{"id":306810,"date":"2025-11-20T18:54:41","date_gmt":"2025-11-20T18:54:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/uncategorized\/saving-a-1996-gto-ch-3-jdm-import-process-guide\/"},"modified":"2025-11-20T18:54:41","modified_gmt":"2025-11-20T18:54:41","slug":"saving-a-1996-gto-ch-3-jdm-import-process-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=306810","title":{"rendered":"Saving a 1996 GTO (Ch. 3): JDM Import Process Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Welcome to Chapter 3. With what\u2019s left of the <a href=\"https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/gto-build-finding-right-car\/\">3000GT market in shambles<\/a>, I decide to pivot by searching for a GTO from Japan.<\/p>\n<p>Sounds easy, but I had absolutely no idea if the search would yield anything. After all, how can I search for and inspect a car from across the planet? Turns out that there are systems in place for just such a thing, and it\u2019s easier than ever.<\/p>\n<p>Until it isn\u2019t. If you\u2019ve ever wondered about where to find a JDM car, or the process of importing one, this is for you.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"chapter-nav-box\">\n<h3 class=\"chapter-nav-title\">SAVING A 1996 MITSUBISHI GTO: ALL CHAPTERS<\/h3>\n<nav\/><\/aside>\n<h2>Why the JDM Market is the Right Place to Shop<\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_24672\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-24672\" style=\"width: 1500px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" data-opt-id=\"109679725\" src=\"https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1999-gto-1.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-24672\" alt=\"1999-gto side angle\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1000\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" data-opt-id=\"109679725\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-24672\" src=\"https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1999-gto-1.jpg\" alt=\"1999-gto side angle\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1000\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1999-gto-1.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:480\/h:320\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1999-gto-1.jpg 480w, https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1073\/h:715\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1999-gto-1.jpg 1073w, https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:768\/h:512\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1999-gto-1.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/dpr:2\/https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1999-gto-1.jpg 2x\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-24672\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Shopping in Japan would open up the market to better examples.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>There has always been a mystique around JDM cars. The forbidden fruit. It was an absolutely incredible event to see a car like an <a href=\"https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/r33-nissan-skyline-gt-r\/\">R33 Skyline<\/a> here in the States even ten years ago. With all the hype built up from <em>Fast &amp; Furious<\/em> and <em>Gran Turismo<\/em>, witnessing one in the flesh was as special as standing next to a Ferrari F40.<\/p>\n<p>But there\u2019s an old (and sexist) saying: <em>\u201cNo matter how hot she is, there\u2019s some guy somewhere that\u2019s sick of her crap.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Translated for our purposes, this meant that while seeing a JDM car was super rare for us, to the Japanese it\u2019s <em>uhh<\/em>\u2026it\u2019s a Tuesday folks. Sit down. And <em>that<\/em> means, they wanna sell them! It also means many of the cars are not nearly as revered over there as they are here.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>You see where I\u2019m going with this \u2013 a 30-year old Mitsubishi GTO was priced more in line with real-world expectations.<\/p>\n<h2>Shopping and Inspection: Where to Find a JDM Car<\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_24677\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-24677\" style=\"width: 1500px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" data-opt-id=\"1617526315\" src=\"https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/gen1-mitsu-gto.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-24677\" alt=\"gen1-mitsu-gto front end\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1000\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" data-opt-id=\"1617526315\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-24677\" src=\"https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/gen1-mitsu-gto.jpg\" alt=\"gen1-mitsu-gto front end\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1000\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/gen1-mitsu-gto.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:480\/h:320\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/gen1-mitsu-gto.jpg 480w, https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1073\/h:715\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/gen1-mitsu-gto.jpg 1073w, https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:768\/h:512\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/gen1-mitsu-gto.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/dpr:2\/https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/gen1-mitsu-gto.jpg 2x\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-24677\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The remains the only GTO I\u2019ve ever seen in person, back in 2019.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>I am naturally up on current market values for many cars because of <a href=\"https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/automotive-news-events\/talk-me-out-of-it\/\"><em>Talk Me Out of It<\/em>,<\/a> so the first thing I needed to do for the GTO was establish a baseline price. A site like <a rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.classic.com\/search?q=mitsubishi+gto\" target=\"_blank\">Classic.com<\/a> will show me value for cars that are either already imported here or live in European countries, so that would not help me.<\/p>\n<p>That lead me to multiple sites:<\/p>\n<p>There are others as well, but we can focus on these as they offer the cars in their original setting.