Top 10 Street Illegal Cars You Wish You Could Have

Some street illegal cars in the US include the Lamborghini Sesto Elemento and the Morgan Le Mans ‘62.
Written by Tiffany Leung
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
Car collectors are always trying to acquire the most unique cars for their fleet, but some of the rarest and most sought-after cars are street illegal in the United States. Famously banned supercars include the Lamborghini Sesto Elemento and the Morgan Le Mans ‘62.
A majority of the cars that are street illegal in the US are classified as supercars—cars that are the fastest, most exclusive, and pricey. These rare gems are alluring to car collectors because they take their specifications to the extreme—and the fact that they are almost impossible to get fuels the obsession for them even more.
So what makes a car illegal?
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Keep reading to see a list of street illegal cars you wish you could have.
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Why are certain cars banned?

In the United States, each state has the authority to determine which cars are permitted to drive on public roads. In general, automobiles, trucks, and motorcycles are considered street legal. Individual vehicles must meet certain criteria to be considered road safe.
To be street legal, vehicles must adhere to the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). These are the minimum safety performance requirements that cover the design, construction, durability, performance, and safety-related components of each vehicle. 
The FMVSS were issued with the goal of reducing vehicle crashes and fatalities due to collisions. Any vehicle that doesn’t meet the requirements is not allowed on the road.
The following components are also related to safety performance and can make a car street illegal:
  • Noise: Excessively noisy cars can cause a disturbance to the public. They can also distract other drivers.
  • Weight: A car that is too lightweight would not meet the safety standards as it cannot protect the driver and passengers from dangerous accidents.
  • Safety features: Cars without safety features like airbags, horns, and rear and side mirrors are not safe for the road.
  • Top speed: Extreme speeds are dangerous not only for drivers, but pedestrians as well. Getting hit by a car that is driving at a very high speed will likely result in severe injury or death.
  • Engine power and turbocharger: The most powerful engines and turbochargers make cars harder to control, which can increase the risk of accidents.
Key Takeaway Certain cars are banned in the United States because they do not meet the minimum safety performance requirements outlined in the FMVSS.

10 cars that are illegal in the US

You might be asking yourself, what cars are actually illegal in the US? Below are the top 10 drool-worthy supercars that are banned on the roads.

1. Lamborghini Sesto Elemento

This sleek, limited-edition supercar is known for its lightweight build thanks to the use of carbon fiber for its exterior—hence the name “Sixth Element”. Aside from the great speed it possesses, the material used to build it makes it unsafe to drive on the roads.

2. Lamborghini Strosek Diablo

This supercar is an extreme version of the Lamborghini Diablo, with modified bumpers, headlights, turn signals, and mirrors. Not only is this car too fast to be road-safe (top speeds at 200 mph+), its design and form also violate multiple requirements of the FMVSS.

3. TVR Tuscan

TVR cars made from 1996 to 2006 have been banned in the United States, including the Tuscan from the film, Swordfish. While its rate of acceleration is a concern, a bigger issue is that it wasn’t outfitted with airbags or anti-lock brakes—earning it a banned status from the NHTSA.

4. TVR Sagaris

The TVR Sagaris weighs less than 2,500 pounds and has 380 horsepower, resulting in a stellar acceleration rate that allows you to go from 0 to 60 mph in less than four seconds. With such powerful acceleration, the Sagaris was deemed unsafe for the roads and became street illegal.

5. Lotus Elise Series 1

Every model year of the Elise Series 1 was blacklisted by the NHTSA. The reason is that it only weighs 1,600 pounds (to improve acceleration) and has no roof or windows to protect the passengers if a collision were to occur.

6. Morgan Le Mans ’62 Prototype

Morgan Motors is a British automaker that specializes in vehicles with classic styling. The limited-edition anniversary model of the 1962 Le Mans replicated the original Morgan Le Mans, and only 80 (plus one prototype) were made.  
Unfortunately, since the design of this highly-exclusive car doesn’t meet FMVSS requirements, it is banned in the US.
MORE:

7. Jaguar XJ220-S

This car was once the fastest in the world, reaching top speeds of 217 mph and breaking the 1993 Guinness world record. With such speeds and a horsepower of 690, this car was deemed illegal on US roads. 
Ironically, it was supposed to be the street-legal version of the XJ220-C racer.

8. Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R

Nicknamed “Godzilla”, the Nissan Skyline R3f GT-R was built to go head-to-head with its competitors, the Toyota Supra and Mazda RX-7. Not only did it have the most advanced tech on the market, but it also had a horsepower that actually exceeded the listed 280. In some cases, it could even be modded to give 1,000 HP!

9. Audi RS2 Avant

This German-built wagon can go from 0 to 60 in five seconds, with a top speed of 160 mph. Unfortunately, this high-performance car was banned in multiple countries, including the US, because it used the most powerful turbocharged internal combustion engine that Audi developed

10. Alfa Romeo 8C Spider Roadster

Only 500 units of the Alfa Romeo 8C Spider Roadster were ever made. It was deemed street illegal because of its speed and power. It was also banned because of the excessive noise it makes when it’s turned on. 
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