By Aug 2027, the last 2002 builds of four Japanese sports cars reach 25 years of age. Nissan's own January 2002 release on the Skyline GT-R states that R34-type production ends in early August 2002. The makers' end-of-production months for all four codes fall in August 2002, apart from one Toyota page that gives July for the Supra (source checked November 11, 2026). The other three are the JZA80 Toyota Supra, the FD3S Mazda RX-7 and the S15 Nissan Silvia.
That date matters because the US 25-year rule counts age from the month a car was built, not its model year. A car must be at least 25 years old, counted from the month it was built. A car built in March 2002 can enter from March 2027. A car built in August 2002 waits until August 2027. Builds up to November 2001 are eligible now, and December 2001 builds become eligible in December 2026, so 2027 is the story of the 2002 cars. If you're planning for one, the live Skyline auction lots from Japan are a reasonable place to start watching, remembering that any 2002-built lot stays off the table until its own build month has passed.
Quick Answer
- Aug 2027 is the makers' end-of-production month (August 2002) plus 25 years, per Nissan's January 2002 release ("early August" for the GT-R).
- Age counts from the build month, not the model year.
- Toyota's own pages give two JZA80 dates, July and August 2002.
- Your car's build plate decides eligibility, not a model-year list.
When does a 2002 JDM car turn 25?
A 2002-built car turns 25 in the same calendar month of 2027. Federal law, 49 U.S.C. 30112(b)(9), exempts "a motor vehicle that is at least 25 years old" from current federal safety standards. NHTSA's importation FAQ explains that the 25-year period runs from the date of manufacture.
The worked example is simple. A Silvia built in March 2002 becomes eligible in March 2027, not on January 1, 2027. A Skyline GT-R built in July 2002 becomes eligible in July 2027.
The 25-year exemption is declared on the HS-7 form at entry, under the rules in 49 CFR 591.5. The import rules for the United States put the same point plainly: the car must be at least 25 years old when it arrives, counted from the month and year it was built.
One more framing point. None of these four codes becomes legal for the first time in 2027. Nissan Heritage Collection No.240 says the R34 GT-R version was launched in January 1999, so builds from that launch have been eligible since January 2024. The 2002 builds are simply the last cars of each run to cross the line.
What did each maker say about its last month?
Nissan, Mazda and Toyota each published an end-of-production month for these models. Nissan gave early August 2002 for the R34 GT-R and August 2002 for the Silvia. Mazda planned August 2002 for the RX-7. Toyota's two pages give July and August 2002 for the Supra. Add 25 years to each for a planning date.
| Code |
Car |
Maker's end of production |
Planned or confirmed |
Source |
All 2002 builds 25 by |
| BNR34 |
Nissan Skyline GT-R |
Early August 2002 |
Announced, January 2002 |
Nissan release |
August 2027 |
| S15 |
Nissan Silvia |
August 2002 |
Announced, January 2002 |
Nissan release |
August 2027 |
| FD3S |
Mazda RX-7 |
August 2002 |
Planned, March 25, 2002 |
Mazda release |
August 2027 |
| JZA80 |
Toyota Supra |
July 2002 or August 2002 |
Two Toyota pages disagree |
Toyota 75 Years, Toyota catalogue |
July or August 2027 |
BNR34 Nissan Skyline GT-R
The 2002 Nissan Skyline GT-R is the car most Americans are counting down to. Nissan's January 2002 release, paraphrased from the Japanese, says the Skyline GT-R of the R34 type ends production in early August 2002. The release names the R34 generation, not the BNR34 chassis code. The BNR34 code appears in the title of Nissan's Heritage Collection No.240, which gives the January 1999 launch of the R34 GT-R version. The end of production rests on the 2002 release above.
"Early August" gives no day. So a GT-R finished in the final week of the run reaches 25 only in early August 2027, and its build plate is the only thing that settles the month. Skyline lots at the Japanese auctions show build years from 1989 to 2001 at the time of writing, and no 2002-built lot is listed. Any 2002 lot that appears later is not importable until its own build month has passed in 2027.
S15 Nissan Silvia
The 2002 Nissan Silvia shares the GT-R's timing. Nissan's release for the Silvia, dated January 24, 2002, says production ends in August 2002. The Silvia on sale at the time was the S15, which is how the Japanese auction houses code these lots.
August 2002 is a month-only date. The last S15 builds therefore reach 25 by August 2027, and earlier 2002 builds become eligible one month at a time from January 2027. Silvia lots at auction at the time of writing are S15 cars built from 1999 to 2001, plus older generations. A 2002-built S15 is not importable until its own build month has passed.
