Importing a Diesel Landcruiser (Japanese Import) to the US

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After four months and countless hours on the phone with Toyota, the DMV, CARB and the DMV director's office I eventually did get the rig registered. But I would never do it again. In October, 2013 the CARB changed the way they deal with vehicles coming into California from out of state, whether it's already titled in the US or an import from out of the country. If it's a diesel vehicle it's almost impossible to get them registered now, as the CARB does not provide a way in which to have diesel imports tested. The change in rules by the CARB is not something that's been broadly disseminated within the California DMV, so you may even go to a local DMV office and be told that you can register your vehicle, only to have the application denied by Sacramento when you finally go through the process (what happened to me).
 
Anyone know anything about this? Federal Register | Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 1999 to 2006 Toyota Land Cruiser IFS 100 Series Multipurpose Passenger Vehicles Manufactured Prior to September 1, 2006 Are Eligible for Importation

I have read threw countless threads and spent countless hours pouring over material. I am interested in one of the more recent 70 Series from Australia or Japan. Who in the US has done this before? I am in contact with a few different import companies one of which is in Houston regarding this, but i seem to remember someone here mentioning that they had direct experience with a company in the US that has done this before. Any and all help will be appreciated. Maybe i will completely remove the engine and import it separately.
 
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Classic - thanks for the info, I read through the thread and it appears that they too are specializing in older (25 year) imports that don't require any DOT modifications. I am looking for a thread, or a company that has experience with applying for a variance with the US government on a new or newer (less than 5 years old) Land Cruiser, and then doing the legal modifications to make it right for our roads. For example - A new 70 from Australia (2015 model) seen here http://www.toyota.com.au/landcruiser-70-series
Is 40-50k depending on how you equip them - I want to import one of these and modify it. which will cost another 10-20k - and then for less than the price of a new 200 i can get exactly what i am after.
 
I think it is crazy what these older trucks are selling for - I can't bring myself to spend 30-50k on a 25 year old Land Cruiser. I am not knocking those that do it, as it supports some very talented individuals, however for that kind of money i would prefer the benefit of a "newer" truck that will last me 25-30 years, or basically the rest of my life.
 
TGAMO
Importation and Certification FAQ's Directory--All Vehicles

Specifically here; Vehicle Importation and Certification Requirements
The way I see it is, get on the phone and call all of them until you hit one that says yes. I have heard there is luck with one in New Jersey.

Also, don't limit your googling to just importing landcruisers. There is a fair amount of info out there from the groups after GTR's and Supra's. The groups for GTR's have been trying from first release day to legally import that car. So there is a lot of experience regarding the process.
 
TGAMO said:
I think it is crazy what these older trucks are selling for - I can't bring myself to spend 30-50k on a 25 year old Land Cruiser. I am not knocking those that do it, as it supports some very talented individuals, however for that kind of money i would prefer the benefit of a "newer" truck that will last me 25-30 years, or basically the rest of my life.
Click to expand...

When spending 30-50k you are basically buying a brand new truck that could conceivably take you another 25 years with the right support.
You will spend that on yours and it will depreciate every single year and with each addition mile. However you will get the comforts and technologies that are afforded from newer vehicles.
I would rather put my money on the asset that's appreciating. My motivator was that the race tuned Altima was starting to cost money every year to maintain. I would rather invest that money in maintaining Bella, 'cause she is a beauty worthy of love.
 
Classic - I certainly appreciate your input - I basically have called every importer listed on the government approved list. Many have said they only deal with specific vehicles, others have not returned my phone call. I have heard rumor that a few importers have successfully done this in the past 5 years with newer Land Cruisers and Defenders. Mostly looking to the good community that is here to try and rely on any experience that could be offered to make this a reality. I think if i could find a gas'er it would be even easier and i could always convert it latter.
 
i do hope you don't mean the importers that brought in new defenders in pieces, reassembled and sold to the public ...
later to be seized and crushed.
as an importer since 2001 i have heard your argument about spending big money on old vehicles. for you, buying old isn't a "good investment".
for me, i like old. i spend good money on old.
i like one wire run vehicles.
i like the body style of the older 70 series vehicles.
each to their own.
in your case, your headaches have just started. once you finally realize that you CAN NOT import a newer Land Cruiser diesel into the states then you will have to accept the "less than legal" route or give up on your dream vehicle.
now the less than legal route will leave you open to seizure of the vehicle and possible fines and possible fraud and or smuggling record.
I know of a number of illegal vehicles in the states and in Canada. I also know how they were acquired. I DO NOT recommend anyone go down this path.
best of luck in your search,
 
I sure find it amazing how many people will go out of there way to tell you what you CANT do. I do know with enough time and money anything is possible. I also know that this has been done legally in the past 5 years with both Defenders, and Land Cruisers. If you check on the DOT approval list you will see that it indeed has been done successfully. Here is a perfect example that 99-06 are now legal. Federal Register | Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 1999 to 2006 Toyota Land Cruiser IFS 100 Series Multipurpose Passenger Vehicles Manufactured Prior to September 1, 2006 Are Eligible for Importation

I am not looking for a quick answer, just the correct answer. If anyone here has direct experience please let me know.

