Importing under the 25 year rule into the U.S. Suggestions?

[RIDDLER]

Hello- I think I have a good idea on the importation rule after spending hours reading all the posts from many of the users of this board. Now I just need to select the model that will be most easily imported from South America/Central America.

I have a friend who is in South America and has offered to bring a landcruiser back to the U.S. for me. Of course I agreed as this guy knows landcruisers better than I do and also is a really good mechanic.

This is where we are at:

1) I told him 1979 model year or older and as clean as he can find. ( there is no rust where he is at).

2) My guess is that BJ40, BJ42, BJ60, HJ60, FJ45, BJ45 and troopie would apply?

3) I would prefer diesel 3b with 5 speed if possible. All models there appear LHD.

I know that if it is 25 years old I would pay duty and customs taxes at the canadian border as this guy is a canadian and then register it in my town in the U.S.. At least that is my understanding.

I would prefer a wagon but the BJ45's are plentiful in South and Central America also. But there hasn't been a landcruiser pickup sold in the U.S. for a long time. Does this create a problem?

thanks,

Aaron

[Jan-78FJ40]

As far as I know prior to 79 you will have to stick to BJ40s and 45s. All other models you mentioned were built later. Please correct me if I am wrong. I have no doubt the pimp can jump in and tell us the precise dates and times the first of each model rolled off the line

[paulj]

I don't have the "50th Anniversary of the Toyota Land Cruiser" book in front of me as I type this, but there's a chart in there that has the production dates of all Cruiser models. I've looked at it pretty closely and can tell you that we're about 1 year away from the first 60 series diesels being 25 years old. I'm not sure what years the diesel Troopies were produced. I've been going to Central America in the summer for the last 3 years on a church mission trip, and I've seen lots of left hand diesels down there. Most of them are 70 series including Troopies, so they'd be less than 25 years old.

[RIDDLER]

thanks for the replies. I think we will stick to 1979 and older BJ40, and BJ45. These seem the most simple and to find one rust free would be worth the wait.

I just wanted to make sure I fully understood the rules. I will call the U.S. DOT and EPA in the next few days to confirm.

thanks

Aaron

[paulj]

Riddler;
I went home last night and looked up the manufacturing dates of the vehicles you mentioned, and here's what I came up with:
BJ 40, mid '74-'79; BJ 42 '82-'84; BJ 60 & HJ 60, mid '80-?; FJ 45, '61-'67; BJ 45 (couldn't find data. Invalid designation?) BJ 46, mid '82-'89; HJ61-V, mid ''85-'89.

[paulj]

Riddler; How exactly would you bring a diesel Cruiser back to the U.S.? Would you or someone else drive it the Mexican border? Would you have it shipped to the U.S.? Or would you have it shipped to Canada first? Would you simply put it in a shipping container, or what? This is something I've seriously considered and have wondered about the details.

[RIDDLER]

Paul- My buddy would buy it with my cash. This would happen when he finds a rust free example at the right price. He would then hold it until his work was done in S. America. When it was time to leave, he would drive to my town. By now the car is in his name. I would pay him for his hassle and time and we would transfer to my name.

The only sticky part is that he is a Canadian citizen and I bet I will have to drive to the closest Canadian border to me and have paperwork handled. I don't know for sure but this is the part where things get confusing.

I just don't want something rusty and I can't part with enough cash to buy a Japanese model. This is my closest shot at getting a rust free BJ45 truck in the U.S. without paying a ridiculous price.

Contact me offline if you want more info.

thanks for the update on the models also.

Aaron

[lowenbrau]

On driving... There's this annoying obstical called the Darian Gap between you and he. He'll need a ferry ride past it. I would expect finding a 45 that has been nicely treated anywhere on that countinent would be a real challenge. I'm not sure they got any BJ45s in South America. Venizuela seemed to get gassers, Brazil made their own, and I'm not sure about Argentina, my pals there drove Fords.

Good Luck

[sanjuancruiser]

My understanding is you can bring in most any vehicle at 25 yrs or older. So EPA and Customs isn't going to look too hard. The local DEQ in your state may have a say though.

If I were you I'd load that thing in a container and ship it-waay less wear and tear.

[Landpimp]

not really related but I just love this pic of Drexx trying to buy a 45 he saw on the side of the road

[sanjuancruiser]

Pic didn't load

[RIDDLER]

Lowenbrau- thanks. Actually my buddy has already seen BJ45's down there for sale and forwarded pics on to me for review. I am guessing he must be in a more affluent area of S. America. I have been to Guatemala and Venezeula in the 90's. I saw mostly U.S. built stuff in Guatemala but the occasional land cruiser and rover in Caracas.

As far as condition goes I only care about the body to be honest. Anything that I have found in B.C. seemed to be very rusty or priced over 10k U.S. Which is way my focus shifted South. To be honest I can deal with and learn the mechanical rebuilds but new body tubs and pervasive rust is something I don't know how to fix. ( I am not a fabricator or body man)

Check out this photo. I realize it is a 75 I think but this thing is great. if only I could find a way to drive it legally in the U.S.

Thanks

Aaron

[Stickboy]

aaron,
you CAN get the 75 into the states legally. several have been done. if you are interested pm me and I can point you in the right direction....

-mike

[lowenbrau]

Yup, that's a pretty truck. It'll be a six cylender though. I notice that it has a shorter than normal "front porch" I wonder if that's the latest version of a factory electric winch under there?

[crushers]

Originally Posted by RIDDLER

Check out this photo. I realize it is a 75 I think but this thing is great. if only I could find a way to drive it legally in the U.S.

Thanks

Aaron

Aaron,
for me that is a very tranquil scene. a nice *J75 waitng on the farm for the next putz into town. i like it, thanks for sharing...

[Greg_B]

Originally Posted by lowenbrau

Yup, that's a pretty truck. It'll be a six cylender though. I notice that it has a shorter than normal "front porch" I wonder if that's the latest version of a factory electric winch under there?

Do you mean like this Bruce?

gb

[lowenbrau]

yup, like that.

First time I've seen one. Got any specs? Anybody have real world experience? Is it as crappy as all the other lay down planitary electric winches out there? Sure seems like it would be a nice choice for a rear facing winch.