12 Awesome Cars Finally Legal To Import In 2023

At one time in American history, you could import pretty much any car you wanted. However, when regulations changed in the '70s and '80s that made imports more expensive, gray market conversions of foreign brands could often be imported for significantly less money. Eventually, there came a point when Americans were buying so many custom-modified Mercedes-Benz models that the manufacturer — worried about preserving the integrity of their brand — joined other interested parties in lobbying Congress to create a restriction on imported cars. Thus, the 25-year rule came to be in 1988 with the Imported Vehicle Safety Compliance Act.

Today, dozens of foreign cars are off the table for American drivers, including many desirable and unique models, including special editions and high-performance upgrades. Later, with the help of Bill Gates, a Show or Display exemption was carved out for low-production cars of particular interest, which allowed Gates to import and drive his Porsche 959 legally — although it was still limited to 2,500 road miles per year. 

Despite these regulations, more foreign car models become eligible for unrestricted importation every year. Most of them are mundane and typical cars with no particularly desirable traits, but some are quite the opposite, including coveted supercars that have long existed as forbidden fruit for American car enthusiasts. Here is a look at 12 awesome cars that are finally legal to import in 2023.

Peugeot sold cars in the US for years, but sales slowly dwindled until the company left the market in 1991. Many interesting cars have come from the French automaker in the decades since –- we just haven't been able to get them. With 25 years since 1998 rolled around, we can now enjoy an excellent hatchback from the country that was produced for just two years in 1998 and 1999 — the Peugeot 306 Rallye.

The '90s are peppered with hatchback cars from all automaking countries, although some are more exciting than others. Peugeot introduced the 306 in 1993, bringing to the European market an attractive and well-engineered car for the masses that drove as good as it looked. It proved a success, and a couple of years later, Peugeot introduced the GTi-6 variant with a twin-cam engine with up to 167 horsepower backed by a six-speed manual. This lively and efficient car brought a bit of excitement to a great platform and led to the Rallye version in 1998.

To gain an advantage in rally racing, shedding weight is a must. With that in mind, the Rallye 306 used the same mechanicals as the GTi-6 but could eliminate up to 143 pounds by dropping luxuries such as air conditioning and fitting the interior with lightweight cloth and manual accessories. While this model is not likely to hit any more rally circuits, this year it can hit your driveway.

The British have a long and proud history of automobile manufacturing. Not only have they built up a robust and expansive auto industry, but the British have also established some of the finest luxury motorcar brands in the world, such as Rolls-Royce and Aston Martin. Sadly, one of their favored luxury marques — Rover — gets little exposure in the colonies, even though the company has made many excellent automobiles over the years, including the Queen's 1974 Rover P5.

Unfortunately for the British auto industry, all of the country's indigenous manufacturers were snapped up by foreign companies in the '90s, Rover included. BMW bought Rover in a package deal and then revived Mini while unceremoniously killing the rest. Still, before the final death knell hit the storied brand, it pushed out one last car in 1998, and it is brilliant.

The Rover 75 styling is sedate and sleek while avoiding the ostentatious flair of an Aston or Jaguar. The interior is replete with supple leather and wood grain, finishing a package suitable for a Prime Minister, which seems apt as Tony Blair used one for a time. These cars came well-equipped with climate control, satellite navigation, and power everything. Still, this was all for naught as sales were abysmal and while it was hoped to save the brand from annihilation, it may have accelerated its downfall. Now, 25 years on, you can have a little slice of conservative British luxury to call your own. The Queen would be proud.

If you have ever wanted a beautiful English-made supercar powered by a BMW V8 from a boutique automaker, your time has come. Ascari automobiles began in the mid-'90s and enlisted Lee Noble, creator of Noble supercars, to design the cars. Noble first created a supercar prototype using a Chevrolet V8 engine, but when he released a final production car, it was powered by BMW.

