coustoe

#31

I feel better, I looked at the NHTSA site again for a better way to import the car and bypass Registered Importers (RI) the guys that bring you car up to safety spec.

Car can be classified as a show car, you must limit the car to 2500 miles a year, this is better then the "as parts" bypass method i believe. here is the Document from NHTSA.

Also I will soon list the intricacies behind shipping, for those who dont want to buy from a used car dealership in japan, but I am very tired at the office now, I will post more soon.

This post has been edited by coustoe: May 19, 2003 - 2:04 PM

coustoe

#32

error, moderator please delete

This post has been edited by coustoe: May 19, 2003 - 3:37 PM

coustoe

#33

anyone double checking my results? getting a second opinion would be nice.

coustoe

#34

so I am a bit closer to getting a gt4, I've emailed about 11 differenst sources in japan to act as brokers, or go betweens, in purchasing gt4s at auctions or classifieds or used car dealerships and shipping them to the US on Ro/Ro ships. So far I've only had 1 actively talk to me. Been quoting me ridiculously high prices, that dont even include the shipping and his commission. $9000 for a 96 gt4 and $12000 for a TT supra, He says the reason why the prices are higher is because hes getting the best cars. Shrugs, I guess i'll have to see the pics. Plus I think hes looking at cars with less then 30,000km or like less then 15k miles.

If you guys feel like helping here is a list of car exporters in japan.

Japanese JDM Exporters

coustoe

#35

I'll try to finalize customs procedures tormorrow or friday, I think I will import the cars on the NHTSA H-7 form as show cars. Already talked to a import broker and she said it should be good, Ill have to talk with a customs agent to. I'm waiting on the Customs forms and paperwork, I'll see if I can get them on their website instead of waiting through the mail.

Car cost to import:

1. Car $9,000 (really nice GT4, low miles, probably can get this down to 6500 or 7000 if you get a higher mileage and older gt4)
2. shipping $900
3. export commission-$250 (I think)
4. Import broker - $200 (not really neccessary, you can do all the paperwork)
5. duty fee - $200 (I'll have to double check this)

Total - about $11,000

doGGy

#36

Hey guys, i know that JDM GT4 is RHD so is it legal to drive it in US? Then Why to buy and ship it from Japan, then you can always buy it in Europe and have one with LHD?? The price is alittle bit higher here in europe on GT4 (you can get one for about 10000$ in europe and in Japan it costs about 8000$), but you will have GT4 with LHD and the shiping will cost less and the power ratings are the same... I can do some research over here in Germany, Italy, France or other countrys WEB pages for GT4 if anyone is intrested.

EDIT:

Did some research:
GT4 In Europe

This post has been edited by doGGy: May 22, 2003 - 1:38 AM

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Ex celica owner - just a guy from other side of the pond...Full custom Projects from restoration to performance builds<<<<<< DCw / JDMart >>>>>>>

macavely

#37

Ok i don't know about any one else, but this post has made me really re think about doing an engine swap.. by they time i have the money saved and the time to do the swap i would be able to just import a whole gt-4d..

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[TeamNJCT

coustoe

#38

okay I changed my mind, bringing a car as show and display would take a extadinary amount of work, Though you can bring the car in temporarily for up to 5 years for training and research, but then they make you bond the vehicle so basically if you dont export it then they will keep the bond. But This might be negliable, if the bond is 100% of the value of the car then a Gt4 that cost $6000, then giving up that $6000 would be cheaper then of course bringing the vehicle up to safety specs.

Instead I will try to bring the car in as a racing vehicle, I've established a few contacts in Japan, I will see if when they get the car they will basically gut the interior and ship the components seperatly, unknowest to the custom agent of course, This will ad more cost to the car though, but probably reasonable.

I going to try to apply this next week for the exemption, just need more input on my racing car mod thread.

coustoe

#39

Have done more research. This seems to be a little complex.....

I think the easiest solution might be to import the a jdm vehicle into an mexican free trade zone port. The only mexican requirement is to obtain insurance for the vehicle while it is in the trade zone $15 last time I checked or actually import the car into mexico which is a little more expensive. Then drive the car through a us border crossing as a visiting/tourist car.

