importing help Options

[4-eyed-freek]

hey guys, this may be a very stupid question, but either way im going to ask it. in less than a year i will be out of school and hopefully working in the automotive field. my dream car as like many of you on here is the celica gt four. what i really need is someone or some people to help shed some light on how to get one over here. sence it is my absolute dream car, i really do not care how much it would cost. the only thing is, i dont want to have the dot take it and make it all enviroment friendly. if anyone could help me get going in the right direction that would be great.

[HaysoosKreesto]

Found this on a quick search

http://www.6gc.net/forums/index.php?showto...p;hl=gt4+import

[schmooot]

move to Canada and your chances go from not to under $10,000

[yarik83]

In accordance with USA 25 year importation rule you will be able to import a 1994 gt-four in 2019. Canada has 15 year importation rule but only select provinces allow importation and that is why there is a number of gt-4s that have been imported there for around 10-15,000 each.

Only way to get it over to usa is to smuggle it across the border and vin swap it.

[yarik83]

correction. To make it semi-registable you have to vin swap it. Outside of that you can ride around as is taking your chances. But you will be sticking out like a green hat in orange field for all cops to have a field day with. That is why it is necessary to have proper documentation in case you get pulled over.

Alternately you can also spend 25% more and import a LHD model from europe and then throw it across the border. Providing you own a hatchback that matches that car and or repaint your car to match gt-4, swap license plates and park usdm model in a dark corner somewhere.. quite literally forever. It would be a good idea to remove gt-4 lettering to be safe.

On the other hand by that time you will be pushing into 18,000 so... .might as well buy evo or sti with less headaches.

[4-eyed-freek]

well the thing is, i dont want to move lol. i rwally dont plan on driving the car at all for awhile sence i want to buy it and work on it. so by the time it would be all done, it would be close to 2019. as for money.. i dont mind how much it would be, its been a dream car of mine. you guys think i could get it here and just not drive it, because i have intention to until im finished making it what i want.

[HaysoosKreesto]

well the thing is, i dont want to move lol. i rwally dont plan on driving the car at all for awhile sence i want to buy it and work on it. so by the time it would be all done, it would be close to 2019. as for money.. i dont mind how much it would be, its been a dream car of mine. you guys think i could get it here and just not drive it, because i have intention to until im finished making it what i want.

I salute a man with this courage and determination, you get that GT4!

[yarik83]

You live in Michigan which is a stone's throw from canada so you have that going for you.

If you can find a landed gt4 for sale sold by a private party then by all means have that person drive over the border and then you fly or drive him/her back.

Most importers I have spoke to have told me that they can import cars to canada if you pay but will not help with moving it in any way shape or form to usa.

Another thing about 2019 is that just because car becomes legal for importation of January 2019.. does not mean that your car will be legal to drive. I am sure to register it you would have to provide all the documentation etc etc. If it will read 5 years ago then some eyebrows will be raised.

[4-eyed-freek]

yea you are true. i might have to find someone in canida to buy the car from and fly them back... as for registration... i think i might register it under my celicas vin and what not.. i know its all so illegal but i want the car to have not to have it be a daily driver. just something to work on. i might contact a friend of mine who is a michigan state rep. im going to see if he can give me any insite, but im not going to give him any info on what im doing.

[4-eyed-freek]

if i cant import a gt four can i import a ss111?

[freddy121389]

if you purchase a lhd model you would be able to register it here in the states, the only thing that is holding it back is the fact that the rhd model was never crash tested under DOT and the lhd celica model was, cuz if you think about it if you swap in an awd tranny a 3s motor and do a rhd conversion its still legal because it started off as a lhd. All you need is the proper paperwork, when i did that research that was for the rhd model not the lhd.

[FORGMANN]

Ok hear we go again time for another import a 205 thread
Im 37 and own a st205 plus been dealing with importing for
15 years. Like to think i give real info.

Most shops bring in cars listed as clips. Mine was shipped to
Canada 8 years ago and listed as 2 clips and buried in a container.
This was way before import craze started up there . I towed across
as parts car without issue in remote crossing in Montana. Now
with so many RHD cars in Canada im sure US customs is more
strict on how you cross with a Jdm car. Im sure there have been
many attempts by US guys on every make of car.

Getting a car is 95% main issue. If make it past customs there is
no DOT police or Epa guy in a suit coming to house to harrass you.
You deal 100% with local and state Epa and Dmv. If they issue you
a title and registration then your done. If live in an smog testing nazi
state then may be an issue passing. I have friend who has a RHD 94 Mr2
and been pulled over 7 times for speeding and never once had an
issue. Plus car has worst vin swap ever seen and had inspected 2 times
by sheriffs dept and 0 issues. Now he lives in a small town in Indiana
and knows all the cops so big city might be harder to pull off.

