Car Question - RHD

[Tri-me]

A friend of mine is importing a right hand drive (RHD) car into the US. It is being registered in Washington by the importer, has to registered there via import laws and the port it is landing in.

Is there anything on the books about RHD cars that are classics, this one happens to be a 1975 so it easily meets the age requirement for imported cars, not being allowed to be registered in CA.

I've seen a few mini's and such running around so I am thinking it is ok to do so.

[GrafX_Squid]

I'm thinking this is probably a Japanese car? From my own research, the car has to be 1974 or older to be totally exepmt of the CA smog laws. The main hurdle for you is going to be crash testing. If this is a car whose body and frame have been crash tested like a Bluebird (510 here in the US), you should be OK. I was on the hunt for a 69-72 Skyline coupe. The only way (since it was not sold or tested here) to get it registered here, was to have it stripped down and shipped over in pieces and registered as a kit car. Lots of work for something like that, but there are loop holes in the laws for us CA citizens. There are some dudes in the LA area that have gotten that process down to a science. I'd really try to find a way to have an out of state source register it. But even that is only good for a year or so.

The minis you see are totally legal. They were sold in the US way back when, so all the data from crash tests is on hand. Plus I think there is even a company back east that has gone thru all that trouble to import them from the UK and refurbish them for use here. RHD or not, California is a hard place get stuff like that in here legally. Really check with the DMV, and even shoot some e-mails out to auto importers here in CA or even all over the US to see what advise they can give you. If it is a common car you are looking at that was sold here in the US (only RHD from somewhere else), then you may have better luck than I did. Good luck man. If you get whatever it is, please post up some pics.

[Junkie]

I know I saw a CA plated RHD Mini a few weeks ago, a van version to be specific. surprised me that it was a van, I haven't seen them in the US before.

[Tri-me]

It was a common car here, just not the JDM version.

BTW, The smog year is 75 with a few cars in 76 also being exempt.

[GrafX_Squid]

Awesome, so that is one thing you do not have to wory about. If the car was sold here under a different name, then I'd think you'd be in the clear. For the most part anyway. Noone else in CA has brough one of these in?

[SpeedyCorky]

importing a RHD car is very VERY difficult, because its considered an out of country veheicle, that you are trying to get on the road in the USA.... shame on you for such a thought!

best, although lots of work, way to do it is to import a RHD front clip of the vehicle of your choice. cost u $1500~ maybe a bit more when its all said and done. and cost u quite a lot of hours of labor. BUT... since your *used to be LHD* now RHD car is still a USDM car and registed and all that. the modification to RHD is not in itself illegal. you MIGHT have to get some type of paperwork *LEOs please correct me...* but i'm pretty sure that paperwork is not required.

[SoarAndEnvision]

My 1980 diesel benz is smog exempt.

[Tri-me]

Originally posted by SoarAndEnvision
My 1980 diesel benz is smog exempt.

???? Not sure why you are exempt.

Not all vehicles must get a Smog Check. Additionally, some vehicles only need a Smog Check when they are being sold or being registered in California after previously being registered in another state. Whether or not a vehicle needs a Smog Check depends on the type of vehicle, the model-year, and the area in which the vehicle is registered.

Some vehicles are exempt from the Smog Check program

Legislation enacted during 2004 made several changes in motor vehicle Smog Check exemptions that will become effective next year. Following is a summary of the revised exemptions and the effective date of each change:

Beginning January 1, 2005, vehicles 6 or less model-years old are exempt from the biennial Smog Check inspection requirement. For vehicles with registration renewals due in the 2006 calendar year, this exemption includes model-years 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006.

Beginning January 1, 2005, vehicles 4 or less model-years old are exempt from the Smog Check inspection requirement upon change of ownership and transfer of title transactions with DMV. In 2006, this exemption includes model-years 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006.

Beginning April 1, 2005, the 30-year rolling exemption has been repealed. Instead, vehicles 1975 model-year and older will be exempt. Therefore, 1976 model-year and newer vehicles will continue to be subject to biennial inspection indefinitely.

