Buying a used car from Japan

[johl]

I would strongly avoid listening to anything said by Edward Lee's. They have been shut down for winding off tens of thousands of kilometres on their imports. They have since re branded and changed the business name

[TwistedGray]

Originally Posted by JD001

Can't you guys imports cars just for track use or to stick them in museum/collections? It hurts to hear cars getting crushed just because of some stupid paperwork.

You can import a car for track use; however, it's a painful process. I know/knew (it's been a long, long time since I've talked with them) someone in Colorado that did this back in the early/mid 2000s. Their car was featured on an import mag at the time as well (perhaps SuperStreet ... I had a copy for a long time, too).

If my memory is correct you can import the chassis only and piece it back together through separate imports of engine, transmission, body panels, etc. Basically you disassemble the car in Japan and ship bits and pieces to the US to rebuild.

[Ultramaroon]

Johnny Cash did it.

[JD001]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

Johnny Cash did it.

Did he ride it in style?

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

Johnny Cash did it.

Originally Posted by JD001

Did he ride it in style?

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ws-_syszg84"]Johnny Cash - One Piece At A Time (1976) - YouTube[/ame]

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by TwistedGray

You can import a car for track use; however, it's a painful process. I know/knew (it's been a long, long time since I've talked with them) someone in Colorado that did this back in the early/mid 2000s. Their car was featured on an import mag at the time as well (perhaps SuperStreet ... I had a copy for a long time, too).

If my memory is correct you can import the chassis only and piece it back together through separate imports of engine, transmission, body panels, etc. Basically you disassemble the car in Japan and ship bits and pieces to the US to rebuild.

Still not necessarily legal and you risk losing the whole thing. There are loads of reports of people trying this and failing.


It is a minefield of red tape!


http://www.importavehicle.info/2016/...ort-track.html

[krayzie]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

Johnny Cash did it.

[TwistedGray]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Still not necessarily legal and you risk losing the whole thing. There are loads of reports of people trying this and failing.

It is a minefield of red tape!

http://www.importavehicle.info/2016/...ort-track.html

Yeah, it's not an easy route, BUT it IS possible.

[mav1178]

Originally Posted by TwistedGray

Yeah, it's not an easy route, BUT it IS possible.

Possible & legal are two separate arguments.

By the time you are done doing this, it's far easier to just import a whole car and pay for it up front.

The rules are in place, anything not meeting the EPA exemption rules are prohibited from import, period. You can do it in pieces to circumvent the rules, but I don't have that much money lying around.

Only exception to all this is the Show & Display rule, you can bring something over for up to 2 years but you must show proof of export.

[TwistedGray]

Originally Posted by mav1178

Possible & legal are two separate arguments.

He was both from what I recall. It's been years, and I don't remember the circumstances. It sounded like a MAJOR pain.

[mav1178]

Originally Posted by TwistedGray

You can import a car for track use; however, it's a painful process. I know/knew (it's been a long, long time since I've talked with them) someone in Colorado that did this back in the early/mid 2000s. Their car was featured on an import mag at the time as well (perhaps SuperStreet ... I had a copy for a long time, too).

If my memory is correct you can import the chassis only and piece it back together through separate imports of engine, transmission, body panels, etc. Basically you disassemble the car in Japan and ship bits and pieces to the US to rebuild.

Let me reply to your original quote and just say this:

If you import a car in pieces and rebuild it in the US, it does not matter how "legal" you make the car, it is still illegal because you intended to make it a street legal car.

US CBP does not care about what you are doing. They care about what you intend to do with said goods once it has cleared customs. So importing a chassis for parts and then rebuild it into a complete car is about as big of a no-no as you can get when it comes to importing cars.

You can import a car for race use, but you have to export it within 2 years.

[JD001]

Originally Posted by mav1178

You can import a car for race use, but you have to export it within 2 years.

Is this a once in the car's lifetime or can the same car be re-imported? Does it have to return to its place of origin or can it hop over a 'land border' and then hop back in.. (unsure if cars can hop... perhaps the old 'live axel' Mustangs!)

[JD001]

Update, saw a car on Goo.net.exchange. I have been communicating with someone on Goo.net. I don't think he's connected to the dealer so unsure how things progress.. I made an offer below the asking price and requested further information. What information forwarded as been pretty limited and I think this person is reluctant to go to the dealer with my current offer... Trying to find another route to the car.. keep you posted with developments.

BTW, looking for independent car checking companies in Japan. Any suggestions?

[JD001]

Further update, I requested a video of the car. The Goo.net guy says that if they produce a video I must commit to his suggested price, 'wholesale' rules according to him..... Anyway, I'm digging around to see if I can get to the dealer direct...