I suspect that all of us, at one time or another, has dreamed about importing a car. Sadly, the cruel hand of the government always seems to be in the way, telling us the cars we want to import are too new or too unsafe or the wrong color or made by children or some other nonsense like that, and then our car-importation dreams are gone.
This is why I wrote my manifesto. This is why one day I’ll show them all. All of them.
Uh, anyway, I asked the Autopian Communards what car they’d import if there were zero consequences of any kind, and here’s what they said:
Torch
Consequences be damned, and I suppose that means not just legal but personal safety, I think I’d have to go for the Tata Nano.
I’ve always respected the rugged cleverness of Indian cars, and the Nano, even if it was something of a failure, takes everything amazing about Indian automotive ingenuity and just cranks it to the 11 and a half. It is as much an engineering triumph as a Bugatti Veyron. It’s a supercar, wherein super is defined by being cheap.
And it sure as hell was: when new, a Nano sold for about $1,500 US in 2008. Think about that! This was a brand-new car! Eventually, the price went up to $3,500 (with some improvements to the Nano as well), but that’s still astounding for a new car.
Sure, nobody wants to be seen in the Cheapest Car in the World. But I think I might.
Mercedes Streeter
I would import a Smart Roadster. These cars are illegal until 2027 at the earliest and by that time who knows how many good ones will be left. The Roadster was Smart’s idea to make a quirky and modern interpretation of the classic British roadster. It wasn’t fast, but it handled surprisingly well and oozed character, like a little dog that thinks it’s a big dog. Sadly, engine problems, water leaks, blown turbos, and rust are ensuring the 34,000 examples dwindle fast.
Rivers
TVR Sagaris! I’m currently looking at a Cerbera to buy which is a dream car but the Sagaris isn’t legal yet and it’s far more ridiculous so it’s getting the nod here. Of course, the real-life implications of maintaining either in Arkansas have me reconsidering.
The Bishop
Forget M5 Touring models or some bizarre performance spec Audi. I want a two-door two-row minivan that can turn into a near-convertible with a pillarless roofline and giant sunroof. It’s hard to imagine making anything with that specification look normal, but I still want the designers to go off the rails to make it appear even more bizarre.
Such a car exists, and you’d say I’m full of shit until I tell you it’s French. Then you can understand how something as strange as a Renault Avantime was looked at by auto executives who apparently said, “yeah, go ahead and bulid it..let’s go eat.”
The Avantime’s age is approaching 25 years, so soon the dream will be more attainable, even if it will be more like a nightmare when the thing needs parts.
Thomas Hundal
I’d import a Noble M600. Stupefyingly fast thanks to a boosted Yamaha-Volvo V8, very little in the way of driver assistance, and it’s just damn cool.
Matt Hardigree
My old answer would have been the Ford Escort Cosworth RS, but that car is now legal to import and relatively accessible so it’s a little less fun. I’ve never seen a Škoda Felicia Fun, either here or in Europe, so I think that’s gotta be it. Also, it would allow me to say Škoda a bunch to random people.
Griffin Riley
I am neither a rich man nor a family man. What I am, however, is a man who loves a good shooting brake and who has been won over by Korean styling. It’s the Genesis G70 shooting brake for me. The thang is perty and that’s enough for me.
David Tracy
Someone please important a Yangwang U8 and let me off-road the everliving snot out of it. I love how bonkers it is; it does things that it absolutely does not need to (see video below), and offers comfort features that seem like they’re from the year 3000. It turns out, not much has changed but indeed they live in the water.
Your turn: what car would you import if there were no consequences?
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I’m assuming I still have to consider the consequence of buying something I cannot afford, so no rare Euro performance models I guess.
Probably go for utility then. Either a “real” Hilux or Land Cruiser pickup. Or a Holden Ute. I want something with a bed that isn’t the standard American crew cab 5.5′ box pickup.
You don’t actually have to go outside the US to find something thats not a crew cab 5.5′ bed, you know. You can even buy a real US market LHD Hilux.
Hindustan Ambassador.
The recently discontinued Fiesta ST.
Its getting very close to 25 now, but it’s been my dream car since then (even if I may not fit in it)… Opel Speedster
How big are you? I’m 6’0″, 230 lbs and I fit pleasantly in both LHD S2 and RHD S1 Elises.
Well, we don’t have the 25 year rule where I’m from, but we do have lots of financial deterrents to importing from outside the EU. In that spirit, if we didn’t get taxed to the sun and back, I’d totally import a Le Car and a bunch of Brazilian Gurgels.
Great call on the Gurgels. Straight outta a Blade Runner movie.
I think Gurgel came up with lots of fantastic designs, and I’m a sucker for plastic bodies. Would love to have a small fleet.