I have been able to locate a few supras in japan for bout 600,000 yen or $5,000 same with gt4s. I will be going to texas in september for work for several months. Will try to cross border into free trade zone and pickup a supra from japan and drive it across. If this works, I will try to help anyone else out who wants a JDM supra or gt4.

I am also still working on the racing exemption which is becoming a hassle.

Oh well nothing risked nothing gained.

coustoe

#40

1993 JDM tt Supra 57k miles $2700
damage to rear panel, runs perfectly

coustoe

#41

1995 JDM Supra 42k miles $4666

97sccelica

#42

--coustoe+Jun 10, 2003 - 6:13 PM

QUOTE (coustoe @ Jun 10, 2003 - 6:13 PM)

1993 JDM tt Supra 57k miles $2700 damage to rear panel, runs perfectly

man that's cheap. are you gonna try to get that one?

i was going to buy a 1992 jdm gt4 that was up in seatle. some guy imported it as a parts car with no wheels on it and then put on some steel rims. to register it i found out that i had to install and egr system and a cat. converter then take it to a chp station(this is for CA) and the chp guy would look it over, check for smog equipment, and issue it a VIN#

then register and insure it as a 1992 celica st!!

i would love to have a RHD 6th gen GT4. the only real problem i see with importing a car is if it is 1996+ because obd2 would have to be installed. get a 1995 gt4 amd that would make it cheaper and easier. couldnt you bring in the car with no wheels, claim its non op and for parts. take it home, get some wheels on it, add smog stuff if needed, and then register it as a project/kit car(dont remember the exact term but i read on the dmv site that if a car is made up of parts from several cars with reciepts saying it was, that the car can be registered and might even be smog exempt)

i really hope that a way to easily and cheaply import jdm cars is found, if not im gonna have to buy front and rear clips of a gt4 and do a swap/awd conversion.

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1994 Celica GT4 WRC Edition@gt4.wrc on Instagram

Unknown User

#43

yea that is a really good thought and how i wish that it was impossible....i would say the hardest thing is finding a company that is willing to mess with all the customs about getting an uncut car into the states.\



in addition i am sure that you have to take off more than the wheels...i would have some company take out the whole drivetrain
send it to me...then later on send me the drivetrain...then put it in myself...

coustoe

#44

Ive explored the as-parts import option. It sounds iffy, I'm not sure how these other people imported their cars as parts only, but it seems to be up to the customs agent at that particular port (talked to several customs agenst at ports). Some customs agents could get assasnine and say the car is still possibly driveable even though it has no wheels and or engine, then bond the vehicle until its up to safety and emssissions.

the gray way of doing this is importing it as parts as a different car in a container and hope that the customs inspectors dont know jack bout cars and dont check the container contents agaisnt the manifest (custom agents dont check all containers, too many random checks). This is the similiar approach drug runners take. The risk being you get caught and the custom agent is not a total dufus then you car gets bonded. Shrugs, I want to find a way that is somewhat legit, minimum complexity, low risk as possible.

The as-parts option seems simple but not totally legit and somewhat high risk.

funks

#45

--doGGy+May 21, 2003 - 10:33 PM

QUOTE (doGGy @ May 21, 2003 - 10:33 PM)

Hey guys, i know that JDM GT4 is RHD so is it legal to drive it in US? Then Why to buy and ship it from Japan, then you can always buy it in Europe and have one with LHD?? The price is alittle bit higher here in europe on GT4 (you can get one for about 10000$ in europe and in Japan it costs about 8000$), but you will have GT4 with LHD and the shiping will cost less and the power ratings are the same...  I can do some research over here in Germany, Italy, France or other countrys WEB pages for GT4 if anyone is intrested. EDIT: Did some research: GT4 In Europe

won't you still need the crash test info considering there weren't any GT4's here in the US? (to make it legal for EU cars)..

Motorex is able to import Skylines, maybe somebody needs to setup a business to import used GT4's from Japan and make it legal >>
Should be able to sell quite a bit for them AUTO-X'rs..



