Ten Classic Cars You Need to Import Now!

Photography by Afshin Behnia and Daniil Matyash for Petrolicious

Lately, we’ve been feeling left out. There are many wonderful cars that much of the world has gotten to enjoy and yet for one reason or another were never shipped to the USA. We can pretty much import any car we want so long as it’s more than twenty-five years old. And so we asked you what you’d bring over with your own cash. There were some great suggestions but at the end of the day this is how we’d blow our hard-earned cash. We’re sure you’ll let us know what we’ve missed in the comments below. Have at it! Oh and if you’re a citizen or American resident, please make sure you sign our petition to decrease the twenty-five year waiting period to fifteen years. Thanks!

#10 Alpine A110–So close and yet… Coupling a gorgeous form with some powerful rally chops, Alpine had a hit on their hands that also won the very first World Rally Championship in 1973. And although Alpine also built them in France, they also manufactured the A110 right next-door in Mexico yet never sent them across the Rio Grande. Time to change that!

#9 Ford Escort MkI–Available with a variety of engines, some built by Lotus others by Cosworth, these cars were dominant in rallying in the late 1960s and early ’70s. While American cars were growing larger and heavier, Ford of Britain was building some light, nimble fun. Any Rally Sport trimmed MkI would be a blast!

Photography by Afshin Behnia and Daniil Matyash for Petrolicious

#8 Peugeot 205 T16–Straddling the line between the mundane FWD 205 and full-on race car, the 205 T16 had a transverse, mide-engine layout and four-wheel drive. It also made about 200hp (about half that of the racer). This car would be a blast, but alas only two hundred were ever built to homologate the car for Group B rallying. If you can’t find one, try a 205 GTI.

#7 Renault 5 Turbo–The first four hundred models were manufactured at the Alpine factory for homologation into Group 4 rallying. This car is so radically different from the normal 5 that sharing the name is almost comical. The biggest difference is the fact that the 5 Turbo has rear-wheel drive and a mid-mounted engine. Also it’s equipped with a big honkin’ turbo that helps the little 1.4L easily go from 0-60mph in less than seven seconds. It is the very definition of hot hatch.

Photography by Afshin Behnia and Daniil Matyash for Petrolicious

#6 Ford Falcon–The Falcon has been in production in Australia continuously since 1960. We’d skip most of the early US-based variants, and focus on the third generation (1972-’79). They’re muslce cars, sure, but they also sport four-wheel power disc-brakes (1973 and on). If we had to choose one though, we’d go with an early XB-GT with the 5.8L Cleveland (or big-port) engine. Need another reason? Ok, it was Mad Max’s car.

#5 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evo II–In the US we had perfectly nice and normal versions of the 190E. Unfortunately however, we never received the Cosworth-built monster that was the 2.5-16. And yeah, we’re still upset about it. The original brief to Cosworth was to build an engine for the 190 that MB could take rallying. However, appearing outgunned by Audi’s Ur-quattro, they took it touring car racing instead (in the DTM). In its final trim, the engine developed 235hp. Only 502 Evo IIs were ever built though, so they are scarce.

Photography by Afshin Behnia and Daniil Matyash for Petrolicious

#4 Nissan Skyline Hakosuka–Godzilla’s grandpa. In many ways, it’s like Japan’s Mustang: it’s got humble sedan roots but was built and designed to whoop everything, no matter how expensive or exotic. The particular model you want is the GT-R Coupe with the S20 motor (that made 160hp). It was stripped for racing and looks every bit the part. In a couple of months, we’d happily take the R32, too.

#3 Lancia Delta Integrale HF–I’ve never been lucky enough to drive one of these amazing machines. However, and take this with a grain of salt, if Forza and Gran Turismo are to be believed, this is the most neutral, balanced, easy-to-drive-fast car on Earth. In fact, it’s so good that we as Americans should be in mourning every day until we’ve driven one. Seriously, you should sell any organ you have to just to get your sweaty palms on this hot little Italian.

Photography by Afshin Behnia and Daniil Matyash for Petrolicious

#2 Porsche 959–A technological tour-de-force that helped Porsche establish its reputation in the world of all-wheel drive and insane speed. It was, in fact, the world’s fastest street-legal car when introduced, and depending on trim could achieve 197mph. Intended for Group B rallying, the 959 was immortalized in the US when Mr. Bill Gates’s personal car was impounded and stored for over thirteen years by the US Customs Service as it was never approved for importation by the Dept. of Transportation (before the Show and Display law was passed, which Bill helped push).

And finally, #1… Ferrari 288 GTO–How could this car not top the list? It has literally everything anyone could ever want from a sports car: a screaming, mid-mounted engine, rear-wheel drive, power, torque, styling to die for, and turbos (yes, it’s plural). Like many other cars listed before it, the GTO was built for Group B racing; however, it never got the chance to race as the series was cancelled just before the GTO got to prove its mettle. And therein lies its greatness: this car is revered and yet it never once saw the track. Why? Just look at it.

Images Sources: emercedesbenz.com, japanesenostalgiacar.com