Issue #6 · 3, 2026
The 25 Year Rule
Published August 3, 2026
Japanese Auto News
A rundown of newly eligible 2001-era JDM models notes the ST205 Celica GT-Four, GDB WRX STI, Evo VII, DC5 Integra Type R, and EP3 Civic Type R as standouts.
At an April product strategy event, Nissan CEO Ivan Espinosa confirmed a next-gen Skyline sedan featuring GT-R-inspired taillights and a likely twin-turbo V6, with a 2027 launch expected. A new GT-R R36 is also in the works.
Nissan will unveil the next-generation Skyline by the end of 2026, with development time cut in half using digital tools and lessons from China. The V38 will share underpinnings with the next Infiniti Q50.
Yen Snapshot
¥1 JPY =
$0.0063
USD · as of Aug 3, 2026
Live rate as of Aug 3, 2026. Don't forget to factor the 27.5% import duty into your landed cost — use the calculator for your exact numbers.
Section 122 Surcharge Expired July 24—Base 2.5% Duty Now in Effect
— Trade UpdateSection 122 Surcharge Expired July 24—Base 2.5% Duty Now in Effect
The 10% Section 122 reciprocal tariff on Japanese imports expired by statute on July 24, 2026, after hitting its 150-day limit. Vehicles 25+ years old now pay only the standard 2.5% MFN duty when properly classified under HTSUS 9903.94.04, exempt from the 25% Section 232 auto tariff. Newer Japanese cars revert to 2.5% base duty as well, though policy remains fluid. If you have entries filed before the cutoff, confirm your paperwork reflects the lapsed surcharge.
Featured From the Feed
1991 Honda NSX
NA1 · BLACK · 39000 km · 3000 cc
Black NA1 with only 39,000 km. Auction price is steep at ¥9.45M ($64k hammer / $71k landed), but ultra-low mileage first-gen NSXs have been climbing steadily and this one's in that rare sub-40k club.
Auction
¥9,450,000
USD Est.
$64,260
Landed
$71,060
2001 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI
CP9A · Red · 53000 km · 2000 cc
Red Evo VI, 53,000 km, at ¥3.79M ($25.7k / $32.5k landed). Clean example from the last of the narrow-body Evos. CP9A chassis never officially came stateside, and low-mile survivors are getting harder to find.
Auction
¥3,790,000
USD Est.
$25,772
Landed
$32,572
1998 Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution
V55W · white · 21000 km · 3500 cc · Grade 4
Pajero Evolution with just 21,000 km—grade 4, white, ¥2.9M ($19.7k / $26.5k landed). One of 2,500 homologation specials built for Dakar. 3.5L V6, widebody flares, Recaro buckets. Cult status in Japan, largely unknown here.
Auction
¥2,900,000
USD Est.
$19,720
Landed
$26,520
1993 Toyota Supra
JZA80 · GRAY · 48000 km · 3000 cc · Grade 4
1993 JZA80 Supra, gray, 48,000 km, grade 4. Auction at ¥6.5M ($44.2k / $51k landed). Twin-turbo 2JZ-GTE models continue to trade north of $50k landed even at 30+ years old.
Auction
¥6,500,000
USD Est.
$44,200
Landed
$51,000
1999 Nissan Silvia S15
S15 · white · 124000 km · 2000 cc
White '99 S15, 124k km, ¥1.4M ($9.5k / $16.3k landed). Entry-level spec with higher mileage, but still a legit Silvia at a workable number for someone chasing the chassis, not the trophy.
Auction
¥1,400,000
USD Est.
$9,520
Landed
$16,320
2000 Toyota Chaser
JZX100 · WHITE · 120000 km · 2500 cc
2000 JZX100 Chaser, white, 120,000 km, ¥3.625M ($24.6k / $31.4k landed). Highest-priced Chaser in this feed by a margin. No grade listed; likely modified or rare trim driving the premium.
Auction
¥3,625,000
USD Est.
$24,650
Landed
$31,450
2001 Toyota Mark II Tourer
JZX100 · SILVER · 123000 km · 2500 cc · Grade 4
2001 Mark II Tourer (JZX100), silver, grade 4, 123k km. ¥2.205M ($14.9k / $21.7k landed). Same 1JZ-GTE platform as the Chaser, slightly more restrained body. Strong daily-driver candidate with solid grade.
Auction
¥2,205,000
USD Est.
$14,994
Landed
$21,794
Landed cost estimates include shipping (~$1,500), US customs duty (27.5%), broker fees, and port handling. Actual costs vary. Use the calculator for your exact numbers →
The 2001 Model Year Just Crossed—Here's What Actually Matters
July 2001 production units are now eligible for U.S. import, and this month brought a genuinely strong crop. The Lancer Evolution VII—Mitsubishi's rallye-bred icon with the 4G63T and ACD—is finally here. Honda's DC5 Integra Type R, with its K20A red-top naturally aspirated engine revving to 8,000 rpm, is crossing. And the GDB Impreza WRX STI, complete with twin-scroll turbo and spec variants America never saw, rounds out the trio. These aren't tepid sedan derivatives: 2001 was peak pre-merger Japan, and it shows.
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII (CT9A)
First of the sharp-nose Evos. 4G63T with Active Center Differential, titanium turbine, and rally-proven all-wheel-drive. The GT-A brought a paddle-shift auto; the RS was the stripped rally homologation car. America got a watered-down VIII in 2003—this is the real one.
Honda Integra Type R (DC5) (DC5)
K20A 'red-top' engine, 220 hp naturally aspirated, 8,000 rpm redline. Brembo brakes, Recaro seats, close-ratio six-speed, and a limited-slip diff. The Acura RSX Type-S had the same block but detuned cams and no LSD. Coupe-only JDM spec is the one people want.
Subaru Impreza WRX STI (GDB) (GDB)
Bug-eye sedan with the EJ207 twin-scroll turbo and DCCD. Spec C models stripped weight and added mechanical LSD, closer-ratio gears, and driver-focused tuning. America's 2004 STI was based on this platform but came years late and significantly heavier.
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