This post has been edited by funks: Jun 13, 2003 - 2:29 PM

ScoobyDooCruiser

#46

--funks+Jun 13, 2003 - 11:39 AM

QUOTE (funks @ Jun 13, 2003 - 11:39 AM)

--doGGy+May 21, 2003 - 10:33 PM QUOTE (doGGy @ May 21, 2003 - 10:33 PM) Hey guys, i know that JDM GT4 is RHD so is it legal to drive it in US? Then Why to buy and ship it from Japan, then you can always buy it in Europe and have one with LHD?? The price is alittle bit higher here in europe on GT4 (you can get one for about 10000$ in europe and in Japan it costs about 8000$), but you will have GT4 with LHD and the shiping will cost less and the power ratings are the same...  I can do some research over here in Germany, Italy, France or other countrys WEB pages for GT4 if anyone is intrested. EDIT: Did some research: GT4 In Europe won't you still need the crash test info considering there weren't any GT4's here in the US? (to make it legal for EU cars).. Motorex is able to import Skylines, maybe somebody needs to setup a business to import used GT4's from Japan and make it legal >> Should be able to sell quite a bit for them AUTO-X'rs..

Also, RHD is legal in the US. A little unusual granted, but perfectly legal. I would almost prefer it. It would take some getting used to, but it would be totally different, and would really make people notice. Parellel parking would be wierd tho...

---

psalm 69

Inferno

#47

I know an importer over AIM. He can get me a GT-Four with under 60K miles, great condition, for 5K. That's just the cost of the car, of course. I'm starting to get interested in this...maybe It's good that I haven't bought my Celica yet. Heck, I might could get a Supra for cheeper.

This post has been edited by Inferno: Jun 13, 2003 - 7:00 PM

coustoe

#48

to make importing gt4 into the US legal you would have to start a campaign with your local representative or form some type of lobbying group.

The import restrictions set on cars and other imports are protectionist measures to help domestic manufacturers. Instead of directly tariffing certain products the government through nonsensical irrelevant regulations can close and protect local markets agaisnt foriegn competitors. Japan is nortorious for this, Of course the US is a freerer market, but still makes it difficult to import cars not produced in the US (creates US jobs).

The Crash test is not nessecary for GT4s read www.epa.gov and www.nhsta.gov

The only way to import a gt4 is to go through the governments loopholes this is all to make it difficult and raise the cost associated with importing cars, so imports not produced in the US will not flood the domestic market. If we started to en mass import gt4s then the Customs would notify the trade commission which would take action to close that loophole we were using.

zipstrips

#49

i didnt notice anyone mention but DOT glass would have to be fitted.

yoz

#50

I tried this crap a year ago it ain't gonna happen that easy.

1.) RHD cars are not legal in most states maybe temporary registration.

2.) Unless you know a customs inspector the one that is working that day it ain't getting off the docs.

3.) The importors will gladly take your money while your car is being seized.

4.) Some importers will make the car of your dreams U.S. Legal for a price, But none will touch a GT4
Nothing on the car is U.S. Legal all glass, all restraint mechanisms, all lights, all emmisions.

5.) Nothings impossible I would seperate the engine from the car and ship seperately and say it's
a race car! that might work in getting it here but you'd have to do some dancing to get it registered.

I would never buy a right hand drive car anyway there are a lot of nice left hand drive ones for sale in Europe. If I can find the pictures I will post them of the one I had lined up.

But I would rather spend that kinda of money on a turbo supra and it's legal.

Stipt

#51

But the Euro ones are LHD....

gjunon

#52

so lets see why not go down to mexico since i live so close to it anyway!!! and have it shipped there for less than it would be to ship here tarrifs ect. drive it across the boarder and have it regestered here in cali???? sounds like a plan to me >> all you would ahve to do is have the vin put on it...

also i have seen right side steering cars here in cali so i know thats not a problem...

