Anyone in the USA who wants to buy an R32, R33, or even an R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R has the ability to do so right now. Things were much different in the past. The Nissan Skyline GT-R has been the ultimate forbidden fruit for car enthusiasts in America. For years, the USA was one of the few countries where the Japanese supercar wasn’t sold and that made us all the more thirsty for it.

Though the question becomes: where to go to buy one? It is one thing to spend years dreaming about owning a R33 Skyline and saving up every penny to do it but where does one go when they are actually ready to pull the trigger on a GT-R? Furthermore, what else does one need to know about Nissan Skyline GT-R ownership before setting out to purchase one?

That is what we are going to cover in this article. By the end, anyone reading this should have a solid understanding of where to go to buy a Nissan Skyline GT-R, what to look for when shopping for one, and the knowledge of some of the hoops that might need to be jumped through to complete the transaction to ensure everything is nice and legal.

Find a registered importer

Since the early models of the Nissan Skyline GT-R weren’t sold in the USA, it means that most of them are found in other countries. That means there is a very good chance that a GT-R will need to be brought into the USA for purchase.

Technically, anyone could find a Skyline GT-R outside of the USA on their own and pay the money to simply have it shipped over. However, the car wouldn’t be legal to drive on the street at all.

This is where a registered importer comes in. A registered importer has the means, knowledge, and clearances to not only ship a Skyline GT-R into the USA, but can legalize it for driving on public roads as well. It is a complicated process that benefits from someone who has plenty of experience in the matter. For instance, did you know that specifically in California, a Skyline GT-R needs to go through an additional modification process? That is just one example of something a registered importer would know about.

There are plenty of registered importers in the USA but for those who are particularly interested in the Skyline GT-R, Toprank Importers located in Cypress, California would be the best bet. Not only are they a fully capable registered importer, but the director Sean Morris has specific expertise on importing and legalizing Skyline GT-Rs. He was the first to do it and continues to do so to this day. Furthermore, Toprank Importers keeps inventory on hand so there is a good chance they will have an R32 or R33 GT-R ready to purchase. However, if there is a specific car out of the country that a customer wants, they can ship it into the country for them as well.

What to know when buying a Nissan Skyline GT-R

Alright, so a customer finds a registered importer who even has a Nissan Skyline GT-R on hand for sale. What does that customer need to look out for first?

The most important thing is to make sure the importer has all the required paperwork available for the car in question. A bond release (or HS7 NHTSA import form if the car is over 25 years old ), 3520-1 EPA import form, 7501 Customs Entry Summary or Customs Clearance form, and 3461 Entry/Immediate Delivery Document are all very important forms and may be required (depending on the state) for registration.

The other thing potential buyers should know is that some Skyline GT-Rs are easier to get than others. For example the R32 Nissan Skyline GT-R had a total production run of 43,937 cars total. On the other hand only 16,674 R33 Skyline GT-Rs were produced which means they will be a little harder to come by.

Within those two models there are super rare variants to consider as well. There was a NISMO version of the R32 GT-R but only 500 were built for road use. A special “N1” R32 GT-R was produced as well but that model is even more rare with only 118 built in total.

Buyers should also be aware of the fact that Skyline GT-Rs that are stock or as close to stock as possible tend to hold their value longer. Modifications for performance or aesthetic tend to be less desirable to collectors which impacts the value. Beyond that, if a buyer wants to modify the car themselves, it is usually better to start with a blank slate anyway.

Before purchasing an early model Nissan Skyline GT-R the body should be inspected for rust. Not many residents in Japan have garages and it snows regularly. Buyers should check the undercarriage and within the quarter panels as there are plenty of places for water to have been trapped and cause rust.

Anyone who’s made it this far in the article should have a pretty good idea of where a Nissan Skyline GT-R can be purchased, and what to look out for before parting with their hard-earned money. As long as the proper research and appropriate steps have been taken, owning an early model GT-R is very much doable! Happy hunting!

Where To Buy A Nissan Skyline GT-R In The USA