![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.supercars.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/1-Lotus-Elise-S1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nVia: Lotus<\/a><\/p>\n The definitive lightweight British sports cars got to the US shores only in 2005 as the 111R and the reason for that was its noncompliance with United States\u2019 safety regulations. But, as the Elise got introduced in 1996, the original Rover-powered S1 can now be legally imported stateside.<\/p>\n Even though it was powered by a measly 118 horsepower Rover K-Series engine which turned out to be prone to a few issues, the S1 Elise<\/a> was altogether an amazing great car, being only 1,598 lb in weight and designed specifically for extracting surgically precise handling. The introduction of the Elise was a pivotal point in Lotus\u2019 history, making the original iteration a valuable modern classic. On the other hand, should one want it for its driving abilities, it\u2019s also the lightest foundation for any further modifications.<\/p>\n Price range: $20,000 – $40,000<\/p>\n Via: Motor1<\/a><\/p>\n One of the greatest injustices out there is that Renault made it to the US only as a forgettable LeCar, leaving all the fun to its native European continent. Fortunately, the majority of heated up R5s have long turned 25, the Clio Williams is available for import too and for 2021, there\u2019s another amazing Renault joining the list of cars you could and should bring to this side of the Atlantic, especially if you believe the before mentioned Elise isn\u2019t focused enough.<\/p>\n The birthplace of the Renault Sport Spider<\/a> is in Dieppe, the same place where Renault developed its racing programme under the Renault Sport division. Given that Renault won five out of six F1 constructors titles between 1992 and 1997 as an engine supplier for Williams, it’s safe to say that the Renault Sport Spider came during the brand\u2019s golden era in motorsports.<\/p>\n This trackday-friendly 2000 lb open top was built around a lightweight aluminum chassis and was powered by a mid-mounted 16-valve 2.0-liter F7R inline four from the famed Clio WIlliams hot hatch, pushing 150 horsepower to the rear wheels. The composite body is unlike any other sports car from the era, with a go-kart-meets-concept-car design, butterfly doors, tiny wind deflector as standard and an optional windshield starting from 1997. Originally, the Sport Spider was built for one-make racing, but in the end, around 1800 were made for track and street use.<\/p>\n Price range: $40,000 – $60,000<\/p>\n Via: Twitter<\/a><\/p>\n The iconic R33-generation Skyline<\/a> could be imported to the US starting from last year, but 2021 opens the possibility to import a rare commemorative, the GT-R LM Limited. It was unveiled in May 1996, coinciding with Nissan\u2019s entry to the 1996 24 Hours of Le Mans<\/a> in GT1 class. In the end, only one out of two entered cars finished the race at 15th overall, but what the Japanese market got is a pretty sweet limited edition Godzilla.<\/p>\n Built in just 188 copies out of which 102 are V-Spec, the R33 GT-R LM Limited painted exclusively in BT2 Championship Blue with commemorative badging. The drivetrain didn\u2019t differ from the regular R33 GT-R, but the LM Limited\u00a0 had an enhanced body kit featuring more efficient cooling ducts, a unique lip splitter and a carbon fiber rear wing with Gurney flaps for more drag.<\/p>\n Recently, these Nissans were changing hands for high five figure sums, with one example being sold for the equivalent of $82,710 at Silverstone Auctions\u2019 The May Sale 2021. On a side note, if you’re thinking outside of the box, you can get the same RB26DETT and a lot of shared R33 Skyline mechanics for less cash if you go for the Nissan Stagea wagon in Autech 260RS version, also available to import starting from 2021.<\/p>\n Price range: $80,000-$100,000<\/p>\n Via: Classic Driver<\/a><\/p>\n We tend to look at British grand tourers as opulent and aristocratic cars, but the TVR Cerbera<\/a> really begs to differ. With its wild design inside and out and a palette of oh-so-90s colors to make it pop, the Cerbera is a working class hooligan on wheels. When you add the name of a mythical three-headed canine, what you\u2019re getting is a perfect antithesis to all those uptight Bentleys<\/a> and Aston Martins<\/a>.