I have no knowledge to contribute to this thread, but I've sometimes wondered whether it would be easier to import a foreign model that is at least similar to a US market car. Say for example you bought a JDM Civic Type R or Integra Type R, and somehow got it to US soil. (Maybe you could have it shipped to Mexico, and drive it across the border?

Would it then be possible to buy a US Civic Si or RSX-S and swap the VIN plates with the JDM car? That way it could be registered in California, and Johnny Law would not really know the difference. You could always say you did a JDM "conversion." Of course you could not have any warranty work done, but that's part of the price you pay.

You could then leave the US market RSX in your backyard and part it out to offset your expense. Anyway, I was just wondering about that.

 

That would be illegal, so yes you could do it, just don't get caught

 

You're sort of right. The R34 Skyline GT-R retailed for 5,048,000 Yen in August of 2000. With the exchange rates at that time, the price in USD for a new R34 Skyline GT-R would have costed about $47k. A V-Spec II would be about $52-56k. So it wasn't a $30k car at the time, but it wasn't a $90k car either. The Skyline GT-R, even the R34 is a sweet car stock, but it isn't a supercar either. At $90k it wouldn't be competitive.

You can import a R34 Skyline from Japan through Motorex for a little more than $90k. It wouldn't make sense if the car sold for $90k that they'd be importing them and selling them for about the same. Obviously a used R34 would be less, but trust me when I say that Motorex is putting a good amount of money into the car to make it street legal in the USA plus pocketing some money for themselves.

Oh yeah, here's the press release with pricing information on the R34:

http://www.nissan-global.com/GCC/Jap...000828_0e.html

 

I wont name shops, but there are plenty down here in socal that have real JDM cars as daily drivers. When I ask how they do it, they never tell. They just say its street legal and it can be done. Its like its some secret club and they don't want you a part of it.

On an aside, if you look on ebay for 'jdm', you will see some imported cars for sale. Most if not all are disassembled and brought over as a parts car. Its up to you to get it running, registered, etc.