Federal law exempts a foreign-market vehicle from crash and emissions testing once it turns 25 years old, counted from its date of manufacture rather than its model year. Cars built in 2001 cross that line during 2026, unlocking a wave of Japanese and European performance icons that were never federalized for American roads. Here are eight vehicles that finally clear the bar this year.
1. Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 V-Spec II (2001): The Twin-Turbo AWD Legend
Nissan built the R34 generation’s ultimate variant around the RB26DETT, a 2.6-liter twin-turbo inline-six paired with the ATTESA E-TS all-wheel-drive system and a six-speed manual, and a recent model-by-model breakdown confirms the platform clears the federal 25-year exemption line in 2026, opening the door to legal import for the first time since it left the factory.
Clean, unmodified V-Spec II examples with documented service history and low mileage already command steep premiums among collectors even before wider import volume arrives, and buyers still face separate state-level emissions, lighting and registration rules once a car clears the federal safety exemption.
2. Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII (2001): The Active-Diff Rally Sedan
Mitsubishi widened the Evolution’s body for the seventh generation and paired the turbocharged 4G63 engine with an Active Center Differential that split power between the axles on demand, and the same 2026 eligibility roundup lists the car among the first widened Evolution generations old enough to skip federal crash testing.
Its rally-honed chassis and stiffer bushings make it a more demanding daily driver than the softer Lancer sedans it was based on, and shoppers should budget for scarce genuine body panels, turbo hardware and differential components once the car reaches American soil, since Mitsubishi never sold this generation domestically and support networks remain thin outside importer specialists.
3. Honda S2000 AP1 (2001): The 9,000-RPM Roadster
Honda tuned the S2000’s F20C engine to spin to a screaming 9,000-rpm redline and 247 horsepower, and the same import-eligibility report notes that Japan-only exterior colours and a shorter final-drive ratio separate early AP1 cars sold there from the roadster Honda federalized for American buyers.
Because the US market already received its own version of the S2000, the appeal of importing an AP1 lies mainly in Japan-only paint and trim rather than a car that was previously unavailable, so buyers should weigh that novelty against shipping, compliance paperwork and the added cost of parts that were never stocked by American Honda dealers.
4. Toyota Chaser JZX110 (2001): The Twin-Turbo Sleeper Sedan
Toyota never sold the Chaser in the United States, but the JZX110’s turbocharged 1JZ-GTE inline-six and rear-wheel-drive chassis share their bones with the Supra, and a 2026 import-eligibility guide lists the sedan among cars crossing the 25-year line this year.
Its four-door sedan body hides a chassis that shares suspension geometry with more famous Toyota sports cars, and importers note that clean, unmodified examples are becoming harder to find as Japanese exporters clear out inventory ahead of rising overseas demand, pushing prices for well-kept Tourer-trim cars noticeably higher than they were just a few years ago.
5. Honda Integra Type R DC5 (2001): The Naturally Aspirated Track Coupe
The fourth-generation Integra Type R paired a naturally aspirated K20A four-cylinder with a helical limited-slip differential and lightweight interior trim, and a separate list of 2026 arrivals counts the DC5 among the Honda models finally old enough for US import.
Honda sold a related coupe in the United States as the Acura RSX Type-S, but the Japanese-market Integra carries a stiffer chassis, different badging and unique interior trim that collectors specifically seek out once it clears federal safety rules, and demand for well-documented, unmodified examples has climbed steadily as import eligibility approaches for each successive model year.
6. Mazda RX-7 Type RB-S Bathurst R (2001): The Final-Run Rotary Coupe
Mazda built the Bathurst R as one of the final special editions of the third-generation RX-7 before the rotary sports car left production, and a guide to the 25-year import rule places 2001-built cars like it across the federal exemption threshold this year.
Its twin-rotor 13B-REW engine demands more frequent maintenance than a conventional piston engine, and because Mazda built only a limited run of the Bathurst R trim, genuine, numbers-matching examples are scarcer than standard RX-7s reaching the same milestone, so buyers should confirm chassis codes and factory documentation before paying a premium for the badge alone.
7. Subaru Impreza WRX STI Type RA (2001): The Stripped Rally Homologation Car
Subaru stripped the Type RA trim of sound-deadening, air conditioning and other comfort features to save weight for rally homologation, and the same 25-year rule explainer counts the 2001 car among the STI variants now old enough to skip federal crash testing.
Without air conditioning, sound insulation or a factory stereo, the Type RA trades everyday comfort for a lighter curb weight, so buyers focused on daily use often prefer a standard STI while collectors chase the RA specifically for its rally-bred rarity and its smaller production numbers compared with the mainstream WRX STI models sold alongside it in Japan.
8. BMW M3 CSL (E46, earliest builds): The Stripped Carbon-Roof Coupe
BMW fitted the CSL with a carbon-fiber roof, a lighter exhaust and a reworked version of the S54 inline-six, and the same import-rule breakdown notes that the earliest European-built examples reach the 25-year FMVSS exemption threshold in 2026.
Because BMW built the CSL in far smaller numbers than the standard M3 and only the earliest production cars reach the exemption this year, buyers should verify chassis numbers and factory build sheets carefully before treating any listing as a genuine early car, since the carbon roof and stripped interior are among the most frequently misrepresented features in the used market.
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