On the classic car market, a vehicle reaching 25 years old can have a direct impact on its value – the Nissan Skyline R32 experienced huge appreciation when it became eligible for US importation… So, which are the next vehicles expected to crack America?

Later that decade, the US Senate passed the Imported Vehicle Safety Compliance Act of 1988 – otherwise known as the 25-year rule. This federal law meant a ban on any vehicle that wasn’t manufactured for the American market – with the only exceptions being classic or historic vehicles aged 25 years or older.

looking to import a car to the USA? You can, but there is a catch – it must be at least 25 years old if you want it to be classed as street legal.
Many would assume the USA’s strict import legislation is a result of the Government’s inclination to protect its domestic car industry and jobs from foreign imposters… While there might be some truth in that, the 25-year age rule on so-called ‘grey’ imports arriving on American shores was also about reducing fraud and protecting the safety of its citizens.
Here is a small selection of affordable future classics that were launched in 1998 that will be eligible for importing to the US in 2023. Which is your ‘one to watch’?

The grey import market boomed in popularity in the USA during the early 1980s, as American motorists were tempted by the cheaper prices of desirable European cars such as the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Around 60,000 grey imports came to the USA in 1985, many of which were discovered to have been fraudulently and unsafely converted to give the appearance of a genuine American import. These vehicles were deceptively sold to buyers, who believed these vehicles complied with American law.

This law still stands today, although some individual states also have rules that you’ll need to consider. For example, California mandates emission requirements for cars built after 1975 – which means that some classics could need expensive modifications to comply.