Delica Canada | Mitsubishi Van Club

Sorry if this is an often asked question - I tried the search feature but I couldn't find anything definitive.

I want to import a Delica into the US... does anyone out there have any experience or information on this. I know it must be a nightmare, but these vans are too perfect not to try and get my hands on one.

Any help will be deeply appreciated. Again, sorry if this is an old question.
Best
Koby

Hi, we've seen it mentioned that it is illegal to import used cars less than 25 years old into the USA???? Don't know if this is actually accurate...

In any case, here's a link that has some good information on importing a car. Maybe there is a number you can call via the link to verify the legality of it. Hope it is helpful.

http://www.foreignborn.com/visas_imm/en ... prohibited

basically, you have to wait 25 years. The big boys of the cartel in Detroit lean heavily on the law-makers in the states. Here in Canada, (un)fortunately, our import laws are only 15 years.

to the best of my knowledge you can have vehicles newer than 25 years imported but it has to be done by a licensed importer, what ever that is. I have no idea how much that would cost and I think they have to "bring it up to US standards", again whatever that means.

Hmm I saw a less than 10 year old acura RHD with Washington plates last week..????

conversion maybe??

MadB0mb3r wrote:Hmm I saw a less than 10 year old acura RHD with Washington plates last week..????

conversion maybe??

well the Acura is likely the same as the one sold here in north America so probably not hard to get in. As I said you can get newer stuff in you just have to have a registered or whatever importer do it.

In the US a "Registered Importer" (RI) must make sure that the vehicle meets US standards. I have never heard of this being done with a Delica, but as it is substantially the same as the mitsubishi "vanwagon" sold in the US around 1990(ish)it seems like it should be possible.

(the 2 exceptions to the above rule are vehicles imported for off-road use (farms, factories, etc) or vehicles more than 25 years old)

The only way to know for sure is to contact an RI... If you do talk to an RI, please let us know what they say, this is an often asked question, and I have given this advice many times, but nobody from the US has ever reported back afterwards...

You really do need to check with U.S. authorities on this one. The usual answers are "Registered Importer" and/or "25 years".

Visiting the U.S. in a Delica is covered by the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, plus a couple of Canada-U.S. agreements on things like license plates and the oval country stickers you see on cars in Europe.

...laura

Howdy Cowboy, have you searched http://forum.ih8mud.com/?

I have read several stories there of cruisers being brought in state side from Canada, both Canadian and Japanese market cruisers being registered. Please let us know how it works out.

I too have seen a RHD cruiser with Oregon plates, right here in Powell River, and it was a 100 series too boot.

Regards

marsgal42 wrote:You really do need to check with U.S. authorities on this one. We're Canadians. Why would we know anything about U.S. vehicle import law? Why would we care?

There are people from all over the world who use this forum. And one of the reasons they do is because it is a helpful forum to lots of non-Canadians. Not everyone here is a Canadian.

The Pinkfingers wrote:

marsgal42 wrote:You really do need to check with U.S. authorities on this one. We're Canadians. Why would we know anything about U.S. vehicle import law? Why would we care?

There are people from all over the world who use this forum. And one of the reasons they do is because it is a helpful forum to lots of non-Canadians. Not everyone here is a Canadian.

Oh yeah, and we would care because we are naturally curious folk who like helping others.

marsgal42 wrote:You really do need to check with U.S. authorities on this one. We're Canadians. Why would we know anything about U.S. vehicle import law? Why would we care?
laura

Goodness Gracious... Why so vicious, and mean??? Why??? This is the internet isn't it? So there are probably people from all over the world reading these posts even if they haven't registered. Your response is chock full of really bad karma...

Suppose we posted on the UK forum or the Aussie forum looking for advice & they responded like that... Maybe this person is Canadian as well and is moving because of work or whatever

Maybe you didn't mean for it to come across like that, but it came across as Really mean-spirited Laura.

Thanks to everyone for providing me some good places to go to for information. Unfortunately, I am not a Canadian, although everyday I keep a mental list of "another reason to become Canadian" in my head. Currently the newest items revolve around the ease of getting Delicas in all their sweet goodness on your side of the border.

As for any animosity being directed my way - let's face it, I am an American, worse yet - a Texan, and everyone can agree that as a group we really haven't been doing a lot in the name of building goodwill over the past eight years. I can assure you I am a nice Texan, one who is polite, who didn't vote for Bush and who is very, very appreciative to all the good information that is being provided to me here.

For those who care, I will keep you posted on the process of getting a Delica. For those who don't care, don't check back.

If I am successful in getting a Delica, I promise to host a US based Delica forum (of which I will probably be the only member) and will invite all of you to bombard with any inane questions that you can come up with...

In all seriousness, thank you again, I definitely appreciate the help - you all have some really sweet vans here.
Koby

There is one other way of getting a Delica in the US that I didn't mention... it's difficult, and probably expensive, but it would get around the rules...

Start by buying a mitsubishi vanwagon in the US (available somewhere around 1990ish (the vanwagon was a 2wd gasoline version of the delica, the parts should all be compatible)) and then swap out parts to make it a delica... you'd need to replace the engine and drivetrain to start (to make it diesel and 4wd), and then whatever other accessories you wanted...

It would be perfectly legal, and I'm sure all the parts could be had from the suppliers in Canada or Japan, but it would be a lot of work and a fair amount of money.

Well, I am interested in your importing to the US adventure and hope you keep us informed on your progress - though I must confess, I don't think Laura's comment came even close to "mean spirited." Short or blunt, perhaps, but not mean - Its just a style thing Texas eh? Hey, don't feel bad about that! Ya can't wear the sins of others just 'cause you're from the same place! Lots of veeeery interesting history from the 'ole Lone Star State. Good luck with either moving to Canada (Good idea!! ) and / or getting yourself into a delica L300