03/07/2026
Today marks America’s 250th birthday, and while we're all the way down here in New Zealand (and a day ahead of them), it’s impossible to ignore the impact American vehicles have had on our company.
Before 4Guys officially existed, the people behind its creation were already bringing American vehicles into New Zealand. From Mustangs, Corvettes, Challengers and Chargers that were once the latest models and are now considered classics, American cars have always been part of our DNA. We even imported the very first of New Zealand’s limousines.
This was long before the internet made car buying easy. Back then, trips to America meant landing with cash in your pocket, grabbing the local Auto Trader, picking up the phone and hitting the road in search of the right vehicles to bring back home. It was a different era, but the passion for American cars was exactly the same as it is today.
When 4Guys first got started, bringing American vehicles into New Zealand was a lot more complicated than it is today. Import rules meant you had to prove you’ve owned the vehicle in the United States for at least 90 days, plus an array of other issues. Left-hand drive imports weren't nearly as accessible as they are now, 30 years later.
Our love of cars led us to import a wide range of JDM performance icons, and we became well known for RX-7s, WRXs, EVOs, and Nissan GT-Rs. But throughout all of that, American vehicles remained a big part of who we were. Behind the scenes, we continued building our own collection, from the latest Corvettes through to supercharged Cadillac Escalades. The passion for American muscle and performance never went away.
As often happens, the rules changed again. New Zealand’s import laws tightened around many of the sought-after JDM vehicles, but not long afterwards came an unexpected win. The left-hand drive regulations opened the door for collector-level American imports, making it easier to bring some truly special vehicles into the country.
From there, our love for American cars really kicked into another gear. At the same time, the horsepower wars between the American manufacturers were heating up, which meant bigger engines, more power and even better cars landing on our shores.
To date, we’ve sold more than 1,500 American cars and trucks, and along the way we've met an incredible community of customers who share the same enthusiasm we do.
There’s something special about meeting like-minded people who grew up dreaming about these cars and then helping make those dreams a reality. Being able to put Kiwis behind the wheel of the vehicles we all had posters of as kids is something we never take for granted.
We've put together a gallery of some of the vehicles we've sold over the years. While it's far from a complete list, there's a good chance you'll spot a few familiar vehicles in there. You might even find a vehicle you've owned yourself. Take a trip down memory lane and have a look: https://www.4guys.co.nz/gallery
Thank you to all of our customers for being part of the journey, and happy 250th birthday, America. Thanks for all the cars!