Beast from the East

[rhdpanda]

I guess it is about time to introduce my L300 to the world.

She is a 92 Petrol Manual Exceed and to my knowledge one of a few (if not the only) full-time American Delica. I picked her up in June 2009 and I wasted no time be for I started making be plans for the van. One of my first mods was installing a voltmeter which can be found here. I have many more plans which include a two inch lift and a Twin Turbo V6 motor swap. I will post as new mods are done.

The next mod to be posted will be the installation of a car computer system that I designed to be used for back seat entertainment.

[jwfchase]

Congratulations!

How'd you pull it off to be able to drive it down there?

[rhdpanda]

Congratulations!

How'd you pull it off to be able to drive it down there?

Florida has very relaxed laws when it comes to gray market cars. Once a car reaches 15 years old it can be registered in Florida. The easiest way to get the car into the States is actually to bring it in through Canada. Once I brought the car to Florida I had to pay for taxes, registration, title work and DMV inspection which cost about $3000 USD. Once everything was finished (which took about 3 weeks) I had a title which had the short Japanese VIN and not and American style VIN.

[jwfchase]

Now that it is a full time America citizen it can also be resold in America.

You could be on to a bit of a business opportunity there! (though maybe not, after the $3000 registration!)

Congratulations again!

[rhdpanda]

You could be on to a bit of a business opportunity there! (though maybe not, after the $3000 registration!)

Congratulations again!

I belive that the price also include transportation costs as well.

[mararmeisto]

Looks like all you need now is a Mitsumaple sticker for one of your windows!

[jessef]

Now that it is a full time America citizen it can also be resold in America.

Rephrase to 'can be resold in Florida'.

Most other states will not accept the JDM vin even if it's registered in FL, let alone allow you to register a gray market vehicle like they do in FL.

Consider yourself fortunate to live in a state that has lax laws regarding gray market imports.

On one of the skyline forums, a Californian flew to Florida and bought a used 98 Skyline gray market that was legally registered in FL.

Drove it to Santa Barbara where he lives and found out the hard way that it was impossible to register it in CA. He was out I think close to 25k.

I don't know what he did with it.

That's why you can see almost every make/model euro sports cars there too.

Nice ride. I'd like to see how you can squeeze the six in there. :)

[rhdpanda]

Rephrase to 'can be resold in Florida.

post has been edited

Nice ride. I'd like to see how you can squeeze the six in there. :)

So do I. It should be a fun wrestling match. It is only about half a liter than the inline four, but it is a far bit wider. I am thinking about doing a side pipe exhaust like the 427 cobra and 80's GMC van. I think it would look kinda cool.

[mararmeisto]

jfarsang is on to something. I think it was Georgia that just recently banned RHD vehicles.

California comes at the grey import market from the environmental angle as well as crash safety. Essentially, one has to crash a 'sufficient number' of vehicles in a demonstration to the state safety department to demonstrate the safety of the vehicle. Not sure of what the environmental requirements are, but I'm sure they are probably intentionally stringent.

Basically, it's still a VERY protectionist market in America. You are fortunate to live in Florida.

[rhdpanda]

jfarsang is on to something. I think it was Georgia that just recently banned RHD vehicles.

this is from one of my posts back in Aug. 2009

You are correct that import laws are set up state by state. I can't speak for the entire United States but, for example, Florida allows cars that are 15 years and older to be brought into the state easily by a legal importer and can then be used and sold in any other state. Newer cars can also be be brought in, but must be registered as an AFP (Assembled From Parts) car and must also provide picture documentation showing the assembly process. Unfortunately Georgia legislature has passed laws that RHD cars can not be registered in the state, but cars that are already registered will still be allowed in the state.