No more skylines for us

[Accord R33]

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The US Department of Transportation has offically rescinded importation eligibility for both the R32 and R34 Skylines, only 96-98 R33 Skylines are still eligible to be imported.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

see what monopolizing does?

[williamsvt]

see what monopolizing does?

damn, that really sucks...

[90Cb7sleeper]

no damnit! that really sucks! i guess the R34s and R32s that are already here had their price tags go up. if any of the owners decides to part with them

[Shippo]

Oh well it really doesn't effect me too much.

[HondaGuy1212]

nooooo that suks

[Inkyturbo]

The reason why only R33s are allowed is because when Motorex first got the ok to import Skylines they crash tested an R33 only. It passed, and Motorex made the (wrong) claim that all Skylines were the same in terms of crashworthiness. Recently the DOT or whoever did their own crash tests and the R32s and R34s failed. That was the beginning of troubles for Motorex.

[Accord R33]

no damnit! that really sucks! i guess the R34s and R32s that are already had their price tags go up huh?

Any one who owns a legalized skyline in the U.S. has just defied the laws of car investment, the skylines will more than likey "appreciate?" rather than "depreciate" in value

[turboaccordlx]

i dont know if im reading wrong or not but what was he arrested for

[Shippo]

Hmm, if motorex files for bankruptcy we might see cheaper skylines...

[wed3k]

Oh well it really doesn't effect me too much.

.

[williamsvt]

Hmm, if motorex files for bankruptcy we might see cheaper skylines...

no we won't. the ones that were already shipped in here the r32's and 34's will be limited now, because its against the law to ship them in now, because they don't pass crash tests as said in the first post.

[daived]

sooner or later someone will legalize them again. its only a matter of time. demand create supply- simple economics. and if so one else does it. well, i guess ill have to then. or wait for the 25? year rule.

[Shippo]

no we won't. the ones that were already shipped in here the r32's and 34's will be limited now, because its against the law to ship them in now, because they don't pass crash tests as said in the first post.

Yes, but if they go bankrupt and their assets are liquidized then that right to make the cars pass the crash test will most likely be up for sale.. Unless a person outside of the company owns those rights.

[SSMAccord]

whoa, that sucks.

[Gemini]

I guess I will just have to wait until I go back to jamaica to drive an R34. For all you who dont know, Jamaica is huge on the tuner scene because they get all their vehicles from Japan. They got some sivk hooked up rides down there!