Good news for those able to Import and 80!

[ginericLC]

The Autuana (80 in Venezuela) is a different beast than the Japanese made 80s. They didn't introduce fuel injection until 1999. Most had steel wheels, manual locking hubs, part time 4wd, 5speed manual (and it is a different one than the Australians got if I remember correctly), part time 4wd. They had an available front bench seat. etc... I looked into importing one in 2000 or 2001. It was going to be close to 50k by the time everything was said and done. I'm thinking it was 46,800. They are sort of weird (compared to Japanese made 80s) because there are some rules about how much of the content of the vehicle needs to be made in Venezuela. Also, at that time there weren't diesels available from Venezuela.

Exiled aka 60seriesguy knows a lot more about these rigs than I do.

For importing a diesel RHD 80 your best bet is Iceland. Because of their tax structure 80s are taxed fairly high even when older and you can find some decent deals. Shipping also isn't as expensive. Maybe this isn't the best for everyone? I was looking at it using some military connections.

Really the thing that makes the most sense is to import a wrecked 80 from Japan complete and do a drivetrain swap with all the wiring. Even if you had to pay for all the work to be done I think you would be ahead money wise.

 

[ginericLC]

i've heard that it's like pulling teeth to get Toyota to issue the letter. is this still basically true?

They won't issue a letter anymore. Not even for old stuff like BJ60s. I have only ever seen one letter issued from Toyota, I truely believe it was falsified. Seriously, I think someone made some Toyota stationary and made the letter up.

Toyota wants nothing to do with non US Cruisers or non US Toyotas of any kind. Japan gets a lot of cool stuff we don't. I wanted a Celica All Trac Twin Turbo for a long time. I've seen a few in the states that have been imported severely grey market. With the updating of VINS and a nationwide system it is getting harder to import non US cars without going through a registered importer.

 

[aamiggia]

I've heard about the manditory VZ content in their vehicles. I have also heard that some VZ cruisers may even have a DANA 44 in the rear.

Hopefully some can confirm this, but I think that DANA 44 is made in VZ. The vehicles are usually very stripped down models and use a lot of older version of parts to keep the price down and the VZ content up.

About importing to the US, getting letters is a bitch and the vehicle most probably needs to meet emissions standards. May not be a big problem if you can get all of the parts (Cats, EGR, etc.) but I think the woek must be done by the manufacturers service department (i.e. Toyota stealership). This will get very pricey.

One piece of advise is to use an importer. A lot less hassle, only costs $300 - $500, and this will save major headaches at the border. There are still a mess of things to do to get the car "legally" registered.

I just had a Yankee buy my Suzuki Samurai LWB. It was a lot of work to imprt it, but worth it to him. More time and agravation than anything else.

 

[Landpimp]

no dsl in Venz spec 80s, gas it like .05 a gallon

Sorry for the dumb questions but what other stuff do the VZ vehicles have besides a TD? What's a JDM model?

 

[NorCalDoug]

no dsl in Venz spec 80s, gas it like .05 a gallon

True. As I'm told by a Venezuelan, no diesel...and I think gas there is now up to around 20 cents a gallon...must be inflation or something. Lucky bastids

 

[mot]

Was it new (I hope)?

Is there anything that you would have to do other than the obvious (headlights(RHD to LHD), corner lights (clear to amber), red/rear side markers/reflectors, etc...) that need to be changed in order to make it street-legal in the US?

Because of the statement issued at the top of the thread, would you still need to get anything from Toyota (1HD-T emission information?).

If it's just the obvious stuff, the cost should not be too bad to convert, but if you have to replace windshield and other stuff to meet DOT requirements then the wrecked one might be the easiest/best (not to mention you'll get to retain LHD vehicle).

Mot

...I looked into importing one in 2000 or 2001. It was going to be close to 50k by the time everything was said and done. I'm thinking it was 46,800.

 

[Bob_Garrett]

Sorry for the dumb questions but what other stuff do the VZ vehicles have besides a TD? What's a JDM model?

Are the VZ trucks available with TDs? It was my understanding that they ony had the 4.5 petrol motor.

Bob

 

[MoJ]

Guy in my local LC club imported a BJ from Canada. Said it was actually pretty easy.

 

[squeezer]

They won't issue a letter anymore. Not even for old stuff like BJ60s. I have only ever seen one letter issued from Toyota, I truely believe it was falsified. Seriously, I think someone made some Toyota stationary and made the letter up.

I have a letter from Toyota issued 4 years ago for the BJ60 I imported. I can assure you it was not falsified...

 

[ginericLC]

I have a letter from Toyota issued 4 years ago for the BJ60 I imported. I can assure you it was not falsified...

Were you in Oregon at the time? I've heard that Oregon is more liberal on titling out of country vehicles.

Emissions are a federal mandated thing except in California, however they are enforced locally. Most states still don't have strict emission testing tied to a VIN. In some states they don't have diesel testing at all.

