I can’t even afford your watch.
The Shamal is such a cool looking car.
Yes! Yes! Yes! and more Yes!!! Love this car.
Is the law “show or display” only? I was under the impression that it was, and that you could only put 2500 miles on it. Can anyone confirm or deny? Would be a cool winter car.
I’ve never heard that, but even if it is ture, I have to wonder if they check up on stuff like that…
I just browsed this and I could have missed it, but I can’t see where it defines date of manufacture = age? It’s just says age?
Nope, there is no mileage restriction. You’re thinking of “classic” car insurance and the like.
From your link:
§591.5 Declarations required for importation.
(i)(1) The vehicle is 25 or more years old.
(2) The equipment item was manufactured on a date when no applicable safety or theft prevention standard was in effect.
http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/import/hs799short.pdf
Section 1 states:
The vehicle is 25 or more years old or the equipment item was manufactured on a date when no
applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard or Theft Prevention Standard was in effect.
Date of manufacture: ____________________[591.5(i)]
It clearly says it in two separate places. The vehicle is either more than 25 years old, or less. GTR’s are less and are not currently eligible for import.
An “equipment item” is not a “vehicle” though.
§591.1 Scope.
This part establishes procedures governing the importation of motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment subject to the Federal motor vehicle safety, bumper, and theft prevention standards.
Some parts of the law apply to vehicles, some to vehicle equipment. You’re conflating the two.
Left out a pretty important one IMHO-
Josh, if a 1989 Skyline is manufactured on August 28th of 1989, is it currently older or younger than 25 years old?
The law doesn’t ask for the month and the day, only the model year for a “vehicle.” So then yes it’s “25 or more years old” as defined by the law.
§591.6 Documents accompanying declarations.
(2) Any person seeking to import a motor vehicle or motor vehicle equipment pursuant to those sections shall submit, in advance of such importation, a written request to the Administrator containing a full and complete statement identifying the equipment item or the vehicle and its make, model, model year or date of manufacture…
It’s one or the other depending on if it’s a “vehicle” or “vehicle equipment.”
But whatever, people are bringing them over already regardless of what either of us are bickering about 
Everything in the automotive world (testing/laws/legislation) is based on model year, not production date. Changes and testing is done based on a model year, not manufacturing date.
I wouldn’t see how this is any different.
well you are wrong and mike is right. it is all based on manufacture date.
i wonder who that guy paid off to get the skyline
^^^ Probably the only person who doesn’t work for customs I would trust on this matter. (on this forum)
Ask him, he’s doing interviews: Meet The Man Who Legally Brought The First R32 Nissan GT-R To America
There is some debate in our Opposite Lock forums as to the letter of the law on how this car was imported, as GT-R production didn’t start until August 1989, but the Canadian paperwork only listed “1989” as the year of manufacture, not the month and year like the Japanese paperwork did. Cobb, who is commenting on that thread, believes his car is absolutely fine and that the exemption is only calculated by year, not month. As more cars begin to cross the border, this will surely become an interesting little caveat in the law that may leave some people very, very disappointed. But right now, it seems like all of 1989 is fair game.
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Hi, I’m the owner of the R32 that crossed the border into Maine on 1/1/14 at 12:01AM. I’m interested in understanding why you feel it is safe to assert that “even if the cars make it in, it doesn’t make them legal.” I used box 1 on the HS-7 and listed the date of manufacture as 1989. I used code E on the 3520-1 form. The CBP officer at the border station asked if I knew the exact date of manufacture (I didn’t), and pointed out that the EPA regs state that the age of a vehicle is determined by subtracting the production year from the current calendar year (2014 - 1989 = 25). NHTSA/DOT don’t provide any further clarification except to say 25 years old. If I was truthful in my declaration for the car (I was), and if CBP gave me an entry # and charged me duties (they did), and cleared me to take the car into the US: HOW EXACTLY CAN THIS COME BACK TO BITE ME OR BE DEEMED ILLEGAL IN ANY WAY WHATSOEVER? Do tell.
Just stoking the flames on this cold winter day
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More wood for the fire!
49CFR591
[INDENT] § 591.4Definitions.
All terms used in this part that are defined in 49 U.S.C. 30102, 32101, 32301, 32502, and 33101 are used as defined in those sections except that the term “model year” is used as defined in part 593 of this chapter.
[/INDENT]
49CFR593.4
[INDENT] § 593.4 Definitions.
All terms in this part that are defined in section 102 of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 1391) are used as defined therein.
Administrator means the Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Model year means the year used by a manufacturer to designate a discrete vehicle model irrespective of the calendar year in which the vehicle was actually produced, or the model year as designated by the vehicle’s country of origin, or, if neither the manufacturer nor the country of origin has made such a designation, the calendar year (i.e., January 1 through December 31) in which manufacturing operations are completed on the vehicle at its place of main assembly.
NHTSA means the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
[/INDENT]
49U.S.C 32901
(16) “model year”, when referring to a specific calendar year, means—
(A) the annual production period of a manufacturer, as decided by the Administrator, that includes January 1 of that calendar year; or
(B) that calendar year if the manufacturer does not have an annual production period.
No person shall import a motor vehicle or item of motor vehicle equipment into the United States unless, at the time it is offered for importation, its importer files a declaration, in duplicate, which declares one of the following:
(i)(1) The vehicle is 25 or more years old.
[quote]So there you have it. Calendar year, is model year, and date of manufacturer. It is counted the same in accordance with 49 CFR591.4, 49CFR591.5,49CFR593.4 and 49 U.S.C. 32901
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This is all how he defends himself. I guess we’ll see if it gets crushed or not :gotme:
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I don’t know if this is true about Porsche’s manufacture dates.
When I did it they listed the month and year of the car on customs paperwork. Looks like he found a way around that with paper shuffling.
either way I cant wait to see all the Rallye Golfs flood the market lol
I dont actually expect to see that many considering they are not plentiful or cheap at this point.
im waiting for 2019 to get my RS2 
The thing is, with GTR’s, it’s very easy to narrow down the production date.
(that would be the vin the starts each month of production for the entire R32 run)
After reading, 1996-1998 have been legal, just not for road use in NYS (OBDII inspection)?
http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/import/faq%20site/pages/page10.html
The Nissan Skyline was not originally manufactured to comply with all applicable FMVSS. Such a vehicle that is less than 25 years old can only be lawfully imported into the U.S. if (1) it is determined eligible for importation by NHTSA and (2) it is imported by an RI or by a person who has a contract with an RI to bring the vehicle into compliance with all applicable FMVSS within 120 days of entry.
Import eligibility decisions are made on a make, model, and model year basis. NHTSA has determined that the R33 Model Nissan GTS and GTR (“Skyline”) passenger cars manufactured between January 1, 1996 and June 30, 1998 are eligible for importation and has assigned vehicle eligibility number VCP-32 to those vehicles.
I only have to hold out 5 more years to seriously shop for a 1994 Ford Escort Cosworth with the factory t3 turbo…
Why does the US have this stupid rule BTW?
I mean I know people like to make some dumb rules but what are they aiming for?