BC Delica owner moving to California... time to sell? Or put it in mothballs? Or...?

[WonderDog]

I'm looking for some advice from the community on a tricky situation:

I'm currently the proud owner of a 94 LWB V6 Super Exceed. I also just accepted a job offer in California on a 3 year TN visa (temporary worker). My spouse is staying in BC, and I'm continuing to maintain my residence in BC (paying mortgage payments on our home).

I'd like to take my Deli with me to CA and use it as a weekend road trip / camping vehicle while I'm there. Unfortunately, as far a California is concerned, any vehicle I bring with me into the state needs to be registered in CA 20 days after I accept the job. (Which is it's own special kind of bullsh*t since I won't even have moved down there yet 20 days after accepting...)

I know Mr. Flibbles was trying to get a Letter of Conformation from Mitsubishi Automotive Japan to get his Delica into Washington while he was on a TN visa a few years ago, but other than that I haven't found anyone else in my situation.

As far as I see it, my options are:

- Find someone who speaks fluent Japanese to help me get a Letter of Conformation from Mitsu Japan, and hope that process works out. Keep the Delica in BC until it does. If it doesn't...

- Keep the Delica in storage in BC until the magical date of July 2019. After that, if I'm still working in California, I can import the vehicle under the 'Older than 25 years' statute... maybe? I've also read that California in particular can be prickly about RHD vehicles.

- Sell the Delica and buy something else down there (which won't be nearly as affordable or awesome for the kind of road trips I want to take).

- Drive it down, keep the BC insurance by driving back into Canada once a year, and hope I'm never asked about registration if I'm pulled over in California. (Or tell them I'm on vacation...?) This is my preferred "F*ck The Man" option, especially since I'll be a non-resident while in CA as far as immigration law is concerned. But it won't be fun if I get caught if the penalty is anything more than a fine. (Like having to surrender my vehicle, for example.)

So, I turn to you all for advice: What would you do in my shoes? I'm open to any and all suggestions, from the mundane to the absolutely crazy.

[thelazygreenfox]

Sell it, remember the good times and buy a newer deli when life changes again.
TLWF

[Mr. Flibble]

You won't get that letter of conformation. :(

I managed to talk to someone VERY high up in relation to Mitsubishi, and they don't want to do it because of liability and it doesn't actually benefit them.

As for importing, California is one of the worst (if not THE worst) for this.

Getting it in after it is 25 years old won't be hard - getting it passed by the state of California is a whole other matter. Not living in California I cant help you there. You will have to do your research. Though, being 25 years old at that time you might be ok. They are ok with "collector" cars.

Incidentally, the 25 year rule is for everything EXCEPT the engine. The engine has a 21 year rule under the EPA. If you imported it, you could also turn around and drop in a 4m41 or better because upgrades to newer engines are allowed as they are usually less polluting.

I would say keep it if you can. When I have had mine down here and licensed (in Canada) I get more people gawking than if I drove a Ferrari.

[WonderDog]

Thanks for the advice LGF and Mr. Flibble.

My spouse and I may have worked out a plan that would let me use the Delica in California for 5-6 months out of the year... I'll post more info after we talk to ICBC to work out the details.

[liquidmonkey]

I lived in Massachusetts for 1.5 years with Alberta plates. wasn't a Delica but a Westphalia. I kept my insurance paid up, went home to NB every couple months. Not sure if it was right thing to do but it worked.

I would think since you have a residence in BC everything should be good?

Cheers

[AKcub]

Easiest option-I am doing a modified version of this until my '92 is legal to import. The ICBC insurance is pretty expensive though. But it means the Deli gets to stay in the family. I'm not a expert on ICBC stuff by any means but I asked the gals who helped register mine if the vehicle needed to be there to get the annual plate deal and she said no. Maybe just take the paperwork back to BC with you?

"- Drive it down, keep the BC insurance by driving back into Canada once a year, and hope I'm never asked about registration if I'm pulled over in California. (Or tell them I'm on vacation...?) This is my preferred "F*ck The Man" option, especially since I'll be a non-resident while in CA as far as immigration law is concerned. But it won't be fun if I get caught if the penalty is anything more than a fine. (Like having to surrender my vehicle, for example.)"

Someone mentioned the difference between the DOT's 25 year rule and the EPA's 21 year rule in the thread. It's going to take a couple years to work this out but the Land Rover folks are fighting the good fight with the government types about something like this. The Rover guys are light years ahead on fighting (and sometimes winning) the import battle.

http://truckyeah.jalopnik.com/the-lates ... 1763372806

[CARiD]

You'll definitely want to go on some road trips in CA, but the selection of similar cars is very very good there so you may find something cool.

[WonderDog]

Belated updated: We ended up changing the Delica's registration so both my name and my wife's name are on it. I drove it down to CA and kept it there for about 6 months this year, and am planning on doing the same next year. Aside from some nasty notes on my windshield for taking up "local" parking spots, no hassle.

Also, it turns out that although I'm not a resident according to the US federal government (or most CA services), the CA DMV considers me a resident. Which means technically, as far as they're concerned, I should be registering my vehicle there... even though I can't. Fun!