In 1988, the U.S. government banned cars newer than 25 years to be imported into the U.S. but as times change things change. The law takes aeay many cars from other countries that americans would love but companies just dont bring them here. Like the newer nissan skylines or the peugeots or the europe only fiats.

The law is quite outdated and the overall of general safety of cars well overpasses cars in 1997 even for the cheapest cars today. Maybe might not fully complete the list of u.s. safety requirements, but as said before it still surpasses a car in the 1990s.