I've been researching this very information for bringing in new Peugeots and
I'm not having a lot of luck. The general procedure is the person importing
the vehicle gets in touch with a Registered Importer (there's a really good
one in Baltimore that has the complete setup for crash testing and emissions).
Then you determine if the vehicle is on an admissable list--the 89 405 is the
only Peugeot on that list. If the vehicle is on the list a close cousin then
you try to petition it's admission--that still takes 6 months, approximately.
If the vehicle isn't on the list then it must be crash tested and emission
tested. This requires a minimum of THREE identical vehicles though you can
keep the third since it is used for the emisison tests and doesn't get
crunched. This also takes about 6 months.
Now the loophole that's been suggested to me is the kit car situation. If you
build a car at home you don't have to crash test it do you? If you did what
would be the point? I called the U.S. Department of Transportation and talked
to Luke Loy about it and the official word is that the kit car is registered
to ONE owner and title can never be transfered--but then as I was talking to
him I had a Dupont Registry in my hands and there are several ads in there for
kit AC Cobras being sold out of someone's garage...
Needless to say this has been very frustrating. There are a great many people
who are interested in buying a new Peugeot--not all of them are current
Peugeot owners either. The man in charge of International Sales at AM General
(the Hummer people) wouldn't mind having one if they were here.
In the Falls Church, VA area there are at least 40 different people (current
Peugeot owners btw) that are on a sign up sheet for a new Peugeot of some
sort.
This would be easier if we could agree on a single model that we'd all be
happy with and then just go ahead with the testing. The testing cost
approximately $115,000-125,000 not counting the cost of the vehicles. There
has been one Peugeot 405 that I know of that was brought in from Africa. It
cost about $4400 and it was a petition certification.
Another tid bit that I learned from Mr. Luke Loy. Those Peugeots that are
sighted in New Jersey--the current models--they're probably NOT U.S. spec.
I'm not sure if that was clear to everyone or not.
Mr. Loy suggested someone form a company--pick one model of Peugeot--get it
tested and sell them at a profit. He figures this is the only practicle way to
get one. Personally I'd rather organize a couple hundred people to differ the
costs of the tests--but that gets rather complicated for insurance and titling
purposes, not to mention parts.
I hope this helps clear this up some. I'm sorry to take so long to get back
to the list about this idea--I have been working on it since before the meet
in Carisle--it's just slow going. I've got too suppliers for discount prices
at least! ;) A new 406 SE coupe would still run about $31000 fully loaded.
Now if I can just get some bank to be nice enough to provide financing.... ;)
Sincerely,
Ben Waite PCNA & BMW CCA #129084
'93 525ia Touring w/Jim C. '95 euro M5 rear sway bar, and MKs (WooHoo!)
'87 505 STX 184,000 miles!