importing

[s240x]

looking to import a 180 or s13 from japan. to come clean i have no idea where to start. so some tips on who to contact would be great. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>

[planb]

for parts or whole? &nbsp;whole it will cost alot more and be more of a hassle... for parts, you can get the car cut in half. &nbsp;whats your intentions with it?

[s240x]

well, i like 240 coupes more than fastbacks. and if i got a 240 i would drop a sr20det engine in it. so i just figured that i could get both with importing a silvia. also i would be getting a right hand drive car which would put me out from the rest around my town. so i wasnt really to worried about mods or major wrenching, although i am planning on getting into automechanics in school. so whatever you can gather from this.....cool and thanks

[S14Pilot]

If you have enough money, of course you can import a Silvia. Keep in mind it will include the cost of the car, plus shipping it to the States. Shipping alone would be several thousand dollars.

Then once you get it here, you won't be allowed to drive it on the streets until it is modified to meet U.S. standards, including safety and emissions. There's several thousand more dollars, plus you have to find someone who is able to do it. Motorex (www.skylinegtr.com) is the only name that comes to mind and I'm not even sure if they have performed those modifications to a Silvia or 180SX.

All in all, you'll save several (and I mean SEVERAL) thousand dollars by just buying a 240SX and a front clip. Using the parts from the clip, you can stuff the SR20DET under the hood and transfer over the dash and interior to make your 240 right hand drive. That's still a lot of time and money, though.

Basically, I only know one guy who has ever imported a car from Japan. He's loaded with money, though. He owns a USDM Civic converted entirely to JDM Civic Type-R specs (right hand drive and all), a Subaru Impreza Wagon complete with STi turbo crate engine, two 2002 Subaru Impreza WRX's (one's his wife's and the other is his "beater" that runs in the low 13's) and a Nissan Pulsar GTi-R. The GTi-R is the car he imported, but he immediately sold it due to the price of getting it legalized for U.S. roads. If he couldn't afford it...very few could.

*Side Note: I got to ride in the *illegal* Pulsar one time. What a ride...AWD turbo in an ugly little hatchback. We got some shocked looks, that's for sure.

[nihongosilvia]

When your ready for whatever you decide to do let me know. I am a marine stationed in japan. This is my hobby. Parts or whatever you need let me know. email me though. I might not have time to check this site. [email protected]

[Daves240]

I know 2 guys here in CO that imported car from abroad. One is a friend that runs ProRally and he bought a EVO VII from Ralliart in Spain (LHD), because its SCCA and they use streets as transists, it had to be emission legal and have a title. So, he spent alot of time and effort looking through DOT and EPA docs and finally got it registered and drives it occasionally. The other guy, I met outside the county building in Boulder,CO. He was just finishing registering his R33 GT-R (650HP), he imported it himself from Japan and had NO modifications made. There is also a ONE time exemption for importation of a vehicle, I don't know the details but it might be worth it to you (these guys DIDN'T use the exemption).

David J.
'89 240sx

[nihongosilvia]

do you know the guys email address that imported the GTR? I know a guy that wants to start shipping them from here to the states to sell but cant find out how to do it. If he dont mind could you send me the address? or have him email me. [email protected] thanks jason