I am what you would call "in the rotory womb." As of now I drive a 02' VW GTI 1.8T(don't get me started it's the worst mistake I have ever made, all my friends started buying them, I jumped on the band wagon but whatever.) I have finally seen the light and have set my sights on a beautiful 1992 Type-r RX-7. It is gorgeous. It's white, and 100% stock! The only problem with the car is that it is located in Canada. I have talked to a few guys who have imported them and they have told me some shaky stories and the dude who owns the company who imports them to canada says he isn't sure if they CAN be imported here. So my question is....Is there anyone on this forum who has, or knows someone who has brought a RHD FD into the US? If so please give me some detailed importing instructions and guidelines if you have them.

Thanks Everyone,
James

 

get a USDM model. It's the same, except you won't be on the wrong side of the car or the law. There's enough USDM FDs, and it's hell to import them. Even once they're here, they can be impounded because the officer "feels like it."

Not to mention, most import companies are shady as hell and there have been more than a few stories of people getting ripped off.

 

+1, it is fairly easy to find an FD in the US, no need to import them

 

Either do that, or wait 10 more years =P

 

Don't bother importing a JDM FD into California, it's not worth trying to do it.

If you lived in one of the border states it may be more worthwhile, but it's still not trouble free.

Just get a USDM one.

 

theres nothing wrong with driving a right hand drive in california. i know people that do it daily. sure they get **** from cops. but they cant really do anything. street sweepers,garbage men and mail men all drive right hand sometimes. anyway its going to be hard to get the car registered unless you do it illegally. which is you will have to get a dead fd and steal its past identity. many peolple will cut out the vin on a junked fd or some track car of their friends' and weld it in. chp is hip to this and have acids to check for body filler. so you're going have to weld and paint if u were to do it. its kind of a hassle. but if its low miles and a excellent condition, its worth the work and money. and yes you will need money and lots of it. i would fly out there and make sure its tight **** before u buy it. or have some contact in the general area go take pics and stuff for u. good luck and dont cut corners.

 

Why commit a bunch of felonies to get a car that is already available legally in the US?

Not even the dumbest DMV technician in California is going to be fooled by VIN swapping on an RHD car. Where the hell would an RHD car get a US VIN if it didn't go through the federalization process? You think they are going to forget to ask for the DOT/EPA/NHTSA paperwork?

 

potential jail vs buying a USDM? hmmm... that's a tough one.

 

I'm in Canada and there are very few FDs here.
I wanted one from the US and the red tape was enough to convince me to spend the extra few k bucks and get it here. I don't know exactly how the laws differ between here and there (don't think it's that different, however), but with the type of availability you have south of the border (and I'm assuming not having to pay State taxes going from, for instance, Alabama to Texas), buying a RHD in Canada seems to me to be quite absurd. If this can help you, I have heard nothing but trouble with those who imported JDM cars here. They are supposed to be great, but when you get your hands on them there is always a bunch of "disappointers" on the car, among which, engine and turbos conditions... I wouldn't do it, especially if what people here are saying about your officers on the US roads is true. To finish, you'll be on the wrong side of the car for as long as you have it. And -believe me- it is not OK like some people want you to believe. If that were the case, there would be RHD vehicles aplenty in North America and last time I checked, didn't seem to be so...

 

Thanks guys, this helps alot. I wasn't sure if it was worth it. I didn't think that it was this hard. Buying USDM is my second choice I just see so many around my area I just wanted to have something alittle different.

 

You live in California. Your area has the highest concentration of FDs in the whole country. You shouldn't have too hard of a time finding one.

 

you forget dmv technicians are people and if you know the right people... anyway u act like rhd dashes and conversions arent avaible in the us. hey im just showing him how hard it will be to get a car that was never brought into us into us

 

Plus having your precious RHD that you spent all this money to get here seized and eventually crushed...

There are a million other ways to gain attention rather than driving a particular model that in the end really has no major performance benefits over a properly modded and cared-for USDM model.

