Importing a Spirit R to the States...
02-21-08, 07:13 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Kansas City, MO
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Importing a Spirit R to the States...
Hello. I've been lurking around on these forums for years, but forgot my email/password to my other account so I'm a newbie again 
Anyway...
I was wondering about something for a very long time now.
I was wondering if it was possible to import a Japanese car to the US (let's say a Jap spec RX-7) and drive around with it on my Dealer tags. Has anyone tried this? Will the Police give you a hard time or are there any serious penalties for doing such a thing?
I put the Dealer tag on every car I drive and I haven't had any problems. I'm just wondering if an Officer could do anything if he recognizes that the car is from Japan (obviously he would know by looking at the steering wheel).
Also, another thing that has been on my mind for years... How is it that people who build cars from scratch are able to register their cars, but Jap imported cars cannot?
Thanks in advance. I think I will also ask in the lounge as soon as my post count updates.
Anyway...
I was wondering about something for a very long time now.
I was wondering if it was possible to import a Japanese car to the US (let's say a Jap spec RX-7) and drive around with it on my Dealer tags. Has anyone tried this? Will the Police give you a hard time or are there any serious penalties for doing such a thing?
I put the Dealer tag on every car I drive and I haven't had any problems. I'm just wondering if an Officer could do anything if he recognizes that the car is from Japan (obviously he would know by looking at the steering wheel).
Also, another thing that has been on my mind for years... How is it that people who build cars from scratch are able to register their cars, but Jap imported cars cannot?
Thanks in advance. I think I will also ask in the lounge as soon as my post count updates.
02-21-08, 07:22 PM
#3
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Kansas City, MO
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Why exactly can't this be done? Also, the reason I put "Spirit" was to get a little more attention.
02-21-08, 07:28 PM
#4
sorry champ, I just figured the short answer would be adequate for a topic covered as often as this one...
Item # 12 from the FAQ:
Also, several useful links provided by someone who attempted to bring his JDM FD home with after his tour with the military.
And there's tons more. This thread litterally pops up daily.
But if you decide to go through with it anyway, make sure you let us know what port you bring it to so that when it gets crushed we know where to score the cheap parts.
Item # 12 from the FAQ:
12) Can I import an FD into the US from overseas?
Not legally, that any of us are aware, but it depends on the state and the intended use of the vehicle. Some owners have managed to import a 92-95 model and get the cars registered and insured fraudulently, but considering there is essentially no difference it is generally not worthwhile. In other words, it requires lying on federal documents. It would be extremely expensive to legally import a later version of this car for many reasons, much more than the cost of the cars themselves. If you see a LHD FD with 96+ trim on US roads, it’s probably a 93-95 with imported parts added later.
For more information, read this thread: https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showthread.php?t=719206
US DOT/NHTSA Importation Regulations: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import/
US Customs Importation Regulations: http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/cl...utomobiles.xml
US EPA Emissions Regulations: http://www.epa.gov/OMS/imports/quiktext.htm
Not legally, that any of us are aware, but it depends on the state and the intended use of the vehicle. Some owners have managed to import a 92-95 model and get the cars registered and insured fraudulently, but considering there is essentially no difference it is generally not worthwhile. In other words, it requires lying on federal documents. It would be extremely expensive to legally import a later version of this car for many reasons, much more than the cost of the cars themselves. If you see a LHD FD with 96+ trim on US roads, it’s probably a 93-95 with imported parts added later.
For more information, read this thread: https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showthread.php?t=719206
US DOT/NHTSA Importation Regulations: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import/
US Customs Importation Regulations: http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/cl...utomobiles.xml
US EPA Emissions Regulations: http://www.epa.gov/OMS/imports/quiktext.htm
And there's tons more. This thread litterally pops up daily.
But if you decide to go through with it anyway, make sure you let us know what port you bring it to so that when it gets crushed we know where to score the cheap parts.
Last edited by SLOASFK; 02-21-08 at 07:34 PM.
02-21-08, 07:30 PM
#5
Original Gangster/Rotary!
iTrader: (213)
May lightning strike down upon you for starting this thread 
https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...rting+fd+japan
and
https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...rting+fd+japan
https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...rting+fd+japan
and
https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...rting+fd+japan
02-21-08, 07:38 PM
#6
92' JDM Type R
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Vernon BC/Winnipeg MB Canada
Posts: 482
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Dont mind the village jackass SLOASFK.. he must be on his rag again
anyways If the rules for VIN are the same for the US as they are for canada (which the prob are in this regard) then you will not be able to use dealer plates on an imported vehicle that is not registerred (have a north american VIN#) vehicles sold in japan have a diffrent # used to identify vehicles.
Yes With enough $$ you prob could import one of these. It is my understanding that a few guys from texas are driving imported FDs. although they are the same as your FDs, just right hand drive, not the newer spirit Rs. I am not sure how they get away with it, but Im sure you can find out.
Alternativly you could get the rights to import them, by getting approval from the ***** agency by getting 3 spirit Rs then proceeding to pay the $100,000+ to have 2 of them smashed up in crash tests. This is how that company out of CA is selling legit skyline R34s for $80,000-$90,000 BTW
BTW a spirit R in australia will run about $90-100,000 AUS. Which is about $80,000 USD I think. so simply getting a mint 93-95, then paying a seemingly exorbinant amount of money to convert it ($2500 for turbos, $3000 for carbon fibre seats, $1000 gauge cluster, $1400 for front air dam, $2000 for brakes, etc) would prob be waaaaayyy easier, and less costly.
hope that helps
anyways If the rules for VIN are the same for the US as they are for canada (which the prob are in this regard) then you will not be able to use dealer plates on an imported vehicle that is not registerred (have a north american VIN#) vehicles sold in japan have a diffrent # used to identify vehicles.
Yes With enough $$ you prob could import one of these. It is my understanding that a few guys from texas are driving imported FDs. although they are the same as your FDs, just right hand drive, not the newer spirit Rs. I am not sure how they get away with it, but Im sure you can find out.
Alternativly you could get the rights to import them, by getting approval from the ***** agency by getting 3 spirit Rs then proceeding to pay the $100,000+ to have 2 of them smashed up in crash tests. This is how that company out of CA is selling legit skyline R34s for $80,000-$90,000 BTW
BTW a spirit R in australia will run about $90-100,000 AUS. Which is about $80,000 USD I think. so simply getting a mint 93-95, then paying a seemingly exorbinant amount of money to convert it ($2500 for turbos, $3000 for carbon fibre seats, $1000 gauge cluster, $1400 for front air dam, $2000 for brakes, etc) would prob be waaaaayyy easier, and less costly.
hope that helps
02-21-08, 07:44 PM
#7
Originally Posted by 1.3LDreamCar
This is how that company out of CA is selling legit skyline R34s for $80,000-$90,000 BTW
Trending Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
ls1swap
3rd Generation Specific (1993-2002)
12
10-01-15 07:58 PM
