Importing a Fairlady Z from Japan to Iowa, USA

[twiceasfastasyou]

Yeah, I know this topic is going to get me into some sort of flaming situation or trouble, but I've done some immense research and topic discussion on the famous Skyline import process. Seems like even though my hopes are still up on importing an R33 GTS-T, its not OBD2 compliant, nor does it hold up to the EPA standards.

BUT, because I live in Iowa (the state of corn, yeah), we have basically no regulations on importing a vehicle, as long as it follows the NHTSA eligibility, and that I successfully register the vehicle with the DOT in Des Moines. In fact, I asked a recent employee working as a computer programmer at the DOT, and she told me that if I wanted to import a Skyline GTS-T R33, it would be very simple. She sent me the full details in an email, which I will post later.

Regardless, because the state of Iowa has NO emissions regulations, such as smog testing, etc., and the cops don't really care what you drive, as long as you follow the basic road rules, I was really thinking about maybe going a much safer, smoother route of importing a vehicle that is relatively more famous on US roads, because in the NHTSA's documentation, if the vehicle that one is importing, shows great similarity to a similar build and make that was designated for the US, it can be given an eligibility number (Not quite solid on this process, but I believe this is what it is). So I got to thinking, why not import a car that is famous in American marketing, but would be much cheaper to purchase in Japan?

Well, I thought about the Mazda RX-7, the Mitsubishi Evo IV, the Toyota Supra, the Toyota Trueno AE86 Coupe, but then I remembered how much of an obsession I had to own a Fairlady Z. So I started looking around, and found that the average price for a 1990s 300ZX (Fairlady Z) in Japan, is around $2000.00 FOB.

This result made me overjoyed, but then I realized how hard it is to even import a silvia to the US from Japan, and I decided to ask for a professional/alternative opinion on this matter, or if anyone has proceedingly taken the great opportunity into executing such a demanding task?

As I post this topic for so many Z enthusiasts to see, I am researching on venerable RI's and getting in contact with several Japanese Motors exporters. I am also searching for possible LHD Fairlady's, Z31 or Z32.

I looked into the NHTSA's documentation further, and found only the 1984 Z31 300ZX Turbo on the eligibility list. Does this actually mean that this vehicle is the only legal 300ZX vehicle that can be imported to the USA?

I thank all to whom reply to this message, regardless if critisizm is to be formulated accordingly; I am accepting any corrections to my assumptions, so I do not spread or assume false excerpts of various FAQs from others such as myself. You have my full attention in advance.

Sincerely
twiceasfastasyou

Happy New Year's from the Geek Squad Precinct 16 in WDM, Iowa!

[k3smostwanted]

honestly with all the research you have done, which i can respect, because i understand what you are attempting. i still do not believe no matter how you look at it can be imported and driven legally on US roads without being 25 years or older or being legalized.


there are only a few ways to import an otherwise illegal car that isnt 25 years old:

one way i have possibly thought of to import and successfully drive it as a legal car is to purchase a junked Nissan of some sort and switch the vins over to the imported car that is illegal. you would register it
as the junked car with a salvage title. this can be done and it very illegal but it would be extremely difficult to catch if done correctly.

another way would be to do exactly what motorex and rbmotoring were doing and that is actually becoming a RI and importing the cars and then legalizing them to DOT standards which usually cost $20k+ to do to a skyline. this including changing the front bumper supports, glass, and much other tedious things. once all this work had been completed the company could then file for official government paperwork and giving a specialized VIN number in the US.

another would be to actually import the car in pieces and assemble it as a kit car and register it as such. im not too sure on the details witht he fin and all that but i would imagine kit cars do not come with a VIN and you would then have to file paperwork with the government to be assigned a VIN number.

im not to sure on your details and the loop hole you are looking for in the system but everything that i have seen or read about all falls back to the car being 25 years old before it can legally be driving in the US without being legalized to DOT standards first.

and just so you know 1995 R33's were still offered with OBDI. it wasnt until 1996 that they changed them to the OBDII. but the pre-96's still need legalized by a liscenced professional before it can be assigned a US VIN number and therefore driven on US roads.

as far as RI's go...i do not know of any trusted for the US now that motorex was shut down and is being tried now. i believe i remember hearing about someone purchasing the business and working on doing the official crash testing of the vehicles to make sure they are DOT compliant.

i would simply look at purchasing a nice Z32 TT here stateside or finding one and rebuilding it from scratch. my opinion.

[DeleriousZ]

or just move to canada and wait a few years

[twiceasfastasyou]

Thanks for the replies, it does seem likely that I would be forced to purchase a nice TTZ here, but first, I live in middle-of-nowhere Iowa, where seeing a Z32 is as rare as seeing a Bughatti Veyron here in the USA. Let alone that doing several searches for Z32's on autotrader and cars.com has created possibilities ranging usually around 10k - 18k, plus shipping or pickup (which means a 200k+ mileage drive).

