Lain1987

Hey, I just recently bought a 1995 Rx-7 with 53,000 km on it (32,000 miles) for 6000$, anyways im planning on taking it back to the states and im wondering what regulations im going to run into and what ill have to change in order to take it back. It falls under a VSP status which means there is a substainally similar vehicle in the united states, im just not sure what exactly if any modifications i will have to do, any help would be appreciated

SLOASFK

iTrader: (5)

You'll have to modify it to an American car in order to get it into this country.

You can expect to get a lot of short, blunt and very rude replies on this topic as it is asked by a new newb at least once a week, often times 3-4 times per week. It's very annoying to those of us who actually appreciate the car and aren't cheap bastards trying to pull a fast one on the US DOT.

Here's what you need to get an FD into this country legally...

First, it has to be on the NHSTA car list, which it is. This confuses many people because they naively think this list is cars that you're free to just stick on a boat and drive off the dock with. That's wrong.

Next, it has to be titled by the US DOT. A lot of people also make the mistake of believing that a state title makes a car legal. This is false, you have to have a federal title in order for the car to be legal.

In order to get a US title you have to go through a registered importer that is licensed to import FDs. This is the biggest catch of them all. See there aren't currently any registered importers that are licensed to import FDs to the US. Could you set up an importing service? Absolutely. First you'd have to shell out a few grand here and a few grand there to apply for your licenses. Then you have to bring 3 JDM FDs over to the states at your own expense and have them crash tested. By the time you cut through the red tape and finish paying, you'll have spent a couple hundred grand and quite a few years.



Plus, when you look at the situation of things, many JDM FDs(and used cars in general) for sale are in horrible shape. Most are better suited for a junk yard than a highway.

Now that we're past the importing part, on to your standard new to the car questions... everything you need to know is here--including your silly importing question:
https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generation-specific-1993-2002-16/faq-3rd-gen-other-useful-links-68640/

And last but not least... https://www.rx7club.com/search.php?f=16 It works, learn how to use it and prosper.

Hope I've adequately quashed your dreams and answered your questions

Lain1987

Hmmm, well its not so discouraging, im sure there have been some FDs imported before and im sure they have the data for the colision tests, the thing is i got a pretty damn clean jdm here, and in the states they got **** loads of miles on them. Yeah, i figured as much on the newbs asking, but im asking for genuine help lol since i already own the car. I know a few things such the windshields are thinner here, but as far as meeting standards, there weren't many mods done to it before it entered the states from japan. I know i can get it shipped through the navy base, im just trying to find out how extensive the modifications are going to be...i didnt really need advice on the importing procedures.