<\/p>\n<h3>Establishing a Baseline Price<\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_24682\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-24682\" style=\"width: 1500px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" data-opt-id=\"1860338245\" src=\"https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/gto-gran-turismo-6-side-profile.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-24682\" alt=\"gto-gran-turismo-6-side-profile\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1000\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" data-opt-id=\"1860338245\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-24682\" src=\"https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/gto-gran-turismo-6-side-profile.jpg\" alt=\"gto-gran-turismo-6-side-profile\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1000\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/gto-gran-turismo-6-side-profile.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:480\/h:320\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/gto-gran-turismo-6-side-profile.jpg 480w, https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1073\/h:715\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/gto-gran-turismo-6-side-profile.jpg 1073w, https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:768\/h:512\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/gto-gran-turismo-6-side-profile.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/dpr:2\/https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/gto-gran-turismo-6-side-profile.jpg 2x\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-24682\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">I sure did fire up the old PlayStation 3 for this artwork.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>First, it\u2019s important to know that this isn\u2019t a \u201clike for like\u201d situation \u2013 a car sold in Japan will have different options packages, VIN numbers, colors, and most importantly trims.<\/p>\n<p>In the GTO\u2019s case, I had to watch out for the SR model. We never got it over here, but in Japan, it was like a 3000GT SL with all-wheel drive. It also had Turbo wheels, so they are sometimes hidden. On the flip side, Twin Turbo models were not always labeled as such.<\/p>\n<p>Think about how often dealers list \u201cmanual\u201d as the transmission online, only to find out it\u2019s a DCT. Listers aren\u2019t always the most accurate.<\/p>\n<h3>Decoding GTO Trims and Chassis Codes (Z15A vs Z16A)<\/h3>\n<p>My first step is to focus on the Japanese VIN, which will have the chassis code:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Z11A:<\/strong> Base, front-wheel drive models<\/li>\n<li><strong>Z16A:<\/strong> Models with four-wheel steering\u00a0<\/li>\n<li><strong>Z15A:<\/strong> Models without four-wheel steering<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In general, the Z16 chassis code is what I wanted, but the GTO MR was a light-weight VR-4, and Mitsubishi deleted the four-wheel steering for that model. That means it had a Z15 code.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, everything is in kilometers and Yen, but the sites offer simple conversion tools.<\/p>\n<h3>Japanese Auction Grades and the Inspection System<\/h3>\n<p>So we have the where and the what, but how would I know a good example from a bad going off of a 300-pixel image? Enter the Japanese auction grading system.<\/p>\n<p>Many auction sites offer the ability to search only for cars with a grade sheet, which is basically an independent pre-purchase inspection. These inspectors will offer a grade from 1-6 for the overall condition of the car and adds some piece of mind to the process.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s not full-proof, and many import brokers have a list of inspectors they trust, but it\u2019s also better than nothing if you want to do this on your own.<\/p>\n<h2>Shipping, Customs, Title, and Final Registration<\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_24681\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-24681\" style=\"width: 1500px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" data-opt-id=\"1639738346\" src=\"https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/gto-gran-turismo-6-rear.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-24681\" alt=\"gto-gran-turismo-6-rear\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1000\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" data-opt-id=\"1639738346\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-24681\" src=\"https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/gto-gran-turismo-6-rear.jpg\" alt=\"gto-gran-turismo-6-rear\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1000\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/gto-gran-turismo-6-rear.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:480\/h:320\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/gto-gran-turismo-6-rear.jpg 480w, https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1073\/h:715\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/gto-gran-turismo-6-rear.jpg 1073w, https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:768\/h:512\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/gto-gran-turismo-6-rear.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/dpr:2\/https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/gto-gran-turismo-6-rear.jpg 2x\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-24681\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">It felt era appropriate to have some images from the game that inspired so many.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>Shipping<\/h3>\n<p>Next, we need shipping costs. Again, these sites will let you add the shipping cost and marine insurance to the price if you wish. Marine insurance is a must-have in case the boat sinks \u2013 you\u2019d be out the money.<\/p>\n<p>But timing can be difficult. Just like when we <a href=\"https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/updated-guide-tracking-new-bmw\/\">track a BMW across the ocean,<\/a> my GTO would be placed on a ro-ro carrier and shipped to the port of my choice (Newark, New Jersey in my case). However, we\u2019d need to wait for a spot to open up on a ship. Remember, BMW is booking hundreds of slots, along with every other auto maker, so openings are hard to come by.