<\/p>\n Peter Wheeler\u2019s disregard for modern safety features was the NHTSA’s biggest nightmare, so it\u2019s no wonder the American customers never got to buy one. However, the inaugural 1996 Cerbera is now unlocked, so let\u2019s see what it brings to the table besides the crazy mirror-mounted door buttons and MK3 Fiesta tail lights.<\/p>\n The Cerbera Speed Eight ditched the Rover V8 in favor of a bespoke engine, the all-aluminum, 4.2-liter 75\u00b0 AJP8 V8 developed by Al Meling, John Ravenscroft and Peter Wheeler. This eight banger was basically a race car engine for the road, featuring forged pistons and connecting rods, a flat-plane crank and interestingly enough, 2 valves per cylinder. In a car weighing merely 2,425 lb, the 360 horsepower powerhouse guaranteed a thrilling fully analog ride, not always safe, but definitely worth the risks.<\/p>\n Price range: $20,000 – $40,000<\/p>\n Via: Drive.com.au<\/a><\/p>\n When talking about 25-year-old cars, our eyes are usually on European and JDM classics, leaving Australia flying under the radar. To do the land down under some justice, here\u2019s a burning yellow Holden HSV<\/a> GTS-R for your consideration. A rumor from way back suggested that all 85 cars were painted in this hue because they started their lives as a lot of unsold Holden Commodore taxis, but in fact, they were based on the high performing HSV GTS with some extra input from Holden Special Vehicle division.<\/p>\n The oh so yellow XU-3 Yellah body was adorned with an imposing rear spoiler and carbon fiber was used throughout: on the side skirts, front and rear bumpers and the wing. To erase any doubt that it\u2019s a very special car, the GTS-R got blacked out three-spoke wheels and large graphics on both of its rear doors, courtesy of Ian Callum. The icing on the cake was the engine, a stroked version of the Australian 5.0-liter Holden 304 V8, now displacing 5.7 liters.<\/p>\n The increase in size came hand in hand with more go-fast goodies and the result was 288 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque. For extra $10,000 over the $75,000 price tag, one could also get the HRT Optimised spec, giving the V8 308 horses and 332 lb-ft of torque, bringing the GTS-R a step closer to cars Holden Racing Team prepared for the V8 supercars<\/a> series.<\/p>\n Price range: ~$150,000<\/p>\n Via: Supercars.net<\/a><\/p>\n The US market got the first taste of Mitsubishi\u2019s EVO<\/a> magic only in 2003 with the introduction of the EVO VIII and even then, it was not on par with the EVO offered on other markets, leaving Japanese sports car fans stripped of the full EVO experience once again. Fortunately, the year 2021 unlocks the fourth iteration of this fine and capable JDM sports sedan, itself based on the sixth-gen Lancer, the CN9A.<\/p>\n The IV EVO was the first one to get active yaw control, making better use of its four-wheel drive system by directing torque individually between the rear wheels, but there was more. The aerodynamic package was more dramatic than ever with the front bumper dominated by huge fog lights, while the biggest improvement came under the hood. Thanks to the new twin scroll turbocharger, the 4G63T 2.0-liter engine got a power increase to 280 ponies.<\/p>\n The EVO IV came in two trims – the GSR (Grand Sport Racing) where active yaw control was standard, as well as ABS, power windows, Recaro bucket seats and OZ Racing wheels. On the other hand, the RS (Rally Sport) homologation special had a short-ratio five-speed transaxle, optional ABS, stripped down exterior and interior with plain seats ready to be swapped for racing buckets and 15-inch steelies fitted with the same purpose.<\/p>\n In the EVO IV, Tomi M\u00e4kinen won the 1997 WRC driver\u2019s title, giving this car some serious racing pedigree. Mitsubishi produced around 9000 EVO IV sedans from August 1996 to 1998, but due to its rallying nature, finding a surviving example in original condition will be a proper challenge.