This post has been edited by gjunon: Jun 15, 2003 - 5:34 PM

coustoe

#53

yoz, some of your points have been discussed, but the taking the engine out and importing the vechicle as a race car is novel. i've talked to NHTSA to many times about this exemption. You basically have to apply for the exemption from the NHTSA, You could possibly lie about the engine, I'm not sure how much of a edge that would give you ingetting the car imported as a racing car. The NHTSA agent kept on talking racing feature such as seats, stripped interior, roll cage etc..., Its a good idea though. Maybe if you tell him its a 700 hp supra then take out the engine you could get your racing car application exemption approved.

There are a lot of ways of doing this, like i said it can get complex.

This post has been edited by coustoe: Jun 15, 2003 - 9:11 PM

coustoe

#54

some people seem to be confused be the term "safety" as covered by the National highway traffic safety adminstration. This doesnt mean if the car has seat belts or not, it means the whole car so when I say "get past safety regulations" it means getting past all the regulations concerning the car body.

.

This post has been edited by coustoe: Jun 15, 2003 - 6:31 PM

coustoe

#55

Just updated the first post with reference material.

I'm going to make major info updates and reference material directly to the first post of this thread, from now on.

so you wont have to read the whole thread >>

Inferno

#56

Hmm. I remember someone saying something about if we had crash-test data about the car, it would be a lot easier to get it registered as a daily driver. Has anyone thought about calling Toyota Japan? You know darn well that they have crash-test data. They have to. We could get a signature from some top official, and get it faxed or mailed to us. Sounds like a good idea to me.

Pvc99gT

#57

i know europe has been brought up a few times, but did anyone actually look to see the best market in Europe? Belgium. i know it sounds weird but it is. Plus its LHD there. I cant speak German or French and i don't know any specifics about Belgian safety standards/ Emissions Standards (The 2 main problems with legalizing an imported car...) But i have been put under the impression that they would fit our requirements. Perhaps someone would research this. I would, but i don't have the time or the connections. Plus its lookin more and more like my car is gonna end up being all show and a little go anyway (I doubt my dad will let me have a 300+ HP car in the garage even if i can pay for it. And definitely he wont let me have anything illegal going on my car) So just an extra insight.

coustoe

#58

doggy lives in europe, read his post on this thread on gt4s from europe, They still cost 2x as much as a jdm and you still have the same safety and emission hassles.

bulletproofsnowm...

#59

I don't know about any other states, but i've been researching this for a few months and in kentucky **where we have no emissions, no general requirments for safety** importing a Gt-4 is almost impossible. . . . .i have found several possible loop holes but none have come through as being reliable ** all have been mentioned in the previous post*. . . .but as far as if you want a legal 6th gen Gt-4 be prepared to go through hell with toyota japan to get crash test data(it is required). . . . .i've tried for 4 months almost and have gotten nothing. . . . .and just because we have Gt's here in the states the front support bar is completely different and if customs see it it'll be bonded and the stock gt one won't fit because it's too short. . .i'd had pictures of both somewhere but can't find them right now.
The importing it to mexico and bringing it across is the simplest idea i've found. . . . .because if need be you can strip it down to frame and say it's a stolen recovery and bring it across in pieces, a lot of work but isn't a gt-4 worth it =). . . . .

bulletproofsnowm...

#60

I don't know about any other states, but i've been researching this for a few months and in kentucky **where we have no emissions, no general requirments for safety** importing a Gt-4 is almost impossible. . . . .i have found several possible loop holes but none have come through as being reliable ** all have been mentioned in the previous post*. . . .but as far as if you want a legal 6th gen Gt-4 be prepared to go through hell with toyota japan to get crash test data(it is required). . . . .i've tried for 4 months almost and have gotten nothing. . . . .and just because we have Gt's here in the states the front support bar is completely different and if customs see it it'll be bonded and the stock gt one won't fit because it's too short. . .i'd had pictures of both somewhere but can't find them right now.
The importing it to mexico and bringing it across is the simplest idea i've found. . . . .because if need be you can strip it down to frame and say it's a stolen recovery and bring it across in pieces, a lot of work but isn't a gt-4 worth it =). . . . .