<\/p>\n<h3>Customs<\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_24680\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-24680\" style=\"width: 1500px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" data-opt-id=\"1209704251\" src=\"https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/gto-gran-turismo-6-front-end.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-24680\" alt=\"gto-gran-turismo-6-front-end\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1000\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" data-opt-id=\"1209704251\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-24680\" src=\"https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/gto-gran-turismo-6-front-end.jpg\" alt=\"gto-gran-turismo-6-front-end\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1000\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/gto-gran-turismo-6-front-end.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:480\/h:320\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/gto-gran-turismo-6-front-end.jpg 480w, https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1073\/h:715\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/gto-gran-turismo-6-front-end.jpg 1073w, https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:768\/h:512\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/gto-gran-turismo-6-front-end.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/dpr:2\/https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/gto-gran-turismo-6-front-end.jpg 2x\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-24680\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">GTOs are usually in much better shape in Japan.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>This is by far the hardest part. The first rule is that the car has to be at least 25 years old. Since every GTO is, I\u2019m okay there. But then I must:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"T286Pc\" data-sfc-cp=\"\" data-processed=\"true\">File the Importer Security Filing at least 24 hours before the car ships. If it\u2019s not done correctly, I get fined.<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Get the original documents for the car, including <span class=\"T286Pc\" data-sfc-cp=\"\" data-processed=\"true\">bill of lading, bill of sale, and foreign registration.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"T286Pc\" data-sfc-cp=\"\" data-processed=\"true\">Fill out EPA Form 3520-1 and DOT Form HS-7 to declare the vehicle\u2019s compliance with safety and emission standards.<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Pay custom duty, usually 2.5%<\/li>\n<li>Translate the documents to English<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>I can hire a broker to do this for me, but this also opens up the possibility of finding a GTO already in the States because\u2026who wants to do all of this? And all of this adds money to the bottom line, making a very good deal on a GTO more like a regular deal with more headaches.<\/p>\n<h3>Title and registration<\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_24679\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-24679\" style=\"width: 1500px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" data-opt-id=\"577918570\" src=\"https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/gto-gran-turismo-6-front-profile.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-24679\" alt=\"gto-gran-turismo-6-front-profile\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1000\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" data-opt-id=\"577918570\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-24679\" src=\"https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/gto-gran-turismo-6-front-profile.jpg\" alt=\"gto-gran-turismo-6-front-profile\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1000\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/gto-gran-turismo-6-front-profile.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:480\/h:320\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/gto-gran-turismo-6-front-profile.jpg 480w, https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1073\/h:715\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/gto-gran-turismo-6-front-profile.jpg 1073w, https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:768\/h:512\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/gto-gran-turismo-6-front-profile.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/dpr:2\/https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/gto-gran-turismo-6-front-profile.jpg 2x\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-24679\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The car\u2019s cult following means many examples have been preserved.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>So after all that, we still can\u2019t drive it home \u2013 it has to be registered. Every state is different, but in New Jersey it meant I would need to go all the way to Trenton, the capital, to figure out all the paperwork \u2013 no other DMV in the state will do that for an imported car.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ll spare you the details, but if you\u2019ve ever been to a DMV, consider this paperwork the final boss of patience. Also remember that any car from 1996 on must be state-inspected (OBD-2), a fact which I will bring up in a later chapter.<\/p>\n<p>Armed with all this info, let\u2019s go shopping for a few typical JDM examples.<\/p>\n<h2>The Typical Mitsubishi GTO for Sale in Japan<\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_24683\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-24683\" style=\"width: 1500px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" data-opt-id=\"1622324081\" src=\"https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/3000gt-vr-4-ps3.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-24683\" alt=\"3000gt-vr-4 in gran turismo\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1000\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" data-opt-id=\"1622324081\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-24683\" src=\"https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/3000gt-vr-4-ps3.jpg\" alt=\"3000gt-vr-4 in gran turismo\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1000\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/3000gt-vr-4-ps3.