My quest for a proper Delica here in the USA!!

[thedjjack]

Not sure why you are waiting a year? the new style headlights do everything but light up the road. I would get a 1989 with the squares. Every Delica meet I ever attended people tried to figure out how to swap to the squares...

life is too short to wait a year for headlights that do not work?

Plus you do not need to buy new headlights to pass inspection and for $10.00 if you break the lens any truck stop has them in stock...

[DR1665]

Not sure why you are waiting a year? the new style headlights do everything but light up the road. I would get a 1989 with the squares. Every Delica meet I ever attended people tried to figure out how to swap to the squares...

life is too short to wait a year for headlights that do not work?

Plus you do not need to buy new headlights to pass inspection and for $10.00 if you break the lens any truck stop has them in stock...

I hear you. I hear you. What can I say, though? I'm smitten by the facelifted L300! The heart wants what the heart wants. :)

I'm fortunate to live in a well-lit metropolitan area where headlights are more legal requirement than actual necessity, and my current daily driver - the 89 Pajero - sports no-name 7" composite rounds which basically drop a couple Star Trek logos directly in front of the bumper. Before the Pajero, my daily driver was a 92 Galant VR4 with a JDM front end, including headlights, which were exceedingly poor. Forward illumination is just not an issue for me 90% of the time.

And, in those 10% of times when it is, I figure I've got a couple options:
1. Turn on the auxiliary, off-road lights. (OEM + aftermarket)
2. Open the projectors and flip the blades to LHD.
3. Replace the OEM projectors with a set from BMW or such.

I've waited nearly five years to be in this position. With just one more to go, why settle?

[thedjjack]

Arguing with the wrong person I will never understand Form over Function....

Waiting for an inferior product that looks pretty just does not make sense to me??

I guess you really are going to the DARK SIDE....

[DR1665]

Arguing with the wrong person I will never understand Form over Function....

Waiting for an inferior product that looks pretty just does not make sense to me??

I guess you really are going to the DARK SIDE....

Nothin' but love for ya, brother. No worries.

Understandably, you live something like 2,000 miles north of me, in the often overcast and inclement pacific northwest, where it's dark far more often than it is where I live. The relative inferiority of the projectors to the easily replaced sealed beams is clearly a point of contention for you. More light, more accessible, lower cost, Delica NOW - these aren't lost on me!

And I'll tell that I've been giving a LOT of thought to a square headlight beastie in the last few months ENTIRELY because YOU pointed it out to me. If it's any consolation, you've at least moved me from 100% facelift to 90% because, well, Delica now.

Now, would this be a good time to - with a big, sh*t-eating grin on my face in the friendliest of ways, by the way - point out the irony in your suggesting I get the slightly less sexy Delica over the one I've been dreaming about for five years because of headlights when you cut the roof off one and replaced it with a highly modified topper from another vehicle instead of buying a Delica camper in the first place?



Oh snap! They came with square headlights, too!



Appreciate your tenacity!

[thedjjack]

always with a smile....

Used local delica cheep....sell tires and roof rack....buy used roof...build camper total cost with repairs to truck around $6000.00 for 3 years ownership...

buy a tent top $12,000-15,000!!! and still not a hightop (rains here way to much for canvas sides for me)...

Hence cut roof off....best mod I ever did and was fun....

[jpk503]

Why import it twice? I understand it won't be titled to you until it's in CA but why not find a US based broker and bring it into Long Beach? Every customs crossing is just going to add $$$ plus the hassle of shipping across the continent. Japan > US direct is your best bet. Sans having the pros tune it up. I definitely understand that. It's difficult to find someone reliable let alone interested in working on Delicas.

There's a guy in Long Beach that is importing RHDs, let me see if I can find his info for you.

[jpk503]

Not specific to Delicas, but here are 2 US importers -

http://www.westcoastcruisers.com/
http://laughsandlashings.blogspot.com/

I don't know these guys so I can't recommend them but they clearly know how to import and they're on the west coast. Not sure if they'd search for a Deli for you or not. Hopefully this is helpful.

[DR1665]

Why import it twice? I understand it won't be titled to you until it's in CA but why not find a US based broker and bring it into Long Beach? Every customs crossing is just going to add $$$ plus the hassle of shipping across the continent. Japan > US direct is your best bet. Sans having the pros tune it up. I definitely understand that. It's difficult to find someone reliable let alone interested in working on Delicas.

There's a guy in Long Beach that is importing RHDs, let me see if I can find his info for you.

Interesting thought.

Research led me to the NHTSA website, which says I have to use a "registered importer" and provides a list of same. There are (2) here in Arizona. Both have websites which appear to have been built by 8th graders. Neither could be bothered to return emails. I found one in New Jersey, who was very prompt and professional, but he said it would be impossible unless the Delica was built for the Canadian market and, even then, would cost some US$10,000 on top of the price of the van. Say what?

