Go Back   CityProfile.com Forum - Local City and State Discussion Forums > General Discussion > Automotive
Click Here to Login

Reply
Old 03-10-2011, 02:43 PM  
mohel
 
blucher's Avatar

Keizer, OR
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 4,365 | Kudos: +124
Images: 99
15 Awesome Supercars the Feds Won?t Seize

HTML Code:
http://www.wired.com/autopia/2011/03/show-and-display/
Quote:
The NHTSA and the EPA tend to be pretty strict about what's safe enough or clean enough to be driven here. Generally speaking, anything that wasn't originally sold in the United States can't be imported if it isn't at least 25 years old. Don't even think about sneaking a car in, as your insurance would be void, and you may end up in jail ? which wouldn't be nearly as awful as watching the feds crush your beloved Nissan Skyline.

The question of whether such concerns are legitimate or simply protecting special interests ? not to mention whether an increasingly globalized automotive market makes country-specific regulations anticompetitive ? is a debate for another time for one reason.

There's a loophole.

OK, it's a loophole that's been around since 1998, when wealthy Porsche 959 owners like Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Gates made a big enough stink that the feds created a "Show and Display" exemption into import regulations, allowing newer cars to be imported for the sole purpose of displaying historically or technologically important vehicles. These brilliant bits of Teutonic engineering had been impounded by customs agents for close to 10 years when the regulation was passed, and even then they weren't home free. "Show and Display" still only waived NHTSA safety requirements, so the cars still have to be modified to pass EPA regulations because they are newer than 21 years old. When all was said and done, they can be driven no more than 2,500 miles in a calendar year.

To simplify the process, NHTSA released a list of cars eligible for the exemption. Your garden-variety VW Scirocco or Alfa 159 is still banned, but if you have the money to buy any of the cars on the list, you might as well just fly to Europe when you want to get behind the wheel.
1984?1985 Peugeot 205 Turbo 16.jpg
1985?1995 RMA Amphi-Ranger 2800 SR.jpg
1986 Ford Sierra Cosworth RS 500.jpg
1987?1988 Porsche 959.jpg
1988?1991 BMW Z1.jpg
1988 Italdesign Aztec.jpg
1990?1992 Lotus Opel Omega, LHD Version.jpg
1992?1994 Jaguar XJ220.jpg
1992?1995 Bugatti EB110.jpg
1993?1998 McLaren F1.jpg
15 Awesome Supercars the Feds Won?t Seize-1984-1985-peugeot-205-turbo-16.jpg 

15 Awesome Supercars the Feds Won?t Seize-1985-1995-rma-amphi-ranger-2800-sr.jpg 

15 Awesome Supercars the Feds Won?t Seize-1986-ford-sierra-cosworth-rs-500.jpg 

15 Awesome Supercars the Feds Won?t Seize-1987-1988-porsche-959.jpg 

15 Awesome Supercars the Feds Won?t Seize-1988-1991-bmw-z1.jpg 

15 Awesome Supercars the Feds Won?t Seize-1988-italdesign-aztec.jpg 

15 Awesome Supercars the Feds Won?t Seize-1990-1992-lotus-opel-omega-lhd-version.jpg 

15 Awesome Supercars the Feds Won?t Seize-1992-1994-jaguar-xj220.jpg 

15 Awesome Supercars the Feds Won?t Seize-1992-1995-bugatti-eb110.jpg 

15 Awesome Supercars the Feds Won?t Seize-1993-1998-mclaren-f1.jpg 

__________________

__________________
I'll believe corporations are persons when Texas executes one.: LBJ's Ghost
Reply With Quote
Old 03-10-2011, 02:58 PM  
mohel
 
blucher's Avatar

Keizer, OR
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 4,365 | Kudos: +124
Images: 99
1997?1998 Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR Coupe.jpg
1997 Porsche GT1 Stra?enversion.jpg
1999?2000 Aston Martin Vantage LeMans.jpg
2004?2005 Maserati MC12.jpg
2004 MG TF 80th Anniversary Edition.jpg
15 Awesome Supercars the Feds Won?t Seize-1997-1998-mercedes-benz-clk-gtr-coupe.jpg 

15 Awesome Supercars the Feds Won?t Seize-1997-porsche-gt1-stra-enversion.jpg 

15 Awesome Supercars the Feds Won?t Seize-1999-2000-aston-martin-vantage-lemans.jpg 

15 Awesome Supercars the Feds Won?t Seize-2004-2005-maserati-mc12.jpg 

15 Awesome Supercars the Feds Won?t Seize-2004-mg-tf-80th-anniversary-edition.jpg 

__________________
I'll believe corporations are persons when Texas executes one.: LBJ's Ghost
Reply With Quote
Reply

Go Back   CityProfile.com Forum - Local City and State Discussion Forums > General Discussion > Automotive
Bookmark this Page!

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes


Suggested Threads

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.