 

Exhibit A: car...crushed...
https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...03#post7386103

 

I know its possible if you go through all the right legal channels. I have no doubt that California has the highest concentration of FDs in the country but that is exactly my point! The only reason these cars get crushed is if you swap VIN #s and lie to customs. I talked to the DMV and the law is 15yrs or older, and guess what 1992 is 15yrs! They said as long as it passes smog here(the car is 100% stock so it shouldn't be a problem) then its fine. All I have to pay is random fees(The importer said it would be something like $4,500.) CHP said there is nothing wrong with driving RHD as long as its legit.

 

Just to FYI, you've got a lot of reading up to do.

DMV does not equal CARB does not equal EPA does not equal CHP does not equal US Customs.

Just because ONE of these individuals gives you the green light, doesn't mean you're good to go.

 

It is possible to federalize an FD if you hire a registered importer and have them go through the federalization process. This involves many things, not the least of which is giving them two FDs to crash test. You also have to deal with multiple federal organizations including the DOT, EPA, NHTSA. The entire process takes several years and costs about $100k+ - and there is no guarantee at the beginning of the process that you will be successful.

There are currently no other legal channels.

 

WRONG. If U.S. Customs decides to hold onto your precious RHD car that you're trying to import, and you are unable to provide sufficient proof that you are bringing it in for exactly the reasons you've stated (which obviously cannot be to drive it on U.S. roads) within a specified amount of time, you either pay to ship it back from whence it came, or it gets disposed of...in other words, crushed.
As others have stated, some yodel at your local DMV doesn't have any authority when it comes to importing a car and legalizing it for road use in California; at least until after U.S. Customs, NHTSA, DOT, and EPA/CARB have had their say. I don't know what this "15 years or older law" was quoted to you, but I doubt it had anything to do with registering a foreign vehicle.
These "importers" across the country must be lowballing the actual fee figure so that they can extract money more easily from people...

 

RHD13B, it appears your just not getting the answers you want.
I suggest that you buy that RHD FD, get it shipped and keep us posted on how it's going as far as getting it registered in.....pick a state. Despite what a "few guys", a "dude", some random guy from DMV and finally "The importer" claim, I don't think you can get it done for a street legal car.
Even if you do without landing in jail from VIN altering/mutilating, you'll more than likely end up with an over-priced but worn-out FD with little resale value above the parts content....in no small part because the steering wheel is on the wrong side for this market.

 

Well, we will definately keep you posted on how the process goes. I have talked to people at the NHTSA and EPA and they have given me a couple checklists on importing cars into the US. And, I'm not trying to sound like an ******* or anything, but, in this market a RHD vehicle would sell for much more than a LHD. And the RX7s I am looking at have no more than 40,000km.

 

This is the same thing that dozens of other people have said for years. Funny that we haven't heard back from them...
Uh huh. Why don't you elaborate on exactly what these "checklists" state? The NHTSA checklist must have a "crash testing" box on it...refer to post 17 for further details.

 

... Bumping this thread for those following from a link...

It's been several years I've been on this forum. Many people have claimed there are legal channels where it can be done "if you know how". I have asked that if they bring it in legally that they check in so that we know it's possible. Not to reveal how it was done, in case they don't want to share their secrets, but just to show it can be done. They ALL promise they will do so once they have the car in, insured, and registered.

Exactly *zero* have ever posted about it again. There are a few RHDs spotted in the US from time to time but the owners are never heard from. I think that says it all.

Dave

 

there's nothing stopping people from importing rhd cars through canada but you'll be limited to 1992 vehicles or you'll have to work a little extra mojo on the customs end of things (won't get into that).

this is why you can see many skylines and rhd rx7's in northern states near canada registered within those states. but they are grey market vehicles and can't be sold outside of those states, and risk being pulled over an crushed if they are ever drive past state boundaries.

 

'Mojo' = felony.

These vehicles are not legal in any state. Federal importation laws apply to the US - and last time I checked no states had seceded.

 

kinetic has a RHD rx7 over in san diego and i placed my hand on it. he bought a front clip and did the fab work.