Importing a 105 (1 Viewer)

[stonepa]

Thinking of buying and importing a 105 NA diesel from Australia. I understand the 25 year requirement to legally license and drive the vehicle on US roads. However, what I have not been able to get a legal opinion on is my ability to import one, say a 1998 or 1999, to sit in my garage until the 25 year line is crossed. My concern is that they will get another 5 years of beating on them and a good one will be harder to find.

Thoughts?

 

[audi2nr]

Doubt you'll be able to get it our of customs without all the correct documentation. You could buy one and keep it stored in canada till then though... They are doing lots of this with the jdm tuner cars... My 2nd thought is to speak directly with a registered importer and see what they might be able to acomplishing.

 

[stonepa]

This is where the legal ambiguities come in. According to US customs, the only documentation needed to import a vehicle is the Bill of Lading, Bill of Sale, and original Registration from the country of origin. No DOT compliance required. No different than a race car. To get it titled and licensed in the US is a different issue. Hence, confusion.

 

[2020 Rocks]

This is where the legal ambiguities come in. According to US customs, the only documentation needed to import a vehicle is the Bill of Lading, Bill of Sale, and original Registration from the country of origin. No DOT compliance required. No different than a race car. To get it titled and licensed in the US is a different issue. Hence, confusion.

Can you source a half cut 105 and then swap over the goodies to a NA 100 series?

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Call an importer, there several on here, Land Cruiser Direct for one. I would think if what you were suggesting was legal, there'd be a bunch of people already doing it, stockpiling GTRs, etc. waiting for the 25 clock.

 

[OEMGUY0720]

The easiest I can think of is buying one from South America and driving it stateside. You can skip the confusing part of getting it shipped and all the red tape that comes with it. Best part it’s already LHD.

 

[95Fantasma80]

That's smart!

I've always seen great deals on JDM cars, would love this 70 series and if import yourself can likely find better deals.

1992 Toyota Landcruiser 70 – Japanese Classics

www.japaneseclassics.com

 

[Prime]

Law is it has to have it’s 25th birthday before it comes into the US of A

 

[GTV]

Law is it has to have it’s 25th birthday before it comes into the US of A

There’s plenty of cars in the US of A that don’t meet that criteria. Getting them registered is another story.

 

[mmcgee]

There’s plenty of cars in the US of A that don’t meet that criteria. Getting them registered is another story.

But were they hidden in the middle of a container or driven from the north/south? I imported a defender from the Netherlands and a thorough inspection was required to clear customs. I had to provide paperwork for frame and engine vin. Part of this 25 yr loop hole is that the vehicle had to be to spec. so the updated discovery axles and TDI had to be removed and replaced which were shipped seperately and reinstalled stateside (engines have a 21 yr law I believe but don't quote me). Then I started over to get it registered including an inspection from the sheriff's department (I am sure every state is different).

 

[GTV]

Well I’ve seen plenty of “illegal” cars that weren’t 25 sitting on US soil. There were a small handful of new Jimny’s at SEMA a couple months ago, you may disagree but I highy doubt that they were smuggled in like a kilo of coke.

 

[mmcgee]

I honestly have no idea, just sharing my experience working through the process. I assume you would have to drive one across the border or ship them in containers to get them past customs. I did follow along with this story of the feds seizing land rovers which were smuggled in just like a kilo of coke, restored and resold.

 

[abuck99]

Well I’ve seen plenty of “illegal” cars that weren’t 25 sitting on US soil. There were a small handful of new Jimny’s at SEMA a couple months ago, you may disagree but I highy doubt that they were smuggled in like a kilo of coke.

There's a temporary import license for trade shows, events, testing etc.

 

[J1000]

You can import any vehicle for off-road use in the US, however, once a vehicle has been imported for off-road use then it can never ever be registered for on-road use in the US again, even when it becomes 25 years old.

 

[bamabrock]

there is an entire forum dedicated to importing. try there

Importing / JDM

Tech and information related to the importation of JDM and other rare vehicles.

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[hoser]

@stonepa You're so close to Canada... I'd be making friends or buying a little piece of property there and buying a 2005 105 (15 year import rule).

 

[stonepa]

Actually thinking the same. Been thinking of buying property on Vancouver Island and could just register it in BC.

 

[stonepa]

The easiest I can think of is buying one from South America and driving it stateside. You can skip the confusing part of getting it shipped and all the red tape that comes with it. Best part it’s already LHD.

I just got back from a trip to Central America. Lots of 200s, 100s, and 70s. No 105s. My guess is they were uncommon outside of Australia and South Africa.

 

[D21FJ60]

deleted- redundant.