Importing a BJ70!

[SupaFly]

I´m new to this forum and have a few questions. I´m in Panama city at the moment looking to buy a BJ70. One question is there anything i should know or trick to do about bringing it to and registering it in the USA? Another question is for those that have them, where did you get them, and what is the going price? Is there a place in the states that you can buy them from? Say, an importing company? And for those that have the convertable ones, do they ever leak water or are pretty water tight? Just a few questions. If anyone can help me that would be great...

 

[Devils Paw 80]

Look at this thread: https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=10164&highlight=importing

If it's less than 15 years old, it's a no can do, evidently. If I were you, I'd contact a Registered Importer to look into the matter. Most of the BJ70s owned by Americans, such as myself, have come from Canada. Prices can range widely, depending on condition, etc. Check out Spector Off Road's classifieds or E-bay for some examples. Good luck!

 

[arcteryx]

welcome. you will not get a convertible- those are BJ73's. Canada can import those from Japan, but they cannot be imported in the States. You can only import a Canadian from the north. I cannot attest to any other countries and how they got theres, but Canada would be the easiest. I was lucky and got mine from someone who imported it. You can find one 25 years or older and get one into the country without any issues. If I were to get another one, I would look for an 81 that meets the 25 YO reg. HTH
-a

 

[brownbear]

might also look thru this bunch of threads in here.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=76210

 

[MoJ]

I had zero problems bringing in a 1985 BJ70 from CANADA to the US and getting it legally registered in Missouri. All this information was already posted in ih8mud when I was researching how to do it.

1. Hire a good, proven, experienced, registered, and bonded import agent. $350
2. Pay whatever duties are required by the exporting country. In my case $500 or so. I paid the import agent for this who in turn paid o' Canada.
3. Get it the in the country. In my case the import agent arranged to get in across the border and into the country for an additional fee so I didn't have to mess with a showdown at the border. $200
4. Get it to your home. Drive it or ship it.
5. Get it inspected and apply for title just like any other vehicle.
6. Hold your breath until the new title comes in the mail.

The 25 year old thing didn't really make much difference in my case. Keep in mind all this is coming from Canada rather than Panama.

 

[rick_d]

we are lucky in the US, you can bring in canadian market trucks including the bj70 and bj/hj60's.

EVERYTHING ELSE has to be 25 years or older, or get a converting RI to authorize and letters etc fromt Toyota.

The mine trucks, BJ75, PZJ75, HZJ75, and HZJ79's do not meet these standards

We need 17 digit VIN's which did not become common place before the 1990's. These automatically give out details on year of construction etc.

a truck from panama does not equal a canadian truck

 

[SupaFly]

Thanks for the info

Hey guys, thanks for all the info you sent my way. I´m still in panama looking for a nice BJ70. I found a pretty nice '86 LJ70 but am really looking for a BJ70. I was thinking that toyota probably made the south and centeral american landcruiser to the same spec as the Canada once but maybe wrong in that thought. Of corrse you would have to prove that to import it. My plan was to get it and drive it to the boarder and work on importing it at that point. I´m planing to drive it back into center and south america for some mission work. If it turns out to be a bigger mess than i was expecting at the boarder i was going to get a 7day pass and drive it to my place where i would build it how i want to then take it back to the boarder when i was done. In any case the LC will be turning 25yrs in just a few more. Not such a long wait. Later YO!!!