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

***

Check out the Hagerty Media homepage so you don’t miss a single story, or better yet, bookmark it. To get our best stories delivered right to your inbox, subscribe to our newsletters.