New Year’s Eve might not be quite as exciting this year as it has been historically (I know I have big plans that involve going to bed at 10:30, as God intended), but at least we can all agree that the new year does bring new opportunities to import old cars.
As a new crop of vehicles prepares to turn 25 in 2022 and comes one step closer to legally gracing America’s shores, Donut Media has prepared a list of 10 exciting cars that were introduced in 1997 that enthusiasts can get excited for.
The list includes:
EK9 Honda Civic Type R
Mitsubishi FTO GP Version R
Mitsubishi Pajero Evo
Ford Falcon XH XR8 Ute
Volkswagen Mk4 Golf VR5
LT1 TX1 London Black Cab
Toyota Century V12
Nissan Elgrand
R33 Nissan Skyline Nismo 400R
Honda NSX Type S
Read Also: The Toyota Century Is A V12-Powered Luxury Sedan That Was Aimed Strictly At Japan’s Elite
Although some of the cars were previously available for import, all of them have at least one special edition model that is genuinely worth considering if you’re sick of being seen in something that has been on the road for years.
The Mitsubishi FTO, for instance, got a facelift in ’97 that gave it more interesting looks. But that’s not all, the automaker also chose to introduce the GP Version R variant that year. Offered in white, red, or black, it featured HID headlights, an uprated suspension, a limited-slip diff, and a wild spoiler.
The R33 Nissan Skyline GT-R NISMO 400R is another special edition that was never sold in the States. Making 400 hp (405 PS/298 kW), it featured an engine that had first been designed for use at Le Mans, and featured a number of other notable upgrades.
Of course, just because these cars are now legal to import doesn’t mean they’ll be easy to import, but if you really must have the most unique car on the road, this is your chance to start looking. The way the used car market is going, you might even be able to make a profit on one of these, though I wouldn’t necessarily bet my net worth on it.