Importing a Dubia model to the US

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As long as it's over 25 years old or you have the money to have all the FMVSS and EPA modifications done.


between you, me, and the NSA...
 
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OK, sorry for the misspelling.

Anyway there are 70 series (new) from the UAE that are available here. Just wondered what the legalities to importing one to the US.
 
CaptRonn said:
OK, sorry for the misspelling.

Anyway there are 70 series (new) from the UAE that are available here. Just wondered what the legalities to importing one to the US.
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Never gonna happen. It has to be over 25 years old to even be eligible for import. Also, it is usually prohibitively expensive.
 
I wouldn't say "never."

Michael from West Coast Cruisers has a 2010 HZJ76 IIRC legally here in the US and registered in CA (!!!!) of all places.

If someone wants it bad enough, anything can be brought into the US legally. A lot seems to depend on money and who one knows.
 
The only generally feasable way is if the vehicle manufacture date is +25 years prior to the current date.
 
OGBeno said:
I wouldn't say "never."

Michael from West Coast Cruisers has a 2010 HZJ76 IIRC legally here in the US and registered in CA (!!!!) of all places.

If someone wants it bad enough, anything can be brought into the US legally. A lot seems to depend on money and who one knows.
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cruiserdan said:
The only generally feasable way is if the vehicle manufacture date is +25 years prior to the current date.
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Never say never I guess?? Still the laws are very strict on importing vehicles. Unless money is no object then it is a waste of time. If you really want a 70 series, buy one that's 25 years old and bring it in from Canada.

Would be interesting to know how the WCC guy has his registered. I suspect it is not a regular vehicle registration. Probably registered as a show vehicle or something like that.

Edit: There was a "new"ish 70 series (HZJ75 maybe?) at GSMTR a couple of years ago. Don't know the registration info or who it belonged to though.
 
Or Something on "Permanent Display".
 
wardharris said:
Wasn't that Bush 43's middle name?
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That was "Dub-ya"...

Sam Stewart said:
Would be interesting to know how the WCC guy has his registered. I suspect it is not a regular vehicle registration.
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If memory serves, it was registered as a diplomats vehicle. At some point, they can be legally sold and titled.

Another option is to buy one and register in CA or SA. As long as it returns to the country of origin (or leaves the US) once a year, legal to drive in the US.

According to an import specialist, bring it in in pieces that can't, in a single shipment, be reassembled into a complete vehicle, and it's listed as "parts".

All I want are the bodies with complete interiors, specifically a late LHD 70, or a true Poverty Pack 80.

Put in on a US titled frame and it's 100% legit.
 
A properly equipped 25 year old model is just as cool. :)
 
Delancy said:
That was "Dub-ya"...

According to an import specialist, bring it in in pieces that can't, in a single shipment, be reassembled into a complete vehicle, and it's listed as "parts".

Put in on a US titled frame and it's 100% legit.
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That's how everyone is getting the drive trains. You just have to send it back in pieces in a container. A complete vehicle would be a stretch though.
The real tough part is getting the parts. In Central America (I looked at trying to get some manual transmissions for 80s there) they don't scrap vehicles. They just continually repair them. So basically you have to buy a complete vehicle and part it out. Which is expensive and time consuming. In the end the amount of money to be made is def not worth it. For a personal vehicle I guess it could be but I would try to find one that had already been done and just buy the stuff. Let someone else do the hard part.
 
Um,

I don't think he was talking about an automobile.....:grinpimp:
 
Delancy said:
No, but a properly equipped twenty five year old model would suit most just fine.
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One would tie up 5% of your assets while the other could potentially require 80% of your assets. :)
 
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