Nissan 350Z Turns 25—U.S. Military Personnel’s Plan to Ship It Home Sparks Debate

A U.S. service member stationed in Japan planned to ship his Nissan 350Z back to the United States, only to discover that his 2003-model-year sports car is approaching—or may have already reached—the threshold for the U.S. “25-year import exemption.” Under U.S. regulations, vehicles that are at least 25 years old can be imported without having to meet current safety and emissions standards. Joe, a representative from Military AutoSource, shared this conversation in a video, remarking, “I’m getting old,” a comment that resonated widely with viewers online. Although the 2003 350Z won’t fully qualify until 2028, if the soldier isn’t reassigned back to the U.S. until after 2026, the car could meet the requirement by then. Beyond the technicalities of import rules, the story has sparked nostalgia—what was once considered a “cutting-edge” sports car is now undeniably a classic.