2014. Year of the R32 and S13?

[ILoveJDM]

Originally Posted by RHDAmerica

^^^ Bad idea, those cars are all registered in Canada already and you most likely won't be able to obtain the original de-registration papers from Japan or the customs clearance papers...

Not trying to be mean to you, so please don't think that... I'm just trying to keep people out of harms way...

wont they just need the de-reg from Canada, and Customs papers from Canada, since the vehicle was already registered with the Canadian government?

[RHDAmerica]

Good question...

I asked the same thing and the response I got was the paperwork from "country of origin" will be needed... However we all know that not all DMV's follow the exact guidelines all the time... So I'm sure there are some DMV's somewhere that will except that not knowing...

Go figure... lol

[ILoveJDM]

Shouldn't the country of origin be used as Canada, since the importing process is from Canada -> USA.

It would make more sense that way wouldnt it, since the de-reg from Japan frees it from leins,stolen status etc So they would only need to check the status of the vehicle being registered in Canada?

[RHDAmerica]

When they said country of origin they meant the country the car was manufactured for, however what you're saying makes perfect sense to me and probably would to some if not most DMV agencies...

[Corbic]

Originally Posted by ILoveJDM

Shouldn't the country of origin be used as Canada, since the importing process is from Canada -> USA.

It would make more sense that way wouldnt it, since the de-reg from Japan frees it from leins,stolen status etc So they would only need to check the status of the vehicle being registered in Canada?

They are talking about safety and emission requirements are being met. They don't care about where it's registered or who else said the car was ok.

Either it's certified to meet all the original US DOT/EPA requirements, or it's 25 years old.

[tricky_ab]

Originally Posted by RHDAmerica

A lot of times, that is the case with R grade cars, but not always... I've seen it be as little as being modified only... The R grade is just a reference... Doesn't always mean they have been in an accident... I know a lot of sites and auctions claim this, but it's not always true...

Oh I know that there's various degrees of R grade cars out there. R grade could be given because the car has a kit on it. While shopping for mine, I was hit up with auction cars daily, and the some of the R cars were a few R grade cars that I had to take a closer look at the auction sheet, because the pictures made it look great.

I just hope people really do their due diligence, and take their time with the process overall.

[RHDAmerica]

Absolutely. And we actually have a partner in Japan that gives us very detailed information in ENGLISH about each car... they point out the good and bad aspects of each car... this way we can give the buyer very detailed info BEFORE we place a bid. This saves the buyer a chance of getting something with problems.

[Miguelone]

Lol Nvm, already discussed..

[GTR-Garage]

Here are some established importers who have been operating in Canada for years and have a long track record and good reputation. If you are looking for a reliable source to purchase directly from the auctions this is who I would turn to.

Feast Auto - Welcome to Feast Auto Group | Feast Auto Group
RightDrive - Right Drive - Canada's Finest Right Hand Drive Vehicles
Pacific Coast JDM - Welcome | Pacific Coast Auto Imports

You can register for a free account at Pacific Coast to view auctions from the Japanese auctions houses (USS, etc.) for free. All of these guys have a good reputation. There is plenty of info and reviews on GTR Canada. The owner of Feast is a Canadian living in Japan who deals directly with the auctions and tuning houses over here to source cars.

We are members of all the major auction houses, but we are planning on maintaining stock in the US rather than trying to act as an auction broker. With that being said I have bought literally hundreds of cars from the auction houses over the years. If anyone has any questions I'm happy to try and help.

[TheHeath]

Originally Posted by RHDAmerica

Very soon we will be taking orders to bring in the very first 50 state and federally legal R32 GTR's, 300zx, and a few others... The R32 GTR CANNOT enter U.S. soil prior to the month and year it was produced which was Aug of 89... So nothing sooner than Aug of 2014 can be shipped over... However the price will go up quite a bit as the date approaches...

Currently we can bring in the MK3 supra, FC, R31, Laurel, AE86, S12 and the 88 S13 coupe just to name a few...

We are very knowledgeable in the importing game and we can take a lot of the headache out of it for you... We have very reasonable prices and a HUGE database of never ending cars... We've made a lot of people proud owners of JDM cars and we can do the same for you...

I have purchased from RHDAmerica and it was a great experience, just so all know. It wasn't only a "here is your car, thanks and bye". They pointed out bad and good things before purchasing the car, helped me source some items after purchasing, helped me with another vendor for some upgrades, and even had follow up calls to make sure I liked it. Pretty hard to beat that kind of service.

Unfortunately, we had a second house for sale and the payments were killing us so I had to sell it/trade it. BUT, that is all sorted now and I will be buying again from RHDAmerica. (my agreement with my wife was that I would sell it, but only if I could buy another when house and all was taken care of, it's time!)

