Motorex = owned; Skyline = illegal

[InFlames]

Motorex owner jailed, R32 and R34 legalization rescinded
Monday, March 13, 2006
Posted by: AZhitman
According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, the owner of Motorex, Nanahoshi Hiroaki, 33, was arrested Thursday and booked into the L.A. County Jail. He is being held on $1 Million bail.

Booking Details

Hiroaki's initial appearance is scheduled for Wednesday of this week.

Hiroaki and Motorex came to the recognition of Nissan enthusiasts in the US as they became the only Registered Importer legally authorized to legalize Skylines for US use. As Motorex was able to comply with stringent US crash-testing requirements, they petitioned the courts to protect their interest in the Skyline market by "locking out" other would-be importers from the list of necessary modifications.

Not only did this give Motorex a corner on the market for legal Skylines, it also allowed them to command a premium price for each legalized car. Motorex-prepped Skylines can fetch upwards of $50,000. While making loads of money, Motorex also made loads of enemies.

According to sources, the lease to the Motorex facility has been overdue for months, and is now locked out by the landlord.

The US Department of Transportation has offically rescinded importation eligibility for both the R32 and R34 Skylines, only 96-98 R33 Skylines are still eligible to be imported.

Stay tuned - We'll keep you updated on the latest news as it becomes available.


(owned)

More here...http://forums.evolutionm.net/showthread.php?t=189791&highlight=motorex

 

[mountjonas]

wierd. i wonder why r32's and r34's are illegal, but the r33 isn't. sucks for them.

 

[InFlames]

wierd. i wonder why r32's and r34's are illegal, but the r33 isn't. sucks for them.

I thinking because of crash testing. Either that or smog issues.

 

[nvmsp]

That dude probably has so much money, he's probably already out of jail.

 

[Black_Protege_5]

Because he did the crash test ratings for the R33 and falsified the paperwork for the 32's and 34's. He basically lied to the government and now he's screwed. And now since they were the only ones that could get them drivable in Cali we can't have any now. Any other importers that sell them are only legal in every state but Cali. So there goes my idea of saving up and buying a 32.

 

[TheMAN]

I've seen a few examples of imported skylines in person... their legality has always been questionable to me because the most obvious thing that anyone can see is the lack of compliant lighting equipment.... R33 and R34 have "clear corners", but pictures of the motorex skylines for sale by motorex themselves, and also those cars I've seen in person still have them.... meaning, due to that, they're required to either install an amber reflector in the corner, or add a separate reflector on the bumper (like the P5) or the fender.... R32s have amber corners, but the imported R32s also lacks the amber reflectors like the R33 and R34 has, the R32 factory corners themselves do not have reflectors....

as for the rear, they don't have red side markers (like the ones you see on the US Evos) on the body or side of the bumper.... I've never seen them on ANY imported skyline

my point is, the importer is REQUIRED to make EVERY piece of safety and emissions equipment compliant with US laws... the lighting systems blatantly failed the FMVSS 108 requirements, so I'm not surprised at all that they got nailed

fmvss108.tripod.com explains this very well

 

[cable43]

damn

 

[GrandBelialKey]

I always wondered why only one company was allowed to "legalize" these...

maybe there will be more street legal Skylines in the future...

either way, this sounds like good news...

 

[Black_Protege_5]

Well there was only one for a while because they owned the right to sell these and for the 1st year no one can. Plus after that you need a lot of money to have the ability to sell them legally.

 

[InFlames]

I have an r32...
















































...xmod

 

[POSEIDON]

I talked with an owner of a Vspec R34 a while back here in Orlando and he said Motorex was under fire even when he first imported his several years ago. There had been issues with them charging for certain "conversion" fee's and literally pocketing the money. He was able to pay his way out of most of the "conversions" since the state of Florida has no inspection or emissions. That says quite a bit about their practices.

 

[Black_Protege_5]

Hey Inflames thats an R34. I don't think they came out with a 32 for the xmod. I have both the 32 and 2 34's.

 

[InFlames]

Hey Inflames thats an R34. I don't think they came out with a 32 for the xmod. I have both the 32 and 2 34's.

I stand corrected. She's in the shop right now anyway, needs a new engine

 

[Black_Protege_5]

let me know. I have a bunch of engines

 

[InFlames]

let me know. I have a bunch of engines

Nice, I'll let you know.

 

[mountjonas]

i didn't totally RTFA, so those who bought r32's and r34's, can they still keep them?

 

[InFlames]

i didn't totally RTFA, so those who bought r32's and r34's, can they still keep them?

Sure as hell can't drive them.

 

[Black_Protege_5]

Yea they can keep them but they aren't street legal. Only track use now.

Let me know about the engine, I have stage 1 and 2's and I can bring them to the meet on the 25th in BP if you are going to be there.

 

[supman]

where do you guys get the R32 Xmods ?? I need one !!

 

[Black_Protege_5]

They don't make 32 xmods but if you find a 1/24 scale model you can convert it. I have extra chassis' and things like that. Let me know.