JDM Legends That Will Be Legal To Import In 2022
Japanese domestic market (JDM) refers to Japan’s home market for vehicles. For the importer, these terms refer to vehicles and parts designed to conform to Japanese regulations and to suit Japanese buyers. JDM are popular for their crazy specs compared to the export versions of the same car. As they are made to suit Japanese road regulations, They are popular among car enthusiasts who believe in the origins and the birth of the car as it is crafted for Japan. During 1997, some of the most amazing Japanese cars went for sale for the first time, and now 25 years later, people in America can own them. In this blog, we’ve bought you a list of JDM Car Legends Legal To Import In 2022.
1. Nissan R33 GT-R Nismo 400R
The R33 GT-R is one of the most iconic Nissan ever made. Being one of the middle children of the skyline GT-R family, R33 has still a lot to offer, even a limited edition meant to dominate many from its own family. The 400R means that this R33 could hand out with the supercars right out of the box. While a normal R33 made 300 horsepower depending on what dyno you’re on, the Nismo 400R with its RBX engine was cranked up to 400 horses. It also had better suspension and a ton of carbon fiber, which in 1997 was not as common as it is today. This car was very special back then, and it is today. There were only 40 of these made, so there are very rare chances, you would own one. However, if owned, it will roughly cost $800,000 for a decent condition one.
2. Toyota Caldina GT-T
The Caldina GT-T will offer you an all-wheel drive, a turbo wagon with 260 horsepower without being a Subaru. While the Calldina has technically been able to be imported into America for a while, in 1997 the GT-T model came out. This means in the next year, you will be able to buy these and own them yourself. Under the hood lies a turbocharged Inline 4 cylinder engine, Petrol motor, with the engine code 3S-GTE. This engine produces a maximum power of 256 PS at 6000 rpm and a maximum torque of 324.0 Nm at 6000 rpm. So, set yourself aside 10,000 bucks and import yourself a Toyota Caldina GT-T.
3. Honda NSX Type S and Type S-Zero
In 2022, you’re going to be able to own an NSX Type S and S-ZERO. The NSX is one of the most interesting cars Honda has ever created. In 1997, Honda released two special editions of this famed NSX. The Type S is pretty straightforward, it was beefed up for winding roads. It had a bunch of upgrades from its factory that a bunch of people was putting on their NSX’s like a momo steering wheel, BBS alloy rims, and Recaro seats, meaning it is one of the best NSXs made. However, it is not the best, for that there is NSX Type S-Zero. It had a hardcore suspension, a super lightweight flywheel, and clutch, they got rid of almost everything on the inside. The Type S-Zero was a full 1.5 seconds faster than NSX R making it the fastest NSX you can buy.
4. Toyota Century G50
The Toyota Century G50 is an affordable Japanese legend with a huge V12 engine. The second-generation Toyota century has an insane 5 litre V12 engine, and of course, was first available in 1997. This was Toyota’s take on the Bentley or the Rolls Royce. This is maybe one of the fanciest cars Toyota has ever built. It even has automatic closing doors in 1997, which is a baller, and now 25 years later, it is depreciated like a Bentley. You can pick up one shipped to the states for around 15,000 dollars, which sounds like an amazing deal. However, it is pretty tough to find an actual 1997 Toyota Century G50, they were a little bit rare. These were not popular as Skylines and Supras, but the juice is worth the squeeze.
5. Honda Civic Type R
In the year 2022, you will be able to import the greatest Japanese cars ever made as long as you’re okay with it having front-wheel drive. We’re talking about the iconic first-generation Civic type R. When Honda introduced the type R badge with the NSX and later the Integra, the automotive journalists around the world could not wait to see what they did next with it. And then, in 1997, the Civic Type R was delivered. It was one of the best front-wheel drive cars ever made when it was new, and today, it still defines Honda as a company. This means you no longer need to swap type R into Civic hatchbacks and then call it a type R, this year you can own one. You can find a shipped type R in the states for a maximum of 25,000 bucks, which will be an amazing deal.
6. Mitsubishi FTO (Facelift)
Last year, the FTO was available to you to import, however, this year, you can get the facelift model which means it’s even better to look at. The Mitsubishi FTO is a Mitsubishi eclipse with good looks, good sounds, but not with the DSM engine. It is a fail-wheel drive, but journalists say this is one of the best-used sports cars you can buy. The FTO has been around since 1994, however, in 1997, it got a pretty good facelift. It got a more aggressive front end, a cool spoiler, but it still has the same engine options namely myvec powered V6. Talking bout the prices, they may vary widely online, some are sold at 30,000 bucks while some for 10,000 bucks.
7. Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution
What if you need to haul around some stuff but still want to have that jdm coolness, well then you might want to consider the 1997 Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution. In spite, the Pajero Evolution was used in the Dakar race in Paris, which is one of the most insane, most demanding, and most deadliest races ever. Manufacturers like Mitsubishi who were riding a wave of enthusiasm from their rally wins with their Lancer Evo, won Dakar 12 times. What the Pajero doesn’t have is a legendary 4G63 that we would love to have like an Evo. However, it still has the myvvec V6 which is still a good engine. The Pajero Evo will set you back for around 20,000 dollars.
8. Toyota Chaser JZX100
One of the coolest sedans Toyota has ever built is powered by a turbocharged inline-six. Not the legendary 2jz or the 1jz, but you’re still going to love it. This vehicle can be considered a little 4 door supra which you can work on and get way cheaper. The 6th generation Chaser otherwise known as JZX100 came out in late 1996. This means that these were available to import just as recently as October 2020. Moreover, more of them will appear on sale when the 1997 model becomes available. In short, you can buy this beautiful Japanese manual for just 22,000 bucks, which will also be legal on the roads.
9. Toyota Aristo
If you want the 2jz gte, then you may look out for Toyota Aristo which is also known as a four-door supra. It is similar to that of Chaser, just add some luxury and bump the power output to about 300 horses. Unlike all the other cars people talk about that are super-powered like the is-300 or this or that, the 1997 Aristo is superpowered. It comes with the legendary 2jz gte that came in the mark 4. The mark 4 supra’s 2jz gte came only in two cars namely the mark 4 and this Aristo which explains why the 1jz is so beloved by drifting guys. This can be considered as the best buy of Japanese cars in 2022. You may be able to find examples of 2jz gte powered Aristo for around 5 to 10 thousand bucks, which is cheaper than buying a motor off of an importer.