[supersayianjim]

this thread delivers!!

[Matej]

There are a few R32 GT-R's and a couple of R33 GT-R's that I have seen driving around town.
Probably illegal, but no one here cares.

[tricky_ab]

Originally Posted by GTR-Garage

RightDrive - Right Drive - Canada's Finest Right Hand Drive Vehicles

This is the importer that I am currently using. I'll be sure to follow up once the transaction is finished (though that won't be for a while).

[krowles]

I personally don't want them to come over because I don't want to see them everywhere lol. I like the unique factor to the car and the looks I get with it.

I do have a question though regarding getting register, titled, and insured as a classic. Mine is already state titled, registered, and insured with the 11 digit vin. Now in my mind, since its already titled, I should just be able to go and get it done as a classic just like any other normal 25 year old car, correct?

Regardless, great information in here, but we truly won't know what WILL happen until that time comes. Might as well stop trolling around and prop your feet up and watch lol.

[hvp014]

A few of us are lucky enough to be stationed in Japan and are in the perfect time frame to bring a car home on the government's dime. Gives us time to choose the best cars and a few years to stock on as many parts as TMO will ship back for us.

Mine (Oct '89)and my neighbors (May '90) and my spare bedroom already,

[Corbic]

Originally Posted by krowles

I do have a question though regarding getting register, titled, and insured as a classic. Mine is already state titled, registered, and insured with the 11 digit vin. Now in my mind, since its already titled, I should just be able to go and get it done as a classic just like any other normal 25 year old car, correct?

No go. Paper work needs to be done at point of entry.

You can't unbreak the law. Its like porking a 15 y/o 10 years ago and when you get arrested you say "but shes 25 now!?"

[Corbic]

Originally Posted by tricky_ab

This is the importer that I am currently using. I'll be sure to follow up once the transaction is finished (though that won't be for a while).

They seem WAY overpriced.

Who the fuck is going to pay $15,000 for a 1998 RHD, 4-cylinder, cloth interior RX300?

My GF bought a 2001, V6 fully loaded RX300 for $6000 a year ago and I thought that was steep.

http://www.rightdrive.ca/inventory_cars/view/441

[krowles]

Originally Posted by Corbic

No go. Paper work needs to be done at point of entry.

You can't unbreak the law. Its like porking a 15 y/o 10 years ago and when you get arrested you say "but shes 25 now!?"

In my state the car only has to be 20 years old to be a classic. Like I said, mine is already titled in my state. So what's the difference between my friend walking in and getting his 1994 civic registered as a classic, compared to my 1994 skyline? Both are legal, both have the same paperwork?

[krowles]

Originally Posted by Corbic

No go. Paper work needs to be done at point of entry.

You can't unbreak the law. Its like porking a 15 y/o 10 years ago and when you get arrested you say "but shes 25 now!?"

Pulled this from my state DMV

"APPLICATION FOR ANTIQUE AND CLASSIC REGISTRATION PLATES
A. The following forms are necessary for the processing of antique and classic registration plates:
1. Certificate of Title (MV-4) and Vehicle Sales and Use Tax Return/Application for Registration (MV-4ST) or out-of-state title and Application for Certificate of Title (MV-1) are required to be submitted when the vehicle is being transferred to a new owner and the new owner is making application for an Antique or Classic registration plate. When a vehicle is already properly titled in the owner’s name, and the owner is making application for an Antique or Classic registration plate, only the vehicle’s certificate of title (MV-4) is required to be submitted along with the MV-11 application. NOTE: If the proof of ownership is a Pennsylvania Certificate of Salvage (MV-5) or out-of-state certificate of salvage, Form MV-426B must be completed.
2. Form MV-11, Application for Antique or Classic Registration Plate.
3. The appropriate sales tax, title and registration fees.
Make check or money order payable to the “Commonwealth of Pennsylvania” and mail all forms and fees to PennDOT at the address on the form. PennDOT forms are available at most motor vehicle dealerships, messenger services and notary public offices."

So by what my state says, since mine is already title, I can get a classic title. Correct?

[GTR-Garage]

What corbic is referring to is federal legality, not state legality. While gray market vehicles can be registered at the state level and be legal to drive, they will never be federally legal.

To qualify for federal legality the car must be imported after it is 25 years old with box 1 of the customs HS-7 form checked stating that the vehicle is "25 or more years old" (among other things). If the car was not imported under that exemption it will never qualify for federal legality.

