/24/2014 at 23:05

An original Motorex car? Can't be...

This car is apart of automotive history...or well apart of what automotive history fuck ups.

Flavien Vidal > Party-vi
07/24/2014 at 23:20

You canalready import legally 1989 GTR in the Us... JDM cars do not mention the month of construction on cars... Plenty of 1989 GTR have already been imported.

Dsscats > signintoburnerlol
07/24/2014 at 23:31

Yep! I know someone with a Motorex R33 too.

Bird > Flavien Vidal
07/24/2014 at 23:33

Not true.

Japanese documents will have the date of first registration, which is used to determine age. Age of the vehicle is determined by month/year. The GTR's already brought in came from Canada. Canadian documents only have the year, and a customs official may allow that through. That's not a legal way to do it though. It's a way to attempt to slip it past customs.

Bird > Party-vi
07/24/2014 at 23:36

I second everything Ferrero1911 said...

Sean Morris (from IVI) could tell you how many Cali legal skylines came through Motorex. It was only a handful, and I think a couple were only GTS-T's.

A California legal GTR is worth whatever someone is willing to pay...and I think you could get someone to pay quite a bit...

Flavien Vidal > Bird
07/24/2014 at 23:56

The date of first registration does not determine how old is a car... A 2014 Corvette can stay for 2 years in a dealership, it will not become a 2016 Corvette anyway, it stays a 2014 Corvette... Same goes for imported cars. I don't see how registration determines the age of cars... What about brand new cars, never registered? You would not be able to import a "brand new" barn find Citroen 2CV from 1964 because it would be considered a 2014 model? Not possible...

Bird > Flavien Vidal
07/25/2014 at 00:04

I'm on my phone and can't easily post links. Check the NHTSA import FAQ for more info. Vehicle age can be determined several ways. Date of first registration is one of them. It shows it was made by at least that date.

Bird > Flavien Vidal
07/25/2014 at 00:06

Also, date of first registration is the usual way the age of Japanese imports are determined because its on the export certificate. It's how the age of both the cars Ferrero1911 brought in from Japan.

Party-vi > Flavien Vidal
07/25/2014 at 08:13

All Japanese paperwork on vehicles mentions the month of construction. That's why to import a GT-R into the US you would first need to go through Canada and register it there, as Canadian registrations do not mention the month of construction, only the year. I'm sure there are some early production units headed to the US already, but the word "plenty" is probably a stretch.

JaVon McCabe > Doug DeMuro
07/25/2014 at 08:17

Motorex crash tested a few to get em certified.

Doug DeMuro > JaVon McCabe
07/25/2014 at 09:25

As I recall, Motorex crash tested the R33... then lied to the government about how the R32 and R34 were the 'same car.' So a few R32s made it, but they're dubious...

BrettAM > Dsscats
07/25/2014 at 10:25

You guys really need to move to Canada...

http://www.carsonexports.com/node/162

blahibuty > JaVon McCabe
07/25/2014 at 12:01

Not needed anymore... its 25yrs old. You can bypass a lot of that. Getting an R33? Thats another issure.

Kanaric > Doug DeMuro
07/29/2014 at 15:56

Exactly. It's not legal. At all.

First skyline GTRs are august dates for legality.

Only chance is if it's an ex-motorex car, of which those are risky.

Why not just wait until august and pay $15k for a minty one? $39k for something you can get for less than half in a few months is foolish.

Kanaric > Ferrero1911
07/29/2014 at 15:59

All you need is emissions legality I believe. Which means getting a fabricated exhaust with cat. If people can get RX7s to pass this Skyline should be easy.

Kanaric > ArmadaExpress drives a turbo outback
07/29/2014 at 15:59

No. It would cost like 40% less. I got a GTS-T here for $7k total. I was told a GTR would be $15k total. This is a mega crackpipe.

Kanaric > Flavien Vidal
07/29/2014 at 16:00

That is not correct. The month of manufacture is mentioned on the car and in the title you get.

Kanaric > chaozbandit
07/29/2014 at 16:03

I don't see how it is US legal. It's not 25 years old, so it must be a motrex car or something or in error.

Ferrero1911 > Kanaric
07/29/2014 at 17:20

Absolutely not that easy. An R32 in California would have to go through a registered importer to fit it with aftermarket emissions equipment. CARB has to approve the modifications and then the car has to pass smog.

This is a very simplified version of what needs to happen, but it costs many thousands of dollars to do.

Kanaric > Ferrero1911
07/29/2014 at 17:25

Glad I don't live there.

Ferrero1911 > Kanaric
07/29/2014 at 17:30

It IS an ex-Motorex car. And it is a California legal one. This makes it both legal and expensive.

Ferrero1911 > Kanaric
07/29/2014 at 17:31

It cost more because of it's California legal status.

blairl > Dsscats
07/30/2014 at 13:00

Came here looking for this

Kinja'd!!!

bk335 > Dsscats
07/30/2014 at 14:12

R32 GT-R importing started at the beginning of the year even though production didn't start until August of 1989. I believe as long as it's a 1989, the specific month is irrelevant.

Dsscats > bk335
07/30/2014 at 14:59

The month is relevant. It's required on the documentation.

bk335 > Dsscats
07/30/2014 at 16:01

http://jalopnik.com/this-is-the-fi…

This guy imported it from canada and the month didn't matter.

Dsscats > bk335
07/30/2014 at 16:04

I believe that car was actually seized. I'll have to check

bk335 > Dsscats
07/30/2014 at 16:19

Interesting, do let me know what happened, I told myself I will own an R34 in 2024

Dsscats > bk335
07/30/2014 at 16:21

Oof, so much want. Hopefully once they get in the US for a while, they'll depreciate

JoeLiebig > Dsscats
07/30/2014 at 16:30

R32? I thoug of this ...

Kinja'd!!!

bk335 > Dsscats
07/30/2014 at 17:02

Somehow I doubt they will. The really nice mostly stock ones in Canada are listed for $50k right now and I'm guessing they'll hold their value pretty well.