I am up to speed with the Motodyne and 25 year rule. I still see a couple regularly around the neighborhood and just saw a new one tonight (parked next to a Pantera in the garage) walking the dog tonight. If I understand internet lore correctly, there are only 16-25 grandfathered R34s still in the states not on display status.
Does anyone know differently? I find it odd to have so many concentrated in this area.
You may have seen a whole bunch of 240SXs 
.
I think your estimate of the number of legal ones is correct from all I've read.
Speeding, weed and certain sexual activities are technically "illegal" in many parts of the country, but you can still find them pretty much anywhere you go...when people want something, they will find a way to acquire it. Skylines aren't the only car in this bracket; there are also way more JDM STis and Evos running around on sketchy paperwork than you'd think. Some people are just willing to roll the dice until their luck runs out.
It is also worth noting that there are some relatively convincing 240SX conversions out there these days.
I am pretty sure this is the real deal. Fair amount of exotics around here. As a former ralliest, I have seen quiet a few of the EVO's and STi's you speak of, although not as many now as you used to see. Sorry for the fuzzy pic, I used zoom and it doesn't look like I should have.
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At a glance it sure looks real. If the guy also has a Pantera chances are better than not it's real and legit. This would be different if it was parked next to a clapped-out Civic in a low income neighborhood! 
At least for the Subaru and Mitsubishi, you could just get halfcuts and convert a US version car. Subaru being a bit easier than Mitsubishi in this regard.
Speaking of which. Can still find GC WRX/STI halfcuts and drivetrains on eBay. Early Evo stuff is nonexistent.
In reply to Knurled:
I think it helps that the GC Impreza was stamped out in one fashion or another for about a decade, while the Evos span four (?) generations of platforms from I to X. Halfcuts aside, I marshalled the Ojibwe Forests Prorally about 10 years ago and was shocked at the number of legit-seeming, plated RHD Evos and STis running around. They all COULD have been really thorough conversions, but I'd bet at least a couple weren't.
In reply to SlickDizzy:
About 10-12 years ago I was running in the Ojibewe and Headwaters Rally in a black and yellow talon. Ran a green A4 in rallyx. My memory is a little faded, but there was a gentlemen Martin (forgot) who was running the red and yellow EVO IV and (forgot) Nelson running the white EVO VII. I had not a clue what I was looking at when I first saw the VII. There where a few swapped GC's around as well.
In reply to former520:
Sorry to derail, but...I think I remember your car! Did you guys have a mechanical failure of some kind on the second day...2005, I think? I know someone in a DSM did, remember it limping along...
I had a lot of mechanical failures... almost as many as high centers from just 'barely' going off the road sideways and getting stuck on the edge of the ditch.
Most of them where the most awful unforeseen type as well. Harmonic balancer separating throwing belts, rubber turbo hose splitting, axle pulling out of transmission 'just' enough to drain all of the fluid and wreck the new box, battery exploding, and my favorite, rocks between the calipers and wheels resulting in flats and ruined tires (all wheels and tire where new at event).
SlickDizzy wrote: In reply to Knurled: I think it helps that the GC Impreza was stamped out in one fashion or another for about a decade, while the Evos span four (?) generations of platforms from I to X. Halfcuts aside, I marshalled the Ojibwe Forests Prorally about 10 years ago and was shocked at the number of legit-seeming, plated RHD Evos and STis running around. They all COULD have been really thorough conversions, but I'd bet at least a couple weren't.
I know of someone who is a collector of sorts of Group A cars. He has, amonsgt other things, an Escort Cosworth and an Evo IV. Titled and registered in the US.
I dunno how they got here. I don't want to know either On the other hand, an STI frontcut at $4k or so looks expensive, but if you can find a pre-OBD-II Impreza and mate the two, you've got yourself an STI about as legally as if you put together an aftermarket turbo setup, for a lot less cash outlay.
As far as post-1996 goes, I keep getting ideas in my head of finding a clean 2.5RS with a blown drivetrain, getting an STI drivetrain, and mating the two with a Carberry-hacked computer, which should pass an OBD-II test. I think. Maybe. First hurdle is finding a 2.5RS...
Knurled wrote: As far as post-1996 goes, I keep getting ideas in my head of finding a clean 2.5RS with a blown drivetrain, getting an STI drivetrain, and mating the two with a Carberry-hacked computer, which *should* pass an OBD-II test. I think. Maybe. First hurdle is finding a 2.5RS...
I know of someone parting out a caged GC, he may sell it complete with the WRX engine in it.
BoxheadTim wrote: You may have seen a whole bunch of 240SXs
And that vin thing is why customs has cracked down on these really hard.
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