[5] Jdm Bmw Becomes Weekly Picture

“They are able to do very small batches of cars without having to recertify them the way we do here,” said Dominick Infante, a spokesman for Subaru of America.

Subaru is a popular marque for J.D.M. conversions, an offshoot of the brand’s success in rally racing and the devoted following for its hottest road models. In Japan, Mr. Infante said, factory STI versions of Impreza sedans, Legacy wagons and Forester crossovers have been produced.

While federal regulations create hurdles for enthusiasts who want to import cars that were intended for sale only in Japan, there are workarounds. Regulatory agencies make exceptions for cars over 25 years old, which is why people like Mr. Collins are now able to import mid-1980s cars.

Bringing in the parts to convert American-market cars is less complex, and has given rise to a lively trade in J.D.M. engines and drivetrains. Importing newer cars is more difficult: the importer must be registered with the Transportation Department, must import only approved cars and must modify those cars to meet United States crash and emissions standards.

“It’s nearly impossible to do correctly,” said Sean Morris, who formerly worked for a shop that imported Nissan Skylines, a car popularized in “The Fast and the Furious.”

So where do people get newer J.D.M. cars?

Some have entered the United States through Canada, and some have come through companies that brought the cars in illegally, often unknown to the buyers. Among the loopholes exploited by unscrupulous dealers: partly dismantled models are shipped to the United States and then reassembled, claiming an exemption for kit cars.

Legitimate J.D.M. cars can be demanding, too.

“The engine I have likes 96 octane — 91 might even blow up the engine,” said Edward Poirier, owner of an American-market 1998 Impreza that was modified to the specifications of an STI Type R version.