I could not get a letter from Toyota for my BJ60, this was in 2001. They refused to issue me anything referencing that the vehicle met any US standards DOT or EPA. I did get a clear title for it though. I would not be able to do it again though, as this was sort of a fluke. The Sheriff came to inspect it and he had to check that it had DOT taillights, glass, etc... and then he had to check for the EPA sticker. The BJ had been painted. So he walked over to my FJ60 and asked me to pop the hood on that one and then he wrote down the info off that sticker. I explained that they were different. He didn't seem to care and told me to go pay for my license plates and registration. The rust ate that Cruiser up

One other issue is that is different is 80 series LCs were never imported into Canada. So bringing an 80 in from Canada might be tougher than a BJ 60 or 40/42? Canada is definitely easier than other countries.

I can't recall if the Venezuelan 80s had Dana rear axles. The 60 and 70 series models did as Dana has a plant their so it increased the amount of parts made in country.

Yes, the 46,800 was for a brand new one. Any color I wanted.

 

[medtro]

I also have letter from Toyota to import 4Runner.

 

[mot]

Well, well, well, aren't you lucky!

If someone who has/had the letter has already imported the same model vehicle then would you still need to acquire a similar letter by Toyota? Would each vehicle/individual need a separate letter from Toyota or if there's precedence(sp) then you don't need the letter?

Now back to my original question, or something along the line of the question above, if NHTSA has issued such a statement as '90-'96 Cruisers were eligible for importation would you still need such a letter from Toyota? (Again), what mods other than the basics (lights, reflectors, etc...) have to be made to make it road-worthy?

Thanks for any input in advance!

Mot

I also have letter from Toyota to import 4Runner.

 

[MoJ]

Were you in Oregon at the time? I've heard that Oregon is more liberal on titling out of country vehicles.

.

No. This was recently. Met him at an event a few months ago. I believe he imported it within the last year and is registered in Oklahoma.

 

[brownbear]

80 series land cruisers came to canada just not any 100's. I am not sure what year the 80's stopped in canada. And none of them were diesels.

 

[NorCalDoug]

It was my understanding that the only 80 series available in Canada were the Lexus versions -- not that it makes much of a difference.
Cool thing is that all LX 450s in Canada have lockers, as I'm told.

 

[semlin]

97 lx450 is the only Canadian market 80 and every one I have seen has lockers. You can't import non-north american market cars into Canada built after 1989 except through a weird personal exemption nobody can explain (there is a vx 80 turbo diesel here in town)

read the "everything you always wanted to know about importing" thread in in the international section. I am prettyy sure any 80 imported into the US later than 94 will need an airbag to match north american safety and window glass may be a problem. Emissions will be a problem on a carburated VZ 80 before 2000. Basically you will need an RI which will cost you dollars.

 

[medtro]

Well, well, well, aren't you lucky!

If someone who has/had the letter has already imported the same model vehicle then would you still need to acquire a similar letter by Toyota? Would each vehicle/individual need a separate letter from Toyota or if there's precedence(sp) then you don't need the letter?

The letter has my name and the VIN on it, so my guess is you will have to get a new letter with different VIN.

Now back to my original question, or something along the line of the question above, if NHTSA has issued such a statement as '90-'96 Cruisers were eligible for importation would you still need such a letter from Toyota? (Again), what mods other than the basics (lights, reflectors, etc...) have to be made to make it road-worthy?

Thanks for any input in advance!

Mot

I will try to answer the 2nd half of the questions. My letter stated the rig met all US safety standards, so I didn't have to do any mod.

 

[mot]

The letter has my name and the VIN on it, so my guess is you will have to get a new letter with different VIN.

So I guess they do not keep track of which models from which market has been registered so a scum, such as myself, cannot benefit from your hardwork

I will try to answer the 2nd half of the questions. My letter stated the rig met all US safety standards, so I didn't have to do any mod.

That's cool! So you which 4Runner did you import and from where?

Just curious!

Thanks for sharing your info.

Mot

 

[Exiled]

There is so much misinformation on importing Land Cruisers that it's almost impossible to wade through the crap to get the correct info. I've said it many times, it's *possible*, but expensive. Tolerance for gray market vehicles and complete disregard for the resale value are important. Willingness to deal with the hassle and expense of sourcing non-US parts is also key. Trust me, I know this well.

I've tracked non-US Land Cruisers in the US for more than 10 years and have amassed a pretty good database. At last count, more than 500, from 17 countries (documented)., ranging from three different 1957 FJ25's to a couple of 100 series. There are at least four, possible five Venezuelan-spec 80's in the US. There's also at least a dozen others from other countries.

If you want a diesel 80 series, the trick is Western Europe. LHD, wide variety of specs, most never wheeled, and in some areas, relatively rust-free.

I've spent a lot of time and effort helping others with their importations, with great personal satisfaction, but I'm not a good source for importation info anymore, for two reasons:
1. When I went through the hoops of importation back in '96, there were loopholes I took advantage of that have since been closed.
2. I don't consider gray market importations a crime, so I don't really see a problem with it. There's no victim, IMNSHO, and a lot of benefits.

Do the research, spot the loopholes (there's still several), work it out, and don't brag about it. There's a lot of jealous people out there, even fellow Cruiser enthusiasts (I won't call them true Cruiserheads), who would rat you out to the authorities.

 

[Junk]

Thanks Henry. Also, if you guys want to see pics of an VZLA spec 80, all you have to do is look around this forum.