“Where horsepower meets conversation”
By Tim Harris · January 14, 2026
🎧 Have you had a chance to catch our recent talk with Caleb from RYN Motors?
Every January, a quiet but powerful shift happens in the car world.
No press conference.
No OEM launch.
No influencer hype.
Just math.
Thanks to the U.S. 25-Year Import Rule, a fresh class of cars becomes fully legal to import every year—and 2026 unlocks the model-year 2001 generation.
That means a whole lineup of cars we’ve lusted after for decades is now fair game: no FMVSS compliance, no EPA retrofits, no gray-market gymnastics.
If it was built in 2001 or earlier, it’s officially on the table.
Below is the Full Throttle Talk short list of the most interesting, desirable, and culturally significant cars that just crossed the line.
🇯🇵 JDM Icons (The Headliners)
These are the cars that made the 25-year rule famous—and for good reason.
Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 (2001 variants)
The legend itself.
RB26. ATTESA AWD. Peak ‘90s/early-2000s engineering.
Why it matters:
This is the last of the analog GT-Rs before Nissan went full modern. Prices won’t soften.
Nissan Silvia S15 (Spec-R)
Turbocharged, rear-drive, light, and endlessly tunable.
Why it matters:
One of the best driver’s chassis Nissan ever built—and still criminally underrated outside drift circles.
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII
The Evo before it became mainstream in the U.S.
Why it matters:
Raw, rally-bred, and far more mechanical than later Evolutions. This is the one purists want.
Honda Integra Type R (DC5 – JDM spec)
The real one—not the softened U.S. Acura version.
Why it matters:
High-revving, lightweight, perfectly balanced. One of Honda’s greatest hits.
Honda Civic Type R (EP3 – JDM)
A true Type R experience that Americans never officially got.
Why it matters:
Peak early-2000s Honda: screaming VTEC, low mass, zero nonsense.
🇪🇺 European Oddballs & Heroes
Not everything interesting came from Japan.
Renault Clio V6
Mid-engine. Rear-drive. Hatchback body.
Why it matters:
This thing should not exist—and that’s exactly why it’s special.
Volkswagen New Beetle RSi
All-wheel drive, widebody, limited production.
Why it matters:
It’s weird, rare, and completely unrepeatable in today’s regulatory environment.
Renault Avantime
A two-door luxury coupe-MPV hybrid that only the early 2000s could produce.
Why it matters:
Automotive design courage. Or madness. Possibly both.
BMW 3-Series Compact (E36)
Shorter wheelbase, different proportions, European-only flavor.
Why it matters:
A quirky alternative to the standard E36 sedan—lighter, rarer, and more interesting.
🌍 The Sleeper Category
Hyundai Terracan
Body-on-frame SUV with diesel options overseas.
Why it matters:
Simple, durable, and increasingly attractive as modern SUVs get more complicated.
What This Actually Means (The Practical Stuff)
If you’re new to importing, here’s the short version:
✅ 25 years old = federally legal
❌ No need to meet modern crash or emissions standards
📅 Eligibility is based on month and year of manufacture
📍 State registration rules still apply (California, we see you)
In other words:
If it’s a 2001 build, 2026 is your year.
📸 The Big Picture
This isn’t just about nostalgia—it’s about timing.
Supply is finite
Demand keeps rising
Analog, enthusiast-grade cars are no longer being made
Every year that passes, the 25-year rule unlocks fewer truly special cars.
The smart buyers are already sourcing, storing, and importing now—before prices catch up to legality.
Final Thought
If you’ve ever said,
“One day I’ll import one…”
That day is officially here.
And like every good automotive opportunity, the window won’t stay open forever.
— Tim Harris
🏁 The Full Throttle Talk Team
Where car culture still matters.
🎙️ Full Throttle Talk Podcast Plug: Tune in wherever you get your podcasts.
🎧️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/full-throttle-talk/id1797328371
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