With as much as I would die to own this truck legally and seeing that on the HJ61 he sold the reserve was met a by 15k which I would gladly pay for this truck, I had to ask three times just who pre-approved this truck and how he plans on getting it in legally and he simply won't answer, so I just don't trust the legality of his import method so I am not going to bid. This is what he said:
"I'm sorry that you were given wrong information regarding the importation of vehicles, I'm also sorry if I seem terribly blunt but, that is what happened. I receive no less than 25 emails every day from people trying to find out how to import vehicles some of which are very sneaky, and spend no less than 3 hours every night replying to the emails. The facts are this, yes you can legally import RHD vehicles, as there are thoushands, yes thousands, of RHD's currently registered in the states. Yes a letter of conformity is one, and only one way to LEGALLY import vehicles. Yes this vehicle is ready for legal importation, my feedback history and track record should confirm that I am telling the truth. If you win this car there will be no fees involved with bringingthis truck into the US but it will take 15 minutes of your time at customs. I have nothing to gain by stickng anyone, nor have I ever, but I absolutely will not reveal what is involved to make a vehicle conform to the importation standards as that is what I do. I am also not going to argue the facts, if you were told something by someone, well so be it, it must be true. If you have any fears at all as to bidding on this vehicle then I would strongly recommend not bidding. I'm sorry if this sounds harsh, but, again, I am bombarded daily with emails from people who have heard one thing and know that I can't possibly do what I have done time and time again LEGALLY! All the best-Cole"
I have not been told wrong, it is law, period. Second paragraph on the import eligibilty page on the US DOT's website says:
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import/ELIG081905.html
Vehicles that have been determined eligible for importation are assigned a vehicle eligibility number. All eligibility numbers are for left-hand drive motor vehicles except where right-hand drive (RHD) is identified after the model. While there is no specific restriction on imp
orting a right-hand drive vehicle, these may not be imported under eligibility decisions based on the existence of substantially similar U.S.-certified left-hand drive vehicles. Our experience has shown that the safety performance of right-hand drive vehicles is not necessarily the same as that of apparently similar left-hand drive vehicles offered for sale in this country. However, we will consider the vehicles "substantially similar" if the manufacturer advises us that the right-hand drive vehicle would perform the same as the U.S.-certified left-hand drive vehicle in dynamic crash tests. Absent such a showing, the RI would have to demonstrate (through a petition) that the vehicle, when modified, would comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards, including those for which dynamic crash testing is prescribed.
The fact of the matter is there is no US certified substantially similar model with a 70 series and even if there were it states above that that isn't enough, that the manufacturer has to make a statement as to RHD performance. Since the assistant to the president of Toyota Motor Saels USA told me on the phone it is not company policy to issue letters of conformity, this hasn't happened, and there is no RHD petition on file nor is teher one pending according to the NHTSA's website.
And of course in terms of the EPA there is no way to import this truck without having the emissions tested by a registered importer which I know he has not done or it would have added at least 3500k to the price.
There are two legal ways to bring it in, the gift/sale loophole from Canadian to immediate family member living in the US, or a Canadian may bring one vehicle with them when the immigrate to the US without going through all the hoops. I don't think that's how he is doing it.
The only other thing I can think of is that one time I called the border crossing closest to Seattle when trying to help stickboy import his BJ74. The customs supervisor I talked to there said that if I wanted to have a reputable shop in Canada do the work to bring the vehicle into compliance with US DOT and EPA standards and then bring the receipt for the work done to the crossing I could import the vehicle. Now, this is not what the law says (only an RI or shop certified by the manufacturer can do the work and even then an RI has to do the import still), but these customs officers have the last say, and as I had stated earlier, if one gets is across and gets a title and all then does it matter if it is legal? Then I thought about Da Silva who got in a BJ60 I think it was, got it titled in his state, was driving it daily, and customs came knocking on his door and the truck ahd to go back... So I don't know.
TLCruiserman, I hope if you win you will inform us as to how the truck gets across the border if for no other reason than to take this seller off his high horse about his information hoarding.
