Thats good and all and that is a pic of my car car but that is a pic before all of the work I have put into it and that is why I would like to have it shipped back to the states. The Fenders in the pic came from RE out of Japan and cost the guy the put them on before me an arm and a leg. Some of the parts that cost alot I cant take back wont fit LHD. Obviously you are entitled to your opinion but I dont mind spending the money to bring it back.

 

In this case I was talking about as a last option. Taking it apart, shipping as used parts, putting it back together. I wasn't talking about trying to ship it to the states as a "track car".

I live in Japan and plan on shipping my 92 FD home. I've done my homework.

 

Oh yeah no worries I understood what you were talking about. I just how I could get away with shipping the engine and such back and what exactly classifieds as the chassis, does it mean with out doors, hatch, front windshield and such.

 

What I quoted was what you said, which was not "legal" with the current laws. You may ship your '92 FD back to the US. I don't care. I was providing the regulations around "offroad use" for non-compliant cars which contradict your statement of "offroad use".

 

Hmm.. Sorry to be critical.. But if you think putting on an RE fender costs an arm and a leg than you might be better off ditching this car and start over when you get to USA.

I would also like to see your updated car... There are many on here including myself who can tell you if its worth the hassle or not..

Hmm.. Not really sure what those parts are.. and why its so important that you rather spend so much time and thousands of dollars to get the car from UK to USA.. Can you be more specific what those parts are??

This is just an FYI...

I know in USA it might be cool and unique to drive RHD car (I know as I get so many people looking and asking me about my cosmo), but in reality, RHD FD's are far more common vs. LHD FDs in general.

 

FYI I dont care if you think my cay may not be worth it to bring back to the states. Many people on this forum are in the same position im in ad are trying to figure out how to bring one back to the states. RHD FD'S are nowhere near as common as LHD, not too sure where you get your info. Alot of my parts are from RHD Japan and RE. I have no problem spending money on the car as I am a car enthusiast and I have spent loads of money on all my cars. Like I said you are entitled to your opinion as am I.

 

^ well... good luck kiddo. I've got a feeling your going to need it.


Why don't you just drop the subject (since you seem to be ignoring the members that know these cars best, who have chimed in) and update/wow us all when you've succeeded.

And have you been by Brandon VPC yet? Since you're military you *will* most likely need to get it past them before anybody else, I'm not aware of any other shipping depots in the country for cars.



*edit* Oh... and I see these threads pop up all the time, I've yet to see one success story though

 

How old are you? I'd say 22 ish... The reason I ask is because it's puts things in perspective.

^^Chris, you failed to answer that question can you elaborate as I'd like to know as well.

Well you can understand the confusion then. When the pic was posted you admitted that it was your car and your house, but you failed to mention that it was an old pic. As Deals Gap Rotary Rally said it be nice if you posted a current pic of the car.


You missed my point. It's not really the money, it's the HASSLE of going through all of the red tape and in the end your car just might be seized or it could stay in customs for a long, long time. Even after that pain staking excersice and you manage to get it over here it's still a headache as the car may not be insurable, police will give you ****, someone may steal it, or you may crash it. All for a car that you could had easily duplicated here in the states.

Hey I'm not trying to change your mind as you said you are a stubborn guy but you are being told things that can happen and it ain't rosey. So at the end of the day if you end up getting royally screwed you can't blame it on ignorance as you knew better.

Hey man good luck and I hope it all works out for you. I for one thinks you will fail but hey you never know so don't forget to come back an update us on the results.

Edit-

You mean like Motorex and Kaizo? yeah...

 

Fed's overrule states in situation of importing cars.

 

I hate to say this... but I think you do care.. if you truly didn't care, then why not post updated pics and what we are asking of you?? Bottomline, you are the one who stated you wanted to import this car back to USA because you had a lot invested..

And as you could tell, many have unable to do so nor would they share the secret. By my experience and someone who followed thread like this for years, its getting VERY tough to get a FULL car back to USA. And once its here, its nearly impossible to get it street legal (in all states).

How many LHD do you think are in the world??

