Glass, lighting, occupant restraints, crash performance, theft deterrent ignition, tires and so-on.
Transporting '94 Land Cruiser to States
- Thread starter talegate
- Start date
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inkpot
SILVER Star
Gotta make the Feds happy at the Port of Entry before you have to deal with your particular State, County, or City regulations.
- Thread starter
- #23
I had intended to load the vehicle with a bunch of household personal stuff we're taking back to the States. Rather than paying the airline to ship a dozen totes, I was going to just put them in the Cruiser and ship it which, in effect, offsets one type of shipping costs vs. another, but I would end up with my 80 in NC as a side benefit. in research I did today, it seems that having personal stuff inside the transported vehicle is forbidden. That fact, along with being short of the 25 year mark, plus the safety restriction issues, I'm not sure shipping it the States is worth the effort. I sure hate to leave it behind, but I think doing so may be the most practical solution. I'm going to start looking at cargo shipping of just household goods, even if it takes months to get there. Like I said, I think the truck is somewhat unique and would be well suited for the States, but getting there is more than problematic. Thanks for all the comments.
Could you stash it down there until it hits 25?
- Thread starter
- #25
Not really. Once I leave, there is no one in Costa Rica to store or watch it for me. Selling it is the only option. There in demand here, so I should have no problem quickly turning it.
- Thread starter
- #26
This is a very delayed update to my prior post, where I was considering returning my '94 with me to the States, given we were returing to the States with no plan to return to Costa Rica. That was 2018 and we came back to the US without LC. I sold it to the first person that came looking. That LC was absolutely gorgeous with a bunch of features that I would have made it unique stateside. My wife still gripes at me for leaving it behind; she knew I would regret not taking it home, and should jjust show patience by waiting a year to register. Boy, here we are at the end of 2024 and I kick myself every day. I've never seen a '94 cleaner than that one, with extremely low miles, and I was the second owner. And, from what I can tell a quality, low mileage '94 80 series has really gone up in price here in the States. Oh well!
Tachycardic
SILVER Star
I wish I was on the forums when you initially posted. I have shipped cars from Japan and Europe to the US and the 25-year rule (as you know now) is a real limitation--down to the month. You'll also typically need to show proof that the the vehicle was professionally cleaned/detailed prior to shipping. I would have recommended that you pay to house the LC80 in Costa Rica until it hit 25 years old--I am truly sorry for your loss and I hope you'll be able to find something in the States.
To be clear the only way would have been to store it down there tell it was 25 years old. You can not get it through customs tell tell it 25 years old
Registration is a separate matter all together.
You are correct that it had desirable features but at the same time being is carburetted would have hurt its value.
- Thread starter
- #29
Actually, your post made me feel a lot better. Thank you. I have immensely regreted leaving that 80 series down there ever since. I did not know I would not have been permitted to ship the car until it reached 25 years (in Costa Rica). I never knew of that restriction. I really do feel better because it would have been difficult to have left it there for an additional year. I don't think I could have made it happen. As an aside, I just picked up my '75 FJ40 at the port in Jacksonville; a restorer in CR has been working on it for us for over two years. Still more work to do on it, but it's here. My biggest problem is finding a way to reposition the drivers seat to provide more legroom. It's a tight fit for a guy my size. I believe I read previously on IH8MUD that there are some tricks to flipping the seat mount and gaining a little bit by doing so. Since it's a restomod and has power steering, a switch of the stock schoolbus sized wheel might provide some relief Thanks again for allowing me to stop kicking myself for leaving that '94 in Costa Rica.
