Foreign Cars That Are Illegal in USA


18 Jul 2013
by Caitlin Duffy


1987 BMW M6 (auto-word.com)

For those who simply can’t get their car fix in the American auto market, foreign markets offer a variety of vehicles unlike Uncle Sam’s favorites. However, if you continue to live in the US but have an extreme affinity for importing cars, there are some forbidden fruits you may never be able to taste.
There’s no question about the fact that the United States car market is missing some key European players. Whether due to lack of market interest, inability to comply with American safety regulations and emissions standards, or the simple inability to fund the import process, thousands of cars are produced every year that will never get the chance to burn rubber on Highway 52 or down US-1.
For fans and collectors with adequate time and money, there are ways around this. The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) states that if a car is not being imported by a business entity, that is, if a private citizen plans the import, there are certain stipulations that must be met. These vehicles can be imported for show and display, provided they meet the following requirements:

1. No other vehicle of the same make, model, and model year was manufactured and/or certified for sale in the United States.
2. No other vehicle of the same make, model, and model year has been determined eligible for importation under 49 CFR Part 593, which pertains to importation of vehicles by business entities.
3. The vehicle is not currently in production.
4. Less than 500 of the vehicles were produced, unless it is proven to the NHTSA that the vehicle is of extreme technological and/or historical importance
5. The vehicle was not created as a kit car, replica, or special construction vehicle.

Of course, there are plenty of cars that do not meet those requirements. But the NHTSA has done applicants a favor and crafted a list of cars that are definitely not approved for import. However, there is a clause stating that cars over 25 years old are exempt from show and display regulations, meaning many of these could be pulled off the list rather soon.
As of May 28, 2013, these are THE BANNED ONES:

1995 Audi RS2 Avant

Manufactured between March 1994 and July 1995, the Audi RS2 Avant is the first car on the NHTSA’s list of cars deemed ineligible for import, even under Show and Display Regulations. The 6-speed manual was a collaboration between Audi and Porsche, and has been argued to be the car that successfully established Audi as a producer of practical high-performance cars. The 2.2L 5-cylinder 20v turbo engine can push these wagons from 0 to 60 in 4.8 seconds and top out at a max speed of around 162 mph. Unfortunately for fans in the US of A, the only way to own one of these is to establish residency in another country. Or defect to Canada.


1990 BMW M3 Sport Evolution III

With only 600 ever made, the third M3 Sport Evolution featured a 2.5 L engine designed to compete against Audi’s v8. With the creation of the M3 line, BMW designed a new 4-cylinder engine to replace 6 cylinder being used in the E30, which was too long to fit inside a car designed for every-day use. The stock engine created an easy 200 bhp, with the competition spec engine putting out 300 bhp at 8,000 rpm. Though listed as one of the NHTSA’s banned cars under Show and Display regulations, this should be exempt from the restrictions after 2015.


1993 Jaguar XJ220-S

The Jaguar XJ220-S only had 6 examples that were produced, but that was enough for the NHTSA to ban them from the United States. The S model was designed to be a street-legal version of the XJ220-C racer. The hidden headlights of the XJ220 were removed in the S model, as well as the base model’s leather trimming. The car’s engine was tuned to produce a neckbreaking 690 hp.


1993 Lamborghini Strosek Diablo

Designer Vittorio Strosek took the famous Lamborghini Diablo and modified its body, thinking it was too subtle. Modifications included the replacement of the front and rear bumper with much rounder versions, replaced headlights and turn signals, side mirrors that were places high up on the doors, and much more.


(comp.co.uk)

1996-2001 Lotus Elise S1 and the 2000 340R

Despite an output of only 118 bhp, the Lotus Elise S1 was able to accelerate from 0 to 60 in 5.8 seconds due to its 1,600 lb weight. Capable of speeds up to 150 mph, the Elise was named after Elisa, the granddaughter of the company chairman at the time of release, Romano Aritoli. The 340R was released as a limited edition model of the Elise, with only 340 ever produced. The name 340R originally referred to the power-weight ratio of the prototype, which churned out 177 bhp at a weight of 1,100 lbs. It later came to refer to the number produced when the final production found the car at a weight of 1,550 lbs.


lemans62.org.uk

2002 Morgan Le Mans ’62 Prototype

In 2002, Morgan created 80 limited edition anniversary models of the 1962 Le Mans, as well as one prototype. Each came with its number engraved on both the steering wheel and on a plaque in the console, with the prototype detailed as car “00.” Once the line was launched, all 80 vehicles were allocated to owners within 72 hours. The cars are as accurate as possible to the original model, including the installation of only one door handle, on the driver’s side.


flipacars.com

1999 Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R V-spec

Rival to the Toyota Supra and Mazda RX-7, the Nissan R34 GT-R V-spec boasted some of the most advanced technology that a 1999 car could. It was one of the first to introduce a display screen on the dashboard that listed various statistics about the engine and car during operation, including a reading of the amount of G-forces the car was experiencing. The driver’s seat had a computer jack hidden under its seat skirt to enable uploading information from the car’s system to a laptop for analysis. A quick search around the internet instantly shows the Skyline to be the most hotly requested model of the NHSTA’s banned list. Other banned Skylines are the 1995 GTS-T, R32 GT-R’s built between 1989 and 1994, the 1995 R33 GT-R, 1995 and 1996 R33 GT-R V-spec’s, the 1994 R34, the 1999 R34 GT-T and the 2001 R34 25GT-T.

Other cars that are ineligible for import, as outlined by the NHTSA’s May 28, 2013 list, for show and display are listed here, alphabetized by make:


1995 Aprila Moto 6.5

1993 Bancroft Roadster

2005 Beijing Automotive Industrial Holding Rodedawg

1989 BMW Cabriolet

1987 BMW M6

1998-2009 Chevrolet Jimny

1985 Citroen 2CV Dolly

2005 Crosslander 244X

2000 Daimler-Chrysler Smart Car

2000 Fiat 126 P

2008 Fiat 500 Abarth

1980-1983 Hesketh V1000

1991-1996 Honda Beat

1997-2000 Honda Civic Type-R

1989 Honda CRX Exclusive

1988 Jaguar XJ12 Saloon

2000-2001 Land Rover Defender 130

1992 Mazda Cosmo

2000 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Tommi Makinen Edition RD- RHD

1990-1991 Nissan Figaro

1991 Nissan Pulsar

1991 Pegaso Z-103

1989 Porsche 959 S

1990 Porsche 962 RLR

1992 Porsche 964 RS

1990 Porsche Carrera 4 Lightweight

1983 Robin Hood S7

1995, 1998-2000 Rover Mini Cooper

1990 Rover Mini Cooper RSP / LE

2012 Skoda Fabia Greenline II

2002 Smart Crossblade

1987 Toyota Carina

1991 Toyota Sera

1994 Toyota Supra

1981 Trabant 601-S

1989 Trabant P601

1981 Triumph Bonneville M/C

1996-2006 TVR Sagaris, T350, Tuscan, Cerbera

2000 Volkswagen Beetle (Old Style)

2003 Volkswagen Beetle (Ultima Edition)

2004 Volkswagen Beetle (Ultima Edition)

1990 Volkswagen Corrado Magnum Sport Kombi

1986 Volkswagen Type 2 Vanagon Double Cab Pickup Truck

1985 Zastava Fica

1987 M6 2 DOOR COUPE
Engine: 6 cylinder, 3.5 Liter, 256 hp
MPG: 10 city / 19 highway
Weight: 3,420 lbs.
Seating: 4
HP: 256 @ 6500 rpm.
Torque: 243 @ 4500 rpm.
Length: 193.8 "
Original Price: $57,000