FD3S Mazda RX-7
The FD3S has a planned date rather than a confirmed one. Mazda's release of March 25, 2002 says the company "envisions the production of the current RX-7 model (FD-3S) to come to an end in August 2002."
The same release announced the Spirit R, a run of 1,500 cars sold only in Japan, on sale from April 22, 2002. The Sports & Performance auction lots page shows no RX-7 lots at the time of writing. Any 2002-built RX-7 lot stays ineligible until its build month has passed in 2027.
JZA80 Toyota Supra
The 2002 Toyota Supra is the one code where Toyota's own pages disagree. One Toyota page says August 2002 and another lists the model to July 2002. The next section works through both. At the time of writing the Supra auction page shows only an earlier-generation 1989 lot, so no JZA80 is listed, and any 2002-built JZA80 that appears is not importable until its build month has passed.
Why do Toyota's own pages disagree on the JZA80?
Toyota's 75 Years heritage page says the Supra's "production ended in August 2002." Toyota Japan's used-car catalogue lists the second-generation Supra from May 1993 to July 2002. Both are Toyota sources, and neither one is wrong on its face.
For planning, treat July 2002 as the minimum and August 2002 as the later bound. If every JZA80 was built by July 2002, all of them are eligible by July 2027. If a handful were built in August 2002, those wait until August 2027. The title of this post uses the later bound for that reason.
The build plate on the specific car decides.
How do you prove the build month?
Start with the manufacturer's label or plate on the car. NHTSA's importation FAQ says a permanent label from the original manufacturer showing the date of manufacture is acceptable proof of age.
If the car has no such label, NHTSA accepts other documents. An invoice showing the date of first sale, or a registration document showing the car was registered at least 25 years earlier, can carry the claim.
At entry, the age claim goes in Box 1 of the HS-7. CBP's NHTSA message set guide requires the month and year of manufacture for a Box 1 entry. The entry therefore needs the month, not just "2002". The buyer remains responsible for confirming eligibility on the actual entry date, not the date of purchase.
What happens after the car arrives?
The buyer is the importer of record. CBP's page on importing a car says its officers cannot make an entry for you, and that you may employ a commercial customs broker. A broker can file the entry and post the bond, and duty is paid through the broker.
CBP lists the documents it wants: the bill of lading, a bill of sale, the foreign registration and the two federal forms. The HS-7 carries the NHTSA 25-year claim in Box 1. EPA Form 3520-1 carries the emissions declaration, and code E covers a vehicle at least 21 years old in its original configuration. Code E is not the import age. A 2002 car already meets the EPA's 21-year age if it is in its original configuration, and still waits for its 25th build-month anniversary under the NHTSA rule.
Duty is assessed by CBP at entry on the classification your broker files. Rates for imported vehicles changed several times across 2025 and 2026, so this post states no percentage. Your customs broker confirms the rate at entry, and CBP sets the final figure.
Then comes the state title. State rules differ. California adds emissions requirements of its own, so check your DMV before you commit to a car. A federal entry does not promise a title in any state.
What this post doesn't show
The dates here are end-of-production months for each model, not build dates for individual cars. Mazda's date was a plan, and Toyota's two pages differ, so neither is a confirmed last build. Prices are not covered, because no 2002 car of these codes is listed and auction reference figures are not sale prices. State titling varies, and tariff rules change.
On method: the Nissan R34 and Silvia releases, Mazda's March 25, 2002 release, Toyota's 75 Years page and used-car catalogue were read on November 11 and 13, 2026. The statute text was read on the Cornell Legal Information Institute, and CBP's importing page on the same dates. NHTSA's importation FAQ was read on November 13, 2026.
How does the auction route work for these codes?
Carbarn is a Japan-registered exporter in Yokohama, and its live auction hub lets a US buyer bid on lots at Japanese auction houses. A card deposit starts a Japan-side inspection, the buyer sets a maximum bid in yen, and an invoice follows only if the bid wins. Carbarn's live-auction page says it lists only cars that meet the 25-year rule, but confirm the build month yourself on the auction sheet and the Japanese export certificate before you bid.
The four pages for this post are the Skyline lots, the Supra lots, the Silvia lots and the Sports & Performance auction lots. The Skyline, Supra and Silvia pages show no 2002-built lot and the Sports & Performance page shows no RX-7 lots at the time of writing.
Carbarn ships by RoRo to Los Angeles/Long Beach, Tacoma, Houston, Jacksonville or Baltimore, with 14 to 45 days at sea. It does not clear customs, title or register the car. The buyer is the importer of record and hires the broker. No warranty, finance or US office is offered.
