Non-US cars coming off the 25-year ban

Take a few minutes to drool over cars that we've never been able to own here in the US, can (soon) legally import here, but probably never will. That 25-year rolling ban ticked over another year recently, so it got me thinking to what I could import here, or expect to be able to in five or so years.

Ok, I cheated a little on that one. They imported the Montecarlo as a Scorpion here, but it was a wheezer.

Yes, I hotlinked those

Good luck finding that Lancia. Four more years for the GTR. Four more years.

Here is something I would love to import and should be able to within a couple of years. I do not know the actual year(s) that this car was produced, but I am pretty sure late 80s. The Toyota Soarer Aero Cabin. This car had to be one of the first production cars with a power retractable hard top. I am pretty sure that these are rare even in Japan, I have a friend living in Tokyo who buys cars from auctions and have him on the look out for one. So far no luck...

JeepinMatt wrote:

What is that? I really like it!

In reply to CLNSC3:

Alpine GTA. Rear-engined, rear wheel drive. There was an evolution of that model they released afterward called the A610. The last Alpine ever. I don't know how many GTAs they made, but there were around 800-something A610s. Here's that one.

twat are/were the technicalities of said ban? what ban? etc? More details and cars?

I want an R32 with an LSx, yes I would import one for the sake of putting a GM motor in it.

I cannot wait for 2015.

Actually the Integrale is an Evo 1 or 2 and judging by the registration (UK registrations contain the year of first registration unless it's a vanity plate, in which case the year part will be older than the vehicle's first reg), that's a 1994...

Mine would've been eligible in five years but I've just sold it - it was keep that or keep the 911. The 911 would even be eligible for import into the US in three years, but I'm not sure what I'd want with a RHD 911 in the US....

These are also coming off the ban in five years:

My tastes aren't so exotic. A few vintages of these are legal now, but I am still lusting and not buying:

I'd also consider returning to my misspent youth, but with the factory built version of my first autocross toy:

The Lancia Integrale isn't a bad choice either.

Despite knowing I will never own one, I hold on to the hope against hope that someday I'll see an R32 GT-R in my driveway

ddavidv wrote: My tastes aren't so exotic. A few vintages of these are legal now, but I am still lusting and not buying:

Talk about not exotic...The major difference in my Capri II and Capri III is the age. Oh, and the lack of a Ford emblem.

Volvo 360. Volvo Redblock engine up front, rear mount tranxaxle, deDion rear suspension.

Its like a Volvo Alfetta.

In reply to m4ff3w:

I love the look of that Volvo 360

Just the other night, while watching a DVR'd Top Gear, I told my wife, "I'd give my left nut for a Lancia Delta Integrale." "Really? Your left nut?" "Yeah, I don't need it."

I saw a Lancia Delta Integrale for sale in Eastern Canada recently actually. OMG! I always liked the A110 Alpine:

In Canada we only have a 15 year rule. I likely see a skyline driving on the road every other day.

DirtyBird222 wrote: twat are/were the technicalities of said ban? what ban? etc? More details and cars? I want an R32 with an LSx, yes I would import one for the sake of putting a GM motor in it.

Funny you should say that... Here's a local guy putting an LSx in an R33.

http://www.tamscc.org/forum/showthread.php?t=9732

I'd love an Alpine A110 but the prices for those in half-decent condition are way up in heart attack country.

Proper Toyota Landcruiser 70 series are coming off ban, but like a diesel defender, try to find a 25 year old one that isn't used up. Good Luck!

JeepinMatt wrote: Ok, I cheated a little on that one. They imported the Montecarlo as a Scorpion here, but it was a wheezer.

Plus we only got the "broken" Series 1 cars.

arnt these illegal in the US?

I never really liked the look of the 959, it's a little too "high tech 80's" for me. Anyway, if you really want one you could just buy a 964 c4 and a supercharger kit and have a much more comfortable, similar but better looking, faster 4wd Porsche for way less money.

IIRC, the 959 can be registered on some sort of show-display permit.

I have to wait til 2019 for the cars that i would care to import.

ST205 Celica GT4 FTMFW

DirtyBird222 wrote: twat are/were the technicalities of said ban? what ban? etc? More details and cars? I want an R32 with an LSx, yes I would import one for the sake of putting a GM motor in it.

You'd probably be better off just using a 300ZX, they look to basically be the same vehicle with some wheelbase tweaking. A 240SX is also really similar.