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:480\/h:320\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/3000gt-vr-4-ps3.jpg 480w, https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1073\/h:715\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/3000gt-vr-4-ps3.jpg 1073w, https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:768\/h:512\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/3000gt-vr-4-ps3.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/dpr:2\/https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/3000gt-vr-4-ps3.jpg 2x\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-24683\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fun nerd fact: The GTO used to be the fastest car in <em>Gran Turismo.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>What\u2019s good about shopping here is that, by and large, the cars are in better shape. This is partially because of the \u201cShaken\u201d rule, or required Japanese inspections. These mandatory biennial inspections look over much more than their US counterparts, including things like the brakes, steering, and emissions. And the older the car is, the more it costs to keep registered, so the market has more old cars available.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s not fool-proof, believe me Japan has plenty of bad examples too, but there\u2019s just nothing like that <a href=\"https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/gto-build-finding-right-car\/\">\u201994 VR-4 from last week.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/gto-build-finding-history\/\">You know the kind of GTO I want<\/a> \u2013 second or third gen, so I\u2019ll focus on a few examples.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h4>1994 GTO Twin Turbo<\/h4>\n<figure id=\"attachment_24676\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-24676\" style=\"width: 1500px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" data-opt-id=\"1703253065\" src=\"https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1994-gto-1.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-24676\" alt=\"1994-mitsubishi gto three quarter\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1000\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" data-opt-id=\"1703253065\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-24676\" src=\"https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1994-gto-1.jpg\" alt=\"1994-mitsubishi gto three quarter\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1000\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1994-gto-1.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:480\/h:320\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1994-gto-1.jpg 480w, https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1073\/h:715\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1994-gto-1.jpg 1073w, https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:768\/h:512\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1994-gto-1.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/dpr:2\/https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1994-gto-1.jpg 2x\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-24676\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A nice example, but missing wheels, and not the true spec I wanted.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul>\n<li>79,980 km<\/li>\n<li>$21,130<\/li>\n<li>Solano Black Pearl over grey cloth \u2013 most GTOs had cloth interiors<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This car did not have the stock wheels, but did have the stock head unit (very rare). This would be a great 3000GT example, but with so many GTOs to look at, I could afford to be more specific.<\/p>\n<h4>1996 GTO Twin Turbo MR<\/h4>\n<figure id=\"attachment_24675\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-24675\" style=\"width: 1500px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" data-opt-id=\"291763154\" src=\"https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1996-gto-mr.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-24675\" alt=\"1996-mitsubishi gto side profile\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1000\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" data-opt-id=\"291763154\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-24675\" src=\"https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1996-gto-mr.jpg\" alt=\"1996-mitsubishi gto side profile\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1000\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1996-gto-mr.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:480\/h:320\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1996-gto-mr.jpg 480w, https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1073\/h:715\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1996-gto-mr.jpg 1073w, https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:768\/h:512\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1996-gto-mr.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/dpr:2\/https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1996-gto-mr.jpg 2x\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-24675\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The 1996 MR was interesting, but pricey.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul>\n<li>35,000 km<\/li>\n<li>$37,680<\/li>\n<li>Galaxy White Pearl over grey cloth<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The MR is about as special as the GTO gets, but the modifications Mitsubishi made were minor. All-wheel steering was removed, as was Active Aero, Active Suspension, and Anti-lock brakes, all of which reduced the weight by about 100 pounds. But the thing is by 1997, Mitsubishi removed those systems from the standard GTO anyway. And I want anti-lock brakes \u2013 too important a safety feature to worry about ten pounds.<\/p>\n<p>The all-wheel steering too \u2013 the entire point of this car was being a technological tour-de-force.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>As you can see, you pay a premium for this badge, but it\u2019s nowhere near a <a href=\"https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/mitsubishi-3000gt-review\/\">\u201999 VR-4 price.<\/a> It tempted me.<\/p>\n<h4>1998 GTO Twin Turbo<\/h4>\n<figure id=\"attachment_24674\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-24674\" style=\"width: 1500px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" data-opt-id=\"2024320131\" src=\"https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1998-gto.