Import to the US??

[Green1]

Any individual part can be legally replaced, and that includes the chasis and the body, and everything else...
Any number of parts can be legally replaced at the same time...
Moving the vin plate from one vehicle to another is illegal...

make from that what you will.

I also don't know about American regulations on the subject, but in Canada it is illegal to have any "major" repairs or modifications done out of the country (ie, I can't drive to the US and do an engine swap and drive back, the vehicle would become inadmissible to Canada due to the modification)

[tonydca]

Any individual part can be legally replaced, and that includes the chasis and the body, and everything else...
Any number of parts can be legally replaced at the same time...
Moving the vin plate from one vehicle to another is illegal...

make from that what you will.

I also don't know about American regulations on the subject, but in Canada it is illegal to have any "major" repairs or modifications done out of the country (ie, I can't drive to the US and do an engine swap and drive back, the vehicle would become inadmissible to Canada due to the modification)

Yeah, yeah - I hear you. To me, it falls along the same lines as folks who buy an old house here in Vancouver which is way larger than one for which they could get modern zoning permission, then strip the entire building down to the outer walls and rebuild it from the inside. Technically, it is just a "reno", but for all purposes it is a new house.

Anyways, swapping the VIN plate and hitting the border on a busy day is what I'd do. I have heard of folks up here doing the reverse to bring cars in from the States (Arizona, etc., where corrosion is something that only happens to your liver from too much Tequila...)

[loki]

I also don't know about American regulations on the subject, but in Canada it is illegal to have any "major" repairs or modifications done out of the country (ie, I can't drive to the US and do an engine swap and drive back, the vehicle would become inadmissible to Canada due to the modification)

this is true I'm sure, but it is also true that it would be highly unlikely that anyone would know the difference unless you told them. I'm sure people send bikes and old cars to specialty shops south of the border for major customization and restoration work, but as with lots of other things like this there is still a chance that you could get in trouble for it.

[jessef]

You have the border to deal with.

Just imagine what can happen if the customs officer just happens to pull you in for a vehicle inspection.

I can list a number of things.

US Customs see a bizarre-lookin' Japanese-thingy coming in at the border with a VIN that matches an existing bizarre-lookin' Japanese-thingy registered in the USA.

Original VIN stamped into the frame. What will you do with that ? If you grind it down, they will see that it was manipulated.

Original VIN plate on the firewall (underneath seat). What will you do with that ? Pop out the rivets and remove it ? If so, they will see that it was manipulated.

The color codes, diff ratios, engine size/type in the VIN between USA Mitsubishi Vanwagon and Japanese JDM Delica's are different. Give that some thought. They might.

If you or someone else is going to attempt this, just be aware of the criminal charges that potentially may come your way.

I am writing this to scare people from doing this.

Some unsuspecting Canadian Delica owner may end up doing a 'favor' for someone by driving their vehicle across the border, when in fact they could wind up in serious trouble with the law.

I.e. - buy the skankiest/cheapest Mitsu VanWagon you can find in the US of A, drive it up over the border here to Soviet Canuckistan

What will you tell them driving back down ? Do you realize both coming up and going down, they snap a picture of the vehicle ? Well they do and they can check it on the spot. If they do, you're busted.

I don't want to see or hear of any fellow-Delica owners get in trouble over driving one down in the US or going out of their way to make it happen.

[Yokohama]

Little known situation in Florida; it seems that people were driving around in GT-R's and other RHD JDM vehicles not approved for import. "How were they able to do this?", I hear you ask. Well, it turns out that these cars were shipped out of Japan by sea and then dropped off in several island nations in close proximity to the Florida, USA coast.
At night they would load the cars onto small boats and run them to a deserted beach in Florida. They just beached the boat and drove the car off onto the beach. We presume they had a waiting truck or something at this point, but either way the next step was to take the car to a warehouse where the VIN would be swapped with a USA vehicle. In the case of a GT-R (R32/R33/R34) they would swap the VIN with something like a similar era Maxima! Then the car would be registered as the USA vehicle in the new owners name, etc.!
The reason why they could get away with this in Florida is seems is that the police there do not have a clue when it come to cars, and I presume especially Japanese cars. Remember, the south is NASCAR country. Even Florida is part of that culture. It is not like California (i.e. LA) where the cops are so well informed that they can open a hood and start telling you what is illigal about your modified vehicle.

Now in the last few years the USA federal government has been tracking down illegally imported cars, and giving the sometimes clueless owners (or the owners saying they are clueless I presume), a choice; export the car out of the USA or crush it, no other choice. It seems they have had a intensive and successful effort at this (search the Net).

I like the state where I live, NASCAR country for the most part, but a good number of imports, and no inspections (even smog)!
The police here also do not check your car when you are stopped unless you are breaking noise rules with a load exhaust, etc.

I have seen a early 90's Delica in the USA with a good clean USA title, but only once. How they got that I don't know as I was not able to inspect the van and compare VINs, etc.

If I wanted to get JDM spec and RHD in the USA, I would take my van to Canada and either get someone to help me convert it there, OR load up all the parts into the back of the van and take them into the USA with me. Customs agents should not have a problem with them, other than you may have to pay duty on them. I have shipped many USA spec parts to Canada and have gotten some from Canada and I have never had a problem. Alternatively, you could have the parts shipped to you. There are lots of truck lines that will ship things from Canada.

[drrod]

I wouldn't be too worried about swapping out individual parts but I would be really concerned about the changing of the VIN plate (either going north or south). Sure, you might get it by the inspectors enough to get it registered, but what happens if you are in an accident and the insurance company investigators and lawyers get involved. My guess is that once they found out that the VIN plate had been swapped out, the insurance company would declare your insurance null and void, leaving you wide open for any and all liabilities incurred by the accident. Not sure I would want to risk handing over my net worth just so a lawyer can get a new Porche!! But hey, that is just me.

Rod

[DelicaDJ]

Bump
Still looking...

[jessef]

Still trying to find a way ?

[DelicaDJ]

Still trying to find a way ?

You got it! I may just see if I can incorporate as a business in Vancouver area & drive the van most of the time down here in the US... Any word as to whether that works or not?

[ccautos]

I have an L300 LHD mitsubishi van that was imported new into the US and carries a washington title. The van was bought into Canada to modify it from 2wd/gas to a 4wd diesel. Most of the body conversion has been completed and the vehicle basically requires the running gear putting in and finishing. The owner was on the forum but due to the amount of time it took to find a body shop that was willing to take on the complex job of converting the vehicle the owner has fallen off the face of the earth. I have about $7000 invested in this project and figure another $2-3 k would complete it so that it is a fully legal `Delica` on US roads, no illegal import or grey area, just a LHD US registered van that has been modified. If interested in this project, please call 250-927-4536 or email ccautos@telus.net for more details and 100`s of pictures of progress and parts van. Thanks, Glen

[DelicaDJ]

I am definitely interested in the L300 project, & would like to come up to CCA to see it myself, & perhaps drive it if it is drivable. Can you post some pictures, or email them to me? I would like to see what it looks like.

[fexlboi]

the vehicle basically requires the running gear putting in

perhaps drive it if it is drivable

If interested in this project, please call 250-927-4536 or email ccautos@telus.net

Can you post some pictures, or email them to me?

[DelicaDJ]

the vehicle basically requires the running gear putting in

perhaps drive it if it is drivable

D'oh! I guess that won't work, eh?

[ccautos]

Trying to resize the photos on photobucket and getting frustrated !!! Will post them soon

[DelicaDJ]

Thanks, CCAutos! I am looking forward to seeing the van in person.