Couldn't he just swap VIN numbers with a US-spec car? That'd get him registration and insurance, just so he doesn't get tickets if he gets pulled over. Any more scrutiny and it wouldn't pass, obviously, but just for general driving around sort of stuff, I don't see why it wouldn't work?

 

The premise of the discussion is not how to do it fraudulently, but how to do it legally.

If fraud was an option, this discussion would look a lot different.

There are a lot of reasons to not do it fraudulently (besides having a sliver of character) - for example, if an illegally imported car was in an accident, and someone at the scene recognizes that a RHD vehicle may not have been legally registered, all the **** will stick to that person whether it's their fault or not. Not to mention that their insurance company will back out, and the original fraud charges that would be brought up.

Dave

 

PM Right Hand 7 He has done some leg work including crash testing. Look at he end of this thread. post #335 It shows him with the car and speaks of his two year wait to get his car to the states. According to him when I first met him, he was involved with others to get the RH drive FD crash tested in Japan I think, but it may be they did it here and they paid $$$ to get it done. The thread doesn't explain this its just what I remember from talking to him.

Terry7

https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...51#post6506251

 

just don't register it, that what I'm doing!

 

Could this not be done in a legal manner by registering it as a recontructed, specially constructed or modified car? If I can build a hot rod from the part bin and get a sticker under this same scenario one would assume it may qualify. It needs to pass the state inspection and probably emission test. You need to fill out a ton of forms. I recall seeing a rhd fairlady z or zx with normal tags a friends shop a few years back. I believe the owner titled it as a reconstruction simply because it was imported and he put a new engine in the car.

 

No, no, no, and NO!!!! It cannot be done legally. Period. Short of following the procedures outlined by Ramy. Period. End of story.

Jeesh, everytime we get one of these threads, you get people who think they can beat the system....as if the thousands of people doing this before wouldn't have figured out a way if there was one!

 

Your understanding of what a specialty vehicle is is quite off/lacking huge bits of info. I'll tell ya for STARTERS, that a speciality vehicle needs a new MSO, which is only given when it's demonstrated that the chassis being imported is *significantly* different from any previously manufactured chassis. Moreover, once that's done, if it's a pre-existing chassis (ie modified, vs say a completely new chassis), the original motor the original chassis came with CANNOT be used. So you'd essentially make it illegal to have a 13B-REW in the FD lol.

~Ramy

 

I just know that I have seen a registered 280zx with goofy mirrors slots on the bumps in a good friends repair shop - He replaced with US spec fenders, car is rhdrive and still has Jap bumpers. It is street legal in PA>made the phone call to the shop that did the work to confirm what I saw and that I was correct-he replaced the fenders/rusted and did new mirrors with us spec, paint - some new wiring and engine stuff. It came to the US via CA via a US army or navy relo-he just could not remember the service branch. Original Title was in CA and the current owner brought it to PA from the CA - purchased from the army/namy guy. It is a daily driver with a new engine which this shop works on - specialized in z's. CA title matched the vin as he had it inspected. Perhaps it met the DOT requirements-but I really doubt it. In any event I do not have the time nor ability to make this stuff up-I truly believe you are correct and can not understand how you get it out of customs without the papers in order.

 

Easy.

1) 280ZXs were produced from 1978 to 1983.

2) From the FIRST paragraph on the NHTSA Vehicle Eligibility List website: "Under 49 U.S.C. § 30112(a), a person may not permanently import into the United States a motor vehicle manufactured after the date that an applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standard (FMVSS) takes effect unless the vehicle complies with the standard and is so certified by its original manufacturer. This prohibition applies to both new and used motor vehicles, but does not apply to motor vehicles that are at least 25 years old."

Result: His car is over 25 years old, and thus it can be brought in, as is, without meeting FMVSS.

~Ramy

 

Makes sense - so we just need to wait 10 years until 2017?

 

Yep

 

Yeah the U.S. has it's thumb up it's rear end on that one. Nobody really cares except the people who make the money off that ****. Government and insurance (big business)...two of the main reasons America is overrated.

 

its proberbly of no use to you
But here in new zealand we can only legally register 1996 + Fd's
we have a "frontal impact" standard which new imports must meet.
Basically any car that was manufactured in japan from 1996 onwards was constructed to the 1996 japanese crash test standards so automatically complies with our frontal impact laws.
Its stupid that you guys cant register the newer FD's because there is no denying it..they are safer...as they were constructed to the 96 japanese crash standards where pre 96 were not..
Due to this we can road register any FD from chassi number 401xxxx ish as those were constructed to the japanese standard so automatically pass our standard.

 

First, of all, it is doable.

1) It will not be a mazda, it will be a reconstructed body.

2) DOT, EPA has NO CONTROL over an "assemblage of car parts"

3) You need to call Kaizo Industries (The only 50 state legal way to bring in ANY grey market car), buy a rolling 1992 FD Shell. They will sell you only the shell, without any engine, motor, or headlights, or wheels. An "assemblage" of car parts.

4) Kaizo is a registered manufacturer, so the car comes with an MSO (manufacturers' statement of origin). The car is no longer a mazda, nissan, or w/e else the car was. The car is a KAIZO now. It will be titled as a 2007/2008/2009 + Kaizo. The car goes through some restructuring to meet certain DOT Compliance, so it is not the same thing as what mazda sold to the public.

5) Car gets inspected and assigned a VIN. (You can get a california license plate too).

6) A stock 13B-REW is a federally conforming engine, so you can legally put it in your body. You can put w/e engine you want in it, LS1, 2jz-gte, name it. The RB26DETT is a federally conforming engine as well too. So this covers the Skyline GT-Rs.