Ascari is named for F1 World Champion Alberto Ascari. Although it was the '90s, Ascari used forward-thinking and advanced technology in the manufacture of its cars. The Ecosse was released in 1998, featuring a spaceframe chassis wrapped in a Kevlar and fiberglass body. The 4.4-liter BMW V8 is good for 304 horsepower, but with a curb weight of just under 2,800 pounds, the Ecosse can hit 200 mph. Unlike some boutique supercars of the period, the Ecosse came well-equipped. The interior is covered in high-quality leather and is paired with air conditioning power windows and an excellent stereo system.

Since this was a niche-market car, no crash or emissions testing was done for export to the U.S., which made it ineligible for importation. Now that the requisite time has passed, you can import one. However, as only 19 cars were built, finding one may be a bit difficult.

[Featured image by Darren via Wikimedia Commons | Cropped and scaled | CC BY 2.0]

Few people would find it hard to argue that the McLaren F1 is an automotive masterpiece. It held the record as the fastest production car for years and introduced the public to McLaren's incredible prowess for building road-going cars.

The F1 was the first car to be built with an entire carbon fiber tub to which all the rest of the bits were fastened. Retooling a BMW-sourced V12 engine allowed McLaren to squeeze up to 680 horsepower from it, an incredible amount of power for the time, and the styling is timeless. Inside is the coup de grâce, the seating position. Much like a genuine F1 driver in a real race car, the F1 driver sits in the middle, although, unlike a real race car, the driver's seat is flanked by passenger seating on either side, and all three are covered in Alcantara. It is an amazing car.

It is no secret that the F1 is a great car, and with an initial release in 1992, there are already examples more than 25 years old. However, the final year of production was 1998, so it will be legal this year to import and drive any of them. Many have been imported under show and display rules, and they will all be released to drive as many miles as wanted — although nobody will. With values shooting up towards $20 million and an incredibly expensive maintenance regimen, some of these cars are lucky to get 100 miles a year put on them, making the lifting of the import ban essentially moot.

Mitsubishi has always been more of a niche manufacturer within the American market. First entering only as rebadged crossover Chrysler vehicles, Mitsubishi now only offers a couple of models and its range has never been more than a handful of cars, trucks, and SUVs. Still, its compact Lancer sedan has been morphed into an asphalt-killing little screamer with the Lancer Evolution.

As a popular model featured in the "Fast and Furious" movies and several video games, its popularity rose along with other foreign models like the Skyline. Responding to consumer pressure, Mitsubishi finally brought over the 2003 Evo VIII. However, the Evo debuted in 1992 and American drivers just missed out on those models. Now the Lancer Evo V is eligible for import, which is a good thing for fans of quick Japanese-market cars.

Mitsubishi did a great job with these factory-mod cars. All of them look great, and the Evo V is a particularly stunning example. It has an aggressive body kit with giant bug-eye fog lights and a tall trapezoidal-shaped rear spoiler. Even better than the styling is the turbocharged inline-4 that cranked out 280 horsepower in 1998, a figure that American V8 engines were barely surpassing. With a clever AWD system, the Evo V is a very desirable import car to own. Now that it is 25, it is ready for the American streets.

Of all the cars becoming legal to import, this one should be a top pick. Since it could not be imported into the United States and was never sold here domestically, most Americans probably know little of it. When Maserati left the market, its cars were abundant with straight lines and sharp creases, continuing like that for several years. The 3200GT ended that and introduced a car brimming with swoops and curves, bringing it into the modern age. The new car was then and is now beautiful and befitting of what a Maserati should look like, a svelt combination of speed and elegance.

Looking beyond the styling, the 3200GT brings with it a 3.2-liter V8 hooked up to a pair of turbochargers and collaboratively pushing 370 horsepower through a six-speed ZF gearbox, which are truly impressive specs for 1998. Another clever and novel feature that happens to be one of its highlights is the boomerang tail lights hugging the upper rear corners of the car — which are also the first instance of exterior LED used on an automobile.

Maserati pulled out of the American market in 1993 after selling there for decades. Quality issues plagued those late-'80s cars and ruined their reputation. The 1998 model should be better, but it is still an expensive Italian luxury car, so miracles should not be expected. Still, if you are ready to accept whatever comes with a rare beauty such as this, now is the time to start your search.