My buddy just had a 1997 Efini FD Right Hand Drive imported. We live in the state of Alabama. He ordered this car directly from japan and it came in through Canada. He went straight up to the DMV and told them the car did not have a VIN or a title and they issued him both a new VIN and title...they didn't ask for crash records, dot specs, nothing!


How on earth is this possibe....i've seen the car. Its 100% legitimate...It even has an in-dash navagation system from japan. The damn thing speaks in japanese and shows him located in the waters outside japan.

Did he just happen to get lucky at the DMV, I mean is the car now completely legal? This seems like a major loophole. He said the importer had 1999+'s and even 2.0litre displacement cars for sale...(which means 3 rotor)

 

No, he didn't get lucky. It is not legal is by Federal regulations. State DMW's don't impose federal regulations, only state based safety and emissions regulations. If DOT investigates and feels like taking action, they can take and/or crush it.

 

Are you 100% on this? I know for a fact this rule applies to vehicles that were never sold stateside beingas how they arent safety tested. But since the Rx7 has been sold statside,there is crash testing data and safety records on it.

Ive seen 100% FEDERALLY legal imported rx7's here before, but they had minor things done to them, for example the front windshild glass had to be changed out for us spec safety glass.

I dont know if you're friends 7 had this done, but thats the only way I know how to get a federally legal FD here

 

Unless there is written documentation which states a 1997 RX7 has the "exact" same crash test results as a 1993-1995 RX7 (and there isn't), it's not approved by the DOT.

 

Alabama is a loophole state where you can get titles for cars that don't have titles. If you look around there are many companys in alabama offering title services for folks that lose titles in other states.

They effectively buy the car from you, title it, then sell it back to you.

IMO, your friend should keep his mouth shut, consider himself EXTREMELY lucky and try not to give anyone a reason to call the feds on him.

 

Out of curiousity, what company did he get it from? It would be fun to check their inventory.

 

Tell your friend to cherish the car while he has it.

It wont be too long til its gone. Seriously.

 

Agree with the "tell him to keep his mouth shut" not the kind of thing I would be talking about considering the potential outcome. Who in Canada imported it for him? Tyee?

 

Honestly, who really cares about RHD cars (besides wannabe drifters and JDM fanbois)? I certainly don't think its cool. Kinda retarded really driving a RHD car in a LHD world.

 

Well, first of all to Gracer above, its not about the RHD. Its about it being a genuine 1997 Rx7. Its NEWER than any FD you could ever own in the US...

He got it for a STEAL of a deal. It has less that 60,000Miles on it!! He paid $18.5


YES, I am 1000000% sure. I questioned the crap out of this guy about the legality. The car has no airbags, no title, no information, no carfax....nothing. He went to the Alabama DMV and now has a Title and Tag. No one is going to call the Feds on this car...theres no way anyone is going to think, hmm thats illegal because its a 97 and not a 95. Theres lots of RHD cars around that are completely legal. Its not like theres DOT inspectors driving around looking at cars. We have NO emission inspections or anything in Alabama.

There was NO modification to the door jams, etc...nothing is DOT approved or inspected. I'm sure this could turn into a lawsuit against the state if the feds try to take the vehicle. I doubt he will have any problems as long as he drives the car in Alabama.

I also have a buddy with a 600rwhp Skyline R32 GT-R. Its RHD from Japan but he had it imported through california and it's federally legal. Its had inspections and modifications.


I'm thinking about selling my FD now and buying a 1999 from japan. The importer in canada has a 1999 with 70,000miles on it going for $19,000. I guess I'm extremely lucky to live in Alabama.

 

Yes. Many years ago, a company named Motorex did all the necessary requirements to be able to legally import certain Skylines (crash tests, paperwork, etc):

http://www.motorex.net/skyline.html

No such thing has been done for 1996 and up RX7's. Just hope your Skyline buddy got his through Motorex, as the Skylines that came into the US through different manners are starting to go away:

https://www.rx7club.com/automotive-news-lounge-22/kaizo-raided-feds-went-through-records-861492/

 

the Feds have better things to do than chase this down

I wouldn't worry about it

 

I can think of two reasons off the top of my head why the 96+ Rx7's aren't legal here.

1) emissions
2) front rebar

 

my mother has a skyline... registered/insured and titled with no problems at all. and theres about 5-6 other skylines in this area, all just fine. along with a bunch of imported rx7's, silvias, soarers, ect...

cant be luck with this many imported cars... and cops pop hoods around here.

 

exactly...

 

exactly.

First of all, its not some kind of exotic car thats going to catch the attention. The exact same car exists in years 95 and below...visually you aren't going to be able to tell the difference.

Secondly, it has a title, plate, and insurance. Although its illegal with the Feds, theres going to be much less heat to worry about. Theres goign to be more tape to deal with considering it has a state issued registration...ex. if he gets pulled over a buy a cop, he can show insurance and registration..the cops not going to look around to see if its DOT specified and report the car. However, if it wasn't state registered that would bring up alot of questions and maybe lead to issues.

 

$18.5k for a car that isn't federally legal here and has next to 0 resale value... You call that a steal? You can buy a 50 state legal low mileage or nicely modded FD for that money.

Btw, lawsuits cost money. You ever try to sue the government? Good luck with that.

 

OT but your mother has a skyline? Do tell.....

 

I'd say it's highly likely this car could be registered in a lot of other states with no problems. Not every place is like California. Podunk sheriffs and disgruntled DMV employees don't know and/or don't care, especially since it's a MAZDA with a legal title.

Also, note that eliminating your precat is against Federal law and you don't see many people getting in trouble for it.

 

Pictures!!!

 

http://www.tradecarview.com/used_car.../rx-7/1505301/


this is breathtaking ^^^

why dont I just sell my FD and import that to my state!!!

 

sell my FD and buy a RHD nissan cube. call me baller

 

Im going to import a RHD motorcyle... what? lol...

 

^ got me there... LOL

RHD moped DAM thats jdm ...

but for realz. a RHD FC whould be bad ***

 

Steal or no steal he's coming up on a rebuild. Start saving!