Formerly Forbidden Fruit: 8 Awesome Foreign Cars You Can Now Import into America
The “25-year rule” that keeps anything that was not originally certified for the American market off of our roads for a quarter century provides a shifting tableau of what can be imported into the United States.
Now that the window of automotive opportunity has entered the 1990s, enthusiasts are chomping at the bit to sample some of Europe and Japan’s most intriguing, exciting, and unusual automobiles.
In celebration of what’s recently become available over the past couple of years to dedicated gearheads unafraid to navigate Byzantine importation regulations, we’ve put together a list of eight automobiles that are no longer on the forbidden side of the fence. Check out our picks and let us know which ones you’d be willing to stuff in a cargo container.
1993 Lancia Delta HF Integrale Evoluzione II
What is it? A purpose-built rally car that found its way to the streets by way of homologation rules that required Lancia Delta to actually sell this beast to customers.
Why do I want it? We’ve previously covered the Lancia Delta HF Integrale Evoluzione II in our discussion of the best hot hatches that never made their way to the American market, so this is your chance to correct that grievous error. You’re looking at 212 horsepower from a turbo four, an all-wheel-drive system designed to win WRC championships, and Italian styling that’s unlike anything else in its era.
Ownership Pain Factor? 4/5. This was a feisty, hot-blooded race car masquerading as a street machine, and good luck getting FCA to hook you up with Lancia parts. You’ll have to be proactive about maintaining this beast if you hope to keep it roadworthy.
1993 Toyota Supra
What is it? The fourth-generation of Toyota’s range-topping Supra sports car
Why do I want it? Because you’ve seen Fast and Furious, right? In all seriousness, 1993 marked the first year for the turbocharged 2JZ-equipped six-cylinder Supra that would decimate all on the street racing scene after they had installed overnight parts from Japan. With U.S. domestic market supplies drying up, clean cars coming in from overseas are a tuner’s dream.
Ownership Pain Factor? 0/5. Aside from the RHD-specific bits, these cars are well understood, reasonably reliable, and still well supported by Toyota’s dealership network.
1992 Autozam AZ-1
What is it? One of the most over-the-top kei cars ever sold in Japan.
Why do I want it? Kei cars are small, city-oriented vehicles restricted in terms of engine size, weight, and form factor. That didn’t stop Mazda from teaming up with Suzuki (who manufactured the AZ-1) to build a gullwing coupe that looked like a pocket supercar and drove like, well, an econobox with a turbocharged three-cylinder engine mounted amidships. It’s a definite conversation piece.
Ownership Pain Factor? 3/5. Kei cars aren’t the easiest to pilot in modern American traffic, let alone fit inside of, and again, parts will be a bit of an issue to track down given its unique status.
ALSO SEE: Top 10 Amazing JDM Cars We Missed Out On
Image by Tennen-Gas (Own work), via Wikimedia Commons
1992 Bugatti EB110 SS
What is it? A better version of a supercar you’ve probably never seen before.
Why do I want it? Because if you HAVE seen an EB110, this is your chance to upstage that braggart of a neighbor who won’t stop parking it directly in front of your house. In all seriousness, though, the Super Sport (SS) version of this ultra-quick Bugatti didn’t just add roughly 50 horsepower on top of what the original EB110 had to offer, but its quad-turbo V12 engine had less mass to push, too. This helped the SS hit a top speed of 216 mph (348 km/h).
Ownership Pain Factor? 11/5. It’s a Bugatti supercar from the ’90s. Might as well set all of your time and money on fire right now.
1992 Ford Escort RS Cosworth
What is it? The second rally-themed hatchback on our list, and yes, we’ve covered this one before too, but this time it’s different because you can buy it.
Why do I want it? The reasoning is similar to the Lancia, except in this case you’ve got 230 horses and 230 lb-ft of torque from the Ford’s turbocharged four-banger, with virtually unlimited tuning potential should you want to try and match WRC spec. It’s also winter-friendly with its all-wheel drive and functional aero kicking up enormous rooster tails worth of snow at all times.
Ownership Pain Factor? 3/5. There are a fair number of RS Cosworth’s out there in the world, but that doesn’t mean parts are cheap. Plus, you have to explain that wing to your friends.
Image sourced from Enthusiast Auto Group
ALSO SEE: Top 10 Japanese Sports Cars of the ’90s
1991 Suzuki Cappuccino
What is it? A different take on what makes kei cars so cool, this time with no top.
Why do I want it? OK, so technically you could have imported the Cappuccino last year, too, but this tiny droptop is so sweet that we had to make sure it stayed on your radar. With a 63 horsepower engine (also turbocharged, also three-cylinder), and the ability to remove its hardtop (which collapses into three unique pieces), the Suzuki offers the security of a coupe with the freedom of a convertible, plus you can pick it up and put it in your pocket when you can’t find parking.
Ownership Pain Factor? 4/5. Suzuki gave up on North America several years ago, and if you snap any of those roof panels good luck getting a replacement quickly.
Image sourced from Mecum Auctions
1992 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution I / 1993 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution II
What is it? Mitsubishi’s early WRC sedan, which wasn’t officially imported to the U.S. until the VIII model appeared in showrooms close to 15 years later
Why do I want it? You’re probably familiar with the Evo, and this is that car’s origin story. Original Evo I cars are barebones rally blasters but delivered the goods with nearly 250 horsepower from their 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engines, while Evo IIs kicked things up a notch in terms of output (over 250 ponies) and suspension sophistication. Both cars also featured advanced all-wheel-drive systems.
Ownership Pain Factor? 2/5. The Evo is a well-built and robust platform and much of the engine tech that it features eventually made its way to America in other models.
1992/1993 Porsche 928 GTS
What is it? This was the best version of Porsche’s front-engine, V8-powered grand touring car ever built.
Why do I want it? The Porsche 928 never succeeded in displacing the 911 in the hearts and minds of Porsche fans, but the GTS model — with its 345 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque from a 5.4-liter V8 — was an amazing accomplishment for the era. Uncommon in the U.S., opening up the European and Japanese markets to collectors and Porschephiles alike taps a new source of 928 fun for those who can’t source one locally.
Ownership Pain Factor? 4/5. This is still a classic Porsche, and a rare one at that, so open up your wallet, please.