How often do you see Nismos?

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Ryan81

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I mean in real life? I live in the UK and have only recalled seeing one in my lifetime. Even then, I don't know if it was a genuine Nismo Skyline R34 or if it simply had a few Nismo add-ons like an exhaust, spoiler, stickers, etc. How common are they in North America or in other parts of Europe?
Still waiting for one to show up in the used dealership lol. I really want a Nismo Fairlady or a 400R......
 
As for North America:

Near zero legit Nismo cars in the US, especially street driven and even semi-legally registered. There might be some grey imports (snuck in at the federal level but registered through lax state DMVs), or a few of the Motorex R32-R34s, but the only RHD Nissan even eligible for importation anymore is the R33.

Canada and Mexico might have some. In addition to grey imports, Canada has a blanket 15 year importation exception, so pre-1995 cars could be brought in without a hassle. Mexico...if they even have laws down there, I'd imagine federal law enforcement has much bigger problems.
 
So why are so many Nissans/Nismos illegal in North America, Mike? I can't believe it's because of emission regulations since you have 8.0L jobs like the Viper lol.
 
Almost never, but I know someone who has imported a Nismo 350Z. Don't know or it is a real one or it has the Nismo parts fitted later on though.
 
I saw a nice red Nismo 350Z S-tune driving around the streets here in Alaska. I turned my head to look at it as it drove by, saw the Nismo badge and Nismo paintjob, and my jaw instantly dropped.
 
I've seen a few NISMO 350Z and 370Zs around.

Then again, they sell them here and they're not anywhere near as hot as elsewhere. (Basically aero kit, suspension/brake work and exhaust work)
 
Ok, so is the Nismo Fairlady Z Z-tune (Z33) a real life car or is it one of these PD creations? I went on youtube and the only vids that had it were those from GT4. The 270R and 400R are ultra-rare and only 50 270R's and 44 400R's were produced.
Can't seem to find any other info on the Fairlady Z-tune. I've seen a Nismo S-tune but not a real life Z-tune.
 
The ultimate nismo is the R34 Z-tune. Look that beast up if you are a fan of nismo's.

As for seeing them in real life, pretty much everything with a nismo sticker on it is just a fake. However nismo does make bodykits, so it's not that uncommon to find a nismo bodykit on a car. Real nismo car's are insanely rare, even in japan.
 
I hope to own a Nismo 370z sometime.

I love this car... even though Nissan messed up and didn't fit the car with oil cooler or beefier LSD(needed to be a proper track car).

I have yet to see any Nismos in person on the street, other then the truck.
 
Ryan81
So why are so many Nissans/Nismos illegal in North America, Mike? I can't believe it's because of emission regulations since you have 8.0L jobs like the Viper lol.
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That's exactly why.

Those cars were never tested for emissions/safety in the US, and since they didn't fill out the correct paperwork; no one can have them.

Federal regulators are a bad joke.
 
BrutherSuperior
That's exactly why.

Those cars were never tested for emissions/safety in the US, and since they didn't fill out the correct paperwork; no one can have them.

Federal regulators are a bad joke.
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Wasn't it also that certain models weren't crash tested in the U.S?
 
I see 350Z/370Z Nismo models every so often, but I can't recall seeing any other models in the past.
 
I seen a NISMO Frontier just yesterday here in Canada :)

nismo-frontier.jpg


I'm not sure if these are hard to find in the US but fairly popular in Canada. Just comes with wheels, suspension and maybe a cold air intake...
 
GenkoMax
Wasn't it also that certain models weren't crash tested in the U.S?
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Yes & no.

For instance, you can build a kit car with any engine you please...as long as it retains its smog related hardware and passes a sniffer. Want to put a new engine into an old car? Needs to retain the smog equipment.

You can thank the great state of California and the Clean Air Act for that one.

Crash testing is easy to get around if you claim the vehicle is a kit car. You can buy a new Shelby Cobra clone from a number of builders...you just can't get one w/an engine.

Even though a VIN may be riveted to the cowl and other places in the car, it's really for the engine. Once again, look to clone cars and kit cars. Often, you swap over the driveline AND the VIN#. The body, frame, and usual bits that make a car a car are not transferred over. Just an engine, ECU, and a VIN. Perfectly legal.

But use an engine that some slob at the EPA didn't give their stamp of approval for...and oh my...you'll have more rights in Guantanamo Bay.
 
I have a nismo S tune branded 350z... It's just aero parts and stickers. I had to upgrade the intake and pipes to make it a proper S tune with nismo parts. I bought it in the states. A proper car from nismo isn't enough for the us market as you could get a z06 for the same price as importing.

GM locked down the import market also so you doubt see many old skylines but they are all over up here in canada...
 
Ryan81
I mean in real life? I live in the UK and have only recalled seeing one in my lifetime. Even then, I don't know if it was a genuine Nismo Skyline R34 or if it simply had a few Nismo add-ons like an exhaust, spoiler, stickers, etc. How common are they in North America or in other parts of Europe?
Still waiting for one to show up in the used dealership lol. I really want a Nismo Fairlady or a 400R......
Click to expand...

hey ryan, i got a silver 400R if you would like to trade for it.
shoot me an offer
 
Where I live, I see alot.

There are a number of RHD skylines here 32,33 and 34. As for legit nismo cars, there are quite a lot of nismo Z cars
 
Mike240SX
As for North America:

Near zero legit Nismo cars in the US, especially street driven and even semi-legally registered. There might be some grey imports (snuck in at the federal level but registered through lax state DMVs), or a few of the Motorex R32-R34s, but the only RHD Nissan even eligible for importation anymore is the R33.

Canada and Mexico might have some. In addition to grey imports, Canada has a blanket 15 year importation exception, so pre-1995 cars could be brought in without a hassle. Mexico...if they even have laws down there, I'd imagine federal law enforcement has much bigger problems.
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I've seen three in canton MI. All 350Z's guess how many GTR's i've seen in the us. Just one. Sadface.jpg
 
I've seen several of them (Nismo 350/370z, not Skyline/G series) at autox locally. They also have had a few at a local dealer along with a couple of gt-r's.
 
Yeah when I wrote my post I forgot about those "Nismo" Frontiers, 350Zs and 370Zs they sold/sell in US dealerships.

But since they're pretty much stock models with some minor performance or aero bits, I don't really consider them in the same ballpark as the "real" Nismo re-worked vehicles like the 400R, 270R, 380RS, and the S/R-Tune R32s and R34s. THOSE are the ones I was referring to being in super-short supply.
 
350/370z quite a bit. Nismo Stagea 260RS, quite a bit. 32 GTR N1 (not nismo but close), a few times. Other Nismos... never.
 

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