The R33 is the one Skyline generation with no waiting left in it. Every car in the run has crossed 25 years, so the whole generation comes into the United States through the ordinary route. No build plate arithmetic, no watching a calendar, no holding a car in Japan until its month comes up.
Fully eligible, unlike the R34
Skyline R33 production ran from 1993 to 1998, with the BCNR33 GT-R built from 1995. The last cars off the line passed 25 years in 2023, which puts the entire generation clear of the federal age threshold. Compare that to the R34, which is still phasing in month by month through 2026 and 2027, and the R33 looks like the sane way into GT-R ownership right now.
Why some R33s were already here
The R33 has an unusual history on American roads. Long before the 25 year clock ran out, NHTSA ruled a narrow band of R33 GTS and GT-R cars, built between January 1996 and June 1998, eligible for import through a Registered Importer. That is why you occasionally find an R33 with a US title going back to the early 2000s while the R32 and R34 were still locked out.
That program ended badly. The importer at the centre of it collapsed, and the fallout closed the door on Skyline federalisation entirely. Most cars from that era are fine. Some are not. If you are buying an R33 that has been in the country for twenty years rather than one freshly landed, get the import and title paperwork checked properly before money moves. A car imported today under the 25 year exemption carries none of that history.
BCNR33 or GTS-t, and why it matters
Two chassis, two different answers, depending on what you are buying.
For a cover, the body decides it. Our BCNR33 indoor cover is cut for the wide GT-R guards and the longer rear deck, and it clears the factory rear wing. The GTS-t is a narrower body, so the same cover sits loose on one.
For mats, the two share a floorpan. Our R33 checker floor mats fit the BCNR33 GT-R and the GTST R33 equally, because the carpet pattern underneath is the same on both.
An R32 cover will not do
This comes up constantly, and the answer is no. The R33 runs a longer wheelbase than the R32, which is exactly why an R32 cover pulls short at the tail when someone tries it. Each generation gets its own pattern here. If you run more than one car, the BNR32 and BNR34 have their own, and all four generations sit side by side in our Skyline GT-R cover guide. The same logic applies to carpet: R33 mats will not fit an R34, different floorpan entirely.
What a freshly landed car usually needs
Cars coming out of Japanese auctions arrive with either no mats at all or a set of thirty year old originals that nobody sensible wants to keep wearing out. The checker mats are cut and bound by hand from high low loop carpet. A reinforced heel pad goes where the driver actually wears through. A metal grommet eyelet locates on the factory retaining hook, and rubber nipple backing plus velcro keeps the set from sliding under braking. Edges are overlocked throughout.
Left hand drive conversions turn up more often on US cars than anywhere else. If yours has been switched, contact us before ordering and we will cut the correct side.
For storage, the covers are velvet stretch with a four way flex and a napped inner face that will not scuff clearcoat. Elasticated hems front and rear, no straps or clips left resting against paint for months. They are breathable by design, because waterproof fabric over a garaged car traps condensation underneath and that does more harm than dust ever will.
Shipping to the United States
We are based in Melbourne, Australia and ship worldwide. Import duties and taxes are covered on our end, so nothing extra gets collected at your door. If a carrier ever bills you for duty on one of our parcels, send it through and we reimburse it. Detail is on our international shipping and duties page.
Common questions
Is the R33 Skyline legal in the US?
Yes. R33 production ended in 1998, so every car in the generation is now past 25 years and eligible under the federal age exemption.
Do R33 floor mats fit a GTS-t?
Yes. The BCNR33 GT-R and the GTST R33 share the same carpet pattern, so a single set covers both.
Does the R33 cover fit a GTS-t?
No. The GTS-t is a narrower body. The cover is patterned for the wide GT-R guards and will sit loose on the narrower car.
Can I use an R32 cover on an R33?
No. The R33 has a longer wheelbase, so an R32 cover comes up short at the tail.
Will I be charged customs on delivery?
No. Duties and taxes are covered by us. What you pay at checkout is the total.
Import information here is general and current as of August 2026. Verify any specific vehicle against its build plate, its paperwork and current NHTSA guidance before buying or shipping.