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Auction Finds
Curated JDM vehicles from Japanese auctions with estimated landed costs — first look before they hit the open market.
Regulation Updates
When import laws, duty rates, or the 25-year list changes, you'll hear about it first.
Market Pricing
Monthly JDM price trend reports — which models are rising, which are softening, and why.
Deep Dive Guides
Exclusive long-form guides on specific models, import processes, and real importer stories.
Issue #9 · 24, 2026
Auction Volume: When Supply Tightens and What That Means
Weekly JDM auction picks, news, and market intel.
Published
August 24, 2026
Japanese Auto News
Vehicles manufactured in 2001 now qualify for 25-year rule exemptions from EPA and DOT compliance, and are exempt from Section 232 tariffs under HTS 9903.94.04—saving importers $12,500 to $75,000+ versus modern vehicle tariffs.
Federal Register notice published August 19, 2026 updates documentation requirements for USMCA-qualifying automobile imports seeking preferential tariff treatment. Importers may begin submitting under the new procedures immediately.
August 2026 auction pricing analysis shows strong export demand from Russia, Tanzania, and UAE driving competitive bidding. African markets accounted for approximately 136,000 units YTD, with clean-grade vehicles attracting higher bids across all categories.
Yen Snapshot
¥1 JPY =
$0.0063
USD · as of Aug 24, 2026
Live rate as of Aug 24, 2026. Don't forget to factor the 27.5% import duty into your landed cost — use the calculator for your exact numbers.
25-Year Vehicles Exempt from Section 232 Tariff, But Not Reciprocal Duty
— Trade Update25-Year Vehicles Exempt from Section 232 Tariff, But Not Reciprocal Duty
Vehicles 25 years or older at time of importation are exempt from the 25% Section 232 tariff when properly classified under HTS 9903.94.04. However, reciprocal tariffs based on country of origin still apply. Most Japan-origin classics face a total of 15% ad valorem duty (inclusive of the standard 2.5% base rate). This carveout saves importers $12,500 to $75,000+ on typical classic vehicle values versus modern imports, which are subject to the full Section 232 surcharge. Eligibility is calculated from exact manufacture date, not model year—so a car built in October 2001 becomes eligible in October 2026, not January. Proper customs broker guidance and correct HTS coding are critical to avoid the 27.5% tariff applied to non-exempt vehicles.
Featured From the Feed
2000 Nissan Silvia S15
S15 · blue · 0 km · 2000 cc
Zero-kilometer S15 in blue—auction sheet grade not available, which is unusual but not unheard of on low-production or dealer-held cars. Landed estimate is $13,600, which positions it as a project or track base rather than collector-grade. Verify history before committing.
Auction
¥1,000,000
USD Est.
$6,800
Landed
$13,600
1998 Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution
V55W · white · 21000 km · 3500 cc · Grade 4
Pajero Evolution in white with 21,000 km and a grade 4 sheet—a rare homologation SUV with the 6G74 3.5L V6. Auction price of ¥3.9M reflects scarcity; these seldom appear clean. Landed at $33,320, it's priced for the Mitsubishi collector who knows what this is.
Auction
¥3,900,000
USD Est.
$26,520
Landed
$33,320
1989 Toyota Supra
JZA80 · Black · 82000 km · 3000 cc · Grade 3.5
JZA80 Supra listed at 82,000 km with a 3.5 grade. Chassis code suggests this is a twin-turbo (2JZ-GTE), but verify the actual engine designation on the auction sheet—mislabeling happens. At $12,920 landed, condition and service records will determine whether this is a buy or a rebuild.
Auction
¥900,000
USD Est.
$6,120
Landed
$12,920
1998 Toyota Chaser
JZX100 · white · 114000 km · 3000 cc · Grade 3.5
JZX100 Chaser Tourer in white, 114,000 km, grade 3.5, landed at $21,760. Clean Chasers with the 1JZ are holding value as drift-tax pushes up anything rear-drive and turbocharged. Expect some wear at this mileage, but the grade suggests solid bones.
