Our Two Cents: Vehicles we would import to the U.S.
In this week’s installment of Our Two Cents, we asked the team here at Hagerty Media to first consider what they love about their car, their collection of cars, or their theoretical collection of cars. From there, they had the opportunity to expand that collection with one vehicle that could be legally imported into the United States. Free of charge, too—because last time I checked, dreams don’t cost a thing!
So let’s see what they came up when asked the question: What vehicle would you import and add to your collection, and why?
1971 Nissan 2000GT-R
Why would I want to import anything? Everybody knows the best autos are made right here in the good ol’ U-S-of-A! But, if I had to choose, it would be the 1971 Nissan 2000 GT-R. The Japanese coupe reads like a 7/8th-scale muscle car with enough ’60s swagger to make even the most patriotic hot-rodder swoon. I would want a left-hand drive one though—my brain can’t flip like that. — Cameron Neveu
Mercury M-series
I’d go with a 1950s Canadian-market Mercury M-series pickup. It is little else than a rebadged Ford F-100 truck, but it would be a fun way to have something that’s dead-simple American with a slightly funky flair. My wife is Canadian; she’d probably get a kick out of it, too. — Eric Weiner
1994 Audi RS2 Avant
I’ve flirted with shifting some things in my accumulation of vehicles to make room for a GT-R, but at the end of the day, I don’t want to have to reverse through the drive-through window at McDonald’s. It’s also time to replace the station wagon, an ’01 Volvo V70. So if I’m forced to import something, it might be a good idea to fill the Home Depot–hauler niche, too. That leaves one very specific answer: the Audi RS2 Avant. I’d prefer one that’s been hit but well-repaired, so I won’t be as concerned about preserving it. — Eddy Eckart
1990 Holden Maloo HSV
Party up front, work out back: Having owned, and liked, a Ford Ranchero and Chevrolet El Camino, I’d probably be interested in a 1990–92 Holden Maloo, Australia’s version of the El Camino.
Holden, GM’s Australian manufacturer, had a Holden Special Vehicles division, which took the Holden ute (that’s what they call car-based trucks down under) and hot-rodded it with a 5.0-liter V-8 and a lot of nice performance features, right down to a Momo steering wheel. “An exciting mix of good ol’ Aussie ute and HSV magic makes for a fun classic,” says Australia’s Carsguide website, and who am I to argue? — Steven Cole Smith
1990 Toyota Celsior
I once stated that the Lexus LS400 blew everyone away in 1990, and nothing has changed my mind since then. Except for maybe its JDM sistership named Celsior, as this Toyota had more technology available than the stateside Lexus. Those items included a navigation screen, a VIP-level rear seat accommodations with redundant cabin controls, decadent velour upholstery (okay, some early LS400s did come with velour), and a fax machine in the glove box. I want a fax machine in my next luxury car, and that will never change. — Sajeev Mehta
1993 Ford Falcon EB XR8 Tickford Sprint
Give me Ford of Australia’s mainstream sedan with a 5.0 V-8 and five-speed and a suspension breathed on by Tickford Engineering. It is basically a four-door Mustang but better. I have very fond memories of hooning one of these through the Grampians National Park west of Melbourne back in the day, and will always have a soft spot for it. — Aaron Robinson
1996 Subaru Impreza Gravel Express
This is an affordable JDM wagon with a WRX motor, and unique and model-specific OEM styling additions that predate pretty much all of the cross-country and all-road-type wagons that came later. The Gravel Express is easy to modify in multiple directions, and it has an excellent name that alludes to its capability and the Impreza’s rallying pedigree in general. — Alex Sobran
1996 Ford Ka
I will take a first-generation Ford Ka, the tiny European-market city car that looked utterly unlike anything else when it debuted in 1996. I like small cars and this one is tiny indeed and its jellybean styling has aged well. Handling dynamics were done under supervision of the famous Brit Richard Parry-Jones, who also was responsible for the first-gen Ford Focus’s lauded chassis tuning. — Joe DeMatio
Chevy Opala
I’ve wanted a Chevy Opala for as long as I’ve known they’ve existed, which is about 10 years. They’re based on the Opel Rekord C and were sold in Brazil. Powered by 250-cube inline-sixes, the SS coupes were basically Brazil’s muscle cars, and they look fantastic. I have daydreamed about getting my hands on one and swapping in a hot-rodded version of GM’s 4.2-liter DOHC inline-six. — Brandan Gillogly
1996 Nissan Stagea 260RS
I would grab a Nissan Stagea 260RS. Why? Well because it is essentially a GT-R wagon. A creation by Autech (a tuning and modifying subsidiary of Nissan), the Stagea Station wagon received the running gear out of an R33 GT-R. While they don’t look that great in their standard configuration, we’re in luck: Bolting on an R34 GT-R front clip is no problem and a common upgrade. — Greg Ingold
Lada Niva
I think tiny 4x4s are pretty cool, so I’ve always had a thing for the Lada Niva. They’re cheap, reliable, and absurdly capable, with a locking center differential and two-speed transfer case. Probably pretty easy to put back on all four wheels if it rolls over, too. I know this video is fake, but I’m pretty sure the off-road half pipe is well within a Niva’s wheelhouse. — Stefan Lombard
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Looking southward: an IKA Torino from Argentina–the coolest looking and best handling 60s vintage Rambler, complete with (up to) a 248 hp in-line six with Webers, handling package and 4 on the floor. Or how about a pair of Renault Alpines from south of the border–an Interlagos from Brazil, or a Dinalpin from Mexico. Finally, a Puma GTE from Brazil…
Of the cars chosen here, Eddy Eckart is the winner. Audi was leaps and bounds ahead in interior design at the time. Having owned two Audis of the era (an ’89 and a ’94), I became spoiled on what I thought was a standard for interior design, execution and materials. The one-piece seamless dashes with padded soft-touch feedback along with switch gear that was aesthetically designed and functionally arranged yielded a cockpit that was a marvel to behold. And Audi’s use of red lighting made the whole experience more pleasing and unique at night. And that’s just the interior! RS is enough said about the running gear.