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-24674\" alt=\"1998-mitsubishi gto side profile\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1000\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" data-opt-id=\"2024320131\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-24674\" src=\"https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1998-gto.jpg\" alt=\"1998-mitsubishi gto side profile\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1000\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1998-gto.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:480\/h:320\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1998-gto.jpg 480w, https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1073\/h:715\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1998-gto.jpg 1073w, https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:768\/h:512\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1998-gto.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/dpr:2\/https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1998-gto.jpg 2x\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-24674\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ferrari badges\u2026oh boy.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul>\n<li>112,450 km (69,873 miles)<\/li>\n<li>$8,897<\/li>\n<li>Solano Black Pearl over Grey cloth<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Hilarious \u2013 Ferrari badges! Momo steering wheel! Yellow brake calipers! But look at that price. No doubt, this would need love to restore to its original state, but this one did have leather. Missing the original wheels would be tough though \u2013 it\u2019s nearly impossible to find a complete full set.<\/p>\n<p>I could pull up another five examples, but this should give you an idea of what adding an ocean\u2019s distance does to my car search.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s do one more, the most holy of GTO examples\u2026<\/p>\n<h4>2000 GTO Twin Turbo MR<\/h4>\n<figure id=\"attachment_24673\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-24673\" style=\"width: 1500px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" data-opt-id=\"1825893002\" src=\"https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2000-mitsubishi-gto.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-24673\" alt=\"2000-mitsubishi-gto\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1000\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" data-opt-id=\"1825893002\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-24673\" src=\"https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2000-mitsubishi-gto.jpg\" alt=\"2000-mitsubishi-gto\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1000\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2000-mitsubishi-gto.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:480\/h:320\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2000-mitsubishi-gto.jpg 480w, https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1073\/h:715\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2000-mitsubishi-gto.jpg 1073w, https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:768\/h:512\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2000-mitsubishi-gto.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/dpr:2\/https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:1500\/h:1000\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2000-mitsubishi-gto.jpg 2x\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-24673\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The rarest of rare.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Wow, so this car seemingly has it all:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>123,500 miles<\/li>\n<li>Hamilton Silver over grey cloth (I guess they all got the same interior?)<\/li>\n<li>$17,995<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This was the most rare of all GTO \u2013 we didn\u2019t even get a 2000 model year. Add in the fact that it\u2019s the third gen body style, MR, in a color we never got too?\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>But it needs love \u2013 the turbos are bad, among other things. I dig it though. And you know what? It was already right here, in the United States. All that import stuff is taken care of.<\/p>\n<p>I could have the car in my driveway in three days\u2026<\/p>\n<nav class=\"chapter-arrows\"\/>\n<div class=\"mws-logo\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-opt-id=\"830995846\" width=\"798\" height=\"845\" src=\"https:\/\/mlxjbnm05kda.i.optimole.com\/cb:3Ndu.2867e\/w:798\/h:845\/q:mauto\/g:sm\/f:best\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/machineswithsouls.com\/wp-content\/themes\/machines-with-souls-2\/images\/mws-logo-small.svg\" alt=\"Machines With Souls\"\/><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Welcome to Chapter 3. With what\u2019s left of the 3000GT market in shambles, I decide to pivot by searching for a GTO from Japan. Sounds easy, but I had absolutely no idea if the search would yield anything. After all, how can I search for and inspect a car from across the planet? Turns out [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":306811,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[137513,137515,137514,137516],"tags":[21772,48404,137517,2059,1243,96198,13306,5050],"dealstore":[],"offerexpiration":[],"class_list":["post-306810","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-builds","category-gto","category-gto-twin-turbo-build","category-gto-build-series","tag-builds","tag-gto","tag-gto-build-series","tag-guide","tag-import","tag-jdm","tag-process","tag-saving"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Saving a 1996 GTO (Ch. 3): JDM Import Process Guide - Som2ny Network<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=306810\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Saving a 1996 GTO (Ch. 3): JDM Import Process Guide - Som2ny Network\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Welcome to Chapter 3. With what\u2019s left of the 3000GT market in shambles, I decide to pivot by searching for a GTO from Japan. Sounds easy, but I had absolutely no idea if the search would yield anything. After all, how can I search for and inspect a car from across the planet? 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