7) Register your car in any state, when you are done assembling your car, and enjoy the fruits to come: Since the car is a legal kit car that is no longer what it used to be, apply for a 1 out of 500 california smog exemption.

8) This is the ONLY 100 PERCENT LEGAL way to drive a Grey Market car in the United States. Any car with a Nissanie Motorsports (some of the original experimental Kaizo cars from a few years back, mainly GT-Rs), or Kaizo Industries sticker in the door jambs, and firewall is a 100 percent legal car.

For anyone who does not believe me:

Read these 2 links:

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=105699

http://forums.freshalloy.com/showthread.php?t=184192

There is a current fiasco where a few state titled skylines were siezed. One importer brought in a few bad cars, and they are going after his cars only. But the thread explains why a Kaizo Body and a State titled car are totally different.

Joe Schmoe disassembling a car and putting it a container with the intention of re-assembling it as a nissan/mazda/whatever IS A CIRCUMVENTION OF THE LAW and the Clean air act. A legal manufacturer doing the same thing, and modifying the chassis (I.E Ruf, Gemballa, Pettit Racing, Dune Buggies), is DIFFERENT. Kaizo Industries sells you ONLY A UNIBODY. They DO NOT sell you engines, drivetrains, or any such parts. It is up to you, the customer, to put this kit car together yourself.

I drive daily a Kaizo R32 GTR. Never been harassed once in the heart of irvine/so cal.

 

There is one other way to LEGALLY own and drive any imported vehicle:

IF it used exclusively for track/drag/racing purposes only, and NEVER driven on public roads. Basically, it must be trailered everywhere

IF it is used for these purposes, it is not required to meet any laws, smog/crash or others.

I believe it's referred to a "COMPETITION USE", maybe?

Vince

 

The laws have changed so you cannot do that "permanently" (at least not legally) without proof of the car's competitions. Too many people exploited it in the past.

 

^ If you are a track junkie, it won't be an issue

FWIW, you can't FULLY enjoy your car safely on the street, so if you've got the money, it would be a good way to go.

Just think how low the mileage would stay!

Vince

 

Some info:

 

It's true. I've seen him in his silver Skyrine. I still want that car!

 

Nice to talk to you by the 5 freeway that day!

I still want an FD too!

 

move to canada, its easy up here!! otherwise your screwed.

 

Quote: "-does any one know if the FD's (93, 94) crash test in US the same as Japan? I just want to know, to tell the RI (even if he might be or might not be able to help me)"

Guys, a RHD is not equal to a LHD in a crash test. A car company must car test a crank window car along with a power window car if both options are offered, due to different structures that the occupant may hit. So you think RHD = LHD, haha!

 

You know, the only real way ive ever seen someone have a RHD car in the US was to build it themselves. atleast legally, illegally you can go a couple routes.

But, over the years ive seen a number of FULLY LEGAL RHD cars here in the US. almost all of them were converted and then reinspected by the state they were registered in and then assigned a NEW VIN number. This VIN reflects that the car is no longer a 240SX or an FC RX-7 but a composite (kit) car. I saw one guy who took a 240SX, stripped it to the chassis and then completely built a R32 Skyline onto it. fully reigistered, was somewhere along the lines of 25k.

Its along the same lines as what Miata_mx5 was describing.

this is what i got from the Connecticut DMV when i was researching RHD converting my FD

"A composite motor vehicle is defined by statute as "Any motor vehicle, composed or assembled from several parts of other motor vehicles, or the identification and body contours of which are so altered that the vehicle no longer bears the characteristics of any specific make of motor vehicle. Any vehicle not assembled by a manufacturer licensed as such in the State of Connecticut is classified as a composite motor vehicle."

Before a composite vehicle can be registered, the following requirements must be met:
Vehicle must pass a composite vehicle inspection. All composite inspections are done at the Wethersfield inspection lane.

Hours of inspection are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Note: all lanes will be closed from noon to 1 p.m.)

Note: Composite motor vehicles must be transported on a flat bed trailer or car carrier to the inspection site (not to be driven or towed; no wheel of the vehicle may touch the ground) except if validly registered in another state or if the owner is a licensed dealer or repairer.


Effective July 1, 2007, all composite vehicles are exempt from an emissions test.

Note: Starting January 1, 2007 newly completed composite vehicles will need to have an engine that will meet new composite vehicle emissions standards. The standards that will be in effect are equivalent to the two-speed idle standards for 1980 and newer passenger cars and light trucks or 1988 and newer engines from trucks in the 8501 to 10,000 lb. GVWR range. Composite vehicles classified as 2006 model year and older will continue to be subject to existing standards which are approximately equivalent to the two-speed idle standards at a level somewhere between that for 1968 and 1973 vehicles.


Bring the Certificate of Titles of all vehicles used for major component parts or one Title, plus receipts, for the parts of the other vehicles used. If the parts are from used vehicles, make sure the receipts specify the vehicle identification number (VIN). No Title is needed for non-major component parts (examples of major parts are: engine, cowls, transmission, frame, doors, trunk lid, front and rear fenders and quarter panels).


An Application for Inspection of Composite Motor Vehicle (form R-95) must be completed and be accompanied by two photographs of the vehicle as well as supporting documents showing proof of ownership. An Application for Registration and Certificate of Title (form H-13) must also be completed.


At the time of inspection a VIN will be assigned by the Inspector. The year assigned to the vehicle will be the year in which the vehicle was built. On your registration and title documents, the make will be specified as "Composite."
The current inspection fee is $88 and a fee of $50 is charged for the assignment of a VIN."