Is it just me or is next year a big year for 25/15 year import-law cars?

"MegaSuper" (megasuper) 05/06/2015 at 13:51 • Filed to: None

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Just from what I can find in a quick search…

The following vehicles should be legal for import in the USA next year given that they’ll then bet 25 years old (Some of these may have already been sold in the USA, but imports may still be desirable for limited-edition trims or RHD if you’re into that sort of thing):

Venturi Atlantique (What an amazing car…no clue where on Earth you’d get this serviced/get parts outside of France or maybe the UK.)

TVR Griffith

Subaru Alcyone SVX

Suzuki Cappuccino

Honda Beat (These last 2 probably made everyone who grew up with Gran Turismo’s heart skip a beat, yeah?)

Holden Commodore VP (if you really want a Ute, haha)

Nissan Figaro (I have a feeling these may be worth a lot one day…fabulous design, owned by various British celebrities and royalty, only built for one year.)

And then for Canada, where it’s 15 years

Renault Vel Satis

Renault Avantime (Oh man this thing should be in a design museum)

MG ZT, ZS, ZR (No idea if these are good or not but it’s one of the last products MG ever made before being bought by China, no? They definitely evoke a “turn-of-the-millenium-Britain” vibe in my mind)

Renault Clio V6 (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Lancia Thesis

WOW!

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > MegaSuper 05/06/2015 at 13:56

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I can’t wait for the Beat to get here.

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > MegaSuper 05/06/2015 at 13:56

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Don’t forget Land Rover Defender 110 and 90. Awwww yisss.

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > MegaSuper 05/06/2015 at 13:56

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first gen rx-8 was 2003, not 2001

MegaSuper > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero 05/06/2015 at 14:00

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Yeah, looks like it was only unveiled in 2001, not actually sold in 2001. So it wouldn’t count on this list

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > MegaSuper 05/06/2015 at 14:03

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I always liked these. if the price is right I may have to look one up. How sweet it is to be Canadian.

TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut > MegaSuper 05/06/2015 at 14:03

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Those MGs aren't fantastic - they've got tons of character, but they're basically sportier Rovers which were never great cars to start out with. If you can find a ZT260 though, that'd be pretty special.

rofl orloaf > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 05/06/2015 at 14:11

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nice Odyssey.

Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis > MegaSuper 05/06/2015 at 14:22

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Shit, I forgot about the Clio V6...

Those things were awesome.

Svend > MegaSuper 05/06/2015 at 14:22

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While the Rover 75/MG ZT wasn’t a great car (we had a Rover 75), they were nice enough cars. The MG was produced from 2001 but the Rover 75 was produced from 1998.

A 2.5 V6 Rover 75 Connoisseur (top spec, they went from Club, Classic to Connoisseur), with the base model being the 1.8 K Series engine up to the 2.5 V6 (with the 2.0 K Series and 2.0CDTi engines in between). Also available as an estate for, well, because why not. :)

The best would be the MG ZT 260 V8 with Ford’s 4.6 V8.

Though you’ll still have a couple or so years to wait for the V8 I’m afraid.

TheDude without a car > MegaSuper 05/06/2015 at 14:39

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Honda Beat + Suzuki SC-100 Cervo = world’s best garage.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. 05/06/2015 at 14:39

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Not the basic car as something new, really, but the end of inspectors assuming anything with a “Defender” badge is hinky and the end of de facto disqualification for diesels.

CaptDale - is secretly British > MegaSuper 05/06/2015 at 14:41

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I really really really want a 1991 Griffith cause its my birth TVR!!!! I would DD the shit out of it!!!

RallyWrench > MegaSuper 05/06/2015 at 14:56

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*sigh*

California.

LongbowMkII > MegaSuper 05/06/2015 at 15:14

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Clearly the only proper answer for my ‘review’ topic is a sports car bought sight unseen from half a world away. Tasty, tasty Cappuccino action.

MegaSuper > RallyWrench 05/06/2015 at 15:28

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Someone on here posted pics of a Figaro in the Los Angeles area with California plates, no clue how that’s legal though given that it’s not 2016 yet.

Is it really that difficult? How is one supposed to have these types of cars registered, or is it literally impossible? I read there’s a science lab that can smog test imported cars to figure out what modifications need to be made, but apparently it’s very expensive and they’re not taking applications from individuals now, just companies?

RallyWrench > MegaSuper 05/06/2015 at 15:47

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It’s not difficult from a technical perspective, it’s the bureaucracy that costs money. California law now makes it nearly impossible to individually import anything newer than 1968 without incurring great expense. It was much easier, hence all the 25+ year old Euro market & JDM cars legally titled here now (there are many that are not, particularly JDM stuff, but many are properly legal).

There are companies that do it, but that basically erases any discount you’d get by importing one over buying one already here. I really, really want a VW Vanagon Doka Syncro, for example. The ones already here are at least $15k for a decent 2wd, and Syncros are well over $25k. Even rusty shitboxes cost $20k. I could buy them all day in Germany, running and driving with a TUV sticker for under $5k, shipped here for less than 9.