Auction
¥2,200,000
USD Est.
$14,960
Landed
$21,760
Japan Auction Market: Strong Export Demand and Steady Supply
Through mid-2026, Japanese auction dynamics remain defined by export-driven bidding and stable availability across key platforms. USS Auction data shows consistent supply levels from April through November 2025, with strong overseas demand from Russia, Tanzania, UAE, and South Africa shaping competitive pricing across popular chassis codes. African markets accounted for approximately 136,000 units year-to-date through Q1 2026, and hybrid models—especially Prius and Leaf—continue to draw sustained interest. Classic JDM sports models like the Supra, RX-7, and Skyline GT-R remain auction favorites in 2025-2026, with prices for clean, low-mileage examples rising due to limited supply. The yen-dollar exchange rate sits at ¥163.87 as of August 24, and online bidding platforms have expanded global access to weekly auction inventory.
Honda Integra Type R (DC5) (DC5)
K20A engine with 220 hp, close-ratio six-speed, and VTEC at 6,000 rpm. The first-generation DC5 debuted in 2001 as a spiritual successor to the DC2, with tighter steering geometry and revised suspension. Rare in the US market and highly sought by track-day enthusiasts.
Subaru Impreza WRX STI (GDB) (GDB)
EJ207 turbocharged flat-four with driver-controlled center differential, Brembo brakes, and wide-body fenders. The GDB-generation STI arrived in 2001 with stiffer chassis tuning and improved aero. Rally pedigree and tunability make it a mainstay of the import scene.
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII (CT9A)
4G63 with Active Yaw Control, titanium turbine, and factory torque-vectoring before the term entered the lexicon. The Evo VII marked the switch to the CT9A chassis and introduced ACD (Active Center Differential). Cultural significance in street tuning and motorsport remains unmatched.
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Issue Archive
Issue #9 · August 24, 2026
Auction Volume: When Supply Tightens and What That Means
USS is steady. Chaser Tourers are hitting 2.2M. Plus: how the 25-year tariff carveout is rewiring pricing on both sides of eligibility.
Issue #8 · August 17, 2026
August 2001: The Low-Mileage Problem & What It Tells You
August 2001 cars are here. A zero-km S15 hit the feed. Here's why that's a flag, not a feature — and what auction spread tells you this week.
Issue #7 · August 10, 2026
August 2001: When JDM Went to College
August 2001 models cross the line this week — DC5, RX-7 Spirit R, and a slate of everyday legends that never saw the States.
Issue #6 · August 3, 2026
2001's Big Three: Evo VII, DC5, and the Spec C Era
Late '01 brought the Evo VII, the DC5 Integra Type R's high-revving K20A, and the first GDB STI. Here's what's crossing now—and what you're paying.
Issue #5 · July 27, 2026
July Crossed the 25 Year Threshold — and the Tariff Line
2001 reaches the midpoint: newly legal chassis, a tariff regime that expired this week, and what you're seeing at auction now.
Issue #4 · July 20, 2026
2001 Arrives: Evo VII, S15 Late Production & What You're Actually Paying
Late-2001 models hit eligibility this month. Plus: what tariff treatment really looks like for 25+ year imports, and 8 auction picks worth your attention.
Issue #3 · April 17, 2026
S15 Values, Purple Chasers & the Tariff One-Year Mark
S15 Silvia landed under $21K, factory purple JZX100, and one year of the 27.5% tariff — here's what actually happened to the market.
Issue #2 · April 2, 2026
The S15 Era Begins
Supra MkIV under $30K landed, NSX in blue, and the S15 Silvia just crossed the 25-year threshold. Plus: how to read a Japanese auction sheet.
Issue #1 · March 25, 2026
The 25 Year Rule
NSX NA1, JZX100 Chaser, and the Class of 2001 is officially open for imports. Plus: how to find a reputable auction agent.