The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is the governing body in the United States responsible for determining what defines a vehicle as being “safe.” Safe for its passengers, safe for other drivers on the road, safe for the environment and safe for the economy. In protecting all of those assets of American life, there’s a lot of legislation created, and a lot of rules for manufacturers to follow.
As a result, many vehicles created by foreign manufacturers need an American variant able to comply with all of the regulations put forth by the NHTSA, otherwise, it is deemed illegal in the United States. Of course, that becomes a large endeavor that many manufacturers aren’t necessarily willing to undertake, and as a result, there’s a significant number of vehicles that cannot be imported to this country.
Last year, we looked at the list of illegal cars under NHTSA regulations, and now we’re back with an update and a further look into how you can bring your dream car into this country for a trip down some famous American highways. Show and Display regulations allow collectors to import a car that may not meet US homologation standards. There are 5 requirements for cars to be imported under Show and Display, which you can read in our last article covering this topic.
As of October 22, these are some of the top manufacturers with banned vehicles. According to the NHTSA, these are cars that have been denied a request for import under Show and Display for one reason or another:
Make: Aston Martin
Model: Virage Volante
Years: 1993
Make: BMW
Model: M3 Cabriolet
Years: 1989
Make: Jaguar
Model: XJ220 S
Years: 1993
Make: Lamborghini
Model: Strosek Diablo
Years: 1993
Make: Lotus
Model: 340 R
Years: 2000
Make: Morgan
Model: Le Mans ‘ 62 Prototype
Years: 2002
Make: Nissan Skyline
Model: Skyline GTS-T
Years: 1995
Make: Porsche
Model: 959S
Years: 1989
Make: TVR
Model: Sagaris, T350, Tuscan, Cerbera
Years: 1996-2006
There is still one way around this. However, you cannot be an American citizen for this to apply. On their website, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that Canadian and Mexican citizens can travel within the United States using their own vehicle. As a result, “Such vehicles are not subject to EPA emission standards and other requirements.” Section 2.2.5 of the July 2010 “Procedures for Importing Vehicles and Engines into the United States” does note, however, that these cars cannot be sold to Americans, and that vehicle and traveler both must leave the country after one year.
Of course, the best method for getting these cars into the country is simply waiting. After a vehicle is 25 years old, it is no longer subject to these rules, and can be legally imported through the proper methods.Today, any vehicle created before 1989 is considered an historic car under importation guidelines.
Check out the full list of cars rejected for Show and Display here (organized by alphabetically by manufacturer):
| Alfa Romeo | 8C Spider Roadster | 2010 |
| Aprilia | Moto 6.5 | 1995 |
| Aston Martin | Virage Volante | 1993 |
| Audi | Avant RS2 | 1995 |
| Bancroft | Roadster | 1993 |
| Beijing Auto. Ind. Holding | Rodedawg | 2005 |
| BMW | M3 Cabriolet | 1989 |
| BMW | M3 Sport Evolution III | 1990 |
| Chevrolet | Jimmy | 1998-2009 |
| Crosslander | 244X | 2005 |
| Daimler-Chrysler | Smart Car | 2000 |
| Fiat | 126 P | 2000 |
| Fiat | 500 Abarth | 2008 |
| Honda | Beat | 1991 – 1996 |
| Honda | Civic Type-R | 1997-2000 |
| Honda | CRX Exclusive | 1989 |
| Jaguar | XJ 220 S (race car) | 1993 |
| Lamborghini | Strosek Diablo | 1993 |
| Land Rover | Defender 130 | 2000 – 2001 |
| Lotus | 340 R | 2000 |
| Lotus | Elise S1 | 1996 – 2001 |
| Mazda | Cosmo | 1992 |
| Mitsubishi | Lancer Evolution Tommi Makinen Edition RD- RHD | 2000 |
| Morgan | LeMans ’62 Prototype | 2002 |
| Nissan | Figaro | 1990 – 1991 |
| Nissan | Pulsar | 1991 |
| Nissan | Skyline GTS-T | 1995 |
| Nissan | Skyline GT-R Autech Version 40th Anniversary Edition | 1998 |
| Nissan | Skyline R32 GT-R | 1989 – 1994 |
| Nissan | Skyline R33 GT-R | 1995 |
| Nissan | Skyline R33 GT-R V-Spec | 1995-1996 |
| Nissan | Skyline R34 | 1999 |
| Nissan | Skyline R34 GT-R V-Spec | 1999 |
| Nissan | Skyline R34 GT-T | 1999 |
| Nissan | Skyline R34 25GT-T | 2001 |
| Pegaso | Z-103 | 1991 |
| Porsche | 959 S (race car) | 1989 |
| Porsche | 962 RLR | 1990 |
| Porsche | 964 RS | 1992 |
| Porsche | Carrera 4 Lightweight (race car) | 1990 |
| Rover | Mini Cooper | 1995, 1998 – 2000 |
| Rover | Mini Cooper RSP / LE | 1990 |
| Saab | 9-5 SportCombi | 2012 |
| Skoda | Fabia Greenline II | 2012 |
| Smart | Crossblade | 2002 |
| Toyota | HDJ81 Land Cruiser | 1990 |
| Toyota | Sera | 1991 |
| Toyota | Supra | 1994 |
| Trabant | P601 | 1989 |
| TVR | Sagaris, T350, Tuscan, Cerbera | 1996-2006 |
| Volkswagen | Beetle (Old Style) | 2000 |
| Volkswagen | Beetle (Ultimate Edition) | 2003 |
| Volkswagen | Beetle (Ultima Edition) | 2004 |
| Volkswagen | Corrado Magnum Sport Kombi | 1990 |
(Source: NHTSA.gov)