Why does it matter if your car is federally legal or a gray market vehicle registered on the state level? In most ways it doesn't. However, with a flood of federally legal BNR32 GTRs hitting the market in 2014 the resell value of non-Federally Legal GTRs is going to take a big hit. If a buyer has the choice between a BNR32 that has been imported above board and is 100% legal in every state or a gray market GTR, they're likely to pick the Federally Legal one.

[Corbic]

Originally Posted by GTR-Garage

Why does it matter if your car is federally legal or a gray market vehicle registered on the state level? In most ways it doesn't.

Federal Law trumps state. All it takes is an accident, insurance claim, a re-title or moving violation and all the red flags go up.

Before you know it you could have a legal mess or be out serious cash.

As you stated, no one will touch the "grey" cars once legit, trouble free rides arrive.

[trickey1991]

I already have one...

CANADA BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Corbic]

Originally Posted by krowles

Pulled this from my state DMV

"APPLICATION FOR ANTIQUE AND CLASSIC REGISTRATION PLATES

So by what my state says, since mine is already title, I can get a classic title. Correct?

That's for those funky "classic" license plates. That has nothing to do with importing a foriegn car.

[RHDAmerica]

^^^ This...

[Fusious]

I feel like they'll find a way to still ban these cars because from my understanding, these cars don't make the government any money at all. And in this world, it is ALL about the money. That's not the only factor of them being possibly never legal to import, but it is a huge reason. If it does happen, then awesome, but I'm not getting my hopes up.

[krowles]

Originally Posted by Corbic

That's for those funky "classic" license plates. That has nothing to do with importing a foriegn car.

What is the difference?

[Corbic]

Originally Posted by Fusious

I feel like they'll find a way to still ban these cars because from my understanding, these cars don't make the government any money at all. And in this world, it is ALL about the money. That's not the only factor of them being possibly never legal to import, but it is a huge reason. If it does happen, then awesome, but I'm not getting my hopes up.

This has nothing to do with the Gooberment and everything to do with Mercedes Benz.

In the 1980's European cars - read BMW, Mercedes, Porsche and Ferrari where being imported by the metric shit ton because of the booming US economy.

The Euros where charging nearly 50% mark ups from what you could buy them for over in Europe. This was partly because they were new and needed the extra cash to sustain US dealer growth, this was also partly because they had to change bumpers, lights and other things to meet US standards.

Lastly, it was mainly because they are greedy fucks and Americans would pay it.

So I fly to Germany for $1,000, I buy a 300e for $27,000, ship it to the US for $1,000 and sell it as a used car for $35,000. Mean while the MB dealer geys pissed because they are asking $45,000 for an uglier, slower version of the car.


So, MB bought everyone in Congress a car and thus the 25 year law.

[GTR-Garage]

Fusious, you are certainly not in the minority in your opinion. However, there is no shortage of cars that have been imported already under the 25 year rule from Europe and Japan. Over the years we have sent older Land Cruisers and various other vehicles to the US utilizing the 25 year "exemption" and have had no issues. Many of those vehicles have found new owners across state lines and there hasn't been any issues with transfer of ownership and registration. The owners have been specifically asked for import "documentation", which they were able to provide as they were correctly imported.

If the government hasn't moved in and changed the law up to this point what would motivate them to do it in 2014? Even if 1,000 R32 Skylines were imported into the US is 2014 they would only account for 0.0006% of total vehicles imported from Japan.

[Fusious]

Originally Posted by GTR-Garage

Fusious, you are certainly not in the minority in your opinion. However, there is no shortage of cars that have been imported already under the 25 year rule from Europe and Japan. Over the years we have sent older Land Cruisers and various other vehicles to the US utilizing the 25 year "exemption" and have had no issues. Many of those vehicles have found new owners across state lines and there hasn't been any issues with transfer of ownership and registration. The owners have been specifically asked for import "documentation", which they were able to provide as they were correctly imported.

If the government hasn't moved in and changed the law up to this point what would motivate them to do it in 2014? Even if 1,000 R32 Skylines were imported into the US is 2014 they would only account for 0.0006% of total vehicles imported from Japan.

I'm not going to lie and say I have the answer to that. Also, doesn't the R31 fall under the 25 year importation because it is from 85-87 which is 25+ years, right? If I'm correct, we should legally be able to import the R31 Skyline without issues. But that isn't the case because it is still fully illegal here in the U.S.

[GTR-Garage]

It was my understanding that there were a number of older Japanese sports cars like the R31, Kenmeri, Hakosuka and AE86 that have been successfully imported under the 25 year rule. The last Land Cruiser we exported was a mid 80s model and it went through without issue with box 1 of the HS-7 form checked. It was shipped completely intact.