<\/p>\n Price range: $20,000 – $40,000<\/p>\n Via: Pinterest<\/p>\n Nissan\u2019s S platform series was hailed globally as an affordable rear-wheel drive sports car<\/a>, but despite it being available worldwide, a limited number of variants got to be offered in the United States. The States famously lacked smaller turbocharged engines as this Nissan was offered only as a 2.4-liter KA24E-powered 240SX. Despite a considerably larger displacement, the 240SX produced less ponies than the JDM counterpart, making the 180SX a very tempting forbidden fruit.<\/p>\n The 25 year rule made the 180SX eligible for import and another variant you can get starting from 2021 180 Type X Nismo. This is a factory tuned top of the line S13 with a unique body kit, a 2.0-liter 205-horsepower SR20DET four-cylinder, limited slip differential as standard and four-wheel steering as an option. Finding a bone stock example won\u2019t be that easy, but a devout S13 follower will certainly find a way to get one.<\/p>\n Price range: $11,000 – $20,000<\/p>\n Via: Outstanding Cars<\/a><\/p>\n Before dismantling BMW\u2019s conservative identity with his deconstructivist approach to design, Chris Bangle worked for Centro Stile Fiat, where he famously designed the Coup\u00e9. Now, this car debuted in Europe in 1993, meaning it has already been eligible for import for quite some time, yet not all of its variants came out right from the start.<\/p>\n What you\u2019re looking at is the most potent variant of the Fiat Coup\u00e9, the 2.0 20V Turbo. Powered by a transversely mounted inline-five (yes, you\u2019ve read that well), this front wheel drive 220 horsepower two-door could do 0-60 in 6.5 seconds and all the way to a top speed of 155 mph. In 1996, the Coup\u00e9 also saw a minor facelift, with changes including leather door cards and a redesigned cockpit with a new steering wheel and an analog clock, a better fit for the nostalgic Pininfarina-designed<\/a> interior.<\/p>\n This Banglemobile not only looks like a tense muscle, but it has the performance to back up the dramatic looks. As such the Coup\u00e9 is perhaps the last exciting car to wear the Fiat badge. On top of it all, this piece of modern Italian sports car history is still affordable, so if you are a fan of compact and punchy European coup\u00e9s, this could be the modern classic for you.<\/p>\n Price: $6,000 – $20,000<\/p>\n Via: TopWorldAuto.com<\/a><\/p>\n With the rally-proven Delta Integrale garnering all collector attention in recent years, there\u2019s very little to pluck out when it comes to interesting late 20th century Lancias. But, what if we told you you can get the very same Lampredi engine in an alternative package?<\/p>\n Lancia Kappa SW<\/a> is a Pininfarina-designed and built longroof, produced in only 9,208 examples from 1996 to 2000. In its debut year, it was powered by a palette of naturally aspirated and turbocharged engines. Alongside the 3.0 Busso V6, the 205 horsepower 16-valve 2.0-liter four cylinder turbo is perhaps the most interesting option as it was the same engine used in the Integrale.<\/p>\n Unlike the Delta Integrale though, the Kappa Sportwagon was front-wheel drive and it catered to buyers looking for comfort and luxury. That being said, it came wrapped in exclusive Poltrona Frau leather and it featured optional self-leveling rear suspension for a more comfortable ride even with the trunk loaded with, let\u2019s imagine, fine Italian antiques. While the Kappa SW lacks sportiness compared to other cars on the list, it has a rich character, earning its place as a car you could bring overseas.<\/p>\n Price range: $2,000 – $5,000<\/p>\n2. Renault Sport Spider<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n3. Nissan Skyline R33 GT-R LM Limited<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n4. TVR Cerbera<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n5. Holden HSV GTS-R<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n6. Mitsubishi Evolution IV<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n7. Nissan 180SX Type X NISMO<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n8. Fiat Coup\u00e9 2.0 20V Turbo<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n9. Lancia Kappa SW<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n10. Rinspeed Yello Talbo<\/h2>\n