I have seen a few nice N/A Z32's on ebay motors, and got the idea of just purchasing an N/A, and working to get it twin turbo. But because I have seen how hard it is to work with the VG30DE in such a cramped engine bay, and being it has dual intake plenums, I would be better off either pulling the engine out and starting to do internal work first, then putting turbos on, or just purchasing a TTZ to save the hardship of renting a crane, all the necessary tools, etc. But, to perhaps work in a single turbo setup, I thought about swapping the whole VG30DE engine for an RB25DET, or even a 6G72, but then matching the transmissions with correct drivetrain/differentials, oh the headache...

All in all, I love how working in the US and comparing objects to other countries that produce the same quality (if not better), are so much cheaper than purchasing domestically, which makes me so frustrated and hostile towards our government's DOT, customs, etc.

Again, thanks for the replies, I may just start my long journey of hunting for that perfect TTZ...

[k3smostwanted]

Originally Posted by twiceasfastasyou

Again, thanks for the replies, I may just start my long journey of hunting for that perfect TTZ...

sounds liek the perfect idea...

i personally see TTZ's on the net and in my area going for well under $10k on a very consistent occasion. these are nowhere near perfect but claim to run well and look decent. i personally would start with this kind of Z if i could do it all over again and eventually re-work over the whole car. but that is considering my car has been pretty much worked over and i have spent much more than i would have if i would have went with the idea aforementioned.

[doberman_52]

where can u find out about the importing process, i might be looking into that a few years down the road, i like the no emmisions laws in south dakota

[BLU CIVIC]

know of a guy with a R33...sure he'll let it go depending on the offer...but there are a lot of back doors when it comes to importing cars...always risk involved that way

[twiceasfastasyou]

dddayyyyuuummmnnn! He'll probably be asking for too much on my budget, but I wouldn't understand why you would want to give away such a car, not that it's a bad thing.... but then again it's nice for people to do such rare things, so that these beautiful cars get passed along to the public tuners scene.

I give it 2 thumbs up for originality, but very sharp looking, classic R33.

GST-T's aren't bad either, they are way cheaper, too. Keep up on those skyline sales!

[twiceasfastasyou]

Originally Posted by doberman_52

where can u find out about the importing process, i might be looking into that a few years down the road, i like the no emmisions laws in south dakota

Please look into the DOT's website; especially search for the NHTSA organization under the DOT website. That's where everyone usually starts off, by reading the various paperwork and laws about importing vehicles from another country.

Notice in the eligibility list effective July 2006, the only car you can import in the skyline series is the R33 GTR/GST-T, under I believe 1996 - 1998 (not sure, but it says the year range on the webpage). Even then, after importing it, I'm sure the car would have to be modified for emissions and possible LHD conversion. All these details are listed on numerous webpages through a simple search on google.com, or even in the Skyline section of the forum. I happened to ask about importing a Fairlady Z, but it seems that it would be better off just purchasing a nice TTZ here in the USA, or saving up for that one dream of importing a Skyline.

It's good I'm not rambling out about the Skylines on the mustang forums through google; a civic-lover got kicked out for declaring something stupid, like the Skylines will live to dominate every single American muscle car out there, claiming that the RB26DETT R34 couldn't be beat by Ford's V8s. I laughed, after he got flamed by over 150 posts, and he started a sticky on what you shouldn't post on the forum, and what should be posted.

[twiceasfastasyou]

US customs is going to be a real bitch if you even think about importing a sports car. But, once you get familiar with the process, and are really starting to think seriously about importing a nice car, let me know on your progress, I'm still interested on the subject...

[BLU CIVIC]

could import it as a show car...couldn't be driven on the strets...i know it's easier than trying to import one to drive on the streets but i'm not sure about what process you'd have to go thru

[BLU CIVIC]

having a problem editing my post...but here's the link to import for show or display
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/...osd072003.html

and here's the import regulations website
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import/

[DeleriousZ]

the funny thing i find, is how quickly people tire of skylines... take for example australia... of all of the people i've talked to that live there and are into cars absolutely looooooaaaaaaathhhhheee the skyline because it's absolutely Everywhere, and seems to have become the lastest rice craze... amazing performance specs of the gtr or not, people seem to still hate them, because they're so common now.

even from my experience, at first it was like OMGWTFBBQ a Skyline! now it's just more of a 'oh, another skyline'.... not denying the power potential of the gtr's, or even the gts-t's, they're still awesome little cars, just not as special as everyone has made them out to be.

[ra227]

Yeah, but I would still love the opportunity to get tired of it, but it can be overhyped a little by people from time-to-time.

[doberman_52]

All right, thanks, i was kinda thinkin about an r33 because we have no emmisions laws but there are a few others that i might instead.