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Nissan Laurel C33 For Sale — Import From Japan

The C33 was the last Laurel built without a center pillar. Nissan announced this sixth generation in December 1988 and put it on sale in January 1989. Production ended in December 1992. It came only as a four-door pillarless hardtop, with rear-wheel drive and multi-link rear suspension. Engines ranged from the 1.8-liter CA18i and the RD28 diesel up to Nissan's RB straight-sixes, which were the 125 PS RB20E, the 155 PS RB20DE and the 205 PS RB20DET turbo. A 180 PS RB25DE joined them in late 1991. The sporting grade was the Medalist Club S, with HICAS-II rear-wheel steering and a rear viscous limited-slip differential as standard. The turbo Club S also came with anti-lock brakes as standard. The Club L was the leather-trimmed luxury version. You could get a five-speed manual with the RB20DE, RB20E, CA18i or diesel. Nissan's catalog lists the RB20DET turbo with a four-speed automatic only, though, so a manual turbo C33 has been converted. Check the chassis plate and paperwork as carefully as you check how the car drives.

21available now
1989–1992model years
$8,754–$24,110approx. USD in Japan
45–60 daystypical delivery

Nissan Laurel C33 market snapshot

$18,194median price in Japan
$15,391–$19,281middle half of prices
from $12,104shipped to a US port
17 of 21manual transmission
212000 or older and legal to import now

These numbers come from our live Japan dealer stock today. Shipped prices include ocean freight to your nearest US port plus export fees.

Nissan Laurel C33 variants

VariantEngineDriveNotes
Medalist Club S (turbo)RB20DET 2.0L DOHC turbo I6, 205 PSRWDFour-speed automatic only, with HICAS-II, anti-lock brakes and a rear viscous LSD as standard.
Medalist Club S (non-turbo)RB20DE 2.0L DOHC I6, 155 PSRWDFive-speed manual or automatic. HICAS-II and the rear viscous LSD were standard and anti-lock brakes optional. Nissan dropped the manual in January 1991.
Medalist Twin Cam 24V / Twin Cam 24V TurboRB20DE 155 PS / RB20DET 205 PSRWDComfort-oriented grade, with HICAS-II offered on the Twin Cam Medalist. The turbo came only as an automatic.
2.5 Medalist / Club SRB25DE 2.5L DOHC I6, 180 PSRWDAdded in late 1991, paired with a five-speed automatic.
Medalist Club LRB20 or RB25 straight-sixRWDThe luxury version, with wood trim and white-beige leather seats (beige from 1991).
Grand Cruise / Grand Saloon / ExtraRB20E 2.0L SOHC I6 (125 PS), CA18i 1.8L I4 (91 PS) or RD28 2.8L diesel I6RWDBase grades. A five-speed manual was available.

Nissan Laurel C33 available now

What to check on a Laurel C33

What it costs to import a Laurel C33

The card prices above are what each car costs in Japan. The shipped price on a card is that car delivered to your nearest US port, with ocean freight and export fees included. We then clear it through US customs as your importer of record and handle the title, so there's no customs broker for you to hire. The full cost breakdown has the details.

Is the Laurel C33 legal to import?

Any vehicle 25 years or older is legal to import into the USA without meeting modern FMVSS safety or EPA emissions standards. Eligibility runs on the month and year of manufacture, not just the model year. If the exact C33 you want is not yet eligible, we can buy it and store it in Japan until it is. See the 25-year rule explained.

How buying one from us works

We bid at Japanese auctions and buy from dealer stock on your behalf. Before any money moves, the car is physically inspected in Japan, with photos, video, and a condition report, not just an auction sheet grade. After purchase we handle export, ocean freight to your nearest US port, customs clearance, import duty, and US title, so the car arrives ready to register. Typical timeline is 45–60 days from purchase to delivery.

Nissan Laurel C33 FAQ

How much does a Nissan Laurel C33 cost?

In our Japan stock, the 21 Nissan Laurel C33 with a listed price run from about $8,754 to $24,110 before import costs. The median is $18,194, and the middle half sits between $15,391 and $19,281. Shipped to your nearest US port, with ocean freight and export fees included, prices start at about $12,104 and a median car comes to about $21,544. After that we handle US customs as your importer of record and title the car for you.

How many Nissan Laurel C33 are for sale right now?

21 in Japanese dealer stock today. It changes every day as cars sell and new ones get listed.

How many Nissan Laurel C33 for sale are manual?

Counting the 21 that list a transmission, 17 are manual and 4 are automatic.

Can I import a Nissan Laurel C33 to the USA?

Of the cars in stock, 21 are from 2000 or earlier and qualify under the 25-year rule now. Month and year of manufacture are what count, and we check the exact build date before you commit.

How long does it take to get a Nissan Laurel C33 from Japan?

Plan on about 45–60 days from purchase. The car is inspected and exported in Japan, spends 3–5 weeks at sea to your nearest US port (East Coast, West Coast, Gulf and Honolulu), and then goes through US customs, duty and title. We handle every step as your importer of record.

What do you check before buying a Nissan Laurel C33?

Every car is inspected in person in Japan before any money moves. On this chassis we look hardest at: Match the engine and gearbox to the model code. RB20DET cars left the factory as automatics, so a manual turbo C33 is a conversion. Check how well the swap was done and that the seller says so; With HICAS-II (model code HCC33 or ECC33), check for warning lights and see how the rear steer behaves. If it's been locked out, confirm that was done properly; There's no center pillar, so the frameless glass seals straight against the body. Check window alignment and the seals, and look for water in the footwells; For RB20DET cars, a compression test comes first. After that, check for smoke, boost leaks and oil leaking from the turbo.

Did the C33 come with a manual gearbox?

With some engines, though not the turbo. Nissan's catalog lists five-speed manuals with the RB20DE (the Medalist Club S included, until January 1991), the RB20E, the CA18i and the RD28 diesel. The RB20DET turbo was sold with a four-speed automatic, and the RB25DE added in 1991 came with a five-speed automatic.

What does the C33 model code tell me?

The prefix gives you the engine. HC33 is a 2.0-liter RB20, EC33 the 2.5-liter RB25DE, FC33 the 1.8-liter CA18i and SC33 the RD28 diesel. A second C (HCC33, ECC33) means it was built with HICAS-II rear-wheel steering.

Club S, Medalist or Club L?

For the sporting version, it's the Club S. It has its own grille and front spoiler and gold alloy wheels, with HICAS-II and a rear viscous LSD as standard. Anti-lock brakes were standard on the turbo and optional on the non-turbo. The Medalist is the comfort-oriented grade, and the Club L is the luxury version, with leather and wood trim.

Other Nissan Laurel generations

Laurel C32 (7) · Laurel C34 (20) · Laurel C35 (78)

Nissan Laurel C33 grades & special editions

Laurel Medalist (5 C33)

All Nissan Laurel for sale ›

Want a specific Laurel C33?

Send us the year, transmission and spec you want, and we'll find one at auction and quote it shipped to your US port or imported and titled.

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