I believe its emmisions or crash testing but its only in states like cali there is a r33 in Indiana with plates on it.The trick to a legal one in the usa is to have it imported to canada but there law is something like 15 years old so r32 and r33 only.License it in canada for 16 months then its a legal north american car but for cali.Motorex went under when the owner got busted doctoring paper work to make the cars legal.The holden the gto is did come in awd in aus that would be good for the tranny and front diff.