Import Oddities: Going Against the Norm

[MedigoFlame]

We all would like to be able to import a car that was never sold in our country. There are those cars we all just wish for. However, I've been thinking, are there cars that people would love to import that the "common" crowd wouldn't think of? Cars that either no one else really thinks about bringing to the country. Going away from importing (or at least wishing to import) things like the Skyline GT-R R34, Silvia S15, Toyota Chaser, Mustang, or any other popular car that most people would like to bring to the country.

To make it simple, here's the question. What car would you import to your country that normally isn't a desired car of choice? Of course, opinions differ in what's a popular choice. Just curious to see what GTplanet's car nuts have to say. It can be a big list or a couple choices that you want to share. And please try not to fight or make fun about other's choices.

Here's mine in no particular order: (Of course, this is subject to change, since it would be a long list. But here's what's on my list so far)
Japan:
Nissan Elgrand (2nd Generation)
Daihatsu Midget II (Downright love these!)
Daihatsu Storia X4
Toyota Mark II Blit
Toyota Caldina GT-Four
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX Wagon (Probably doesn't belong as an odd import choice)
Toyota Alphard


Europe:
Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon
Alfa Romeo GTA


Australia:
Holden Ute
Ford Falcon XB

In a bit of a hurry before work, but this is all I have for now. Of course, not all of the cars I think are unusual are odd to others. I'm sure I will be corrected on some of these cars being considered unusual, but they may be unusual to everyone else in the my country.

If there is another thread like this, I do apologize.

 

[Bottoz]

Hilux Turbo Diesel 4x4.

 

[eiriksmil]

Put this on your list, Toyota Funcargo/Yaris Verso/Echo Verso. Mine will be exported to Canada or the US when I sell it..

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

Japan:

Mazda Eunos Cosmo
Mazda AZ-1
Mazda Rx-7 GSL-SE (Jspec version with turbo 12a)
Suzuki Cappuccino
Suzuki Swift

Europe:

Alfa Romeo SZ
Alfa Romeo 159 Sport Wagon JTD
Alfa Romeo 147 GT
Renault Clio V6
Renault Twingo 133 cup
Citroen C6
Citroen DS
Citroen SM
Peugeot 106
Peugeot 306
Peugeot 406 Coupe
Peugeot RCZ

I love cool French cars.

 

[ZohsixGT5]

EDIT: Didnt read the thread properly, of course the E36 is a common desirable car so disregard.

German: E36 M3 Estoril Blue with the 321hp S54 engine.

 

[Leonidae@MFT]

I'll just drop this one here..

 

[xNEVER-ONEx]

 

[Doog]

If I could import some cars to the US, I'd start a limo business. I'd use luxury cars found in Japan, mostly the Toyota Crown, but maybe a few others. But the Toyota Crown would be at the top of my list.

 

[TVC]

Porsche 993 RS

Porsche 993 GT2

Porsche 964 RS

That's what I can think of in about 10 seconds.

Or isn't a desired choice? Never mind then...

Peugeot 205, especially the T16 but I think that is desired so just the 205 in general.

 

[Anna+Reece]

/thread

 

[astrosdude91]

Alfa Romeo 159 Sport Wagon JTD

Oddly enough, I've seen one of these here in Houston:

Not sure what it was doing here. I couldn't see the plate. We get a lot of European cars like Seat's and Renault's here from Mexico. But these were never sold anywhere in Latin America. First newer Alfa I think I've ever seen, besides the 8C.

 

[Keef]

/thread

Always loved the simple elegance of the Century. The recent FS Hybrid concept keeps the same formula with more modern fit and finish.

Oddly enough, I've seen one of these here in Houston:

Not sure what it was doing here. I couldn't see the plate. We get a lot of European cars like Seat's and Renault's here from Mexico. But these were never sold anywhere in Latin America. First newer Alfa I think I've ever seen.

Diplomat maybe? I saw a few strange cars in NYC, one being a diplomat-plated GTV Spider.

 

[Joey D]

Those Alfa's are everywhere around me. Chrysler has started handing them out to their employees, I'm guessing they are designing a new station wagon.

For what I would import?

Mk2 Ford Focus ST
Ford Kuga
Renault Mégane Renaultsport 250
Peugeot RCZ

 

[Doog]

/thread

👍👍👍

 

[astrosdude91]

Maybe a first generation Toyota Soarer just to be different.

