Feds Bust Importer Of GT-R Used In The Fast And The Furious

Joseph B

The cars Motorex imported and are still driving around in the US must have a DOT bond release letter along with the title. If you are looking to purchase a GTR in the US (R32,R33, R34) the seller must have this so you can legally title the car.

Motorex did legtimately crash test two R33. Then they told the feds the others R32 and R34 were structually similar and they would have similar crash results. At the time the Feds bought it. Importation began.

All 1996 and newer cars require obd2 compliance.Motorex was supposed to be adding US DOT safety equipment and bringing them up to obd2 standard before sale. Well, in the end motorex didn't do that. Plus the Feds consulted Nissan for crash test results for the R32, R34 and they were in fact different from what Motorex claimed. And none of the 96 and newer GTR's were made obd2 compliant. Which is neary impossible unless you are a manufacturer.

At that point GTR importation ceased, motorex was fully investigation and some crazy stuff went down. The GTR in the US is actually quite an interesting story filled with drama (kidnapping etc). The story should be made into a documentary. Most of the owners were allowed to keep their cars after the DOT released the bonds they were held on.

In the end you can still bring in an R33, but you have to add DOT safey items and make it obd2. Which obviouslly no one in our industry can do successfully. So pretty much you can't bring it in.

This article is referring to Kaizo industries cars. Basically establishing a company in Japan who buys GTR's. Tears them down, recondition the chassis as Kaizo chassis. Put new vins. reassemble chassis with all parts except engine and drive train. Now it's not a Nissan GTR. It is a Kaizo kit car. Ship to us. Customer puts their own motor/drivetrain. Now rules requiring obd2 compliance/DOT standards do not apply since it is not sold as a complete car by a manufacturer.

In Canada you can import a car that does not emission regs as long as it is 15 years or older. That's why you see an influx of R32's for sale there. Now it applies to R33's, soon what about 2014 R34.

The United States has a similar law with one exception; 25 years instead of 15.