? about importing JDM cars

bastomatic wrote: The photo I posted is probably the same one you are referencing.

No it isn't the same one, but I bet it is similar. It is an 89 that will be legal in a few months.

EvanR wrote: Were Japanese emissions standards similar to ours in the late 80's? Where I am, every car must pass a smog check annually. While it would be neat to own an old JDM something, I'd be in fear of getting it fully and legally imported, only to find it doesn't pass Nevada smog.

Move outside Clark County . Actually, I think if you go for classic plate + low mileage exemption, you can skip the smog test.

BoxheadTim wrote:

EvanR wrote: Were Japanese emissions standards similar to ours in the late 80's? Where I am, every car must pass a smog check annually. While it would be neat to own an old JDM something, I'd be in fear of getting it fully and legally imported, only to find it doesn't pass Nevada smog.

Move outside Clark County . Actually, I think if you go for classic plate + low mileage exemption, you can skip the smog test.

Nope. They closed that loophole. Upon initial registration, every car built after 1967 needs to pass a smog test. Once it passes, THEN you can get classic/antique plates and never smog check again.

So I am one step closer to getting the Delica I want so badly. I had a contact in Canada who imports Delica's from Japan all the time find me an 89 Delica at auction last week. He has been searching for a few months for me, and has found a few, but none of them were as advertised once he had his friend on the ground inspect them.

This one however checked out great and with only 66,000 kilometers it was maybe the best one we have found that was/will be legal for import here to the USA. He won the auction for me, and now I just have to wait for it to be transported to Yokohama, then shipped across the ocean to Canada first, and then on to me in the USA once the build month rolls around. Should be around August, and I can't wait.

It doesn't have the middle seat option I wanted, but the rest of it checks all the right boxes aside from the crystal lite roof option that doesn't seem to be available on the 87-89's that are legal this year. It is however a real 4wd Delica, with the turbo diesel, dual range transfer case, and an automatic. I wasn't sure which transmission option I wanted as my North American Delica was a 2wd auto as they all were. I guess I didn't care, but the manual would have been interesting.

Wish me luck with getting it legal here in the USA this summer.

Chris

In reply to BoxheadTim:

Adjust it as lean as it can go, and replace the entire exhaust with catalytic converters like a line of sausage links under the car. Pass smog with prius-level emissions, get the classic plate and fix everything how it should be...

Some helpful links, people have spoken highly of both of these brokers before:

Japanoid.com Pacificcoastjdm.com

I wish I had the nerve to drive a 25 year old car 160 miles a day. There are so many of those cars I would love to try.

In reply to Wally: DD'ing a 25 yo car isn't a big deal. Dd'ing a 25 yo car with sketchy parts and tech support is a whole different story.........

......not saying that I wouldn't try it.

The sketchy parts supply is what makes me nervous. Having the nearest Fiat dealer 80 miles away has already proved inconvenient a couple times.

Here is the soon to be mine van:

travellering wrote: In reply to BoxheadTim: Adjust it as lean as it can go, and replace the entire exhaust with catalytic converters like a line of sausage links under the car. Pass smog with prius-level emissions, get the classic plate and fix everything how it should be...

Not a problem for me, it's EvanR who lives in a "smog county", not me.

In reply to Mazdax605:

That looks rather nice and clean. Let us know how the whole process comes along, please!

On an unrelated, or semi-related topic, I figured out how to put an avatar in my profile!!

What'd you end up paying for it, might I ask? I need to start saving for the R32.

Man, color me jealous. Love the two tone paint, especially with the light cream color on the bottom. It's just awesome. Definitely keep us in the loop. As a Delica lover, I would also love to know what this one ends up costing you, if you don't mind sharing. A private message is fine if you don't want it public of course.

The price for buying the van at auction, and shipment to Canada first is going to be about $7500 US dollars as of right now. I am not sure what it will cost to get it across the border when the time comes, but I can't imagine it will be too bad. The total price is a bit more than I wanted to spend, but it is one of the newest ones that I can get and the miles are very low at just 66k kilometers. I know I am insane to pay that much for a minivan, but I really want one of these things.

I could be happy with one of these in the garage

Maybe I can help with customs charges.

I'm currently looking at:

• Customs Entry $250.00

• ISF filing $75.00 (if required / blank form attached if need be)

• Advancement $10.00 (if required)

• Courier $20-$35 (if required)

Through my brokers and a 2.5% tax on the vehicles' value when my vehicles arrive later this month.

Enjoy your new wheels man! She looks sharp!

That is less than I expected. A lot of the examples you see on the Canadian importer sites are well above $10k.

In reply to Hungary Bill:

You're a returning citizen/resident, right? IIRC you shouldn't have to pay a tax on the vehicle itself if you owned it abroad for more than a year.

The van is in Yokohama awaiting container shipment to Canada. Should be leaving on the 28th. Got some new pics of it yesterday. I am even more impressed with the condition, and so is my importer.

So here's an important question. Is it Del-ee-KA or Del-ISH-a?

I've never had to pay tax when importing a vehicle, just the usual state tax on registration.

I say Deh-lick-uh
AKA Space Pig!

I'm close enough to the border that I see them fairly frequently, one of the few things that come from BC to the US that I approve of.

This is the most exciting vehicle purchase happening on GRM right now. It's bound to be my favorite build thread.
How is insuring one of these going to be?

mazdeuce wrote: This is the most exciting vehicle purchase happening on GRM right now. It's bound to be my favorite build thread. How is insuring one of these going to be?

That's quite a statement from a guy waiting for an Aerowagon!