Toyota Vellfire…or Alphard…or some conversion HiAce.
That Genesis G70 is NOT a shooting brake, and don’t think that we are going to let that heinous mischaracterization slide.
It has four doors, so not a shooting brake, and it has a short stumpy rear overhang, so not a wagon. That, my friend, is very clearly a five door hatch.
Well, the roof is long enough that it does pass as a station wagon – which by definition is normally a 5-door hatch, so you’re technically correct there. But yeah, shooting brake is going too far, there are rules for these things. Shooting brakes are 3-door and have three pillars.
Jason has actually written an article defining wagons, but roof length is not the only criterion. Wagons typically keep the same length rear overhang that the sedan version would have, while hatchbacks are much shorter. A wagon also must have a roof which extends far enough back to cover a large proportion of the cargo area.
Yes, wagons are five(usually) door hatchbacks, but common usage dictates that a wagon is not the same thing as a five door hatch, and a shooting brake is not the same thing as a three door hatch. The difference is simply proportions.
Anyways, at least what I can see from this picture, because I’m too lazy to look up other pictures, it looks like the rear overhang is pretty short, which is why I characterized it as a hatch and not a wagon.
I’m not fully disagreeing, to be clear. Jason’s proposed rules for station wagons make a lot of sense, but in recent years station wagon design has evolved in a direction that makes that sloping rear end more normal. I wish automakers kept making station wagons as boxy as possible; the Volvo 940 is where station wagons peaked in my opinion.
I’d import the test mule for the Rolls Royce Cullinan. Such a badass car.
Gibbs Aquada, just for kicks.
No consequences, eh?
A 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO because no consequences means it’s mine now damnit!
2012-15 Volvo V40 with the five cylinder engine.
Probably a new 2024 Jimny in LHD.
Yep. It’s easily the only unobtainium car I want.
Agreed, this is the best answer.
This is the correct answer.
First thing that springs to mind is a *new* Zamyad Z24, which is basically an Iranian-built 1981 Nissan Junior pickup. These things have been in production practically forever, but being Iranian and new, there’d be no way to get it stateside.
That sounds awesome, but…serious question, for you or anyone: do vehicle importation laws apply even if they’re not registered for road use? Could one import cars more easily if they’re strictly for off-road use?
Yes, if you can prove to customs that the car will be only for off-road use, you can import cars under 25 years old; the 25 year rule is made by NHTSA and actually only applies to registering cars for road use.
This is why there are lots of kei trucks in the US under 25 years old with “Not for Highway Use” stenciled on the side, and why there were hundreds of R34 GTRs in the US waiting for their 25th birthday.
Toyota Hilux Champ 2.4L Turbo Diesel 5MT!
No consequences eh?
How about a LeTourneau TC-497 Overland Train Mark II
I hear part of one is in Arizona, Arizona is a foreign country, right?
https://youtu.be/huV3mKUBHIc
We had a LeTourneau earthmover on the farm that my grandfather was very proud of, now I know why.
Thought you’d never ask. 2nd gen Dacia Duster.
Initial thought was a late TVR, but I think I’d be most happy with a car I could actually import already, a Subaru Legacy RS/RA
Probably a Rover 75 V8, or, possibly a newer Hindustan Ambassador
A Ford Falcon FG XR8. I love the FG series look and it was only available for 3 years with the V8.
I have always loved (as our friends down under call them) Utes. And I have owned quite a few over the years, but we have not had a really good factory one since the 80s when GM shutdown El Camino production.
The work spec Toyotas from Toyota Gibraltar: 70 series Land Cruisers with the 4.2 non-turbo diesel, base model Hiluxes, 200/300 series or even Corollas. And the Hilux Champ of course, lots of people could use a barebones dirt cheap simple work truck.
Well since the new MR2 is rumored to be Japan-only, it would be that.
The Renault Twizy. I ride a motorcycle anyway, and this car looks really fun to drive.
Give me that Honda S660, please.
The heck is going on with DT lately and the pop culture references? He get a download from the Matrix or something?
I’m thinking I’d like an Ora Funky Cat or Honda E, a cool little electric car we don’t get here because “Americans don’t want them”. I feel fairly American and I want one.
Since I’m in California, ANY non US market car is a big pain in the ass to import, so the following are technically good to go in the rest of the country, but not here.
I want a Lancer Evo V because I think the gigantic fog lamps are fun. I know the VI is the one to have (and a Makinen edition is high on my list), but the V should still be a hoot and a half. I’m also a weirdo who likes the R33 GT-R best, so that’s also a big forbidden fruit for me. And Evo IX Wagon is another.