If that's the case, why not listen to others... Take what you want off, ship it, buy a RHD street legal FD here in the states.. If money is no issue, hell, I would buy a LHD and built the way you want it.. its not like you are bringing back a stock 1 of 1500 Spirit R because its all original.. So, don't tell me money is not an issue..

 

Guys read the FINE PRINT:

those NHTSA listings DO NOT include RHD models as it is clearly stated that RHD must be noted in Model column. Only a half dozon cars including 96-98 Skyline is listed in a RHD conf.

Excerpts:
LIST OF NONCONFORMING MOTOR VEHICLES
THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR IMPORTATION
(BY OR THROUGH A REGISTERED IMPORTER)
as of June 1, 2009

All eligibility numbers are for left-hand drive motor vehicles except where the initials “RHD,”
signifying right-hand drive, appear in the model type column. While there is no specific restriction on importing a right-hand drive vehicle, these may not be imported under eligibility decisions based on the existence of substantially similar U.S.-certified left-hand drive vehicles. Our experience has shown that the safety performance of right-hand drive vehicles is not necessarily the same as that of apparently similar left-hand drive vehicles offered for sale in this country. However, we will consider the vehicles "substantially similar" if the manufacturer advises us that the right-hand drive vehicle would perform the same as the U.S.-certified left-hand drive vehicle in dynamic crash tests. Absent such a showing, the RI would have to demonstrate (through a petition) that the vehicle, when modified, would comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards, including those for which dynamic crash testing is prescribed.

Manufacturer Model Body Model Year(s) VSP VSA VCP Online Not online
Mazda RX-7 1987-1995 279 NHTSA-1998-4578
NHTSA-1999-5863

"VSP" eligibility numbers are assigned to vehicles that are decided to be eligible under 49 U.S.C. §30141(a)(1)(A), based on a petition from a manufacturer or registered importer which establishes that a substantially similar U.S.-certified vehicle exists.

If a docket number(s) number is shown in the “Online” column, a copy of the associated
documents can be obtained online from the Federal eRulemaking Portal. To do so, visit
http://www.regulations.gov and enter on the appropriate screen the entire number appearing in
the “Online” column. Online access is available for most notices published after November 9,
1997.
The initials “RHD” used in the Model Type column mean “Right-Hand-Drive.” All vehicles are lefthand-
drive (LHD) vehicles unless noted as RHD.

 

Guys; I see no way around the RHD thing, the fed's view is why do you need the car, we aready have LHD versions available.

A stronger case could be made start a new petion with the goverment to bring in 1999-2002 RX-7's where only RHD was available, but again car testing would be the problem, no way does a RHD and LHD car respond with the same results. Fyi, if a car company make an electric window vand manual crank version of a car they must both be tested since the addition of a window crank handle changes the results.

Why would MAZDA give up chash data of RHD cars that cost millions to produce, just so they can get liability added to support us nuts.

I was involved in the importaion back in 1984 of an'84 BMW 323i, this was pre lists and I now see that the car is listed. But back then, had car shipped to Dinan to mod engine to meet emissions, change lights, add stickers etc., reinforce frame and door bars .. and this was based on work Dinah had done to show equilvancy; now they were working with a 3 series german car to a 3 series US so market volumn was much larger than our case.

 

Excerpt of Ruling on RHD Honda Accord:

