Importing a GT4 (Revisited) Options

[K12UDE]

If there was enough interest I might be able to lay my hands on a few GT4’s & maybe a GT4 WRC or 2 & get them over to the US.

That GT4 racing the 911 race car is Tony's from Fensports if memory servers me correct that car is something else you should see the spec of it!!!!


This post has been edited by K12UDE: Oct 4, 2004 - 3:45 PM

[ghostdog]

[K12UDE]

This is why I say there has to be a genuine interest I am no expert but my friend (Worldwide car importer/exporter) is.

Now don’t hold me to this as it’s what he has said (And he has imported a few TT’s; Aston Martin’s & TVR’s to the US using these methods.)

The first problem is you cant have right hand drive cars, (Sounds stupid to me as our country does & we have more rules & reg’s then Europe put together) so stop looking in Japan & the UK, the same models although of a lower spec are available in Europe I.E France, Spain etc these are left hand drive or you could get the Jap higher spec & purchase the left hand drive bits it’s up to you.

The next step you can go two ways.

First way is to get a registered importer in the US and go the DOT bond route.

Second way is import say 5 or 6 cars 1 of which will have to go the DOT bond route but a blue print is then made of the modifications which can then be applied to the others giving them compliance to the DOT standards but without having to pay the DOT bond on each car.

It sounds to simple to me but this guy brought over a top spec Skyline from Japan & didn’t pay any VAT or customs charges saving him twice the price of my GT4 so I have no reason to doubt him.

[ghostdog]

I dunno much about the subject but it sounds like something we should look into. Split the topic so we can get input from everyone else without overrunning the other thread

[Digndoug]

SO, How much are we talking here??, and right hand drive cars are legal in the us, its just the egr sytems are dif.. Also could you get a left hand drive one??

[pokemeintheeye]

I got some friends with hookups. If someone does actually want a gtfour, I'm sure my friends can get one into the states for roughly around $15,000 to $18,000. My friends can probably help out with getting the car legallized too. My friends already have an integra type-r and an r32 in the states. An r34 is on its way.

[hs2g]

[Digndoug]

[Gilbert_619]

damm someone is making bank then hahah...anyways how much to gt4s go for in japan or where ever else they are coming from?

[K12UDE]

In Japan the GT4's & the GT4 WRC's go for the same money around 300,000 Yen which is roughly about £4,500 sterling or $2,700 USD YES $2,700 USD!!!!
& thats for a Grade 4 GT4/GT4 WRC which is mint & when I say mint I mean MINT 70,000K on the clock not a dent or scratch anywhere M I N T all over so clean you wouldnt want to drive it unless it was wrapped up in cotton wool.

Get the picture????

But then you have to pay custom charges, TAX, V.A.T, Shipping, Insurance & then getting it road legal.

But I cant see it being any more then around 8K or 9K tops.

I was told right hand drive cars are not allowed in the US but as I said I don't know I am only saying what I have been told.

Yeah they made them in left hookers but the spec is much lower then the right hooker Jap imports.

As for the EGR systems in the UK our emission control levels are way stricter then the US ones so I've been told so that shouldnt be a problem & also they have to make allowances for older car’s.
Emission standards were more for controlling the cars of the future, saying that in the UK they did change it & killed off the Escort Cosworth when it was in it’s prime… A black day in the car history that event

This post has been edited by K12UDE: Oct 5, 2004 - 11:03 AM

[boosted_K2]

if you can do this i will buy one. but it has to be DOT legalized and have all the correct paperwork. hit me on AIM-k2mr2t91, or email k2celica97@aol.com if/when this gets off the ground. i will buy one if this happens (though still very skeptical)

oh, and id go for the LHD version, dont really want to deal with converting everything.

[jgreening]

[Magic]

Neoklis There must be a way to import the car in Japan and be legal and i think that nobody ever made a "deep search" about it.Its not worth it not to import a JDM GT4 cuz you can get it cheaper and with many "EXTRAS".

[turboinduction]

you got my money if it happens

[K12UDE]

Check this link out

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import...st05282004.html

It also gives you a list of Registered Importers for each area of the US.
It also has a link which explains the LHD & RHD rules.

It might be best to approach a Registered Importer first to get a quote, the people my mate uses are Automotive Conversions, they are not the cheapest but they are a pro outfit, they get the cars throught the DOT process & he then ships the cars on by land from there.
Basically they are an agent to deal with the legalities of the DOT process.

[boosted_K2]

basically everything ive seen is saying you arent going to get a car imported for under 15,000 that is DOT and EPA legal.

[K12UDE]

Aye but isnt that a small price to pay to be one of the only handful of people in your country to have a real GT4??? or to be one of the 2500 owners worldwide of a WRC????

Give it a few years & these cars will go classic doubling their price tag, it all depends on how much you really want the real thing or are you just happy with the bodykit & hood.

To me 15,000 even 20,000 is a fair price for such a car.

But then I really love these cars & always have since the first time I saw one back in 1997 ripping round the world rally championship here in the UK, not many cars can do what these cars can on a rally track or even on a proper track.

[95WRC]

hey,
hmm.. 7k total in my GT4 WRC here in the US ..

i have connections galore but w/o crash data or a letter from Toyota stating car meets DoT standards forget about it .. you will never get letter .. unless by some miracle it was a LHD w/ dual airbags then you might have a chance ..

we can speculate all night and day about what to do ..

there is a guy who i know on email who is trying to import his GT4 from UK to US legally .. has to add airbags and more .. i will email him to see if i can get some info for you all ..

i have been trying to get a GT4 since 94 so i can tell you i have done just about about all the research a guy can do .. took 10 years but its here lol ..

my supplier in Calgary will 100% for sure have his 97 GT4 up for sale next year .. car is in Canada now ..
details
dark green metallic (like Tony from Fensports car in Japanese performace a few months ago)
dual air bags
updated model (like 96+ US models) 3 POST SPOILER
6 spoke oem wheels
mint cond interior
42,000kilo's on right now .. very low miles
female owner in japan
100% bone stock

Damaged to both doors and a fender .. front and rear is fine .. he is having fixed soon .. replacing entire doors shells .. damage is to parts used on US/JDM cars so fixing will be easy .. car runs great ..

will be sold RHD .. complete US celica GT may be included as parts car for possible LHD conv..

i know he wants at least 11-12k US for it when done .. if you want damaged might be able to get a little cheaper and i am sure he will throw in parts to fix ..

if you seriously want a GT4 by next summer and REALLY have the funds i can give you more info ..

[rjbibeau]

ohh baby it's a dream come true.... the gt4 fairy has come to us

[boosted_K2]