Also i am not sure if you know or not but all the seized Defenders were all returned to their rightful owners a few months ago.

I do not know of any single instance at all where Toyota Land Cruisers were seized. I am also aware of the seizure involving a 2006 LC, but that was seized only because of the attempt to smuggle ammunition the truck was not a direct target of the seizure itself.

And yes i do like the older trucks, but Toyota had reintroduced the 70 Series for a short time. This is the target of my acquisition, I am also leaning towards removing the diesel engine from a truck and importing it separately, or just getting a gass'er and converting it latter.
 
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defenders ... interesting ... link?
reintroduced 70 series ... vague statement. you mean reintroduced to the states or reintroduced world wide?
the 70 was never sold state side
the 70 was never stopped world wide
check on mud under lowenbrau for an example of siezed 70. there have been others as well in Canada. Stateside, all it takes is a pissed off acquaintance to make a phone call about an illegal truck ...

all i am saying is don't invest money you can't or don't want to lose on a questionable practice. buying a rolling chassis and installing an engine can fall under that. it is up to the investigator as to whether they "feel" you did the action for a home built or to circumvent the law.

once again, i don't really care but for those that might be following this thread a caution should be stated.
 
 
Crushers has properly outlined the issue. I'll add my comments as well.

Yes, you're right, with enough money and enough motivation, anything is possible. Such as determining and producing everything necessary to make a general market newer Land Cruiser comply with FMVSS. The conversion might cost you $10K-$20K as you mentioned. Doing it the first time likely costs $50K or more. And that doesn't cover the engine. So you'll only be able to get a truck which has a gas engine already approved for use in the US. No diesels.

The fed register link about the 100 series trucks applies to IFS 100 series trucks only. Why would you need to import an out of market 100 series with IFS and then modify it to meet FMVSS when you can just buy one from the US market. To get RHD?

When it comes down to spending several hundred thousand dollars to "do it right" for one truck, you can see why people usually take the other routes alluded to by Crushers.

If you are aware of newer Land Cruisers that have been imported and modified to meet FMVSS, then please share the owner's contact info and we can all use the same registered importer they used. I would contend that any 70 series in the US less than 25 years old has been brought in illegally (Canada or otherwise), is here under a temporary use permit, or has been purchased out of market and "driven" into the country retaining its out of market ownership and licensing documents (licensed in another country). Or under "show and display" like the various newer models of 70's at the Land Cruiser Heritage Museum.
 
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TGAMO said:
http://jalopnik.com/all-the-seized-land-rover-defenders-will-be-returned-to-1708474732

Click here to support DEFENDER OF DEFENDERS by Will Hedrick

Feds driven to admit dozens of Land Rover seizures were wrong

Thanks for the post up Classic - Nice to see justice prevails sometimes. Now on the the original question - Who in the heck converts the overseas imports to DOT standards with experience in Land Cruisers?
Click to expand...

Some of them were likely seized illegally, but some had their VINs swapped from older models and that's what started the investigation. Still doesn't make newer Land Rovers or newer Land Cruisers legal.
 
1st. I am not a pro. I have imported into the USA 2 cruisers, both over 25 years, last one was last week.
Because CBP always has their own individual opinion's, don't know the law and don't follow letter of law, I have been refused entry. This has caused me to do extensive research on importing and my way of 25 years is the easiest, meaning CBP will still make the easiest way hard for you.

That being said, from what I have read getting a less than 21 year old vehicle (EPA) is a considerable investment for an individual. From what I understand it is the safety standard (DOT) that is the bulk of cost, something to do with restraint systems on transmissions and seat belt. The reason for the high cost, as I read it, is because they require safety crashes on the vehicle, at importers cost. Therefore you would need to buy two vehicles, one for destruction. This results in nothing but high rollers going this route. All of this has been said before.

If you are looking at this from a business/investment standpoint the successful result is not guaranteed and could end up as a wasted investment. In addition once the waiver is issued it is for everyone so it doesn't protect your investment with exclusivity. If it does its for a very narrow window and to guarantee your ROI you would need a few vehicles sold in a very short time frame, before the system makes your successful application public.

“Boys, there ain’t no free lunches in this country. And don’t go spending your whole life commiserating that you got the raw deals. You’ve got to say, I think that if I keep working at this and want it bad enough I can have it. It’s called perseverance.” ~ Lee Iacocca

If anyone knows someone or a way, let TGAMO know, he appears to have the perseverance that could change our community.https://forum.ih8mud.com/members/tgamo.112512/
 
Hey Classic - thanks for the input. I certainly appreciate it. My objective - hopefully will help many who like myself have a desire for the modern version of the trusted classic that we all have embraced.
 
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