Tech - News
The Real Reason America Banned the Nissan Skyline GT-R
By ALVIN REYES
In 1988, the Skyline came smashing into the consciousness of enthusiasts and professional racers alike. It won the Japanese Touring Car Championship 29 consecutive times and earned the affectionate "Godzilla" nickname.
Many urban legends surround the legality of importing a Nissan Skyline GT-R into the US. With a top speed of 200 mph and AWD, pundits claimed the Skyline was too fast for American police cars to catch up.
Despite the myths, the speed, potent acceleration, and the fact that Skyline GT-Rs are right-hand drive are not the real reasons why they were illegal to import into the USA. The simple answer is Nissan did not intend to sell the Skyline GT-R to America.
Not a single variant of the Skyline GT-R complies with the emissions and crash safety guidelines of the US. With Congress’ passing of the Motor Vehicle Safety Compliance Act of 1988, import cars like the Nissan Skyline GT-R were prohibited in America.