Exporting An R33 Gtst To Usa

[ttassey]

Hello Group,

I have a 1996 R33 GTST with an RB25DET and manual gearbox. I'm looking into taking this car back with me to USA. It is on the allowable import list for USA, but I'm looking for any other information you guys can help me with. USA says that one must used a Registered Importer (and those ppl want about $12k USD) to bring the car in, but is there a way around it? Does the car have to be completely stock? What works do they want performed on the car? Any ideas or information would be greatly appreciated.

[GSX-R35]

Unfortunately the R33 is only "technically" legal to bring into the US. The regulation you're referring to is VCP-32 from the DOT which allows R33 GT-Rs or GTSs made between January 1996 and 1998 to come in but only if the necessary modifications are made to comply with BOTH DOT and EPA standards. The required mods were originally protected trade secrets but the portion to comply with DOT standards was eventually released however the required emissions mods - namely an OBD II retrofit - are only known to the original RI that developed the system, JK Technologies. So basically unless you can convince JK Technologies to do it for you which they are not interested in currently from what I've been told you can't bring in an R33 even if it is technically possible.

If you want to read more I explained this in more detail in my write-up on the Motorex story that prompted the DOT's current dislike of imported Skylines:

http://23gt.blogspot.com/2015/09/godzilla-versus-banhammer-sad-tale-of.html

If you want to read VCP-32, it's here:

http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/import/FAQ%20Site/pages/page10.html

If you want the info on required mods for the DOT part they're listed here but like I said, they're not much good unless you can get past the EPA part too. EPA does allow exemptions for cars over 21 years old so you can possibly import the car in 2017 but you'd still have to do the mods listed here and get past any regulations for the state you plan to register it in. To begin with you'll need to have an intact drivers side airbag because that was the key requirement that made the DOT consider the 1996-1998 cars still eligible:

http://www.nicoclub.com/articles/NHTSA-update.pdf

Oh, I forgot the most important thing - are you a US citizen? If yes then the above applies to you, If not then the below document applies to you. Simply put, if you're a foreigner legally allowed into the US you can import a personal use vehicle for up to one year at the time of your entry into the US but then you have to export it again after that year if it doesn't meet the relevant US DOT and EPA regulations (the ones I mentioned above).

http://www.cbp.gov/trade/basic-import-export/importing-car

There are no work arounds to these regulations - this is Federal law. If anyone tells you otherwise they're probably trying to scam you or don't know what they're talking about.

[ttassey]

Thanks for the info GSX; I will read it all later tonight (Bathurst 1000 is on today!). I am an American citizen trying to bring the car in. Shouldn't there be a law allowing the Owner to repair the car to Standard themselves and then have it inspected?

[GSX-R35]

Thanks for the info GSX; I will read it all later tonight (Bathurst 1000 is on today!). I am an American citizen trying to bring the car in. Shouldn't there be a law allowing the Owner to repair the car to Standard themselves and then have it inspected?

The only way to get the car certified is through an RI. You could theoretically do the modification work yourself but you'd still need an RI who's willing to check out the car, file a claim with the Feds, and affix a certification label to it. Most RI's probably won't agree to someone else doing the mods because they could lose their license as an RI if the DOT finds out they certified a car that's improperly modded and Skylines get extra scrutiny from them because of the Motorex fiasco.

You see in the case of an imported car like this the RI is basically functioning like a car manufacturer. They're making sure the car is up to standards, affixing a federally-required label identifying it as such, and submitting the data package that details how the car was made to comply - and an individual data package has to be done for each car they certify, it's not a group submission. The Feds don't have an "inspection program" where a private citizen can take a car they've modified themselves that's why there's a lot of money and paperwork involved with becoming an RI - you're basically acting as a car manufacturer, only on a smaller scale.

Unfortunately the situation is far from simple and cheap. If it were, there would already be several RI's bringing in R33s currently because of the sheer demand for Skylines in the US but instead there are zero legit ones currently because of all the problems involved. Unless you have a lot of money and determination to see this through I wouldn't even bother because in the worst case your car could be seized by the DOT and exported or even crushed. Either way you'll never see it again after all the expense of bringing it over. If you really want to bring it here your best bet is to wait until 2021 when it fits under both DOT and EPA exemptions (you may still face some hurdles though since emissions laws may change and state laws are also a consideration).

Here's a good read if you want to know what's been happening to improperly imported Skylines - it also explains the same stuff I mentioned about the correct importation process:

http://www.nicoclub.com/archives/breaking-news-us-government-turns-up-heat-on-skyline-owners.html

[ttassey]

So I've done some of the reading above, and now my head is hurting! So it seems that the car will pass the DOT stuff, but nobody wants to deal wit the OBD2 stuff? I have sent JKT an email this morning (it's the weekend in USA) asking if they would be interested in taking on this car; but after reading all the stuff it seems like they will likely shy away. With them being the only ones 'able' to do it, but not willing to, shouldn't the Gov't issue a waiver for these vehicles? There is a thing against a monopoly, but they likely don't car about it on such a small scale; however if there isn't such a system available I would think that a waiver would be available. One would think that if I took it to a referee station (do they even exist anymore?) every year to ensure the car is running clean, there wouldn't be an issue. Anyway, there is more reading and studying to do on the subject, but my timing is limited as I was hoping to import it within the next 6 months. Any further suggestions?

[GSX-R35]

So I've done some of the reading above, and now my head is hurting! So it seems that the car will pass the DOT stuff, but nobody wants to deal wit the OBD2 stuff? I have sent JKT an email this morning (it's the weekend in USA) asking if they would be interested in taking on this car; but after reading all the stuff it seems like they will likely shy away. With them being the only ones 'able' to do it, but not willing to, shouldn't the Gov't issue a waiver for these vehicles? There is a thing against a monopoly, but they likely don't car about it on such a small scale; however if there isn't such a system available I would think that a waiver would be available. One would think that if I took it to a referee station (do they even exist anymore?) every year to ensure the car is running clean, there wouldn't be an issue. Anyway, there is more reading and studying to do on the subject, but my timing is limited as I was hoping to import it within the next 6 months. Any further suggestions?

Although the Feds make silly decisions sometimes there's no issue with monopoly here - performance cars aren't an essential need and there are many other avenues to get one besides importing an example that was never sold in the country legally. They aren't under any obligation to make the import process easier. Look at it logically, the manufacturer never saw the need to make the car meet US requirements and sell it here so why does it behoove the US government to go out of its way to let it in? As far as they're concerned there IS a waiver process in place - either wait the requisite 25 year limit or pay the money to go through the process to bring it in before then.

You can't reasonably expect the US government to force JK Technologies to release the trade secrets they acquired with their own money when it's for the sake of someone's wants and not for an essential need. Owning a Skyline is not a "need" or an "inalienable right" - it's a privilege. Anyone is free to replicate what JK did, they just have to be willing to spend the money and time to duplicate it.

And the "referee station" you talk of is for the state's requirements, not Federal. The Feds have their own requirements for legality, the individual states have theirs - you have to meet both. It's not a case of one or the other.

Unfortunately the situation is at it is. I don't agree with the 25 year limit myself and I think 15 years is more reasonable like in Canada but the law is the law. We can work to change it but until it does, we need to abide by it.

[GSX-R35]

This news just broke today but if you have the money someone was able to get JK Technologies to do the OBD II conversion and bring in an R33 LM:

https://www.facebook.com/rivsuimports/photos/a.1407597889470839.1073741829.1387835771447051/1714179538812671/?type=3

Rumor has it that the process cost $35K though so it's not exactly a cheap option.