RightDrive comes specifically and highly recommended by a trusted friend in the industry who knows them personally and deals with high end collector vehicles for a living. Thus far, RightDrive has shown me the utmost in service and transparency - even knowing it may be a year before I give them a dime. That's pretty confidence inspiring if you ask me.

And, considering I've got an urge to actually earn my citizenship some day and consider myself one of the more progressive (read: non-batsh*t crazy) people in the States, I'd like to check out Toronto in person. BC is a bit expensive. ;)

[jpk503]

Yes, they do have to be an RI but I found that document to be pretty out of date. I don't doubt RightHand is qualified but I have to think it'd be cheaper to import direct. Downside is that an importer here won't know the vehicles as well but there's certainly plenty of them. You'll just have to contact more than 2 to find a good one. $10k on top of the price is ridiculous...

I did all the searching myself then hired a broker to only handle customs. The process can be broken up into multiple steps depending on what you're willing to take on. Again, it's just a matter of the cost/benefit of your time.

[jpk503]

Here's the importer I was originally thinking of - http://cccruisers.com/

Based out of LA. I spoke with him about this '88 deli back in the summer - http://cccruisers.com/1988-mitsubishi-delica/

Nice guy and sounded like he's into looking for more Delicas.

[DR1665]

Appreciate your doing the digging for me on that one, JPK. I took a look and will keep it in mind, but as thedjjack might tell you, I'm kinda set in my ways. Haha. Priority #1 is getting the Delica - a 1990 at this point. I'm going to stick with RightDrive until they give me a very good reason not to. :)

[Mazdax605]

Wow I step away from the forum for a little while (but not from my quest for a Delica), and the my thread is all jacked up. I too am speaking with an importer in Canada that I am hoping can find me an 88-89 model that I can legally either get shipped direct to me on the East Coast, or sent to him in ON for some sorting, and then on to me. I actually want some what of a hybrid van, but I know it won't happen. I want the high roof crystal lite option on an 89 van with the better sealed beam headlights, and sliding rear windows. We did see an 89 gas model like this recently at the auctions in Japan, but it was a non-runner, and I really prefer the diesel. Not a total deal breaker though. I know if I am patient I can get the cool van I want in a few years, but after owning my 90 USDM L300 I really want a real Delica, so the search continues. The L300 that Amazing has is tempting, but I like the captains seats in the middle row over the flip-flop bench. Also it seems to be pretty standard when it comes to the interior, and options.

Wish me luck in my search.

Chris

[thedjjack]

I will say it again the updated lights DO NOT WORK.... 4 standards lights was the best setup to come on a L300.

Watch crystal lights for roof being rusted out.... very common. Also glass is hard to replace if you break it...

[DR1665]

Wow I step away from the forum for a little while (but not from my quest for a Delica), and the my thread is all jacked up. I too am speaking with an importer in Canada that I am hoping can find me an 88-89 model that I can legally either get shipped direct to me on the East Coast, or sent to him in ON for some sorting, and then on to me. I actually want some what of a hybrid van, but I know it won't happen. I want the high roof crystal lite option on an 89 van with the better sealed beam headlights, and sliding rear windows. We did see an 89 gas model like this recently at the auctions in Japan, but it was a non-runner, and I really prefer the diesel. Not a total deal breaker though. I know if I am patient I can get the cool van I want in a few years, but after owning my 90 USDM L300 I really want a real Delica, so the search continues. The L300 that Amazing has is tempting, but I like the captains seats in the middle row over the flip-flop bench. Also it seems to be pretty standard when it comes to the interior, and options.

Wish me luck in my search.

Chris

Good luck, Chris!

Oddly, for some reason I thought I started this thread when I saw it from the "Your posts" listing. Knew I started one similar, but guess it was the picture thread for inspiration. Sorry to threadjack!

I will say it again the updated lights DO NOT WORK.... 4 standards lights was the best setup to come on a L300.

Watch crystal lights for roof being rusted out.... very common. Also glass is hard to replace if you break it...

I'll say it again, too. Not an issue. Swapping out projectors is an afternoon project.

Will definitely have my team triple check the roof for rust/leaks.

[Rattlenbang]

Don't let him sway you on lights or crystal light roof :) I replaced my feeble projectors with a set of Hellas no problem, and I busted one of the roof windows on mine (stupid accident, don't ask) and had it replaced the same day. Rust is an issue though, so most likely will have to deal with it, or a previous owner will already have.

Having said that, we have a place down near Tucson and go back and forth (should be heading back next April) so if you are interested in having one delivered, let me know :)


Cheers
Nathaniel