In the United States, we're subject to automobile importation laws that prohibit bringing cars that weren't designed for use in the American market under 25 years old. Canada, for example, allows cars over 15 years old to be imported, whereas the EU generally requires cars to be at least 30 years old. For the most part, import laws are mainly in place due to emissions regulations, which differ from country to country.

The United States and its 25-year ban is officially called the "Imported Vehicle Safety Compliance Act of 1988", an amendment made to the original law introduced in 1966, which included the famous 25-year ban on most vehicular imports. That is, unless you're Bill Gates. Regardless, when it comes to our Nissan in question, it recently surpassed 25 years of age and can now be imported into the US legally. The model is called the Y33 Gloria, and it boasts loads of reasons to own one.

While the Gloria namesake is virtually unheard of in the States, it was, at one time, a staple model over in its home country of Japan. Originally introduced in 1959 and featuring Checker taxi cab-like styling, the Gloria sat in Nissan's JDM lineup as an upscale sedan, just underneath the flagship Nissan President. By the time the Y33 Nissan Gloria came about, the namesake had already seen a total of ten generations.

As for the tenth-gen Gloria, it roared onto showroom floors in June 1995 with an entirely new frame and style, in an attempt to appeal to more sporty-minded buyers. It also offered an all-new, turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 that shared much of its make-up with the motor seen in the Nissan Skyline GT-R JGTC race car. However, the Y33 Gloria's cabin was meant to be more luxurious than sporty, offering a unique contrast between the Gloria's outward personality and how it really saw itself.

The Y33 Nissan Gloria saw five years of production, before it was replaced by the eleventh and final generation in 2000. A total of eight trim levels were offered throughout the Gloria's tenth generation, ranging from the Gran Turismo Type X, to the Gran Turismo Ultima, Gran Turismo SV, Gran Turismo S, Gran Turismo, Brougham VIP, Brougham, and the Brougham J. Gran Turismo versions were meant to cater to the sporty-minded buyers, and Brougham versions were meant for luxury.

As with many older models that happen to be somewhat collectible or desirable, prices for the Y33 Nissan Gloria vary widely. Some examples have sold on foreign markets for as little as $3,000, while other, nicer versions have fetched up to $25,000. Of course, these prices also vary depending on trim levels and engine options, but a large amount of variation remains. If you're looking to import one into the US yourself, here are some fees you'll have to consider:

While the 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 is the engine you'd want, the Y33 Nissan Gloria offered four other V6 gasoline powerplants ranging from two liters to three liters, along with a single, 2.8-liter inline-six diesel engine. However, we're going to focus solely on the 3.0-liter turbo. The mill in question belongs to Nissan's VQ engine family, which has been in continuous production since 1994, with sports intercooling and a dual-overhead camshaft valvetrain. While it did see use in a Nissan Skyline GT-R iteration, it was not related to the Nissan RB engine family, where the bulk of Skyline GT-R engines originated.

A pair of automatic transmissions, a four-speed and a five-speed, were the only ones on offer, as the Y33 Gloria did not come with a manual option. At base-level, the Y33 Gloria sported rear-wheel drive, with an option to upgrade to a version of Nissan's famous ATTESA AWD system. The ATTESA all-wheel-drive tech had been notably used within the Nissan Skyline GT-R starting in 1989, and continued to be used by the namesake until 2024, when the GT-R was axed.

We'll lay out the 3.0-liter turbo Y33 Nissan Gloria's detailed engine and performance specs in the table below:

*Specs courtesy of Nissan and Cars & Bids

Being a late-1990s car, standard features typically seen in those days are also present on the Y33 Nissan Gloria. Things like electric windows, air conditioning, and an AM/FM stereo with a CD player are standard kit. Other features include an optional moonroof, standard power windows and locks, and a wood-trimmed dashboard. A primitive navigation system with what Nissan referred to as a "Multi-A/V Screen" was offered on the Gran Turismo Ultima trim level.

Well, sort of. Once the Y33 Gloria was discontinued in the first part of 1999, Nissan released its successor, the Y34 Gloria. Over in the States, the Y34 Gloria was rebadged as the Infiniti M45, or "Infiniti M" for short, and debuted for the 2003 model year. However, while the JDM Y34 Nissan Gloria received a slew of 2.0-liter and 3.0-liter powerplants, the America-bound Infiniti M45 employed the use of a single, 4.5-liter V8 mill. The big eight-pot was capable of producing 340 horsepower and 333 lb-ft of torque, which measures up to 50 more horsepower and 43 more torques than a competing 2000 Jaguar XJ8.

There are other differences, too. The Infiniti M utilized a completely different, multi-link rear suspension setup that was meant to offer a softer, more forgiving ride. A different gauge cluster was used, as well. While underpinnings and powertrains differ, the Y34 Gloria and the Infiniti M share much in common when it comes to styling, with both models looking virtually identical when put side-by-side. The first-gen Infiniti M is a rare sight on American roads these days, but it doesn't have to be that way.

If you're wondering how much you could pick up a well-sorted example of the first-gen Infiniti M45 for, it's less than you'd think. Seeing as sales figures weren't all that great, and its styling was seen by many to be "less than attractive", the first-gen Infiniti M45 carries a rather low current average used price. On average, a decent example will set you back about $4,175, according to Kelley Blue Book's fair purchase value - not a bad price for all that power. Not to mention, the 2003 Infiniti M45 was heralded for its reliability by many, so it wouldn't be a ridiculous purchase, either.

However, the real prize would be a Y33 Nissan Gloria, especially when equipped with that 3.0-liter turbo. If you have time to wait for it to be imported, it would probably serve you well, not to mention turn a few heads.

Nissan, Infiniti, Cars, Supercars, KBB