OK, I'm new and have lurked here, but I've seen that one in every 5 posts is about importing or legalizing a Skyline.  I'm in the market for a new car, and would like to try my hands on a tuner car such as a Skyline.  I'm young and work in a garage.  I do see cars for sale, but are they able to get legalized(in the US)?  I've been reading and doing so much *** research and hearing different things that now I don't know what to think.  So my question is can you have a Skyline here and be street legal if it wasn't one that went through Motorex?  I see things like R32 GT-Rs can be legalized, but then I read things about how the motor won't pass inspection or smog tests.  Knowing I'll probably be caught speeding in one of these cars, I don't want to get any more surprises than a speeding ticket.  My question is what is actually legal here with these legendary nissans.  Seeing as none of these cars were ever made for America(including Silvias and what not) would it be legal to swap in say an SR20DET or if I can get my hands on it, a RB26DETT or other Skyline engines(RB25DET, etc...).  Hopefully I can finally get a clear answer on what is actually possible.

Thanks, and Hello!  

motors that were never sold in the US are illegal regardless (SR20, RB25,26 etc).  also depending on the state, unless you are running the same motor that came with the car, its illegal.  MotorEx is long gone, they were shady, the owner went to jail.  there are TINY loopholes - registering it as a kit car only if the car and motor were imported separately, but only in certain states (CA has limited kit car registrations).  but for the average Joe, we just need to give up on the hopes of owning a true JDM car.  

i've seen a skyline in the us and in cali no less i don't know what the owner went thru but just tell'n u what i saw take it for what its worth  

Yea, Ive seen a R33 locally in the middle of St.Louis. THe Importtuning scene is a tiny fraction here compared to the other 26 major cities, HIN has never bothered stopping off here for a show, but somehow, I did see a local with a R33 GTR, I couldnt beleive my eyes when I saw it.  

My suggestion to you is to stop wasting time trying to get a GT-R and just move on.  Almost everyone in the tuning world, and almost the whole car world for that matter wants a Skyline, but look how many have one...  
 But thinking upon it, if your loaded with cash you could buy one off Ebay if you trusted the guy selling it.  Or you could do like what was said earlier, and have it brought here as a kit car.  

 But like I said, unless you have a lot of money, your better off just buying a 240sx or something of the like.  

5 or 6 of my friends have GT-Rs.  one of them is just super loaded so money is no issue, its registered though a shop with dealer plates so its legal. the other used to run apex and it was sort of a demo car.  two of them are r32s, usually run at the track, and the rest are just illegal on the street, track only.  like i said, you could have one if you have tons of money, but it wont be your daily driver.  most of my friends GT-Rs sit in garages 90% of the year.  

Where is it you live where 5 or 6 of your friends have GT-R's.  I'm not saying your lying or anything, I'm just curious.  Because where I live, I've never seen a Skyline.  

SoCal. Almost all GT-R owners that I know are people working the industry or know people in the industry.  its extremely rare to see the average Joe with a GT-R  

That makes sence.  

Yeah- I've tucked away the idea of owning a skyline right now- but its a dream that will not die.  Some day...  

i live in san deigo c.a iv seen 2 skylines and i am looking into geting one soon iv seen em for 2000-34,000 u gotta lookaround and shiupping costs r around 2000-3000 a container if u r serious about getting one there r ways to get them  

I have an answer to your Skyline prayers. I am also new to this site however I do have some nformation on the availability of the 2009 GT-R. Let's all welcome Godzilla to America...  

try http://www.unreal-imports.com/.  try going through a company that imports cars all the time,  they can also tell you what things need to be done to the car in order to make it leagal.  or just buy one as a second car for the track.  

i know a guy that owns a GT-R. he was always driving it until the motor blew. He found a way to get it titled and legal. you just have to find the right loop holes  

The laws in Canada must be different. I've never had to smog test any of my cars and I've seen about 6 or 8 Skylines here in Edmonton. I know at least one of them is a GT-R cause a guy I work withs buddy owns one.