Beginning April 1, 2005, vehicles being initially registered in California that were previously registered in another state are exempt if the vehicle is a 1975 and older model-year vehicle. Newer vehicles, the first 6 model years, are not exempted upon initial registration in California. These vehicles are required to undergo a Smog Check Inspection.

[Tri-me]

Originally posted by GrafX_Squid
Awesome, so that is one thing you do not have to wory about. If the car was sold here under a different name, then I'd think you'd be in the clear. For the most part anyway. Noone else in CA has brough one of these in?

They are around, just trying to find code to support or define the laws written.


BTW, the car is a 75 Celica.

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/images/threads/000/189/724/2912445-celica10_002.jpg

[GrafX_Squid]

Very nice. You gotta keep the mirrors on the fenders!!!! Classic JDM. Saw a really clean green one at an MR2 meet a month or so back. US Spec, though. I think the part that made it look so good was that the drip rails were shaved. Really cleaned up the roof line.

Have fun with that one, man.

[speedydave]

Originally posted by Tri-me
???? Not sure why you are exempt.


From here (http://www.dmv.ca.gov/vr/smogfaq.htm):

Does my vehicle qualify for a smog exemption?

Smog inspections are required unless your vehicle is:

Hybrid
1975 year model or older
Diesel powered
Electric
Natural gas powered and has a Gross Vehicle Weight rating of 14,001 lbs. or more.
Motorcycle
Trailer

[GrafX_Squid]

And that's why your french fry oil is such a commodity.
... I wonder if anyone has played around with the new Ethanol gases in a motorcycle.

(Sorry.... way off topic)

[Tri-me]

Originally posted by GrafX_Squid
Very nice. You gotta keep the mirrors on the fenders!!!! Classic JDM. Saw a really clean green one at an MR2 meet a month or so back. US Spec, though. I think the part that made it look so good was that the drip rails were shaved. Really cleaned up the roof line.

Have fun with that one, man.

Again, not mine, it is actually someone I know.

Originally posted by speedydave
From here (http://www.dmv.ca.gov/vr/smogfaq.htm):

Does my vehicle qualify for a smog exemption?

Smog inspections are required unless your vehicle is:

Hybrid
1975 year model or older
Diesel powered
Electric
Natural gas powered and has a Gross Vehicle Weight rating of 14,001 lbs. or more.
Motorcycle
Trailer

Got it:thumbup

[Mike T]

Originally posted by Tri-me
They are around, just trying to find code to support or define the laws written.


BTW, the car is a 75 Celica.

http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/images/threads/000/189/724/2912445-celica10_002.jpg

thats such a sweet ass car man....

but hms...way back i was at a car show in San Mateo and had a talk with some guy. He works for a dealer/importer and he told me that in S. CA. they import skylines and such for buyers...the thing is...:you gotta be freakin rich...if i remembered correctly, it was a aftermarket manufacturer type business and they do the importing...forgot whats its called though...they even ran some ads in the import mag a few years back giving away a 32 or 33 to some lucky winners...

theres a R33 Skyline somewhere in Milpitas and yes, its a real one. had a talk with the owner and it costs him a lot to have it shipped over

also..a R34 Skyline Vspec2 visited my highschool during graduation week...a lady was driving it to pick up her son....(San Jose)

[Mike T]

some links to help you...
http://j-garage.com/imports.htm
http://forums.nicoclub.com/zerothread/159216
http://j-garage.com/imports.htm

and i found the place thingy that sells them...its Motorex

"How to Buy One
Most Skylines in America ultimately come from Motorex in Torrance, California. Nissan never exported any Skylines to the United States, so a few had to be sacrificed to prove their crashworthiness to the Department of Transportation (DOT), and it's Motorex that did that testing. It's been applying what it's learned to producing DOT-approved Skyline GT-Rs ever since and has put somewhere between 170 and 180 on America's roads, says General Manager Quincy Yamada."

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Features/articleId=105699

[Mike T]

sorry for whoring this thread but here is the Motorex site if you guys want to spend some $ on a Skyline...

http://www.motorex.net/autosales.html

^ thats for the list

http://www.motorex.net/skyline.html#

^thats the main site