25 year importation exemption rule

[pavulon]

Can a non-US road car be bought, imported and held until it meets the 25 year rule, then registered and licensed?

[onewhippedpuppy]

Yes. Doug DeMuro on Jalopnik did a great series of articles about importing an R32 Skyline GT-R. I believe he started the process at midnight when the car hit 25 years old.

Edit: re-read your post, it is very difficult to import one before 25 years unless they are on an exemption as a special or rare car to qualify for an exemption. Essentially it has to be historically significant or unique to convince the govt that you are going to use it as a show car. Probably a better option would be to reserve one through an import company to hold it until it hits 25 years, which is really only practical if you are close to the 25 year mark. Or make a friend in Europe and let them enjoy it for a few years.

[pavulon]

Thanks Matt. The Ford Escort RS cossies are getting close to the magic year. I think they are really neat little cars and the new Focus RS triggered some twisted notions!! Of course, there are some examples somehow already here but finding them before they get sold isn't very easy now that BAT has gone all wonky.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Do some reading on Doug's Skyline, it's actually very informative (and entertaining). He documents the entire process of importing one.

Personally, I've always lusted over the Audi RS2.

[KNS]

I've also heard of one buying in Europe and putting in storage over there until it hits 25 years.

[pavulon]

That's some rare air...great but rare!

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Personally, I've always lusted over the Audi RS2.

[Alexm930]

Yes, I did it 3 years ago, to NY.

[vash]

wait, wut?

we can import in a Defender?

[pavulon]

Is there a solid european, Pelican-friendly car/parts liaison(s) for such endeavors?

[Sarc]

Originally Posted by pavulon

Is there a solid european, Pelican-friendly car/parts liaison(s) for such endeavors?

There is a well known/respected user on Mye28.com (a message board for fans of the E28 BMWs) who regularly imports cars and parts for users (BMW related of course, but I imagine he would help with other makes). He will handle both the purchasing and shipping logistics.

Here's one board member's experience with Ivo and the process:
http://www.mye28.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=128883&hilit=importing+car+easier

[creaturecat]

stash them is Canada. 15 year rule.
it is already being done. quite a few 964/993 RS cars lying in wait, up here.

[onewhippedpuppy]

The stashing idea isn't a bad one. I read a piece in one of the UK car magazines last month about classic Skyline pricing starting to increase as they hit 25 years old. Their point was to grab the good ones before the Americans can!

[pavulon]

alrighty then!!
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-1995-06-15/pdf/95-14719.pdf

[intakexhaust]

Someone should be dumping in a boatload of crappy Trabants' in LA. Give the legislators something to choke on.

Microcar lovers - smokey salute

[intakexhaust]

cold war era imports

[VincentVega]

I kick this around every once in a while. I really want an old Mini.

[Bill Douglas]

Can't you import them as an "off roader"?

Here we can import any car we want, we just can't use them on the road unless they meet the usual compliancing stuff.