Re: importing cars
Obadiah Fayth (fayth@ibm.net)
Thu, 30 Jul 1998 18:02:49 -0800
I am assuming you are refering to importing a non-US spec car into
the US. If not please ignore the following ;)
Sorry to doubt your claim that anyone can import just about any
car, but I really don't think this is true. What about the Porsche 959 Bill
Gates unsuccessfully attempted to bring in? Actually I guess one could
import anything, it is the licensing that is tricky. How do you get a
non-US spec model registered? What about crash testing, emissions, DOT
safety glass, etc... My understanding is that there is a list of vehicles
that are admissable because they share US tested engines, and are close
derivatives of US models (structurally) and therefor can forgo the crash
testing, etc. They just need to be modified (cats, glass, ride hight, etc.)
to meet the current criteria. If there is a way around all this I would
love to know it. I know there are ways to temporarily import cars, but how
does one import any car, register it and keep it here as long as one likes?
I am also a member of the Alfa list and this is a subject that seems to
come up there a lot as well. Is there something I am overlooking? Some
legal loophole? There is the "show car" bill, but I don't think that has
been passed yet
-Obie
(Anyone see a grail?)