Or an R31 Skyline. Not nearly as popular as it's successors. But the GTS-R is still a cool little car. And they are old enough to be freely imported into the United States. I'm actually a bit surprised you don't see more R31's stateside. I thought the kids would go bananas over anything with a Skyline badge.

 

[Crash]

Oddly enough, I've seen one of these here in Houston:

Not sure what it was doing here. I couldn't see the plate. We get a lot of European cars like Seat's and Renault's here from Mexico. But these were never sold anywhere in Latin America. First newer Alfa I think I've ever seen, besides the 8C.

Even though they were out of the US market and haven't been back for a while, they've been running various Alfas around the country for a while now, for I presume, tests. I saw a couple of Michigan manufacturer-plated Alfa 159 running around a few years back in WA state.

 

[homeforsummer]

Daihatsu Midget II (Downright love these!)

This would be one of mine, too. There are a handful already in the UK. I've only ever seen two on the roads, but I think they're brilliant. I guarantee I'll own one at some point...

Also from Japan, the Mazda AZ-1. I think there are about five in the entire UK, so crazy rare.

From the U.S, there are plenty of cars I'd like, but none that would really work in the U.K. Frankly, you'd have to be mad or rather wealthy to drive any of the cool V8 stuff thanks to our gas prices.

Cool seeing the love for the Peugeot RCZ. Been driving one for the past week, brilliant bit of kit. Definitely a car I'd consider owning myself.

 

[Blitz187]

Nissan Cefiro A31 would be interesting imo. Saw a few nice ones while on vacation in various parts of Southeast Asia.

 

[NISM0_SKYLINE]

Century for sure
A couple Glorias Y32, and Y34
Honda City Turbo
Toyota Sport 800
Volga Gaz 21

Just to name a few.

 

[YSSMAN]

Citroen C4 Picasso

Citroen C6

Renault Twingo RS

Alfa Romeo 159

Jaguar XF 3.0S Diesel

BMW M550d

...Yes, a lot of French cars. You could probably just say, "if it's French, I'll take it."

 

[homeforsummer]

Brad, what you actually want is the facelifted XF, which looks even better...


Jaguar XF 3.0D Sport by Vitesse Photography, on Flickr

Really shifts too. 280-ish horsepower with that 3.0 diesel.

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

Ugh the Citroen C6 is so gorgeous. Why can't we have it here???

 

[homeforsummer]

Ugh the Citroen C6 is so gorgeous. Why can't we have it here???

They barely sell any in Europe. Can you imagine how poor sales would be in the US? Gorgeous cars though. I know several people who are buying them as soon as used prices dip a little further...

 

[Carlos]

Or an R31 Skyline. Not nearly as popular as it's successors. But the GTS-R is still a cool little car. And they are old enough to be freely imported into the United States. I'm actually a bit surprised you don't see more R31's stateside. I thought the kids would go bananas over anything with a Skyline badge.

It's anything but little But it doesn't look like the newer generations (wich were in The Fast-AF) so I think it's becaus of that. Beautiful car though. I would like to have one 👍

And do they sell Focus RS' in the US?

 

[eiriksmil]

No RSs. The closest they came was the SVT, wasn't it? Like an ST170 I guess..

On topic, in Canuckistan, three import oddities owned by the same guy..

 

[Joey D]

The closest they came was the SVT, wasn't it?

Yup, we are getting the ST very soon though. They are already starting to pop up around Michigan.

 

[Dennisch]

No RSs. The closest they came was the SVT, wasn't it? Like an ST170 I guess..

On topic, in Canuckistan, three import oddities owned by the same guy..

👍 👍 👍

A wise man.

A Midget would be awesome to import.

 

[E28]

Brad, what you actually want is the facelifted XF, which looks even better...

*White XF*

Really shifts too. 280-ish horsepower with that 3.0 diesel.

Wow. That looks really good in white.

I'd probably go for one of these:

Similar of the Midget, it's a Piaggio Ape. Been in production since 1949!

 

[Dennisch]

That has a 2 stroke engine. Seen a couple around here.

 

[Nish]

It's anything but little But it doesn't look like the newer generations (wich were in The Fast-AF) so I think it's becaus of that.

Come on man its lighter than a Ferrari F355 of around the same time, 1300kg is little car territory in my mind.

My selection would be a Wiesmann Roadster MF3
but will have to return as I cannot figure out how to post the image.