The US government says you have to wait 25 years before importing a new car to America – through legal channels, that is. The Imported Vehicle Safety Compliance Act of 1988 states that current import regulations, designed to ensure things like safety and emissions standards, "do not apply to motor vehicles that are at least 25 years old (based on the month and year of manufacture)." So as much as we’d love to rock something like, say, the latest Suzuki Jimny on US soil, instead we look to the year 1995 – yes, it has been that long – for our once-forbidden fruit. And the mid-90s are full of gems.

Some extremely rare options from Mercedes-Benz and Porsche make the cut, as do more common (but still desirable) cars from brands like Alfa Romeo, Honda, and Subaru. So whether you’re a fan of fast two-doors or adorable SUVs, click through to see some of the once forbidden vehicles that we’re most eager to see driven legally on American roads.

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