There has never been a better time to import a JDM car to the United States — the 25-year rule keeps unlocking new metal every month, and New Zealand holds one of the deepest pools of clean, right-hand-drive examples outside Japan. Here are the cars worth importing, and why.
Nissan Skyline GT-R (R32, R33, R34)
The definitive JDM hero. The R34 GT-R is the blue-chip pick — genuine examples have crossed seven figures — but the R32 (1989–1994) and R33 (1995–1998) are fully US-eligible now and offer the RB26 experience for less. R34 eligibility rolls in month by month through 2027.
Toyota Supra Mk4 (JZA80)
The 2JZ legend. The Mk4 Supra went from cult car to blue-chip collectible in a decade, and clean twin-turbo cars are among the hardest JDM metal to find honest. The whole 1993–2002 run is US-eligible or nearly so.
Mazda RX-7 (FD)
The purest shape of the era. The FD RX-7's 13B-REW rotary is both its glory and its risk, which makes buying a compression-verified, inspected car — the way we source them — matter more here than on any other model.
Mitsubishi Evo & Nissan Silvia
The Lancer Evolution (I–IX by build date) is the rally icon, and the Silvia S13/S14/S15 is the drift and tuner favourite — both plentiful in New Zealand and both climbing in value as eligibility spreads.
Wherever you land, the 25-year rule decides eligibility first — read what the 25-year rule is, see how to import one, and check what it costs. Buying in a specific state? Start with Florida, California or your state.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best JDM cars to import to the USA?
The blue-chip picks are the Nissan Skyline GT-R (R32/R33 now, R34 rolling in through 2027), the Mk4 Toyota Supra, the FD Mazda RX-7, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution and the Nissan Silvia (S13/S14/S15). All are eligible or becoming eligible under the 25-year rule and are the cars that hold value best.
Which JDM car holds its value best?
The R34 Skyline GT-R leads — genuine low-kilometre examples have crossed seven figures at auction. The Mk4 Supra twin-turbo and clean FD RX-7s have also appreciated sharply. Originality and documented history drive value more than mileage alone.
Are newer JDM cars worth importing to the US?
Not yet, in most cases — the 25-year rule means a car must be 25+ years old to import. Newer heroes like the R35 GT-R become eligible gradually. Sourcing a 25-year-eligible car from New Zealand gets you a right-hand-drive, English-documented example you can inspect first.
