Watch This Illegally Imported R33 Nissan Skyline Get Crushed
By Paulo Acoba
This owner of a perfectly pristine 1999 Nissan Skyline had the unfortunate luck of getting his pride and joy crushed by the authorities because of current import laws.
Current import laws in the United States requires that the vehicle you’re importing be 25 years or older thanks to the Imported Vehicle Safety Compliance Act. So when authorities got wind of this pristine 1995 Nissan Skyline driving around in sunny Florida, they immediately seized the vehicle and sent it to the crushing yards. The video we’re posted below comes courtesy of Rivsu Imports and shows what happens to vehicles brought in illegally onto American Shores. Avert your eyes if you’re a fan of the Nissan Skyline as the scrapping yard showed no mercy to this Japanese import.
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According to the owner,
"“I bought the car in ft Lauderdale at a dealership. Flew down to Florida and drove it all the way back to Ohio, titled it with its original 11 digit vin as a 1995 Nissan skyline, passed the out of state inspection, got full coverage insurance on it through State Farm, and dailied it until May, when it got into a fender bender. Insurance adjuster saw it wasn’t federally legal, they flagged it, sent an undercover guy to look at it, then a few days later they showed up at my door and seized it. No charges because there was no fraud or vin swapping done, the Feds couldn’t figure out how I got it titled the way I did lol but that’s the real legit story lol”"
Current import laws are meant to protect American consumers as well as the environment from cars that may not meet American crash and clean air standards. While on paper that’s what some authorities may claim is the reason behind import laws, those in the know will tell you that it’s to protect car companies and their dealers from foreign competition and superior offerings. Why spend your hard-earned money on say an American Mercedes when you can import the same Mercedes from another country with a bigger engine and slightly more power?
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This unfortunate owner found out the hard way when the “powers that be” want to make an example of what importers shouldn’t do. According to Rivsu imports, “As long as it’s at least 25 years old and coming from a trusted source with proper paperwork then you’re in the clear. If it doesn’t have US Customs paperwork then don’t bother.”