Car imported from Japan...
 

Hi all, I have a strange question. I have a right hand drive RX7 that I could buy but the car was imported from Japan 2 years ago and now the person doesnt find the papers showing the move from Japan to here.
If I buy it, I have to take it to the Customs office to fill out some papers, then to the police to get a VIN number and then to the license office to get tabs.
But, will the Customs office give me papers if I dont have anything to show when or how did I import the car? The seller says that he will give me a bill of sale showing the transaction between us of course and that since it has been more than 2 years, the Customs office should not have a problem with issuing the necessary paperwork.
But how can they know the car came here more than 2 years ago?
I have never done this procedure so I have no idea what to expect?
Any insights will be appreciated greatly.
Thank you very much...
Leo

I wouldn't do it unless I was able to register it first, once you sign it if they crush it to bad. There are plenty of US rx7s for sale why not just buy one of those?

If it is a rhd model you are interested in, maybe consider buying one in Canada, Seattle is not that far away. Now, on the other hand, are RHD cars legal in the US ? I seem to remember rhd models are not allowed. If you find a way, heck, I have a black roller you might be interested in. :rolleyes:
I have to think that the car you are looking at probably had problems coming in and is now classified as "salvage", otherwise the owner would have had the papers. Pretty important to keep stuff like that around unless the deal is shady.

Yes, thanks for the input guys. The reason I am eyeing this car is because the price is very, very low and it is loaded with aftermarket parts. That's why. I already have an FD so I am not looking for my first car but something I can fix and sell eventually or maybe sell parts.
Thanks, and any other comments are appreciated it.
Leo

If you are just wanting to part it then buy it and don't register it. Take what you want from it and sell the rest.

Don't waste your time or money on the RHD FD... It'll cost you WAAAYYYY too much to get it "legal" and even then there is a good chance you won't be able to have it ACTUALLY legal. Aka, you run a high chance of paying for the car, only to have it confiscated and destroyed.

Just get a LHD vehicle.

I'd only purchase a RHD one if it were ONLY for offroad use (aka, I trailered it to the track, and back again) and it never saw a public street.

Exactly.. If you're getting it to strip for spare parts than go for it. But I'd never bother registering it or anything like that... Just buy it and store/strip it in a garage/barn somewhere, lol.

Ok cool, thanks a lot for the answers, thats why I love this forum, its not like many other ones where you get 70% bull and 30% real answers.
I will have to add up all the pieces that I can get from the car and see if it is worth buying it for parts.
Thanks a lot again...
Leo

Not sure which "other ones" you're referring to, lol. But there are def opportunities to get just that here as well if you (don't) know where to look :lol:

Well we appreciate you're asking the question with an open mind. Most times when this subject comes up there is little rational discussion as the thread-starter is already emotionally attached to the J-spec RHD car idea. Then as the practical reasons against it pile up, the frustration and stubbornness sets in.

The big issue is whether you can make the car legal on both the state and federal level without falsifying paperwork. For as many members as this forum has, it says something to me that nobody has come forward and described how they did it legally.

If you purchased this car as a track-only car the car it would be interesting. Registration, insurance, and titling becomes much simpler.

David

If you check the NHSTA site, RHD RX-7's are not legal in the country at all. End of discussion. So don't bring it their attention if you do purchase it. Get what you want, sell the rolling shell as an "off-road use only" chassis and move on. There's probably a reason he 'lost' the papers for the RX.

By the way, what year is it?

Jose

If you're looking at a newer (97+) Bathurst from a guy in Seattle that "IMPORTS" Supras, R34s, and FD's then I'd be VERY CAREFUL. Contacted him a few times and didn't like the feel of things...if not, good luck! Could be more problems than it's worth if you can't get it registered, etc.

He's trying to sell you a car he doesn't have title to. That's a hint. It will NOT be legal for any public road in the U.S. You will NOT be able to legally register it and bells WILL ring with most insurance companies, since the VIN doesn't meet standards.
If the guy selling it thinks it'll be such a piece of cake to get it titled, let him get one before you buy it.

I smell a scam or it's stolen. There are always cars on craigslist with crazy low prices and great parts that are too good to be true.

Yes that is what I am thinking too now, I will leave it alone. Thanks for the help guys.
Leo

Everyone is afraid of rhd for some reason. I daily drive a rhd rx and and r32 gtr with no issues. Have had quite a few different cars over the years as well. Guess its where your located if your state will give you trouble.

Has nothing to do with being "afraid" of RHD. Personally I just think they're silly...at least in the case of an FD. Unlike a R32 they were available in North America. It also has nothing to do with State laws. A number of owners like yourself have managed to get them titled somehow. But that won't matter to U. S. Customs if you manage to gain their attention. In their eyes it's contraband and seizable.

Time to close this thread before the gtr203 newbie gets ripped a new one. . .

Personally I'd prefer anyone who claims, "I have a RHD JDM car no problem" to provide their home address and registration and then send it up to the Federal level. If it is really no problem, they shouldn't mind doing this, right? =)

Best thing to do is what the guy did that we bought our 95 gtr from. Go to montana and sleep with a chick that works at the dmv so she makes you a legit title for that car LMAO!
Btw she got caught by the dmv employees and now she dont do it anymore for him but we have a legit and legal GTR out of the deal :)

It doesn't matter how many titles you have to that GTR or from what State. It's VIN doesn't conform, it's contraband and seizable......."LMAO" :rolleyes:
I've had a professional discussion with a local Agent. Seems they've usually got enough on their plate, so they typically don't go looking. But occasionally initiatives come down. It's a roll of the dice. You could drive it for years and have no issues, or it could be towed out of your garage if someone takes the time to write up an affidavit.

someone who imports cars to canada on a regular basses, loosing the import papers (bill of landing (both JDM and canadian), export cert, JDM bill of sale AND the translated copies of all these) is just dumb. these cars are almost useless with out this info. I have both a digital and paper copies of the documents for every car Ive ever imported (ive had people come back after loosing the originals and ask for copies its only happened twice to me ever and both where young teenagers). the paperwork for my FD is safely stoked in my bank safety deposit box.

Excellent Advice!