While there is no specific prohibition
on the importation of an RHD vehicle,
our policy has been that such vehicles
may not be imported under eligibility
decisions that cover only the LHD
version of the vehicle. We have taken
this position because our experience has
shown that the safety performance of an
RHD vehicle is not necessarily the same
as that of an apparently similar LHD
vehicle that is offered for sale in this
country. However, we will consider an
RHD vehicle to be ‘‘substantially
similar’’ to a U.S.-certified LHD vehicle
(and therefore eligible for importation
under a decision covering the LHD
version) if the manufacturer advises us
that the RHD vehicle would perform the
same as the U.S.-certified LHD vehicle
in dynamic crash tests. Absent such a
showing, which indicates to us that the
manufacturer has conducted a due care
assessment of compliance of a RHD
version with all applicable FMVSS, the
RI must petition the agency under 49
CFR 593.5(2) to determine the vehicle
eligible for importation. To be granted,
By submitting the petition at issue,
AAS is requesting that NHTSA
reevaluate this policy for an RHD
vehicle that is manufactured in the same
plant, and on the same assembly line, as
its U.S.-certified counterpart. In
processing this petition, we have
decided that a comment period of 45
days is necessary to afford interested
parties an opportunity to respond to the
issues that it raises. We are particularly
interested in comments concerning the
likelihood that the RHD vehicle at issue,
which is assembled on the same
assembly line as its U.S.-certified LHD
counterpart, would, by virtue of that
fact, perform the same as the U.S.-
certified vehicle in dynamic crash tests
as well as crash avoidance tests.
Comments should refer to the docket

 

Well to all the naysayers on this forum that say it is impossible. I have accomplished my goal. After being in contact with both the DOT, NHTSA, a gentleman that works for Mazda UK and a gentleman that works for Mazda Japan. I have been informed on how to bring the car legally into the states and the paperwork I need from Mazda Japan. All I have to do now is show the paperwork to the shipping company the military uses and to the RI back in the states and since I have done most of the work on car to make it conform to U.S. regulations. I also now have a lawyer whom is going to help me with the subject. PM me if you would like to know as I am willing to help anyone who actually gave me helpful info on the subject.

 

If what you say is true I am happy for you and you will be a hero to many... But you are being aloof on your mods and current state of the car.

Now this forum is filled with misconceptions and I am more inclined to call BS on you, not only because you are being weird about mods & pics but also because MANY have failed in importing a car here legally. Nevermind that just when you are catching heat you come up with a solution and will only PM a certain few and not make the info public. Extremely suspicious to say the least.

I have no problem admitting when I have been schooled and I actually welcome it... So post a current pic of the car in the UK (today would be nice so we can compare) and then post one here in the states. Otherwise you will go down as another BSer.

 

I agree with Montego..

If within past 3 days you found the solution to this when several haven't in past several year, then I am truly happy for you.

But, just as Montego call BS, I also call BS.. Please show us that we are wrong.

 

Congratulations, many have tried and fallen on the path. I will toast your successful legal first drive and will immediately start the import process of a Spirit-R

 

Thank You Julian, I will toast you in return. As for all the people who think that its not worth bringing the car back thats fine you think what you want all I know is that I found a legal way to bring it back and there are alot of people on here who hate the fact that I can and like I said above for those who want to know how and want some copies and such of the paperwork I am being sent I will be obliged to help other people out. Here are the pics by the way of my car somewhat present without the lambo doors on it since some people seem to think there is a conspiracy theory.

 

And more pics:

 

That's, um, pretty sexy... def worth spending $5k-$10k to bring back to America.

What did Dom think when you showed him those headlights?

 

Thanks I appreciate it. Not to sure if he has seen them yet.

 

WTF is Juice

 

OK?? Again, Good luck!! I hope all goes well and your RHD FD gets to USA... And hope you could bring it to my event. But I still would like to know what are some RHD specific mod that you are concerned about.. For my education sakes.

Also, these seats



Did you test fit them?? Are they real GT3 recaros? I've never thought those will fit inside the FD..

 

After looking at the pics again, I hate to say this but I prefer your old parts vs the new.. I think some of the old RE-A stuff is better than the Ebay hood, ebay lights, replica border fenders, etc.. And by looks of your engine bay, its looks pretty stock except your vmount.. Anyhow, its each of our own to make decision on what we think its worth it...

 

well that would be me but I'm sure I'm older than you so I tend to think in practical terms rather than passion.

no don't mistake weary for hate. Like I said we have seen many people attempt and fail... To be honest I could give a rat's *** if ship your car from the moon. Deep down inside I would hope that you are telling the truth as it would really be cool to see some different imports here (porsche 959)... I still think it's BS though... Hopefully you'll prove me wrong.

well at last! you gotta admit you were being aloof. Now I understand why you didn't want to show it. So what if it's a work in progress big deal...