Car will not be "legal" in govt eyes but that really only comes into play
when going thru importing and customs. Your local dmv is people need
to talk to. I have heard Missouri will honor a jdm title and give you a
new one but cant confirm. Though i have heard a lot of guys having title
work done there.

As far as SS-3 i am importing clip and just building one to exact jdm spec.
I would go that route if just want a SS-3 much cheaper in long run.

[4-eyed-freek]

awsome info. i really would want a gt four more than a ss3. either way i live in a very small town. i plan on moving to a bit bigger city but still very small considering other cities around it. i know illinios has a thing here that you can have one project car that can be really anything, no seat belts lights ect... and they make a vin for you, but sence i plan on moving back to michigan up north, that wouldnt work for me. would it be harder for me to find a lhd gt four or a rhd. i would like to have a lhd but none the less its a gt four i could car less if i had to drive in the back seat.

[Neon90424]

I thought you could import the car you wanted as a "Track Car" or competition use only or somethin lika dat

[yarik83]

You are partially correct.

You can import a track car pending that that car has been previously engineered and registered as a track vehicle with all safety equipment. You must also have a racing license and sign appropriate paperwork that says that you can import car here and drive less than 2500 miles per year. You will, however be obligated to ship the car back to country of origin. That caveat benefits auto racers like rally cars for example where they attend the race here in usa and then fly back elsewhere. So in other words you are not allowed to import a gt-4 as a track car unless you have purchased rally built vehicle with racing pedigree and in that case you would still be obligated to ship the car back.

Another option is importation of a "collector car" which implies that car must have some sort of aesthetic, engineering or historical significance. It also implies that car will have a temporary tag to be driven between car shows for example and garaged at other times. Mileage limitations also apply.

I believe that best way to get the car here (thus solving 95% of problems) is to buy from private party. Car will be registered and insured etc etc in Canada. You fly there, pay the person (some sum) and agree on terms of transporting the car here. Something in lines of that person driving vehicle here with registered canadian tags. At which point you pay remainder of the balance and get gt-4 on a trailer, cover it and park it. Fly original owner back to his or her home and deliver your car on a trailer (still covered) wherever you live. If you are not willing to sacrifice your celica then buy a beater hatchback that matches color and swap some vin numbers. Register usa celica, insure it etc etc and park it out of sight, part it out if necessary to recoup some cash. Do not sell parts with vin numbers on them. Slap license plates on gt-4 and remove gt-4 badges. Print a bunch of photos from someone's rhd to lhd conversion and someone's gt-4 exterior conversion project (that matches your car color) and stick it in your glove box. Drive the car, dont do anything stupid and if asked present your evidence in photos. Tell them you swapped it yourself and it took you forever.

That is what I was going to do. And then I figured that I would be better off buying an evo.

And then I had personal life events that required my finances elsewhere but evo is still on drawing board.

I could of course get a gt-4 but lets be rational here. Even if you can buy a landed canadian one for say 10 grand, you are buying a cat in a bag but even if car is in good shape.. it is still a old car. Quite a risk.

If I had to give you an advice. DO NOT BELIEVE STORIES OF SOME GUY WHO KNOWS A GUY WHO KNOWS A GUY WHO KNOWS HOW TO SMUGGLE CARS HERE. Assume that all information is NOT credible until proven otherwise. Our resident Forgmann is on the dime with what he said. It is not easy and it is not technically legal but with enough determination and finances anything is possible.

[4-eyed-freek]

wow you guys are awsome! i gues im going to have to get my ducks in a row here and strat planning on what to do.. im just not sure where to start.

[yarik83]

Start by getting your finances in order. Once you have lets say x dollars in cash.. start by looking at what is available. oodle.com has canadian branch as well as some other classifieds sections. Also check out LANDED cars. You will have better luck with landed vehicles than not. You can also import into canada and then try and get it here. Needless to say you will be spending more if you had to import first.

[Neon90424]

drive your regular celi to canada and switch everything there and drive back lol maybe they wont notice...

[yarik83]

Above option is also possible as I have considered it myself. Downside is that you will need to ditch that car in a place where it will never be found and will never end up in junk yard in pieces for all to see... because they will try and track down owner by vin number if car is in pieces in canada but is registered as a whole in usa.

make sure you match color and type (ie black hatchback for black hatchback). Cross in one place. stick around for a few days visiting cool places and then cross in a different location far from original border .