Years ago I bought an ’87 Lada Niva at a Sherrif’s Auction sale in downriver Detroit, Michigan. Story was the Canadian owner drove it over to a bar in Detroit from Windsor, Ontario and got into a bar fight. He cooled off for 30 days in a jail cell on our side of the river and the Niva was impounded. When he got out of jail he headed back to Canadia and left the poor little Lada in the storage lot. I bought it ($500!!!) and it was terrible. Eventually traded it on a nice 1974 Camaro and I didn’t miss the Lada at all.
I’ve wanted a Peugeot 106 Rallye for years. Also a Citroen CX Loadrunner for Home Depot trips.
No one jumping on the Opala wagon? That one really interests me. First – it’s a 2dr wagon, how can you not like that? What I’m trying to figure out is the sides have a 66-67 chevelle look, the front lights, 71 Chevelle; flat hood and general front clip square shape? Late 70’s. The rear taillights – ‘65 biscayne. It’s like GM shipped a bunch of leftovers to Brazil and said – here, build a car. And they did! I’d love to hot rod that thing!
That’s what I was thinking, being a long time Chevy guy. Very familiar looking group of “similar but mismatched” parts, right?
Being honest, I just don’t see the attraction to this bunch. But I DID spend 50 years maintaining mostly American iron. The exception was a few early years with the 60s-70s British vehicles… Jaguars, MGs, Triumphs, Austin Healeys… and some “round” Volvos, too.
I still like the way the old SUs add to drivability just as Harley found out with the CV carbs. Smooth and strong… fun to drive.
after looking at your list:
the maloo had a unique to australia and NZ 5 litre. the 308ci (actually 304) is based on no exisiting chevolet engine. meaning if and when it breaks down parts will be a pain to source.
the ford falcon is a different kettle of fish. in australia, this is a LARGE car. meaning bigger than the sierra (mercury mekur)
and uses a mustang (1983-1995) EFI 302w the sprint was a handling packackage and a few little go faster parts to make a average V8 less average.
if you want something unique: id be looking for the lesser known NC II ford fairlaine SVO yesits a excecutives limo but made faster by (australian SVO Mick Webb) he only made 20 of these cars full stop.
the newest car you can have is a 1998 or the series 1 AU falcon. keep your eye on youtube for a channel called redriven. i own an AU and i would recommend one. the 6 is a engine the usa should have got (predessor to the barra)
but the 97 introduced the ford EL “investment” GT a unique bodykit on normal XR8 ford falcon or basically all looks no real horsepower to match
Australian Falcon XB. I tried for years and couldn’t make it happen. Bought a ’73 Mustang just because it had a Mach I hood on it, still have a 6-71 and Scott injection system in the basement. There are companies that do it now but it’s crazy money, and I wanted to be the only one….That Niva video looks amazing for a fake that old.
Great. Now that I know it exists I too want a Chevy Opala. 😛
Lada Niva…My Eurospec Ferrari 328 lost a side marker light. It had been brought up to US specs when imported. So, realizing that FIAT owned Ferrari at that time, a quick ebay search and Lada Niva side marker lights were the perfect fit. LOL
Ford Nugget, ‘86-‘99. They’re all over the place in Europe. Small & affordable, something we don’t see much in the States.
Nissan Stagea? I bet that the VP of Product Naming at the time used to work at Triumph.
I’m a Brazilian national, and I agree about the Chevrolet Opala, it’s a ‘hybrid’ car derived from the German Opel Rekord Series C, Opel Commodore Series A. I can help you rewrite and edit your text. Here’s a clearer and corrected version of your text:
“This car holds a special place in my heart as it was a part of my childhood and youth. Another interesting car made under license in Brazil was the Dodge Charger R/T. It was essentially a facelifted version of the Dodge Dart (before 1970), transformed into a ‘Muscle Car’ for us. The car had a front grill that was adapted to resemble the famous 1969 Charger. I even had one myself, a 1976 Brazilian version that was in pristine condition! Take a look for yourself, it was a perfect fit!”
I purchased a 1988 Austin Rover Mini Mayfair in Spokane Wa from an Airforce couple who had been stationed in England. It had already been cleared thru customs and was licensed in WA state. I put it on a boat and shipped to my home in Kona Hawaii. When I took it in for the required safety inspection they got nervous because it is RHD. I was then told it could not be lic. in Hawaii because they still went by the Gray Market laws which in short said if a vehicle was built after 1967 and never marketed in the US it could not be in the US without the required conversions, which by the way, no shops left in the US that once brought cars to US standard. Back on the boat to Idaho. 2 years later Hawaii DMV got a new director, I sent her a letter and was told of course it could be in Hawaii as it was over 25 years old. My 1988 Mini Mayfair now resides in Kona after 3 boat trips and dealing with a bungling bureaucracy.
Might be fun to bring one of the South American ’70s Ford Maverick station wagons up to the US; put in a 302 and leave it outwardly stock. Would cause some head-scratching on the street!